Richmond, Kentucky

[TeamsterPhil]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Having attended the Richmond event last year (as a civilian), it is sad to hear that I will remain at its previous level of authenticity. BUT we should not consider that to be death knell of accuaracy on the Richmond Battlefield. There are 51 other weekends each year. I would hope that living histories could be done there - military and civilian. Visitors to sites like this want to learn about what happened there, even if it isn't the weekend closest to the original battle. There are plenty of things that could be done there without doing an anniversary battle reenactment. The raw Union troops could be portrayed encamped in the area, the aftermath of the battle could be reenacted, the life of the citizens in the area before the battle is a good opportunity for civilians, and I'm sure life continued around there after the mayhem of the battle had disappeared.

Phil Campbell
Trying to look at the bright side.

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

I have a particular interest in this battle as it was the only independent command action of my illustrious GGG Grandfather; Maj. Gen. William "Bull" Nelson. This action also produced possibly the most complete victory of any Southern force during the war and the final demise of my ancestor after a "one sided" duel with then Brig. Gen. Jefferson C. Davis is a story chock full of political intrigue.
If an effort is ever made my full support can be counted on, for whatever that is worth.

[JerseySkilletLicker]

Nelson and Richmond, KY (long)

On the morning of September 29, 1862 in the public area of the Galt
House Hotel in downtown Louisville, Ky. US Brigadier General
Jefferson C. Davis shot and killed unarmed US Major General William
Nelson. As with so many homicides there was much more to this story
than just the tragic act of the taking of a human life.
When one considers the differing backgrounds, upbringing, social
status, demeanor of the two antagonists, and the highly charged
atmosphere of the time, this violent confrontation seems to have been
almost unavoidable. On September 29, 1862, William Nelson had been
for the previous two weeks or so, the US commander at Louisville.
Nelson's assignment was to defend that critically important city
from capture by the advancing confederate forces of Bragg and Smith.
Nelson's job was to try and prevent the capture of both the city and
the vast stockpiles of vital military supplies assembled at the
critical river port was made even more difficult because he had a
very limited number of trained infantry. While awaiting the hoped for
arrival of the US Army under Buell, panic and wild rumor seemed to
be the rule of the day in Lousiville. Upon Nelson's assumption of
command of Louisville a significant part of Nelson's weighty
responsibilities was the assembling and organization of large levies
of local citizen militia. On September 23rd, Nelson appointed Brig.
General Jeff Davis to command of all the citizen soldiers of
Louisville. Within a couple of days of this appointment Nelson became
throughly dissatisfied with Davis' job performance. An eyewitness
relates the following account of the resulting confrontation:

"A day or two after Davis had been assigned to the duty of
organizing the citizens he called at Nelson's headquarters at the
Galt House. Nelson inquired , `How are you succeeding?' Davis
replied , ` I don't know' and he gave similar answers to two are
three questions, as to the number of men organized. Nelson
was angry , and said,'I have made a mistake in selecting you
for this duty,' and in an abusive manner ordered him out of
his presence. Davis, replied asking for treatment due him as
a general officer. Nelson then ordered Davis to report to
General Wright at Cincinnati. Davis said,'you have no
authority to order me.'Nelson turned to his Adjutant General
and said,'Captain, if General Davis does not leave town by
nine o'clock tonight, give instructions to the Provost
Marshall to see that he is put across the Ohio [River].'
Davis withdrew and reported to Wright in Cincinnati."

Shortly after reporting to Cincinnatii Wright ordered Davis to
return to Louisville and to report to Buell for assignment. Davis at
this point began his return trip to Louisville via Indianapolis. In
Indianapolis Davis went to the highly influential war-time Governor
of Indiana Oliver P. Morton.
When Davis voiced his personal complaints against Nelson, he may
or may not have known that Morton himself had developed some very
strong `complaints' against General Nelson. For sometime now, the
fire-eating `Union Forever' Morton had felt that many highly placed
Union military leaders and Kentuckians in general had simply not
been doing nearly enough to fight for and protect the Union. Morton
for the last weeks had been frantically raising new Indiana units and
speeding them to Kentucky. Many of these raw Indiana recruits had
been lost under Nelson's command at the Battle of Richmond, Ky. on
August 30th, 1862. As if this defeat and capture of nearly 5000 of
Morton's constituents had not been bad enough in subsequent
explanations for the defeat and disaster Nelson had made very
disparaging comments concerning Hoosier officers and soldiers.
Nelson's immediate explanation for the defeat at Richmond was to
blame the defeat on Brigadier Mahlon Manson, a Hoosier and political
appointee of Morton's. Nelson's complaints regarding Hoosier officers
was no doubt compounded in Morton's eyes by the additional printed
statements attributed to Nelson disparaging the fighting qualities of
Indiana troops and describing them as ,'uncouth decedents of poor
trash from the mountains of Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina.'
To say the least Morton, like most Hoosiers at the time blamed the
Richmond defeat and capture of resulting capture of thousands of
their fellow citizens on Nelson the over-all commander who was not
present during the lion's share of the fight at Richmond. In addition
many Hoosiers and principally Morton where becoming increasingly
tired of the luke warm politically suspect Kentuckians who required
Indiana assistance in defending their homes and sweethearts from
Southern invasion. In addition Morton had never had a high opinion of
over-all Army commander Don Carlos Buell and Nelson was one of
Buell's favorites. For his part Buell and his subordinate, Nelson no
doubt viewed Morton as one of the meddling politicians that made the
life of a Civil War General more tedious. At any rate when Jeff
Davis asked Gov. Morton to accompany him to Louisville to witness
Davis's confrontation with Nelson, Morton agreed to do so and both
Hoosiers headed to Louisville with axes to grind with Nelson.
On September 29, 1862 William Nelson had just turned 38 years
old. He was a native of Maysville Kentucky and had all ready
established himself as one of truly unique general officers in the
Civil War. Before the war Nelson's entire military training had been
in the Navy. After two years of college study in 1840 Nelson received
his mid-shipman's appointment in to the United States Navy, where he
served for the next 21 years, seeing service in the War with Mexico
and ultimately rising to the rank of lieutenant. Nelson was from a
politically prominent Kentucky family who were early allies of
Abraham Lincoln (his brother Tom was named Minister to Chile by
Lincoln). Many months prior to the end of Kentucky neutrality William
Nelson was sent by Lincoln into the state to organize and establish
Camp Dick Robinson which was the central rallying place in the state
for the forces loyal to the Union. At the end of Kentucky neutrality
on September 16, 1861 Nelson accepted a Brigadier General's
commission in the United States Volunteers. Nelson's first assignment
was to help organize the Unionist forces in his native Blue Grass.
Nelson served in various capacities with the forces that would
ultimately become the Army of the Cumberland. On July 19, 1862 he
became a Major General of Volunteers in command of the "Man of War'
division of the forces under Buell's command in middle Tennessee.
With this promotion Nelson became the only naval officer in the Civil
War to rise to the rank of Major General in the infantry.By all
accounts Nelson was a physically huge man some 6 feet in height and
somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. He was also widely known
for his extreme profanity and ungentlemanly manners towards those
whom did not consider to be his equal. One Union soldier noted, "
after General Pope, it was boasted of him by his admirers , that
General Nelson was the best, finest , and most elegant and original
curser and swearer in the whole United States Army." By at least one
account Nelson was the type of man whose personal demeanor, style,
and rough language often elicited great resentment and dislike from
his subordinates. The Thirty-First Indiana's Jesse B. Connelly
thought that Nelson took,' delight in hectoring the officers and men
of his command,' and told of a previous incident, ` One of the boys
in Company B drew his gun on General Nelson one day - when the
General threatened to strike him with his sword - but Nelson saw
business in the man's eyes, laughed and walked on.' Whether Nelson's
nickname of "Bull" was one of fondness or contempt is unknown.
Clearly Nelson's war record to date had demonstrated an aggressive
competency that had favorable impressed his superiors and ruffled
some feathers among his subordinates. Buell was unquestionably one of
his admirers and planned for Nelson to play a significant role in the
upcoming campaign to re-take Kentucky.
Much like Nelson, the young Hoosier General that strode into the
Galt House that fateful September morning had a rather unique
military background. Unlike most all of the other Federal Generals of
the time, Davis owed his rank to neither a West Point education nor
prior political office or personal influence. Jefferson Columbus
Davis had gotten his rank the `hard way'. Born in 1828 in Clark
County Indiana at the age of 18 he had volunteered as a private in
the 3rd Indiana for service in the War with Mexico. Two years after
his service at the Battle of Buena Vista he was commissioned directly
into the Regular army as a second lieutenant in the 1st U.S.
Artillery. Jeff Davis was an officer of the garrison defending Fort
Sumter at the commencement of the war. As a reward for his gallant
service in defense of Sumter in August 1861 he was appointed by
Morton to command the 22nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry. His regular
army ways apparently impressed some of his superiors in Missouri and
he was appointed a Brigadier General of US Volunteers in December
1861. Davis had creditably commanded Union Divisions at both the
Battles of Pea Ridge and the Siege of Corinth. As a man who had risen
from the ranks in the Regular Army it his interesting to speculate
how Davis may have viewed his superior Nelson's rather unusual Navy
background and highly politically aided Major Generalship. But
whatever Davis' views may on that score it was not necessary for
Davis to have preconceived negative feelings toward a fellow officer
for Davis to be a very disagreeable human being. A later subordinate
would complain that Davis could at times be a meddlesome and
demeaning Division commander.
Two slightly different contemporary accounts exist as to exactly
what happened between the somewhat diminutive five foot eight inch
Davis and the large `Bull' Nelson on the morning of September 29,
1862. The most often cited account of the meeting between Nelson,
Morton and Davis states:

"Nelson , after breakfast, was standing in the hotel office, and was
leaning against the counter when he was approached by Davis in
company with Governor Oliver P. Morton, of Indiana. Davis accosted
Nelson with the remark that Nelson had insulted him at the last
meeting and that he must have satisfaction. Nelson told him to go
away. Davis pressed his demand and Nelson said `Go away you damn
puppy. I don't want anything to do with you.' Davis , who had picked
up a blank visiting card and had squeezed it into a ball as he was
talking , responded to Nelson's insulting words by flipping the card
into Nelson's face. Nelson then slapped Davis in the face and said to
Governor Morton, `Did you come here to see me insulted?' `No `
replied Morton, whereupon Nelson walked towards his room on the
office floor. After the slap Davis asked for a pistol, and a friend
borrowed one and handed it to Davis, who started toward Nelson's room
and met him in the corridor near the foot of the staircase,
apparently on his way to Buell's apartment upstairs. When a foot
apart Davis fired. ... The small pistol ball entered just over the
heart. In less than an hour Nelson was dead."

A second allegedly more contemporary account differs in some details:

The two [Morton and Davis] met Nelson at the Galt House on September
29 in the vestibule and the following exchange took place. General
Davis, `Sir you seemed to take advantage of your authority the other
day.' General Nelson (sneering and placing his hand to his
ear) `Speak louder , I don't hear you well.'Davis (in a louder voice)
You seemed to take advantage of your authority the other day'. Nelson
(indignantly)'I don't know that I did, sir.'Davis `You threatened to
arrest me and sent me out of the state under a provost guard.' Nelson
(striking Davis with the back of his hand twice in the face) 'There
damn you, take that.' Davis (retreating) "this is not the last of
it :you will hear from me again'. General Nelson then turned to
Governor Morton and said :'By God did you come here also to insult
me?' Governor Morton , `No sir but I was requested to be present and
listen to the conversation between you and General Davis.' General
Nelson (violently to the by- standers) ` Did you hear the damn rascal
insult me?' and walked into the ladies room [sic]...Davis returned in
a few minutes with a pistol he had borrowed from a Captain Gibson of
Louisville , walking towards the door that Nelson had passed through.
He saw Nelson walking out of the parlor into the hall separating the
main hall from the parlor. The two were face to face and about two
yards apart , when General Davis drew his pistol and fired , the ball
entering Nelson's heart or in the immediate vicinity. Thirty minutes
later Nelson died.

Lt. Colonel Thomas C. James , in a letter beginning "Dear John,"
penned an interesting account of the episode on the same day when it
occurred. "We are all in commotion here," he wrote on Galt House
stationary . " Major Geneeral Nelson was shot and killed at my room
door this morning about 8 o'clock by Brigadier General Jeff C. Davis
of Indiana, whose face he had slapped a moment before," James thought
that Nelson was a very "rough" man who used the `most frightful
language; he cursed me terribly on Wednesday for nothing , telling me
that put me in close confine,ment for asking him which which order I
was to obeywhen he had given me conflicting orders,. James firther
noted that, " there is scarely an officer that is a gentleman that
has not been cursed by Nelson if he has met him in business." And
while "no one seemed to regret his death, " yet "all deplored the
shooting of one general by another."
Nelson's story would soon end with his burial Maysville, Ky.
However Jeff Davis' continued survival made for a difficult
situation. Two authorities now were faced with exactly what needed to
be done to the clearly guilty but highly in demand Hoosier General.
Initailly the handling of the Davis case was a military matter. At
the time of the shooting and for sometime after Louisville was
operating under martial law. As a result immediately followint the
shooting Davis turned himself over to the military authorities and he
was immediately placed under arrest. Fortunately for the Hoosier, two
days later Buell lead the US Army out of Louisville in his campaign
to re-take the Blue Grass State. Buell clearly at that time could not
spare the requisite high ranking officers required of a court martial
and Buell suggested to Halleck that a court martial of officers
appointed by Washington should take place immediately. Halleck for
unknown reasons took no action against Davis.Within amonth Buell was
in his own legal hot water and on December 1, 1862 was sitting in the
defendant's chair at his own Court of Inquiry. Apparently got up with
ejecting Bragg and his army from Kentucky and then having to prepare
for his own defense Buell over looked the techicality that no charges
had even been formally brought against Davis. Since no formal charges
had been prefered against him within the 30 days required by military
regulations Davis was released by order of General Horiatio Wright
Union commander at Cincinnati on or about October 29, 1862.
However shortly before his release from military arrest the
Louisville civilian authorities caused a grand jury to indict Davis
for civilian criminal offense of `manslaughter'. Immediately upon
his release from military arrest Davis posted the requisite bail bond
of $5000 and promptly left the jurisdiction and reported for active
duty with General Rosecrans Army at Nashville, Tennessee. For the
next eighteen months the criminal case of The Commonwealth of
Kentucky v. Jefferson C. Davis was continued each time it was called
on the court's docket. Finally on May 24, 1864 (while Davis was
leading a Division in the North Georgia Campaign the case by
operation of statue was stricken from the Criminal Court's
docket `with leave to reinstate at a later time'.
Although no effective legal steps were ever taken against Davis
it is worthy of note that despite his subsequent stellar Civil War
service which included Division and Corps command he was never
promoted beyond the brevet rank of Major General of Volunteers. After
the war he was placed in command of the 23rd Infantry Regiment and he
died in November 1879.. Jefferson Columbus Davis went to his grave
having never publicly expressed the slightest remorse or regret for
having murdered his superior officer on September 29, 1862.

[MissAnnaMae]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Having attended the Richmond event last year (as a civilian), it is sad to hear that I will remain at its previous level of authenticity. BUT we should not consider that to be death knell of accuaracy on the Richmond Battlefield. There are 51 other weekends each year. I would hope that living histories could be done there - military and civilian. Visitors to sites like this want to learn about what happened there, even if it isn't the weekend closest to the original battle.
Phil Campbell
Trying to look at the bright side.

I agree with Phil....perhaps we should focus our energies on a living history at the site rather than the battle reenactment. Anybody else game?

[Miche_Todd]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Since I spent four years making this drive while I was attending EKU, I would be happy to volunteer my time to help whomever wants to coordinate any civilian activities, the site is a mere 40 minutes or so from my house! I think if we do this, it needs to be done right. Meaning a COC for the civs or (if possible) a stay in the house. None of the junk I referenced in my other posts!

[Matthew.Rector]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

In response to Mr. Rector, the Bluegrass Army Depot's closing in a "short while" means eight to ten years due to the chemical demil program. There is an article in today's Lexington Herald-Leader that the Battle of Richmond Association and Madison County have bought dibs, thanks to a bank's contribution, to the golf course & subdivision that screwed up the "public" part of the battlefield.

Fritz Jacobs

In the world of preservation, that can be a very "short while." Never too soon to start planning. I think half our troubles begin because we do not plan ahead-instead wait until action is needed immediately. I think the Battle of Richmond Association isn't doing a bad job of keeping up with this.

I am sure the Army has already thought about their plans for this site. Not just the house they are donating, but the property as well.

[ewtaylor]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Ladies and Gentlemen,
It has come to my attention Mr. Propes was dismissed by the Richmond Assoc. and the "Battle of Richmond" is now in the hands of the 1st Ky Cav Brigade. They also run the Georgetown, KY event. If you have ever seen these guys in action you can expect pretty much the same show as we saw in Richmond 2002. In other words, calling this a mainstream event would be a compliment. The only bright side is it will generate money for the preservation. The 4th Ky used to have a living history on site for school children, maybe we could do that or gather a company of campaigners for each side or just the Fed side (since there will be about 500 cornfarbs). I'm sure the unit I belong to (BlueGrass Rifles) would help, although there is only 10 of us.
ewtaylor

[JCbluegrassrifles]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

It's sad to hear that about Chris. Wayne, being my pard of the Bluegrass Rifles, mentioned preservation. I know that the Kentucky boys will do their part in preserving Richmond. It's also sad to hear that we've lost a shot at making this event a good one. The mainstream won in the end it appears. I suppose it's wrong of me to sum the situation up as and 'us vs. them' but it seemed to pan out that way. It was a good idea while it lasted. Thanks to all that responded in support. Let's not allow this to deter us from this site however. We can still arrange for living history weekends and help save the Richmond battlefield. But I must say that I, for one, am somewhat disheartened at this. But the best thing to do is turn a foul situation into a positive one. We can still make our mark at Richmond.

[ewtaylor]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

I have recvd a few emails about my post on Richmond and the 1st KY Cav Brigade. First off i didn't specifically call the Brigade "cornfarbs". I just ment there will be these type of reenactors present at the event. If I hurt the pride and feelings of authentic-minded individuals in this organization then I apologize. I have yet to meet any of you, only others in your organization. If you can raise the money needed for the preservation of this Battlefield then BULLY for you. If you want to have a "mainstream" event then knock yourself out and have a good time.
I'm not trying to bash anyone. We all know there are Farbs, hardcores, and thousands (like me) in between. You reenact the way you want to and I'll reenact the way I want to. Just because 10 or 12 authentic-minded people show up at an event with 100's of unauthentic-minded people doesn't make the evnt authentic. Please don't expect members of this forum to be "suckered" into the same ole same ole that has been the Battle of Richmond in the past.

ewtaylor
bluegrass rifles
rusty94@charter.net

[Miche_Todd]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

If a living history is scheduled, will there be a civilian component? And if so, who will be assigned the task of coordinating it?

[KyCavMajor]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Mr Taylor,
Just a couple points presented in what I hope is a healing dialoge.
First let me introduce myself. I am Tod Lane, I command the mounted troops for the Kentucky Cavalry Brigade.
Just you understand, it is the Kentucky Cavalry Brigade, the 1st Kentucky Cavalry is one member of an umbrella organization. We have some 300 members last time I counted, distribted in about 12 differnt groups. I personally am from the Ninth KY Cavalry.
We have groups and individuals at all levels of development,it is bound to be in a group our size.
We are attempting to upgrade in all areas. I have people whose kits rival any on this board. I just spent the day in Gettysburg today shopping at Marino's, S&S, Family Heirloom weavers, Dirty Billys, you get the idea. I did the 60 odd miles in the GREAT Morgan's raid event in Ohio this year. I have lived out of my saddle bags for as long as 5 days at various events.
At the Ninth's Scheduling meeting is scheduled at the Bardstown Musuem. They are letting us in two hours early so we can have an authinticity lecture, examining gear from those vendors as well as C Childs and others. Then we are going to look at the museum exhibits.
As for drill, we are using Wheelers manual these days, I have obtained a rare copy and I am putting it on DVD for distribution soon. We are also going to make a training video to distribute amongst the various units so we are uniform. We have made HUGE strides in this area by the way. All last year it kept getting better and better, we had a real good day drill wise at Perryville this year.
We are still learning to integrate mobile Artillery with the Cavalry. It is pretty unique to have a horse drawn BATTERY, there is one outfit, the 2nd Virginia, that has a gun, but no one has a Battery.
We also have associated units in Florida and South Carolina. At Spring Hill this year we should field some 80 riders, the aforementioned battery, and two wagons. We are hoping they allow us to sleep in the works at Franklin like they did in 1997.
Are we a "hardcore' oufit? Nope. Will we likely ever be? Probably not. But we DO try to improve each and every time out.We really are concentrating on drill. We ARE NOT the units you saw two years ago.
Personally, when I found we were to have some influence in Richmond this year I asked that we make sure to extend a hand to our more progressive breathern. I LOVED the idea of a three mile march to the battle. I would be glad to provide you a cavalry screen and a couple mobile guns for support. And yes, we have done drills screening moving columns.
So if you all can live with the occasional ancrism we could really pioneer some new ground here. It would help preservation after all. And maybe we could all learn something?

What say you Sir?
Tod Lane
Kentucky Cavalry Brigade
todlane@hotmal.com

I have recvd a few emails about my post on Richmond and the 1st KY Cav Brigade. First off i didn't specifically call the Brigade "cornfarbs". I just ment there will be these type of reenactors present at the event. If I hurt the pride and feelings of authentic-minded individuals in this organization then I apologize. I have yet to meet any of you, only others in your organization. If you can raise the money needed for the preservation of this Battlefield then BULLY for you. If you want to have a "mainstream" event then knock yourself out and have a good time.
I'm not trying to bash anyone. We all know there are Farbs, hardcores, and thousands (like me) in between. You reenact the way you want to and I'll reenact the way I want to. Just because 10 or 12 authentic-minded people show up at an event with 100's of unauthentic-minded people doesn't make the evnt authentic. Please don't expect members of this forum to be "suckered" into the same ole same ole that has been the Battle of Richmond in the past.

ewtaylor
bluegrass rifles
rusty94@charter.net

[Tom Ezell]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Mr Taylor,
Just a couple points presented in what I hope is a healing dialoge.
First let me introduce myself. I am Tod Lane, I command the mounted troops for the Kentucky Cavalry Brigade.

What say you Sir?

Mr. Lane:

One of Stonewall Jackson's maxims, recently republished, is that you are known by the company that you keep. When the Kentucky Cavalry Brigade made its presence known last summer with an appeal for infantry for a music video shoot near Camp Wildcat, several of us went to the brigade's web site to look into the details.

I applaud your efforts to improve the unit's impression. However, that's not the message conveyed by the photographs of your unit in the field as posted on the website. Not by a long stretch.

I wish the Brigade success and luck on what is obviously a long journey.

[Miche_Todd]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

I hope I am not opening up a flame war here, because it is not my intention. However, I was disappointed in the lack of willingness on the part of the mainstream units in Ky to allow a change at Richmond. Since the mainstream already has a number of events scheduled throughout the year in Ky (just about every event with the exception of a couple of lhs and Shaker Village, perhaps Perryville) why were these units as a whole so unwilling to let go of one event? I know of several people in notoriously mainstream units that have intentionally been flooding the meetings of the BOR committee just so they could be sure and take control of the event, and stated their intentions while attending last years event as spectators.

Now, my questions are these, Mr. Lane, are you willing to have a set of authenticity standards at Richmond and stick to them? Limit the number of civilians to an accurate proportion and monitor their clothing and authenticity? If not, then it is still a mainstream event and will stay that way. Yes, I live within 45 minutes of this event but will not be attending for the same reason that I have every other year in the past with the exception of last year. It is exactly the same type of event that I can attend on just about any other weekend anywhere else in the state, and I prefer to not attend any of them. This last year at Wildcat was enough to prove to me that you can't be happy and be truly progressive in nature while attending mainstream events. The anachronisms are just too much and too glaring to warrant a good time.

[CPT Fritz]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Going back to Miche' Todd's 6 January response that the event would be "open to everybody, not just a few" is what causes the bad vibes among the reenactors. When you feel or are told that you're not welcome at an event, this drives a wedge between the different factions of the hobby and brings out the "I'm better than you" factor. If we're going to do this in a nice way, a lot of folks need to get their noses out of the air and quit acting like they are so much better than anyone. Offer to help in a nice way, not the I'm smarter/better than you and don't need your kind around attitutude.

[Miche_Todd]

Re: Richmond, Kentucky

Capt. Fritz, I hope that you don't take this in a way that sounds a lot harsher than I mean it too. But, what is wrong with having an event where there are only good and progressive impressions and that way we don't have to worry about those that don't wish to further their impressions? There is a time and place for educating those that wish to be, and I feel that what many that have expressed an interest in this event are looking for is something of a more EBUFU nature.