Hi Showmegal: Welcome to the boards. I'm pretty much a newcomer myself, and it's amazing how much you can learn here. Sounds as though we would be able to learn from you as well. We've been talking about a famous or infamous former resident of your state (depending on your viewpoint of course), Jesse James, on another thread in General Discussion called "Last Rebel of the Civil War", started by Dawna. You may or may not have some insight on that. Thanks for your previous posts and introducing yourself. Enjoy your stay..
Terry
__________________ "In this great struggle, this form of Government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one." Abraham Lincoln - August 18, 1864 Speech to the 164th Ohio Regiment
Welcome to the boards, Showmegal! We always enjoy new comers and we ladies, particularly welcome other women!
I for one hope you stick around for a long time!
I am, YMOS,
__________________ Thea
No one has permission to use any material from any of my posts on any CWT forum, the archives, or any other forum without my express written permission.
Hi Showmegal, I love the western theater and I have been to pretty much all the battlefields except Atlanta (soon I hope). I just went to Shiloh, Corinth and Parker's Crossroads with an avid "eastern theater" buddy and he was amazed. I mentioned Vicksburg and he cannot wait to go! Unfortunately, many of these fields of conflict are not marked and unless you have contact with a local, many of the locals are difficult to understand. For instance, you mentioned Briton's Lane; unless you get a guided tour, most everything is wrong about the battlefiel...roads have changed and even Grant's HQ (post Britton Lane) is incorrectly marked (a local politician owned the house and he claimed this). If you ever go back I can set you up with a buddy that will show you the real battlefied., The same goes with say Champion Hill, in order to really see the grounds you will get mighty strong stares unless you are with a folk they recognize and I was "toured" by a Ole Miss doing his masters and he was well known in that area. EXCELLENT info from him. The central MS Campaign is pretty much unmarked and I have a very goo friend that cann take you from Holly Springs down to the battle of Coffeeville. The are MANY of NB Forrests exploits to go and see. How about the little known but Grant's first battle at Belmont/Columbus. Check this place out and I think you will like it...then a lilttle further east there is Donelson. You HAVE to go to Andersonville. I think that is one of my favorite CW sites. Anyways, keep us up to date with your travels! Matt.
__________________ I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said I don't know.
-Mark Twain
Much to see in Franklin? Not to be critical Larry, but Franklin is over developed. I understand the battlefield folks (bless their hearts) are trying to buy the Pizza Hut where Cleburne fell. I hope they succeed. Franklin has the Carter House (good little museum) and Spring Hill with its memorial to the seven fallen Corn-fed Ginerals.
Now, Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain are both were visiting. If near Chickamauga, then Kennesaw, Pickett's Mill, Kolb's Church are also nearby as well as the Southern Railroad Museum with the General.
I went to the Franklin Battlefield. It was very hard to find. Try to find the Shiloh Battlefield...jeez. In both places, either the people had no clue to what we were looking for, or in the case of the cop in Franklin, he gave me directions out of town. My theory is that the people in Tennessee don't want anyone to find battlefields that were Union victories . Tried twice to find Stone River and finally gave up. Once I found the Franklin Battlefield, the place was nice. The little old lady at the desk was great. The head of the place was hostile and uncooperative. The store and park at Lookout Mountain is worth the trip; but the signs are very hard to find.
Calicoboy, Sorry your trip there wasn't as productive as it could have been.
Now you understand why, and how, Shiloh is still in pristine condition.
Yes a bit hard to find, but a state map would have gotten you there, mostly via 2 lane roads. In someways it seems easier to get to Shiloh via Chicago than from the Nashville, Franklin path.
But. once you get into the park, its really great. Off the beaten path, means fields more often clear of people, not packed like many others are, making for some excellent photos. I usually try and visit the battlefields during the wk, but even Sunday there wasn't very crowded,this time, when Ole and I made our trip there.
Am hoping our upcoming wkend trip to Vicksburg is not too crowded to get some good photos.
Chuck in IL.
One tip, don't expect to get a feel of the fighting there with a drive thru. My first trip was like that, the 2nd was 3 1/2 days 8am-5pm on the grounds and still didn't get to every part I wanted to see. Hope I can make another visit, before I can't walk way back to the Indian Mounds near the river and thru the woods to a small cavalry field.
Calicoboy, your message is interesting. I've been to Shiloh two or three times and continue to be in awe of the place. Mobile's description is pretty good. Shiloh is a big place and included three days activity, so it takes a while to get oriented and absorb. I can well remember the feeling that came over me as I entered the cemetery and walked back to the inlet in the rear where the boys were could in the raven by gunboat fire. I don't believe in ghosts, but..... As for Lookout Mt., yes a neat place and a good effort at orientation by the National Park Service, plus a nice community to boot. Poor old Franklin (est about 1794) fumbled a few passes in the past and lost a lot of the open space, but they haven't given up. Much needs to be done in the way of interpretative centers and general aides to orientation. The process of acquiring the golf course adjacent to the Carnton plantation is about to be fulfilled. That will add more than 100 acres of battlefield and the clubhouse will likely become an interpretive center and point of orientation. You didn't mention our SUV site at Winstead Hill which we continue to maintain and slowly develop as funds are available. The city recently acquired another large tract north of town which was witness to a cavalry charge by James Harrison Wilson during the battle of Franklin. The pieces in Franklin are coming together, but have far to go to turn the place into a battlefield park. The ingredients are there. There were more men killed on Dec 30, 1864 than on D-day. The recent opening and continued developments in Nashville, Murfreesboro and Columbia will help create a better product for us to showcase in Middle Tennessee. The Sam Davis Home and Forrest Boyhood home are up and running and well worth the visit. Lots of civil war burial sites in the three or four county area around and in Nashville. The times they are a changing as the population and interest grow.
I was just in Shiloh and Corinth and I do suggest a map but however, even if one gets lost the roads are nice to travel and in the case of Shiloh I pretty much went thru the backroads and the "real" roads of the time of the battle. I LOVE Shiloh because it is a bit more difficult to get to. Gettysburg and easy to get to, but my heart lies with Shiloh. Corinth is super also and worth the investigation. I plan Ft Donelson and Belmont this fall. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to see and wht NOT to miss? I am surprised it was difficult to find Sone's River...it is pretty much in the heart of Murfreesboro and it is a nice park albeit a fraction of the actual battlefield.
__________________ I was gratified to be able to answer promptly. I said I don't know.
-Mark Twain
Welcome Ma'am, (Showmegal),
I too, am from ol' Virginny. Born and raised there. Grew up in Ashby and Mosby country, McLean, and Front Royal. I know the Shenandoah and it's legends. The next time you get to Virginia, take a trek to the Valley, and it's many battlefields, Such as: Front Royal, Strasburg, Middletown (Cedar Creek), Winchester, Kernstown, Tom's Brook, Fishers Hill, and Berryville, are among the many battles and small skirmishes that took place there.
Welcome, and may your experiences here be pleasant and rewarding, of which I'm sure they will be. There is much to learn about the folks who frequent this board, as this will be the highlight of each and every visit here. Please feel free to chip in with anything that you might want to add, for every bit of conversation can lead to many interesting bits of information.
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. Tried twice to find Stone River and finally gave up. Once I found the Franklin Battlefield, the place was nice. The little old lady at the desk was great. The head of the place was hostile and uncooperative. The store and park at Lookout Mountain is worth the trip; but the signs are very hard to find.
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