Recapping a quiet summer break:
If you're following along, you’ll notice that there hasn’t been much in the way of posting in a few months on this site.
For our company, the summer months are usually a time of rest within the hobby, it’s just too hot for many to want to host events, much less to attend them.
There have been a few happenings in recent months, but these events have been limited. In fact, following Resaca, I have been to one event which took place the final weekend of June at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Kennesaw, Georgia. We joined the gentlemen of the Cotton States Battalion at their living history program held at Cheatham Hill. From the 31st, only four of us were able to attend the event which was designed to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.
It was quite hot, too hot to be quite honest and did in fact result in my early departure from the event for the first time in my career as a living historian. This event consisted of infantry demonstrations with instruction and explanation. We had a respectable turnout of living historians; however, most spectators found themselves at the park’s visitor’s center, yielding a very poor turnout to our location.
Despite the poor turnout of spectators and the heat, I was certainly glad to see many of my friends, old and new, and enjoyed spending time with my own company members. Additionally, we found ourselves encamped in the tree line which made a significant difference given the heat.
Looking to the Fall
We are currently in the process of preparing for a busy Fall season that will begin with our first voted company event at Tunnel Hill, Georgia on September 7th and 8th. For that particular event, we are scheduled to portray the 31st AL. This event is a wonderful event, with great ground on the actual site of the Austin-Clisby House.
Our second event will take place the third weekend of September at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, as we’ll put on a living history program in conjunction with the National Park Service. The event will consist of a federal impression on Saturday, September 21st and a Confederate Impression on Sunday, September 22nd. We plan to have four stations established in our encampment adjacent to the Georgia Monument and left of the Visitor’s Center. These stations will be inclusive of a Weapons display with original period rifles, a uniform/equipment display, a shelter display, and a period cooking display. Further, we’ll have a field officer’s display in addition to four drill and firing demonstrations each day.
Following the program at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, we’ll be at Skirim Creek in Crossville, Alabama (This is about an hour north of Jacksonville, AL). This is a newer event and will mark our second time attending the event. Though small, it is well run and we have the opportunity to put on a unique late war scenario with earth works and entrenched fighting, much as what was seen in both the Petersburg and Atlanta Campaigns.
After the event at Skirim Creek, the company will split with half going to Ole Baker’s Farm in Harpersville for Cowboy Days on the second weekend of October, and the other half serving as Federal Infantry at Streight’s Raid in Cedar Bluff, AL. Both of these events will be great! My only regret is that they are scheduled on the same weekend, which required all of our members to choose.
The company’s final voted event of the fall will be “The Battle for the Armory” in Tallassee, Alabama on the second weekend of November. This is a regularly attended event for the company and this year’s event should be very well attended. The company will most likely be Federal for this event, though that is subject to change between now and then.
Each of these events as well as smaller talking and recruitment engagements between present a great fall schedule for the company membership. We hope that you'll consider attending an event this Fall to visit with us and see what we are all about.
Other upcoming events for consideration:
Union Soldiers of St. Clair County
Ashville Museum & Archives
Saturday, August 24th, 2024 @ 10am
78 6th Avenue
Ashville, AL 35953
Lineville Heritage Day
Saturday, November 2nd, 2024 @ 10am
Main St. Lineville, AL