Southern hospitality

We Southern ladies know how to throw a bash! This was the refreshment table at the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center's "Echoes of Our Past" artists' reception. There was cool white punch, almond cookies, banana nut loaves, white grapes, nacho chips, ginger snaps, sugar cookies - just to name a few goodies. And they were all hand-made by artist Sandra Babb, who also furnished the table decorations including flowers from her garden. Historical Foundation members, the featured artists and Civil War reenactors stopped in for a snack.

horse soldier

Sunday skies were beautiful blue at the Battle of Tunnel Hill. This horse soldier was walking his horse in preparation for the battle. Soldiers would water their horses before they themselves would drink. They depended upon each other for survival.

dancing at Meadowlawn

During the Civil War reenactment weekend in Tunnel Hill, there is a Saturday night ball complete with era authentic music played by bandmembers wearing period clothing. There is no sound equipment used. The ladies and gents are dressed in their finery as they dance the Virginia Reel and the Tennessee Waltz. The event begins at 7:30 pm and goes on until everyone is too exhausted to dance another step. There's root beer, apple cider and sarsaparilla for drinking. Everyone will be up early the next morning getting ready for Sunday's outdoor church service and the battle to follow.

cannons away

I was fortunate enough to catch a smoke ring from cannon fire at the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" reenactment on Saturday. You can see it just to the left of center in the clouds.

once upon a meadow

This is one scene from last years reenactment. The battle lasts for 45 minutes to an hour. Just when you think you've decided the outcome, you'll be surprised. Stop in to enjoy the living history, sip some homemade root beer, and wander among the sutlers' tents. It's a step back in time.

near the "Big House"

This building sits just outside the fence at the Clisby Austin House - the "Big House". I just returned from the battlefield and reenactors are setting up period tents getting ready for this weekend's "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. The weather man says there's only a 20% chance of showers on Saturday. It was a gorgeous morning with a breeze and the smell of hay. Hope you can come by and see us.

early in the battle

This photo from last years reenactment shows soldiers around the headquarters. Soon mounted troops swept across the field and clashed with foot soldiers, guns firing and swords drawn.

Clisby Austin House

Union General William T. Sherman plotted the destruction of Confederate troops in his Atlanta Campaign and March to the Sea while staying in the Clisby Austin House in Tunnel Hill, GA. Just around the corner from Clisby Austin, Union soldiers who were eventually the first soldiers ever to win the Medal of Honor raced with a hijacked Southern steam engine, The General, through the Western and Atlantic Railroad tunnel.
In just a few more days, the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" reenactment will take place on this historic property. It reminds us that there was once a war fought here.

Sumner's Headquarters

I was painting Saturday at the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" property and thinking about how peaceful it is. Then there came a "clang, clang, clang" from the Southern meadow. After crossing Keys Battery I saw the noisemaker was Joe Don Holland who was staking out the reenactors' parking area. A few reenactors are already camping out and planning for the coming weekend. This photo shows the cabin used as headquarters during the battle. Off to the right you can see the Clisby Austin house. I hope you're making plans to come see the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" on September 6th and 7th.

Southern ladies

These Southern ladies - belles if you like - were enjoying a Saturday morning stroll at last year's "Battle of Tunnel Hill" reenactment. I have been told that the proper genteel Southern lady of the past wore no less than 5 petticoats - no matter what the weather. I'm glad that it's now proper to wear t-shirts and shorts in 90+ degree Summer weather.

morning conversations

This was early on Saturday morning last year at the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. Off to the right is a line of period tents complete with sleeping essentials, cookwares and campfires. You can see the cannons ready for manning by the 'Yankee' reenactors. There's a camaraderie among all the participants, both Rebels and Yanks, because they remember that those who died in battle were ALL Americans.

directions to the "Battle of Tunnel Hill"

As promised, here are driving directions to the "Battle of Tunnel Hill" (GA) Civil War reenactment to be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 6th and 7th. Gates open at 9:00am. Admission is $5. Gates close at 4:00pm.

Coming south from Chattanooga, TN, on I-75, take exit #345 (Ringgold/Tunnel Hill). At the end of the ramp, turn right (south) onto Hwy 41. Drive 3.9 miles --- watch the speed limits, THEY MEAN IT. Turn left onto Oak Street. Stay straight for .3 mile. Event parking is on the right.

Coming north from Atlanta, GA, on I-75, take exit # 336 (Dalton/Rocky Face). At the bottom of the ramp, turn left (north) onto Hwy 41. Drive 5.0 miles. Turn right onto Oak Street. Stay straight for .3 mile. Event parking is on the right.

My art group, the Art Alliance of North Georgia, is sponsoring a paint-out during the event. It's in conjunction with the International Plein Air Painters "Worldwide Paintout". Hope you can drop in and visit.

Battle of Tunnel Hill next weekend

I will post some photos this week of last year's "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. Next weekend, Saturday and Sunday, September 6th and 7th, will see hundreds of reenactors decend upon Tunnel Hill to participate in this annual event. The property is located just off Highway 41 in Tunnel Hill, GA. There will be a battle reenactment lasting 45 minutes to an hour. Soldiers on horseback, cannons blasting and bugles sounding -- you'll positively have goosebumps and a lump in your throat. Plan to visit this event.

early hay

This was the first hay cutting at the Tunnel Hill battlefield. These bales are already in the barn and the second cutting is waiting for pickup. This early morning photo shows the shadow of Chetogeeta Mountain falling across the meadow. It won't be long until the knoll to the left will sprout canvas tents housing Civil War reenactors.

Meadowlawn Springhouse

Everyone in Tunnel Hill, GA, is gearing up for the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment set for September 7th and 8th. This is an early morning photo of the springhouse located near the Clisby Austin house, a pre-Civil War plantation home. The spring still runs with crystal clear, cool water. The hay has just been cut again and baling will take place very soon. Ah-h-h-h the smell of new mown hay!!!

bridge to yesteryear - PHOTO TO BE POSTED AGAIN

Turning off Highway 41 onto Oak Street, you drive through this little covered bridge to get to the Clisby Austin house. Most of the year the property is peaceful - except during the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. During the event, the meadow to the extreme right is used for parking and thousands of visitors will walk through the bridge, sometimes stopping to view the little creek underneath.

Battle of Tunnel Hill blacksmith shop

This blacksmith shop sits on the property soon to host the annual "Battle of Tunnel Hill" Civil War reenactment. The event dates are September 6th and 7th - just a little more than 2 weeks away!! Excitement is in the air! Reenactors are already scouting out campsites.

My art group, Art Alliance of North Georgia, will be onsite both days painting en plein air -- and we'd like to invite other artists to come join us in the premier "Tunnel Hill Battle Paintout". I'll be posting some of the paintings to my art blog at http://www.beejw.blogspot.com/ and be sure to check out http://www.southernpleinairpainters.blogspot.com/ for more artwork by fellow artists who will be at the event.

Battle of Tunnel Hill

These reenactors participated in the Battle of Tunnel Hill in September of '07. The meadow was still under a blue haze from cannon fire. The weekend after Labor Day is the annual Civil War reenactment in this small North Georgia town. Plan to join us this year, sip some cold lemonade and learn about the heritage of our forefathers.