Clisby Austin spring house

The Clisby Austin spring house sits glowing in the late afternoon sun. Rolling meadows and woodlands surround the pre-Civil War home located on 80+ acres in Northwest Georgia.

Tunnel Hill GA covered bridge

This little covered bridge sits on Clisby Austin Rd as it crosses Tanyard Creek. Located on each side of the bridge are small viewing platforms. Looking out the left side, you can see trains running the Western & Atlantic route from Chattanooga TN through Dalton GA. To the right, the Clisby Austin House and Tunnel Hill Civil War battlefield can be seen from the bridge.

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.

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.

sleepy little Southern towns

Dotted all along Southern highways are sleepy little towns, just out of sight of busy interstates. Life goes on as always. Some folks are still farmers like their grandfathers before them. Others are shopkeepers like their fathers. Still others are lawyers and some computer geeks. Just plain folks living in the South.

But you may not meet any of them unless you exit the fast paced thoroughfares criss-crossing the South. This is part of Tunnel Hill, GA, with some of its 150+ year old buildings still being used. It's just 3 miles off I-75 and right on Highway 41.

The folks are friendly. Stop in and visit over a glass of sweet tea.

Tunnel Hill historical marker

I hadn't intended to concentrate on Civil War history. But there's just so much information found on roadside historical markers, I thought I'd post a few that are located in the Tunnel Hill and Dalton, GA, area.
Click on the image for high resolution.