Friday, October 2, 2009

Ringgold honors Cleburne on Saturday

A life-size statue of famed Confederate Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne will be unveiled Saturday (Oct. 3) at the first annual Ringgold Gap Civil War Festival.

The festival includes talks by authors and historians, living histories, period-style food and an evening ball open to the public. A replica of the Confederate submarine Hunley will be on display.

The statue unveiling will take place at 10 a.m. in Ringgold Confederate Park, Highway 41, in Ringgold, Ga.

The parking area surrounding Confederate Park is extremely limited. Any individual wishing to attend the unveiling ceremony will be required to park at the Ringgold Gap Festival Grounds on Robin Road.

Shuttles will be provided, organizers say.

Cleburne’s forces staved off Federal forces in the town. The November 1863 victory gave the artillery and wagon trains of the Army of Tennessee safe passage to retreat through the "Ringgold Gap" mountain pass and caused high federal casualties.

Some 100 re-enactors are expected to be on hand for the free, all-day living history. A battle will not take place, but the hobbyists will tell visitors about what life and combat was like during the Civil War.

Festival organizers say Cleburne, an Irish immigrant who died in combat in 1864, is the first Confederate general since 1912 to have a statue dedicated in his honor in Georgia.

The festival is being held off of Robin Road, which is accessible from Alabama Highway and from Tennessee Street.

Ringgold downtown events coordinator Andrea Sherman told The Daily Citizen of Dalton that this is the first year for the festival, and it could be an annual event.

“We have so many people that are fans of Gen. Cleburne,” she told the Citizen. “He’s quite well respected.”

Details, directions, map, full schedule

No comments:

Post a Comment