Remembering Those We Lost: The Simpsonville Massacre, 160 Years Later

SHELBY COUNTY, KY – Its been 160 years since 22 African American soldiers were massacred in Simpsonville, KY. This horrific event took place on January 25, 1865 when these men, who belonged to the 5th US Colored Cavalry, were ambushed and murdered by Confederate guerillas while herding cattle from Camp Nelson (Nicholasville, KY) to Louisville, KY. The 5th US Colored Cavalry was formed at Camp Nelson, Kentucky during the American Civil War. This incident from Shelby County history is the focus of a PBS documentary. “Secrets of the Dead: The Civil War’s Lost Massacre” was co-produced by KET and WNET Group. It revisits these events by tracing the stories of several of the Kentucky soldiers and their families with help from guest historians and Shelby County Historical Society members, Jerry Miller and Juanita White.

Two upcoming public programs will commemorate these soldiers and the significance of this event:.

Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 10 am - 1 pm at Camp Nelson National Monument – A program to pay tribute to the soldiers who died. Held inside the Reconstructed Barracks and outside at the 5th US Colored Cavalry Memorial, located directly west of the White House at the park – please dress appropriately for the weather. Also included will be presentations by NPS staff, historians, genealogists, and archeologists, including an update of the ongoing project to determine the final mass grave of the slain soldiers, and a panel discussion including Miller and White. For more information on this event: Steve T. Phan, Chief of Interpretation, Education, and Visitor Services & Historic Weapons Supervisor, (859) 382-6902, tuan_phan@nps.gov, or www.nps.gov/cane. Camp Nelson is located at 6614 Danville Rd, Nicholasville, KY 40356.

“Secrets of the Dead: The Civil Wars Lost Massacre” Screening Event on Tuesday, February 18, 6 – 7:30 pm at the Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. 6th St., Louisville, KY. Free (Garage Parking is $6). Admission to the event is free, but registration is required. This event is produced in partnership with KET, the Muhammad Ali Center, The Filson Historical Society and the Shelby County Historical Society. For more information on this event or to register contact Garret McCorkle, Education Manager, MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER, (502) 992-5310, gmccorkle@alicenter.org, or alicenter.org.

“Secrets of the Dead” is a series which uses the latest science to challenge prevailing ideas and share fresh perspectives on historical events. The episode includes interviews with several of Kentucky’s Civil War scholars including Jerry Miller, a former state legislator from Louisville, and Juanita White, a docent at Farmington Historic Plantation in Louisville. Aided by University of Kentucky archaeologist Philip Mink and the university’s EduceLab Mobile Team, the episode shows viewers how historians have searched the land surrounding the massacre site, hoping to find the mass grave where the soldiers were hastily buried.


Event Date:
Saturday, January 25 10AM-1PM & Tuesday, February 18, 6–7:30pm
Event Location:
Camp Nelson National Monument, located at 6614 Danville Rd, Nicholasville, KY 40356.
Muhammad Ali Center, 144 N. 6th St., Louisville, KY.
Event Details:
“Secrets of the Dead: The Civil Wars Lost Massacre” Screening Event requires registration is required, contact Garret McCorkle, Education Manager, MUHAMMAD ALI CENTER, (502) 992-5310, gmccorkle@alicenter.org, or alicenter.org.

Download The Event Flyer HERE