Cold Mountion

[texascavcadet]

I never got a chance to see it, but I imagine someone here on Civil War Talk did. Was it good? Do yall think it made some people want to reenact? Some say it was "OK"

What do yall think?

[larry_cockerham]

Cold Mountain was probably not a great inspirational film for reenactors. They spent a few minutes with the explosion at Petersburg, mostly inside the compound. The outdoor scenes mostly dwelled on renegades doing less than honorable deeds. Gettysburg or Gods and Generals were far better for your purpose.

[texascavcadet]

Yes thats what i heard , I think Gettysburg or Glory, Shenadoah
were classics

[william42]

I agree with Larry that it probably wasn't a good film as far as re-enacting, but I did learn from it. I had no idea that there existed such things as a "home guard" in the south, or at least in that Carolina region, as it was shown in the movie. I don't remember it in any of my reading. If the movie was anywhere close to the truth about the people involved with the home guard, then I think if I were a Johnny Reb I'd have a tough time deciding which way to go - home to help my family or staying in the war. It's tragic that those kind of people existed back home for the boys to have to deal with, if they made the decision to leave the fight, especially considering the hardships they endured while doing their time in the war itself.

Terry

[gary]

As a point of order, South Carolinians were on the site of Elliot's Salient (the Crater) when she blew and not North Clina types.

[larry_cockerham]

My own gg grandfather Cockerham, a young man with five kids at the time was harrassed by the home guard in Wilkes County, North Carolina in 1863. He joined the 10th TN US Cavalry and served til war's end while his brother who shared his farm and the two of them married to sisters, served the entire war as a Confederate, as did most of the neighbors. Yep, the home guard existed all over the south. That was much the reason for the original clan in Tennessee that had Gen. Forrest as it's figurehead. This was not a pretty time.

[larry_cockerham]

While the Cold Mountain movie was highly fictional, the old lady with the goats and herbs is a conglomerate of rural isolated mountain self medicine of the time, though probably a bit prior to the civil war. Her helpful attitude toward the young soldier would have been typical of mountain folk, an attitude that still exists today.

[Fifth Iowa]

I found the film quite moving. The combat scenes were brief, but powerful. The portrayal of the harsh life (the war, so to speak) of the civilians on the homefront carried an even greater emotional impact. I agree that it would not be particular useful as a recruiting tool, but I would highly commend the movie for viewing. (Aside, I regret to say, from some unnecessary nudity that has become endemic in contemporary cinema.) The young soldier whose journey home comprises one story arc in Cold Mountain is extremely noble. Although the film portrays some of the saddest aspects of the war, it also upholds some truly virtuous themes.

[william42]

Larry, thanks for the story on your ancestors. I didn't know that the home guard was that entrenched in the rest of the south. I guess it was pretty much everywhere. It seems as though the south could've put the people involved in the guard to better use... like on the front lines. The movie gives the impression that for the most part they were cowardly bushwhackers and not much else. But, as I know little about it I'd best abstain from any further comments. One of my major faults is that being only partially informed on a particular subject doesn't necessarily stop me from voicing my opinion about it. Thanks again for your post, Larry. Take care.

Terry

[texascavcadet]

Thanks for the info, I think it was filmed someplace in south america or in jungle.