The Battle of Leatherwood reenactment site in Cornettsville has received another donation of land from the original donor of the battle site — a donation that adds nearly six acres of land.

Marion Miniard, D.M.D., presented the deed to what he called Phase 2 of the land donation for the historic site to the Perry County Fiscal Court this week alongside fully costumed battle re-enactors.

“In 2005 I gave the first phase of that property, which is about two and a half to three acres, and now with the committee, with support of the community and this court and tourism, you now have a village there,” Miniard addressed the court on Tuesday. “Within the last six months, I have chosen to give the last part, Phase 2 of the Civil War site. This area, in my mind, has a big potential for the future with regard to a park setting.”

The site that was originally donated in Phase 1, Miniard explained, is one on which a Civil War skirmish was fought over a Confederate controlled salt works industry, which was one of the first industries here in Eastern Kentucky between about 1825 to 1880.

“Even though it’s small, it’s significant. Civil War sites in this country are getting to be scarce, particularly ones in a pristine state, and that’s pretty much the site at Leatherwood. (It) is in as pristine state as it was in the 1860s,” he said.

With this second donation of land to the reenactment site, Miniard said he hopes to help not only preserve the area’s history but also to educate those in the community who may not have learned about it in conventional history classes.

“It’s something I think that my parents would approve of; the land is not something that I want divided any other way. I just encourage the court to give us support,” Miniard said.