Published: May 09, 2008 11:09 pm      

Civilian side of warfare depicted at battlefield

KINGSTON — Wherever Civil War armies marched, especially where they fought, civilians were likely to be displaced.

When houses were destroyed or occupied by solders, families had to make do.

The 458 schoolchildren from Madison, Clark, Jackson and Rockcastle counties who visited Battlefield Park on Thursday and Friday learned how civilians were affected by the Civil War as well as how soldiers lived and died.

Emily Burns and her three children camped behind the Pleasant View farmhouse on the battlefield.

Burns invited the students to churn butter and kneed dough as she cooked beaten biscuits in an iron pot over an open fire.

“I need a strong boy to work this churn,” she said, as students from White Hall Elementary visited her tent.

According to “The Kentucky Housewife,” a book published in 1830, “You can turn cream into butter in about 10 minutes, if you’re good,” she said.

“The first thing you need to make butter is a fine brown cow,” Burns said. “And you have to be careful what you feed your cow. To get good milk and cream, you don’t want her to eat turnips or parsnips. You also don’t want children chasing her around the field.”

Burns’ campfire was littered with several blackened biscuits.

“I’ve been burning about half of them,” said Burns, who was assisted by her 10-year-old daughter Sarah.

Her son Garrett, 9, was dressed in a gray cloak with his head wrapped in a bandana stained with fake blood. Daughter Anna, 5, collected caterpillars. The cool, damp air made the children appreciate the warm fire.

Both of Burns’ daughters were born on Aug. 29, the day the Battle of Richmond took place.

In addition to teaching students and the public, Burns said her exhibit is educational for other re-enactors who mostly focus on military camps.

Burns, who grew up in Flemingsburg but now lives near Waco, said her family has been involved with living history portrayals for four years.

“We would visit Fort Boonesborough about three times a year,” she said. “That’s how we got hooked.”

The family does pioneer- as well as Civil War-era living history presentations.

Burns’ tent was one of 12 stations the students visited. Others portrayed field hospitals, infantry and cavalry camps, artillery units and civilian merchants.

The living history exhibits will be open to the public at no charge Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.

Before they enjoyed a picnic lunch, the students gathered at the Pleasant View house as Madison County Judge-Executive Kent Clark was presented a national award from the Civil War Preservation Trust.

“Only one of these is given each year nationwide,” said Phillip Seyfrit, the county’s historic properties director.

The award recognizes Madison Fiscal Court’s efforts to preserve portions of the battlefield and creation of Battlefield Park, CWPT President Jim Lighthizer said in a release.

The county purchased the 62-acre Herndon Farm when it went on the market in 2001. After that investment, a CWPT grant and appropriations by the Kentucky General Assembly made possible purchase of another 540 acres.

“In only a few short years, Madison County has gone from having a handful of roadside markers commemorating the engagement to having several hundred acres of preserved battlefield,” Lighthizer said. “That progress is outstanding, and CWPT is excited by the possibility of continuing to work with Madison County on additional projects in the future.”

Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@

richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.