As we wound our way through Hurricane Floyd on a very windy I-81 South, we stopped in Lexington, VA to pay respects to Marse Robert and Stonewall Jacksons' graves
Robert E. Lee's Statue in Lee Chapel. He is buried in the crypt of the chapel which is located at Washington and Lee University.
Stonewall Jackson's Grave - For once there were no lemons on it!
As we approached Knoxville, TN, we stopped by the house where General Longstreet had his headquarters during the Battle of Fort Sanders. Here Dan has the rare privilege of sitting in the chair the general used during his stay there.
We then headed on down to the actual Battlefield of Chickamauga. With a little hiking through the woods we finally came upon the 89th Ohio's monument at the extreme Union right on Snodgrass Hill. Our pard Christopher Wilson's Great Grandfather, Lt. Col. William Glenn of the 89th was captured here. The poor 89th Ohio never got orders to retreat during the confusion of battle.
Snodgrass Hill also known as Horseshoe Ridge
Dan at the Visitors Center under some guy named Longstreet's picture!
Dan at Longstreet's Headquarters at Chickamauga
Dan and Mr. Brotherton. Mr. Brotherton's great-uncle was Longstreet's scout during the battle!
Lee and Gordon's Mill - Mr. Brotherton is a guide there. It was a infamous landmark during the actual battle.
Finally it was time to get to the reenactment itself! So we went south about 20 miles to Ringold GA. The reenactment was on a U.S. Army tank training facility! Due to the drought the red clay of Georgia turned into the red dust of Georgia! We all started calling it Chokeamauga and Dustamauga! We also had to ford a creek between Federal Camp and Civilian Camp - which all the kids loved!
Saturday Morning's action
Saturday Afternoon's action - here come the Rebs!
The Frontier Brigade
Go west young man! Dan in western yank gear.
While watching the dance Saturday night we met some very nice Southern Gentlemen from the 19th Louisiana of Beck's Brigade. After discussing ancestry they along with the webmaster (who's tarheel ancestors were in Longstreet's Corps!) insisted that Dan had to go in Reb for Longstreet's assault on Sunday afternoon. The Sargent even loaned Dan his shell jacket that he wore in the film Gettysburg. Though a bit small for our pard he loved it and got to do a rebel yell on the double quick!
I gotta cut down on the hardtack!
We all forded the creek. My brogans are still muddy!
Dan and little Harrison have some fun
Sunset at the creek. It was a fun time in the old South!
We left the reenactment and went east towards Gainesville, GA. There we saw the General's grave. We also stopped by the General's Piedmont Hotel which the Longstreet Society is restoring.
General Longstreet's Grave - someone had left him a cigar!
Dan and Richard in front of the Hotel. Richard is with the Longstreet Society
We then headed up I85 North through South Carolina, North Carolina, and then to the D.C. area and home. It took us approximately 10 hours. Reminiscent of my childhood in the old North State (that's tar heel country for all you yanks!) Sure has changed since my grandmother was alive.
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