- Joined
- Jun 24, 2011
- Location
- Middle Tennessee
Minie balls are worth a lot more than ex-wives!
Ain't that the truth...Minie balls are worth a lot more than ex-wives!
You know, I never thought of it that way. KM is hallowed ground for me. I spent part of my honeymoon there (yup, he's a good man, even though he's only mildly interested in the CW, lol!) My ancestor was killed at the Dead Angle, after only a few months of service. His Lieutenant left a full account of his death and we were able to stand pretty much where he fell all those years ago. We were also finally able to locate his grave, as I had found a GAR record listing the name he was buried under (probably due to illegible identification on his body according to one of the park service guys.)
I now live less than hour from there and haven't been back since my honeymoon (2000) because of the ridiculous congestion. I have noticed something living here that I've not noticed elsewhere - people love their parks. Parks in the rural, poor area where I grew up was mostly used for crack deals it seems.
Thank you OP for this thread, and thank you CheathamHill for you comments. My attachment to the park is emotional, very emotional. But now I kinda have a different viewpoint about those who love their park, but aren't emotionally attached to the history.
Best,
Debbie
..I have done a lot of research and spent many many...MANY of my days over the last few years going there on a weekly, sometimes daily basis. I was hoping to have a book out on just the actions at Cheatham Hill (as opposed to the Kennesaw Campaign as a whole), but "real life" has not allowed me to complete that project thus far.
CheathamHill, a technical question for you:
I think I satisfied myself as to this, but when I saw on my G-G-Grandfather Jasper Blair's 1902 pension application, Lightly wounded in the hip at Tennesaw Mountains[ SIC ] ( filled out by a parish clerk as Jasper was illiterate ) I immediately looked at all the maps I could find of the battle; every one shows Lowrey's Brigade in a different location - only one shows it at the head of Wagner's brigade assault where I think it must've actually been. I think I finally found somewhere that Lowery was in reserve, so no doubt the exact placement of his brigade in the line-of-battle is conjectural. I decided it was likely someplace in the vicinity of the modern Texas State Monument, which seems to me to be a little too far south to be on Granbury's actual position; any thoughts on this?
"Tin cup" has been on site, Joe, you took me there. My comment about the Illinois monument stems from my recalling Sam Watkins description of the battle, while looking at the actual area for the first time. I was thinking it would have been nicer to have the monument in front of the Confederate lines more lower down, designed more with the "lay of the land", just an opinion I had at the time that still sticks with me.No one could beat Dennis Kelly in telling the story about the dead angle, pointing out the spot where Watkins was positioned, pick axe mark on rocks, etc. I doubt if "Tin Cup" has a clue what he's talking about.
I have spent a few night on the "angle" and was there when the folks from ILL came down to re-dedicate the monument and the repairs that had been made to it.
I moved from Urbana, Illinois to Athens, GA in 1984. That first year I visited Kennesaw Mountain and, when I signed in, the ranger asked if I knew abut the Illinois Monument. I didn't and enjoyed the visit. Ten years later my uncle sent out our family tree and I learned that our ancestor, Jason Figg was in Co B, 11th Tennessee and most likely with Cheatham's Rifle's. He was killed at the Battle of Peachtree Creek on July 22, 1864 and I have been trying to locate a grave with no luck. It is very interesting to me that being an Illinois native that I have these roots. Jason's father served with the Confederacy and his brother with the Union. Here's is a shot from the Dead Angle one spring morning last year:
It would be likely he is buried at Atlanta's Oakland Cemetery. Most Confederates killed at Peachtree Creek and the next day at Atlanta are there if not buried on the field.