Richmond Battlefield to begin 2024 campaign with Spring Chautauqua program

Sierra Marling, Richmond Register, Ky.
·2 min read

Apr. 3—The Battle of Richmond will begin its annual programming with a Civil War Chautauqua presentation, as it has done for nearly a decade.

Kentucky Humanities Council's Chautauqua presenter Ethan Smith will present "Johnny Green: An Orphan's Survival" at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at the Mt. Zion Christian Church, located at 830 Battlefield Memorial Highway.

Smith's performance tells a first-person story of Johnny Green, a Confederate soldier in the armed Orphan Brigade, which was comprised primarily of Kentuckians and fought in the western regions during the Civil War, mainly in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and Louisiana.

During the Civil War, the Orphan Brigade was commanded by Confederate generals John C. Breckinridge, Roger Hansen (died of wounds received at Murfreesboro/Stone's River), Bejamin Hardin Helm (killed in action at Chickamauga) and Joseph H. Lewis.

Battle of Richmond Curator Phillip Seyfrit explained that the moniker "orphans" came from the fact that Kentucky was under Union control for most of the Civil War.

"Those Kentucky Confederate soldiers became "orphans" for not being able to go home," he said.

According to Seyfrit, they had a reputation for great tenacity and bravery in battle.

Smith has been part of the Kentucky Humanities Council's Chautauqua program for many years, beginning when he was 13 years old. He is from Cynthania, is a graduate of Georgetown College, and resides in Lexington.

This event is sponsored by the Battle of Richmond Association, and there is no admission fee. However, it is suggested that attendees bring bags of individually wrapped Lifesavers hard candies for the "Be a Battle of Richmond Lifesaver" campaign.

For more information regarding this event or the Battle of Richmond, please call the Battle of Richmond Visitors Center at 859-624-0013 during normal business hours.