BATTLE OF LEATHERWOOD

Cornettsville , Kentucky — A reenactment of the 146^th anniversary of the Battle of Leatherwood will take place on October 24-26, 2008. The event will feature Civil War re-enactors, a battle both Saturday and Sunday. We will also feature period music, a living history village, a Heritage Ball and more. Friday is reserved as a special day for school children.

The events are all free and open to the public. The kick off will be on Saturday at 9 a.m. when the camps open to the public. There will be demonstrations throughout the day, an opportunity to ‘Meet the Generals’ at 10 a.m., ladies tea at 11 a.m., followed by a Presidential Debate at noon. The main event takes center stage at 2 p.m. with the re-enactment of the Battle of Leatherwood.  The Battle will be followed by a Heritage Ball at historic Stuart Robinson Campus in Letcher, Ky at 7 p.m. Civil War music will be performed by Mary and Frank James of Tennessee. All are invited to participate in the dances of the period.

The action wraps up on Sunday, October 26, with the camps opening at 9 a.m. A church service will be held at 10 a.m. The public can hear a presidential debate at 12:00. The Battle of Leatherwood will be held at 2 p.m.

The reenactment will take place across the creek from Leatherwood Blackey Health Clinic. Sutlers (merchants selling period provisions), food booths and other merchants will be on site. Attendees can visit the ‘welcome booth’ near the outdoor pavilion for more information. Also on site is the beginning of an 1860’s era village known as Brashearsville. Buildings have been donated to the site and the creation of a working village is on the horizon.

Activities on Friday, October 24, are reserved for school children. This will include special Education Day events beginning at 9 a.m. Teachers can get more information about the activities or reserve a space for their class by calling Education Day Coordinator, John Peck at 606-675-6741 or email him at johnpeck@setel.com. For information regarding the reenactment contact Chairman Gary Begley at 606-438-0494 (cell) or 606-476-8338 (home) or garynbegley@yahoo.com.

The Battle of Leatherwood Reenactment is located on Rt. 699 at Cornettsville. From Hazard, Ky please take Hwy 15 S, travel 6 miles and exit on Rt. 7 South for 11 miles to Cornettsville, turn right on Rt. 699. Travel ½ mile to the Battlefield on your right.

"BRASHEARSVILLE" THE FUTURE

The first settlers arrived in this area in the 1790’s. The location of the confluence of the North Fork of the Kentucky River, the Leatherwood Creek and Little Leatherwood Creek took on significance. A working post office was established at Brashearsville in 1829. The Brashear salt works started in the 1830’s and the area became an important trading center for the area. Brashearsville was recognized as a village on one of the first maps of Kentucky published in 1834.

The Brashear salt works was one of the first industries in Eastern Kentucky.  People came long distances to buy the salt which was produced by slave and local workers.  It is written that as much as 7000 bushels of salt were produced in one year. The village and salt works were raided by Union forces in the Battle of Leatherwood in 1862.  The Civil War, travel, cultural and political attitudes and the later arrival of the railroad lead to the demise of the village.

In recent years the history of the area and the upheaval of the Civil War and its effect on the region brought renewed interests.  The interests in family genealogy, history, and preservation of the Appalachian culture along with the potential of tourism have stimulated thought toward serious preservation. 

With the reenactment of the Battle of Leatherwood at its largely undisturbed site there came an added interest in preservation of structures of the period.  The site became the property of Perry County in 2005.  Since 2005 several log structures have been made available for the restoration of a village to be called Brashearsville at the Civil War site.

The village plans include an 1860’s general store, cabins, smokehouse, barns, and blacksmith’s shop along with structures as they become available.  The plans also include a bridge from highway 699 to accommodate buses and other vehicles. A working village of the period is the goal. The annual event of the reenactment of the Battle of Leatherwood will be a part of the village. The surrounding acreage can accommodate the expansion of the village, hiking, horse back riding, primitive camping, nature trails, and wildlife observation along with wildlife restoration as lands become available.

Very few places in Eastern Kentucky have the history that this site presents.  The location is largely undisturbed, and the area was one of the first to be settled in the 1790’s. There is a need for extensive planning and public funding.  Local volunteers have made a great start in moving some local log structures and old buildings to the present location.  This movement and restoration requires a great deal of time and funding. The preservation of our history is becoming more important and the future of this project depends on public support.  Be a part of history by supporting this project.  The story of our ancestors and their struggles are too important to ignore.  Brashearsville is preservation at it best.  Be a part of this project with your time and support. Our legacy is important to future generations.