The smell of used gunpowder filled the air at Sacramento’s Battlefield Park, located in McLean County off Highway 81, on Saturday afternoon as the 28th annual Battle of Sacramento reenactment brought out spectators, volunteers and reenactors to commemorate the Confederate Civil War victory.
The Battle of Sacramento took place on Dec. 28, 1861, and was one of the first victories by Lt. Col. Nathan Bedford Forrest, known for his aggressive combat tactics.
Confederate troops were warned of an approaching Union battalion traveling along the Green River by Mollie Morehead, a Confederate sympathizer. Morehead rode alongside Forrest into battle, where Confederate soldiers were greatly outnumbered by Union troops. There were between 200 and 300 Confederate troops, compared with the Union force of 500.
The victory became known as “Forrest’s First Fight” and showed how the commander employed deception and encirclement by dividing his soldiers into groups, ultimately leading to a Confederate victory.
People attending the battle reenactment were encouraged to dress in period attire, and friends Ashlynn Clement, 16, Isabella Bangle, 18, and Mia Thomas, 18, all wore hoop skirts popular in the 1800s. Bangle said she has been coming to the battle in costume since she was 9 years old.
“This is my first year,” said Thomas, who traveled about two hours to attend the battle with her friends.
The friends planned to check out some of the weekend’s other activities, including the “Battlefield Ball,” featuring period music from the 52nd Regimental String Band and dancing, and the “Memorial at Mollie’s Grave” on Sunday morning at the Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery, honoring the contributions of the Confederate sympathizer to the Battle of Sacramento victory.
Betty and Ronald Rhoades, who were camped out in folding chairs under a shade tree, said they have come to every Battle of Sacramento reenactment, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We used to bring our grandkids, but they’ve gotten a little too old for it now,” said Betty Rhoades.
They said more people attended the reenactment in the past, but the turnout appears to be getting stronger each year.
Kristen Robinson, a member of the Confederate Bells of Tennessee who was also dressed in period attire, along with her husband, Gary “Pony” Robinson, who has participated in the reenactment in the past, said they came to see friends and watch their son participate in the reenactment.
“Our 15 year old son has been around reenactments since he’s been a toddler. He’s in the Union calvary today,” said Kristen Robinson.
This was the first Battle of Sacramento reenactment the Robinsons had attended, but Jennifer Fields, a friend they met through participating in reenactments, said she has attended the battle for the past three years.
“In fact, my husband, Mr. Fields, was the very first chaplain here at the very first reenactment that they had 28 years ago,” said Fields, a resident of Georgetown. Her husband, June Fields, spent Saturday portraying Jefferson Davis, the former president of the Confederate States of America.
Fields said it is important to stage the battle reenactment as a means of preserving history.
“We do this because we love history. And we love sharing the truth of history and bringing honor and respect and dignity to our ancestors who fought for us. That’s very important,” she said.
More activities are scheduled for Sunday, including a second reenactment complete with rifles, cannons and actors on horseback. Mollie Morehead rides at 1 p.m., and the battle officially begins at 1:30 p.m.
In addition to the battle reenactment, food vendors are on-site. Those attending the battle can also visit with reenactors camping at the battlefield to learn more about life during the American Civil War.