150th Anniversary Battle of Atlanta in my words and pics

Sunday afternoon, I died.......
I have been waiting to for this event at Nash Farm, located just south of Atlanta, for the better part of this year. I started reenacting with the 53rd Georgia Infantry this past March. I participated in Little Manassas, Old Clinton War Days, and the 150th Battle of Resaca. In that time I had never "taken a hit" and died on the field until this past Sunday.

My work schedule and the restraints of real life had confined my participation in my new found activity to a minimum of two days on the weekend. I woke up the family at 4 a.m. (aka O' dark stupid.) We finished putting in the car what items we didn't already pack the night before and we hit the road. Two hours later we were at Nash Farms in Hampton Ga getting settled into the camp with the rest of my unit. Before you could say. "Leonidas Polk" I was decked out and ready to go. The company formed up and we went out for a few hours to do battalion maneuvers.  The morning was comfortable, a nice overcast day with a gentle breeze blew across us as we moved to the commands of. "Right Wheel, March," "Forward, march," "Left oblique, march."

All this in preparation for the "Big Show." I admit that I was lost in the euphoria of the moment. All my troubles of the past weeks had faded away. At this moment I was a Confederate soldier training with his unit. After the drill we came back to camp and socialized and caught up on the goings on of company business. We laughed, shared stories of past events and had a general good time. After lunch we formed up and went to our position on the battlefield. We took the trenches on the ridge line that would represent the action at Cheatham's Hill. Our company was in the center of the line. We waited and waited. skirmishers went forward. we waited some more. soon there was heard from our front the sound of random musketry.
The soldiers in our line tensed up. We looked forward searching through the tree lines ahead of us. We were looking for any sign of the dark blue of our ol' foe. The cannons behind us opened up with a loud report. remembering the trick I was taught. "Keep your mouth open and the concussion of the guns won't be so bad." After the barrage it came on our right flank. Then to our left. finally they hit us in the center. We drove them off each time they attacked. The field was littered with the dead. Then it was over. We had won.

Sunday's battle was the last event for the weekend. It also signaled the close of the week of events at Nash Farm. The time came and we formed up. The whole brigade took the field. As we marched down the road I felt somewhat at piece with myself. The sun was high in the sky, not a cloud was present or accounted for. I remember all the colors being vibrant and alive. The grass was green and the different shades of gray uniforms. The crisp sounds of bayonet scabbards clinking against metal cups hanging from haversacks as we marched. In the distance We could hear the fife and drums play. Soon we crossed the final hill and in all our glorious presentation we were in awe at the sight before us. In the distance was a small house on a ridge line. before it was a trench line filled with Federal Blue. to the flanks were batteries of field guns. As we went into line of battle my heart dropped a little. Fate was a cruel mistress indeed. The federal batteries opened up down the line. One gun after another. Our batteries responded in turn. This was the beginning of the action around the Troup-Hunt House Reenactment.

After the right flank advanced and was beaten back the order came for us to advance. I picked a spot way off in the distance to the right of the house and pointed it out to my friend Joel. "The other side of that house is home."
We advanced to the middle of the field. Fired several volleys. fell back. reformed, advanced. and fell back again. The Colonel yelled. "This is the last push. Take heavy casualties on the way boys." We did as ordered. We  broke through the trench line and drove them out and off the hill. Being almost in tears I looked for my fellow Company members. Only five of us remained. The moment had not past, for the sound of that ol' familiar foe was pressing towards us again. The five of us stood by as the men in gray were pushed back from their newly won prize. As the last few past us I gave the order to fire. We did and that was the end. We tried to take flight and catch up with our compatriots but, we were cut down. I fell face forward onto the ground beside one of my fellows. I rolled over onto my back. I grasped at my clothes looking for the wound. Then I shook a bit. and slowly faded into oblivion.

It was at this moment, laying there in the sun on that beautiful clear day,  that I remembered I had a relative die at the siege of Atlanta.  The first time I "died" at a reenactment happened to be here at Atlanta.

At the end of the event. Taps was played. The haunting notes filled the air. When it was complete, the order to "resurrect" was given and we all stood up. our wounds healed, our debts paid, Lost comrades found. enemies were now friends. There were laughter and cheers. hands were shook and the flags flapped in the breeze. Then we ask ourselves. "Did it not seem real, was it not as in the old days?"

Members of the Georgia Volunteer battalion

All quiet on the hill.

The period band "Un-Reconstructed" performed at the Ball Saturday night.

The monument to the soldiers both north and south who fought at Nash Farm.

Drilling a new recruit

Confederate trench line as seen from center to left flank.

The Confederate Right Flank under pressure at Cheatham's Hill reenactment.

Plan?! What Plan?!

I have been working on he modeling aspect of this venture for some time. Trying to juggle the responsibilities of modern life that include a family and a job with a hobby. I can say with some degree of certainty that it has been an emotional journey.

General Magruder checks his troops somewhere near Yorktown Va.

With that said, here are my goals for the last half of 2014.

1. Have enough miniatures completed for a historical game. (Williamsburg, Seven Pines, Mechanicsville.)

2. Attend the  150th Anniversary Battle of Atlanta Reenactment in Sept.

3. Not get kicked out of the house by an angry wife. (not a joke.)



The first goal may seem a bit overwhelming to some if they have not done this before. I am taking it in pieces and parts. I have been building by brigade. First, a Union brigade then a Confederate brigade.

My interest is in the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. I have been modeling Armies and Generals for this time period. I wish to do the battles in order and post them here on this blog.

Personal Note: When attempting to convert a historical battle into a playable scenario, it is good to take a large battle into pieces. A perfect example would be The Battle of Seven Pines. There was action on both sides of the Richmond and York River Rail Road track. General Whiting and General Sedgwick on the north side of the track and General D.H. Hill and General Casey at the redoubt south of the track.
A person can, with a little research, turn the battle into a mini campaign. First fight the action south of the track and finish with the action north of the track.
A larger battle such as Mechanicsville can be played in the same way.

Now on to the Pictures. Here is what I've been up to.....

General Joe Johnston. Modified from General McClellan Model.

General John B. Magruder. Modified from General Burnside model.

Close up of General Magruder. I tried to emphasis his
mustache and sideburns.

Gen. Daniel Harvey Hill. Modified from General Barksdale model.

Another angle of Gen. D.H. Hill

General Ambrose Powell Hill. modeled wearing his famous red "battle shirt."
Also riding his dapple gray horse "Champ."

Another angle of Gen. A.P. Hill.

General Robert E. Lee with Army of Northern Virginia HQ Flag.

Another pic of General Robert E. Lee riding "Traveller"

General James Longstreet riding his horse "Hero."

General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson on "Little Sorrel."

General Stonewall Jackson. Looks like he may be ready for
the "Shenandoah Valley Campaign."

General J.E.B. Stuart.

General Philip Kearny. Model modified from a mounted officer wearing a kepi.
I added the coat/cloak draped over his left shoulder. Kearny lost his arm in the Mexican War.

Another angle of Gen. Phil Kearny. I updated this General by rebasing him with a guidon bearer.

Another view of Gen. Kearny.

General Ambrose Burnside.

General George B. McClellan. Army of the Potomac.
This model is striking a very "Napoleonic" pose.

Another pic of "Little Mac."

General Ulysses S. Grant. I know he was in the Western Theatre at this time period.
I liked the model and wanted to show it off.

Another view of Gen "Unconditional Surrender" Grant riding "Cincinnati."
He aquired this horse in 1864.

Historically, there was a joke why McClellan couldn't capture Richmond.
He had to cross two "Hills" and then go down a "Longstreet."
From left to right. Gen. Longstreet, D.H. Hill, and A.P. Hill.

Federal and Confederate Cavalry in progress. "Ride around McClellan" Scenario?

Seeing the Elephant, A recollection from the line of battle

Standing behind the barricade I looked out across the field. I seen the line of blue coated soldiers emerge from the opposing tree line at roughly five hundred yards out.  Every instinct in my body was telling me to go ahead and shoot. My fingers grasped my musket tightly. The skirmishers out front, kneeling behind their log protection, began to waiver on our immediate left. From somewhere behind me, the First Sergeant repeats the order given from the Captain. "Alight, let'em have it!"
A mixed sensation of training and survival instinct swept over me as I raised my musket, took aim, and let the hammer drop. Everything around me faded to background. The Cannons firing to the left and right, my fellow comrades, all seemed to be in slow motion as I watched the blue coated soldiers come nearer and nearer. I was scared to look away as my hand fumbled to remove a cartridge from my cartridge box. Never taking my eyes off the enemy I placed the cartridge to my mouth and tore it open with my teeth. At great risk I looked to the top of my musket barrel to see what I was doing. I poured the contents down the barrel. raising the musket up and resting it over my cap box. I again look down range to see the Union soldiers even closer than before. My hand fumbled for a cap. I then placed it on the cone under the hammer. I then locked the hammer back to full cock. raised the rifle, and then fired. After several shots the enemy fell back. A sudden wave of excitement came over me as I yelled at the retreating Yankees. "Come on back!" and then a few whoops and yelps.

This was my first experience as a American Civil War reenactor. I had officially seen the elephant. For a brief moment in time the trappings of the modern world fell away and I was transported 150 years ago to some nameless battle. This is when the moment of clarity hit me. For the first time since researching my ancestors who fought so long ago, I had a taste of what it was like to actually "be there." Though relatively safe, the feeling was still present. I come away with a greater respect for the men on both sides of the conflict. It must have taken a great amount of personal courage to stand in a long line with others knowing that you could possibly never see another sunset. Yet, with almost the certainty of death looming over their shoulder, they continued on.

Driving home that Saturday evening, I contemplated my revelation to my wife as our daughter slept in the backseat. She made a point to mention that my service in Iraq was different but, In most respects it was the same. Duty, Honor, and Respect seem to be timeless principles.
I felt humbled. I felt like most reenactors do. When I put on that uniform from this time period and lived the life of a soldier for a day, I felt like I am honoring the memory of these brave souls. Through reenactors, the past comes alive in brilliant color. It is no longer some dried bit of information in a old book. As a reenactor, you are a living, breathing, interactive knowledge base on the lives of a Civil War soldier. I can tell you  that it is an interesting feeling being the voice of the past.

Next up;  Old Clinton War Days in Clinton Ga. First weekend in May.
I'm still working on some articles from interviews I have conducted.
There are a more equipment, historical figures, profiles coming as well.
I am continuing my Wargaming Army as well.

We will be changing the name of the blog at the end of the month to reflect the larger scope of interests this blog covers. The new name will be active  the first week of April.
Please follow this blog so you won't miss out on the change.