Dalton Daily Citizen
by: Rachel Brown
September 29, 2009 07:12 pm
The Ringgold Gap Civil War Festival this weekend will honor the Confederate general who gained notoriety when he staved off federal forces at the town in 1863.
Festival organizers are planning a dedication of a statue to Patrick R. Cleburne, the Irish immigrant who they say is the first Confederate general since 1912 to have a statue dedicated in his honor in Georgia. The last one was dedicated to Joseph E. Johnston in downtown Dalton.
Festival committee member and historian Stephen McKinney said Cleburne is known for being the first Confederate general to propose freeing Southern slaves in exchange for their military service, and he’s also remembered for holding back Union troops at Ringgold long enough for the Confederates to retreat to Dalton and regroup after a defeat at Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga.
Cleburne died a year later when he was shot during combat in Franklin, Tenn., McKinney said. He was 36. Ringgold Telephone Company and the city of Ringgold are sponsoring the festival, which will be held off of Robin Road on county historian Bill Clark’s property. Robin Road is accessible from Alabama Highway and from Tennessee Street.
The two-day festival kicks off Friday with events scheduled for students, while Saturday’s events are all open to the public free of charge. Ringgold downtown events coordinator Andrea Sherman said this is the first year for the festival, and it could be an annual event. Sherman said the Civil War is a high-interest subject and a big tourist draw. “We have so many people that are fans of Gen. Cleburne,” she added. “He’s quite well respected.”
Historians say Cleburne’s 4,000 men kept 12,000 Union soldiers from breaching Ringgold Gap in November 1863. The feat earned him a resolution of thanks from the Confederate Congress a few months later. “Ringgold Gap is very narrow, and it was much narrower in 1863 than it is today,” McKinney said. “They had to widen the gap to put I-75 through.” Sherman said she couldn’t speculate about how many visitors the event might bring to Ringgold, but she knows the Cleburne statue will continue to draw tourists long after the festival is over. Close to 100 re-enactors are scheduled to be on site. There won’t be a battle re-enactment, but re-enactors will be set up with living history displays and will be available for questions, organizers said. “This is really an opportunity for the public to get a hands-on educational experience,” McKinney said.
Saturday schedule
9 a.m. — Festival grounds open
10 a.m. — Unveiling ceremony of Gen. Patrick Cleburne statue at Ringgold Confederate Park, Ga. Highway 41. Shuttles will be provided from the festival grounds to the ceremony and to Ringgold Depot.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. — Art exhibition at the Ringgold Depot
Cleburne’s tent historical lecture schedule
11 a.m. — Cathy Kaemmerlen will tell stories from her book “General Sherman and the Georgia Belles: Tales from Women Left Behind.” She will sign copies afterward.
Noon — Bruce Stewart, author of “Invisible Hero Patrick R. Cleburne”
1 p.m. — Jim Ogden, historian at Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park
2 p.m. — Mauriel Joslyn, author and immediate past president of the Gen. Patrick Cleburne Society
3 p.m. — Ron Tunison, historical sculptor and creator of the Cleburne statue
4 p.m. — Thomas Cartwright, historian, speaking on Cleburne’s life and death
5 p.m. — Cathy Kaemmerlen, appearing as Clara Barton
6 p.m. — Bill Clark, Catoosa County historian, speaking on the county’s history
General’s tent schedule
Noon — Buttonwillow Church play
3 p.m. — Buttonwillow Church play
7 p.m. — Period ball (the public is invited to join in Civil War period dances)
Ringgold Telephone Company tent schedule
All day — Lincoln Exhibit provided by Gilder Lehrman, Institute of America History
11 a.m. — Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band
2 p.m. — Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band
Living history experience camp provided by Hardee Guard Battalion all afternoon
11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. — Unit and first person impressions in Confederate camps
Noon-5:30 p.m. — Roving and static music, period songs and tunes of the Civil War
Noon-1 p.m. — “Join the Army!” camp for kids and adults to learn about the average soldier
12:30 p.m.-1 p.m. — Artillery demonstration
1 p.m.-5:30 p.m. — Drill and artillery demonstrations
1:30 p.m.-2 p.m. — Speaker Stephen McKinney on functions of brigade and staff positions in the field
For more information
http://www.ringgoldgapfestival.com/
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