Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation
May 7th, 2022 - 9:00 AM
7 Spruce St, Gallipolis, OH 45631
Civil War Symposium
The Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation along with the Cadot-Blessing Camp #126 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, and the Dr. Samuel Bossard Memorial Library are proud to sponsor a Civil War Symposium on Saturday, 7 May 2022 at the Bossard Library in Gallipolis, Ohio. This one-day event will feature Civil War music, historians, and enthusiasts discussing various aspects of this pivotal period in American history, with an emphasis on the role of Ohio in this conflict.
The lineup includes musician Steve Ball from Columbus, Ohio, who specializes in Civil War music, and the music and life of Stephen Foster. Steve has done programs for the Ohio Statehouse, the National Civil War Museum, the American Civil War Museum of Ohio, and countless historical societies, genealogical societies, libraries, museums, Civil War Round Tables and other historical venues such as re-enactments or living history programs.
In addition, there are five dynamic speakers discussing Cincinnati and Ohio in the Civil War, John Hunt Morgan’s raid, the role of women in the conflict, and the story of U.S. Colored troops. Anthony Gibbs of the Ohio History Connection will present, “Freedom, Citizenship, and Equality: The Story of the U.S.C.T.” Gibbs discusses events significant to these men that led up to the Civil War, and what made these men different from the other thousands who fought and died in the War Between the States.
The event features two BIBPF board members. David Mowery will present the “Civil War in Cincinnati.” Mowery’s recent book, Cincinnati in the Civil War: The Union's Queen City, discusses the crucial role the city played in preserving the Union. Board member Darryl Smith will present, “Rise of a Rebel Raider - John H. Morgan's First Kentucky Raid.” Darryl is the owner of Walking with History, where he gives tours and talks on Civil War battlefields. He has also written articles for the American Battlefield Trust and is the Activities Chair for the Cincinnati Civil War Round Table.
The symposium will have presentations from two Ohio Humanities scholars from the Ohio History Connection, Professor Kelly D. Mezurek and Mark Holbrook. Ms. Mezurek is a professor of history at Walsh University, where she teaches United States history. Her book, For their Own Cause: The 27th United States Colored Troops is a 2017 Ohioana Book Award Finalist in nonfiction. Dr. Mezurek’s topic, “Ohio Women and the Civil War Home Front,” will discuss the vital contribution made by the state’s female population. This presentation demonstrates the importance of Ohio’s women by exploring their wartime activities on the home front, focusing largely on the Soldiers Aid Societies and the Sanitary Fairs in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Mr. Holbrook, currently the executive director for the Marion Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and editor of The Buckeye Vanguard about the 49th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, will present, “Ohio in the Civil War.” He will discuss how the war changed Ohio and its people as well as the contributions of its people during the conflict.
This event is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is required. For more information, please contact Ms. Lynn Pauley, Adult Programming Associate for the Bossard Library at LPauley@bossardlibrary.org. The Bossard Library is located at 7 Spruce Street, Gallipolis, OH 45631
July 16th, 2022 - 11:00 AM
Buffington Island Battlefield Memorial Park, 56797 OH-124, Portland, OH 45770
Annual Buffington Island Memorial Service
The Buffington Island Memorial Ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022, commemorating the only significant Civil War battle fought in Ohio. The upcoming ceremony will be conducted by the Cadot-Blessing Camp #126 and Benjamin Fearing Camp #2 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and will include performances by Grammy-nominated artist Steve Free. Free is an internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and educator, living in southern Ohio. The winner of numerous music industry awards including nine ASCAP awards, a platinum record and Grammy nomination, he has charted over 30 songs on the National and International Americana and Country and Billboard charts including 15 #1 songs. In 2000 he received a lifetime achievement award from Airplay International in Nashville. In 2008 he won the Governor’s Award in Ohio and in 2009 was honored by being named an “Ohio Treasure.”
At noon, the public is invited to lunch after the service at the nearby Portland Community Center.
Please contact Mr. Jim Oiler, Commander of the Cadot-Blessing Camp #126 (jboiler@sbcglobal.net) for additional information.
May 21st & 22nd, 2022
Buffington Island Battlefield Memorial Park, 56797 OH-124, Portland, OH 45770
A Living History Weekend with the 13th West Virginia Infantry
Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation
Presents A Living History Weekend with the 13th West Virginia Infantry at Buffington Island Battlefield State Park in Portland, Ohio
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Experience the daily life of a Civil War soldier! Activities will include:
Weapons/Firing demonstrations
Period-correct camp cooking
Authentic military drills
Original artifacts on display
…and much more!
ADMISSION IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC - Camps are open Dusk to Dark
Donations are greatly appreciated - All proceeds go toward purchasing battleground at risk of being developed!
September 3rd, 2022 - 10:30 AM
Washington Riverfront Park, Lock House Road, Ravenswood, WV 26164
The First Ohio Invasion Tour
The Great Indiana-Ohio Raid of 1863 was not the first Confederate incursion on Ohio soil. In 1862 Albert Gallatin Jenkins led his Virginians across the "boot" of the Buckeye State. Come join this car caravan tour to learn about the Trans-Allegheny Raid in Ohio!
This is a car caravan tour that will involve a few stops to discuss the raid as well as Albert Gallatin Jenkins. We will meet at the lockhouse in the Washington Riverfront Park in Ravenswood, West Virginia. We will drive across the boot and end in Racine, Ohio with stops and stories along the way. The tour is free and will last 2-3 hours (donations to cover the tour guide's travel accepted, and anything extra will be donated to the Buffington Island Battlefield Preservation Foundation. The tour takes place nearly 160 years to the day the Confederates moved across the boot in Ohio. To our knowledge no one has offered a tour like this, and it will most likely never be offered again.
June, 2022
BIBPF Board Meeting
More details forthcoming