Friday marks 200th Anniversary of Fort Mims attack

Today (August 30, 2013) marks the 200th anniversary of the attack on Fort Mims, Alabama, by Red Stick warriors during the Creek War of 1813-1814.

To learn more about the attack, please visit http://southernhistory.blogspot.com/2013/08/200th-anniversary-of-fall-of-fort-mims.html.

A full weekend of commemorative events is planned at Fort Mims State Historic Site.

Here is the full schedule for the weekend, including times of the reenactments that are scheduled for today, Saturday and Sunday.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

200th Anniversary of Fort Mims

Friday, August 30th

8:00 a.m.     Gates Open

8:30 a.m.     Mules and wagons begin shuttle services.

9:00 a.m.     Music, demonstrations and crafts begin.

10:00 a.m.   Flag raising, memorial and dedication services.

12:00 noon   REENACTMENT ON ACTUAL 200th ANNIVERSARY

1:00 p.m.     Activities, craftsmen, food, music and more.

3:00 p.m.     Events close for the day.

Saturday, August 31st

9:00 a.m.     Gates open, wagons rolling, demonstrations and more.

10:00 a.m.    Flag Raising and Pledge of Allegiance

11:00 a.m.    REENACTMENT OF BURNT CORN CREEK BATTLE

12 noon     Speakers discuss the Tensaw Country and Fort Mims

2:00 p.m.     REENACTMENT OF FORT MIMS ATTACK

3:00 p.m.     Events close fot he day.

Sunday, September 1st

9:00 a.m.     Gates open, crafts and demonstrations begin.

9:30 a.m.     Flag Raising and Pledge of Allegiance

10:00 a.m.    Pioneer Church and old time singing.

11:00 a.m.    REENACTMENT OF BURNT CORN CREEK BATTLE.

12 noon       Speakers discuss the Tensaw Country and Fort Mims

2:00 p.m.     REENACTMENT OF FORT MIMS ATTACK

To reach Fort Mims from I-65, take Exit #34 (Bay Minette/Stockton) and turn north on AL 59 towards Stockton. Follow AL 59 for 47.2 miles to the community of Tensaw. When you reach Tensaw, turn left on Boatyard Road (CR 80) and follow it for 7 miles to Fort Mims Road and turn right. The fort site will be just ahead, but watch for signs for off-site parking as you arrive on location.

To read more about the history of Fort Mims, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortmims1.

Reenactment of Battle of Marianna, Florida set for September 24th.



Ely-Criglar Mansion in Marianna

Marianna Day, which features a parade, live music, memorial services and a battle reenactment, will be observed on Saturday, September 24th, in Marianna, Florida.
The city is located along Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 in the Florida Panhandle, 66 miles west of Tallahassee, 133 miles east of Pensacola, 55 miles north of Panama City and 36 miles south of Dothan, Alabama.

The annual Marianna Day event commemorates the Battle of Marianna, a Civil War engagement that culminated the deepest penetration of Confederate Florida by Union troops during the entire Civil War. It was one of the fiercest small battles of the war and involved full speed cavalry charges, a bayonet assault and hand to hand combat.

St. Luke's Church, Scene of Heavy Fighting

The Battle of Marianna took place on September 27, 1864, when a Union column led by Brigadier General Alexander Asboth launched simultaneous frontal and flank attacks on the city, which was defended by the Confederate forces of Colonel Alexander Montgomery. Both commanders had been wounded earlier in the war - Asboth at Pea Ridge and Montgomery at Second Manassas - and many of their men had already fought on some of the largest battlefields of the war. The result was a confrontation unlike any other fought in the Deep South during the entire war. To learn more, please visit www.battleofmarianna.com or consider the book: The Battle of Marianna, Florida: Expanded Edition (also available for Kindle and iBooks download).

The main day of events will begin on Saturday morning (Sept. 24th) was a parade through downtown Marianna. The downtown reenactment will immediately following the end of the parade. Other events planned for the day include memorial services, a fall festival featuring live music at Madison Street Park beginning at noon and a mock battle complete with cannon fire (not a representation of the real battle) at 3 p.m. at Citizens Lodge Park on Caverns Road. A second mock battle will be held at Citizens Lodge Park on Sunday (Sept. 25th) at 3 p.m. Please click here for more information on the weekend's events.

Reenactment of the Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida set for this Weekend

Natural Bridge Battlefield

The 146th anniversary of the Battle of Natural Bridge will be commemorated this weekend with a reenactment and other activities at Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park near Tallahassee, Florida.

Fought on March 6, 1865, the battle was one of the last significant Confederate victories of the Civil War. It preserved Tallahassee's status as the only Southern capital east of the Mississippi not captured by Union troops, kept the small port of St. Marks open to blockade runners and prevented the economic destruction of an important area of North Florida and South Georgia by Federal forces. It came just five weeks before General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

The Battle of Natural Bridge resulted from a major amphibious assault by Union troops. Moving up the Gulf of Mexico from posts at Key West and Cedar Key, U.S. transport steamers arrived off the mouth of the St. Marks River in late February of 1865. Joined there by a large flotilla of Union warships, the steamers held position while General John Newton and his officers developed their plans.

Confederate Earthworks at Natural Bridge

During the first week of March, demolition parties were sent ashore to destroy railroad bridges east and west of Tallahassee and then the navy began the difficult task of bringing the main body of Newton's command to shore at the St. Marks Lighthouse south of Tallahassee. The amphibious night landing was hampered by shallow water and darkness, but the men finally got ashore and started inland. The warships, meanwhile, began a move up the St. Marks River to engage Confederate batteries and put ashore hundreds of sailors who were to serve as additional infantry during the expedition.

The naval side of the expedition was a complete failure, due to difficulty encountered navigating the narrow twisting river channel. Things went even worse for the land force. Despite eight courageous charges, the Union troops (composed primarily of the 2nd and 99th USCT regiments) were handed a bloody defeat at the Battle of Natural Bridge.

To learn more about this unique and often overlooked battle, please consider the expanded edition of my book, The Battle of Natural Bridge, Florida (also available as a Kindle download). You can also learn more and access a  schedule of this weekends events at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/nbindex.

Battle of Prairie Grove Reenactment is This Weekend (December 4-5)

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park

The 148th anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas - one of the largest Civil War battles fought west of the Mississippi River - will be marked by a weekend of activities and battle reenactments.

The actual battle took place on December 7, 1862, when Confederate General Thomas Hindman drove north out of the Boston Mountains between two weeks of the divided Union Army of the Frontier. Hindman hoped to defeat one division of the Federal army before it could be reinforced by the other, allowing him to overwhelm the larger force and retake Northwest Arkansas for the Confederacy.

At its height, the battle involved some 22,000 soldiers fighting along miles of a low ridge. An estimated 2,700 men and boys were reported killed, wounded or missing. You can read more about the battle itself at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ArkansasPG1.

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park is located on U.S. Highway 62 in Prairie Grove, 12 miles southwest of Fayetteville, Arkansas (if coming via Interstate 540, take the Farmington exit).

Here is a full schedule of planned events for both days. Activities will begin tomorrow morning (Saturday, December 4th) and continue through Sunday (December 5th).

 

Saturday, December 4th - All Day - Sutlers Row open along the historic stone wall. 

Book signing starting at 9 a.m. - Fields of Blood: The Prairie Grove Campaign by Dr. William Shea - Latta Barn.

7:00 A. M. – Reveille.  (A bugle call at about sunrise signaling the first military formation of the day)

8:00 A. M.  – 5:00 P.M. – Latta barn is open with gift shop & book store.

9:00 A. M. -11:00 A. M.  - All Camps open to public.

9:15 A.M. - Company Drill (by maneuver companies) at Drill Area

10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. - Latta kitchen open with fireplace cooking demonstrations by Janice Neighbor.

10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. – Demonstration of the traditional art of spinning thread, and discuss the basics of making cloth by members of Wool and Wheel Handspinners at Morrow House.

10 A. M. – noon - The Civil War Garden - Washington County Master Gardeners - Inquire in the Latta House

10 A. M. - "A Call to resist the invading abolitionist hordes” - Porch of the Latta House by Ian Beard, Old Statehouse Museum

10:00 A.M. - Bayonet Drill (optional and open to all infantry troops) at Drill Area.

10:30 A.M. - Battalion drill and arms inspection by park personnel - Weapons inspection.  Public viewing near respective camps drills area.  

12:00 P. M - "A plea for the citizenry of Arkansas to retake her rightful place in the Union of States" - Porch of the Latta House by Ian Beard, Old Statehouse Museum

12:00 P. M. – Spectator viewing line open preparing for Demonstration.  

12:15 P.M. - Form for battle, arms inspection by park personnel – Public viewing from Spectator Safety line.

12:45 P.M. – All camps closed to public, movement of troops & spectators to battlefield area

1:00 P.M. – Presentation marking 148^th anniversary of the battle.

1:10 P.M. - Explanation of battle and last reminder about crowd safety

1:15 P.M. - Battle demonstration near the Borden House.  Battle commences.

2:00 P.M. - Wounded gathered to hospitals for medical demonstrations by US & CS surgeons. Battle ends.

2:30 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.  – All Camps re-open to the public.

3:30 P.M. - Period "rounders" (baseball) game at Ozark village by church and school. 

5:00 P.M.  – All Camps closed to public, last self guided tour ends

7:00 P.M. - Period Dance – Location Hindman Hall

 

Sunday, December 5th - All Day - Sutlers Row open along the historic stone wall. 

7:00 A. M. – Reveille.  (A bugle call at about sunrise signaling the first military formation of the day)

8:00 A. M.  – 5:00 P.M. – Latta barn is open with gift shop & book store.

8:00 A. M.  to 11:00 A. M. – Late arrivals to register at Latta barn.

8:30 A. M. – Generals & Chiefs of Staff Call - Joint Federal/Confederate– Location: Latta Barn

9:00 A. M. -11:00 A. M.  - All Camps open to public, self guided tour begins.

9:15 A.M. - Company Drill (by maneuver companies) at Drill Area.

10:00 A.M. - Period Church service at log church & catholic mass at the Jim Parks Shelter

10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. - Latta kitchen open with fireplace cooking demonstrations by Janice Neighbor.

11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. - Demonstration of the traditional art of spinning thread, and discuss the basics of making cloth by members of Wool and Wheel Handspinners at Morrow House.

11:00 A.M. - Bayonet drill (special demonstration by picked squad only) at Drill Area.

11:00 A.M. - Battalion drill and arms inspection by park personnel - Weapons inspection.  Public viewing near respective camps drills area. 

12:00 P. M. – Spectator viewing line open preparing for Demonstration.  

12:15 P.M. - Form for battle, arms inspection by park personnel - Public viewing from Spectator Safety line.

12:45 P.M. – All camps closed to public, movement of troops & spectators to battlefield area.

1:00 P.M. – Presentation marking 148^th anniversary of the battle.

1:10 P.M. - Explanation of battle and last reminder about crowd safety

1:15 P.M. - Battle demonstration near the Borden House.  Battle commences.

2:00 P.M. - Wounded gathered to hospitals for medical demonstrations by US & CS surgeons. Battle ends.

2:15 P.M. – All camps open to public, no tours.

3:00 P.M. – End of reenactment – Closing of all encampments to public. 

Battle of Natural Bridge Commemoration - Florida

The 144th anniversary of the Battle of Natural Bridge was observed this weekend at Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park near Tallahassee, Florida.

Beautiful spring weather with blue skies and temperatures in the 80s brought out a huge crowd that numbered into the thousands. Events included a memorial service at 1 p.m. followed by the annual reenactment of the battle that preserved Tallahassee's status as the only Confederate capital east of the Mississippi not taken by Union troops during the Civil War.

The event was made even more special this year by the recent announcement that the State of Florida had completed the acquisition of 55 more acres of key battlefield land at the site. The Natural Bridge battlefield was ranked as one of the ten most endangered Civil War battlefields in the country by the Civil War Preservation Trust, but the new land purchase means that the critical core of the scene of the fighting will now be preserved.

The announcement of the new land purchase during today's Memorial Ceremony and Annual Pilgrimage by Barry Burch, Park Manager, brought wild cheering and applause from the crowd.

The ceremonies, which were sponsored by the Anna Jackson Chapter 224 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, were followed by a presentation by a reenactor portraying the Abolition leader and statesman Frederick Douglass.

The Douglass presentation was followed by the main battle reenactment itself. This year's event featured barrages of cannon fire from both sides of the river along with pyrotechics that simulated the explosions of shells, infantry attacks and volleys of musket fire.

The actual Battle of Natural Bridge was fought on March 6, 1865, when a Union force landed at the St. Marks Lighthouse south of Tallahassee and began a march on both Florida's capital city and the nearby city of Thomasville, Georgia. Commanded by General John Newton, who had fought at Gettysburg and during the Atlanta Campaign, the Federal troops were turned back in an attempt to get across the St. Marks River at nearby Newport, so they turned north along the east bank of the river hoping to force a crossing at the Natural Bridge.

Major General Samuel Jones rushed Confederate troops to the threatened point and the key battle of the campaign took place along the banks of the river as Union forces launched 8 distinct assaults on the Southern lines, each one ending in failure.

The battle ended in a bloody debacle for Newton's command. He lost 150 men in the fighting along the St. Marks River, compared to only 50 Confederate losses. To learn more about this fascinating battle, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/nbindex.

Battle of Prairie Grove Events set for Next Weekend

Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Northwest Arkansas is planning a full slate of events next weekend to commemorate the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the battlefield park.

Prairie Grove Battlefield is located in the town of Prairie Grove just southwest of Fayetteville and the Northwest Arkansas metro area.

The battle was one of the most significant of the Civil War and one of the bloodiest of the war in the Trans-Mississippi. Tens of thousands of Union and Confederate troops battled for control of the ridge at Prairie Gove in an all-day battle in 1862. Although the fighting ended in a tactical draw, Confederate forces withdrew during the night leaving Northwest Arkansas in the hands of the Union.

The battlefield park today is one of the most beautifully preserved in the nation. Walking trails and a driving tour take visitors through the areas of heaviest fighting and past numerous preserved landmarks, including the historic Borden House seen here. Some of the heaviest and bloodiest fighting of the day took place in the yards and orchards around the house site.

If you would like to learn more about next weekend's events, which include the unveiling of a new painting of the battle, large-scale reenactments, living history demonstrations and more, please visit http://civilwararkansas.blogspot.com. The site will offer detailed information on plans for next weekend through the coming week.

You can also read more about the Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/ArkansasPG1.