Mine Creek event blends pagentry, action, information
- Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor
- Sep 23
- 4 min read
Story and photos by Billy Roudybush
Journal contributor
PLEASANTON – The Mine Creek Battlefield Foundation sponsored its annual Heritage Day on Saturday Sept. 20, complete with historical presentations, displays of Civil War weaponry, and a gun and sword battle.
Some of the re-enactors drove or road their horses in on Friday evening, setting up their 1860s-era tents and prepared for the day to come. Some of the riders rode their horses from Rich Hill, Mo. Early Saturday morning you could see them outside of their tents cooking breakfast and preparing for the day’s activities. Then the day full of activities began.
First, inside the visitors center at the Mine Creek Battlefield State Historic Site’s video room, Lane Smith and Randy Durban portrayed Generals Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox, Va., Courthouse. They made you feel the tension of the event that generally brought the Civil War to an end.
Conversations the day after the surrender were acted out as well. The audience got a chuckle about Gen. George Custer and an understanding of the importance of the general’s actions to prevent further bloodshed and to stop any hotheads from continuing the conflict.
They portrayed the grace and determination needed to end the war and begin the process of healing the wounds of our nation.
After that the action moved outside to the trails down by Mine Creek. Over the summer, Aron Coleman, a sophomore from Jayhawk-Linn High School, built a bridge over a deep ditch so people could walk down to the main fording site on Mine Creek. Coleman, along with helpers, completed the bridge that fulfilled a final public service requirement for earning an Eagle Scout Award through Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts of America).
It was at the site of the Benteen Bridge that Confederate troops attempted to escape from the Union troops that had caught up with them during the actual battle. Aron cut the ribbon, and the re-enactors fired a volley to seal the acceptance of Aron’s fine work.
From the bridge, the ceremonies shifted to the Confederate memorial in the woods nearly a half mile south of the visitor center. A flagpole had been installed, and the ribbon-cutting signified the desire by ancestors of Confederate troops to display respect for the soldiers this memorial is dedicated to, the estimated 600 soldiers whose bodies had been left on the field after the battle.
After cutting the ribbon, a flag was hoisted. After raising it to the top the flag was brought to half mast to show respect for current events. The day was not finished.
All of the Union and Confederate troops had fired salutes at the bridge and the memorial. Then they marched back toward the visitors center. Time for the skirmish.
It seemed so subtle, with troops from both sides slowly maneuvering in a field away from the spectators, the steady wind making any orders inaudible to the viewers.
Suddenly shots are fired. Both sides fired back and forth to gain the upper hand. All the while you have the two cannons periodically firing. It was pop, pop, pop, BOOM. It made for a real spectacle.
The battle continued and it seemed the Union troops were gaining the upper hand. But suddenly from the flank the Confederate cavalry comes swooping in, attacking the Union troops. The battle is back and forth. Finally, the Union troops drive off the cavalry and defeat the Confederate infantry. The battle was done.
After such an exciting time on the field, it was time to move back inside for another presentation. George Pettigrew did a talk about the Buffalo Soldiers, who were Black soldiers that fought for the Union in an effort to end the Southern institution of slavery. Pettigrew was dressed in the cavalry uniform of soldiers from the 1870s.
He explained how these elite troops started in this vicinity and had their first battle at Island Mound in Missouri. He took the audience through the history of several of the original cavalry units created until they were finally disbanded.
He explained how these troops fought in every major conflict through the Indian Wars and the Battle at San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.
There was a presentation on Save the Flags, and then Lee and Grant had a second presentation to finish out the day.
People, young and old, enjoyed the day. Tami Neal, president of the foundation, said that nearly 180 people attended the event, many of them attending the programs. She said she was pleased with the turnout.
There was history, action, some solemn moments and a chance to learn. There was something for everyone. With the conclusion of events, the battlefield returned to those who had perished.
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