Company of Military Historians annual conference report

[gary]

Report from the annual conference of The Company of Military Historians held in Nashville, Tennessee.

For the early birds who arrived before the conferece there was an optional pre-conference tour (for those who signed up) of Murfreesboro battlefield (or Stones River) led by Ranger Jim Lewis. Jim Lewis is the park ranger/historian for the site and was gracious enough to come on his day off to show us around the battlefield. To save time, we were shown the video while riding on the bus from Nashville to the battlefield. While a lot of Murfreesboro has been developed, the prime area of fighting has been preserved (so we taxpayers did get our money's worth) by the National Park Service. Afterwards we were taken to the home of Sam Davis. In case you don't know, Sam Davis was a Confederate scout who was caught by the Union. He had a Union overcoat that was purportedly dyed brown (no chemical analysis made on the jacket which still exists) and after refusing to divulge his sources or the identity of his captain, was hung as a spy. Davis was martyred as the boy hero of the Confederacy and his home is owned by the state (though privately operated). On another day we visited the Carter House in Franklin where the famous Thomas Cartwright gave us a one hour tour of the place. He had to shoo out General Cheatam, the Carter House cat several times. Cartwright also pointed out the white lead marks on the brick houses that were leftover from the battle. As you know, the Pizza Hut is gone but the Dominos across the street is still standing. In the afternoon, we visited the Tennessee State Museum where we were given a behind the scene tour where we were shown us Confederate uniforms and battle flags not displayed to the public. The Tennesse War Memorial was last and it is a must see (and free) museum just one block up from the Tennessee State Museum.

On the last day of the conference, many of us visited Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage, which is within Nashville city limits. Swords, guns, uniforms, house (including the original Hermitage which was reduced from a two story log structure to a one story house for his slaves) and grounds.

Besides tours, talks were given by Ranger Jim Ogden of Chickamauga (Provisional Army of Tennessee), Cartwright (who covered Springhill & Franklin), Glenn Williams (Sullivan's Campaign against the Six Nations), David Jarnigan (the leather man all the reenactors love), Dan Pomeroy (King's Mountain), David Wright spoke (appropriately) of military art, Greg Biggs (TN Civil War flags and flag makers), Tom Kanon on Andrew Jackson and his dirty shirts (American militia). There were others, but these were split sessions so one could attend only half of the talks.

We had a hospitality suite that was well stocked with munchies, soda, bottled water and even hard liquor. I sissied out and stuck with the bottled water. It was fun to assemble with other members after dinner just to hear them informally talk about various things including uniforms, miltary history of all periods, show 'n tell (yep, people brought goodies to the hospitality room) and even museum practices.

Attendees were given a print to commemorate the conference (a tradition) as well as a commemorative medal (challenge coin) featuring the rifleman on obverse and Andrew Jackson on the reverse.

On my own (and with another member of the Company), I visited Fort Granger (Franklin), Fort Negley (Nashville) and the Williamson County Museum in Franklin (some UCV uniforms and some guns - many objects mislabeled).

Next year's meeting will be in Albany (where the Albanians are?) and will have side trips to Revolutionary War sites, West Point museum (where the curator is a member of the Company). Gwine and you too can gwine in the fun!

[hoosier]

When will the meeting in Albany take place?