Cannon Photography – War Was Here

December 13th, 1864

Dec. 13th, Federal forces overwhelm the garrison at Fort McAllister after a spirited fight the fort is captured. Sherman watched the assault from a rice mill across the river. With the Ogeechee River open, supplies begin to flow in to the army. Sherman has a 1000′ long wharf built at King’s Bridge on the Ogeechee River. This area is now a park with a boat ramp where the Hwy. 17 crosses the Ogeechee River.

_dsc0144-bw — Fort. McAllister protected the Ogeechee River with these heavy guns. General Sherman needed supplies and in order for the Union Navy to reach Sherman, the Fort had to be captured.

_dsc0135-bw — Earthworks and artillery protecting the side of the fort vulnerable to attack by land.

_dsc0232-bw — The structures in the fort were primarily earthen mounds that housed a variety of things, like this hotshot furnace.

_dsc0237-bw — One of the earthen mounds was the powder magazine and storage area, others served as bunk rooms.

_dsc0218-bw — Looking west and across the Ogeechee River. General Sherman watched the assault from the tower of a rice mill just across the river.

_dsc0082-bw — Looking downstream, east, from the site of King’s Bridge toward Fort McAllister.

_dsc0073-bw — A modern bridge stands where the original bridge was on U.S. 17 at the Ogeechee River. It was here that Sherman had his engineers build a 1000′ foot long wharf in order to bring in supplies from the Union Navy. A community park and boat ramp are now at the site.

_dsc0087 — In 2014 I was fortunate enough to be able to photograph the reenactment of the assault on Fort McAllister. It took place at the original location on the actual anniversary. Here, a Confederate cannon fires on the approaching Federals.

_dsc0152 — More Confederate cannon fire.

_dsc0217 — Federal forces outnumbered the Confederates and were quick to overrun the fort.

cmb_0075 — A Confederate reenactor takes a break between skirmishes.

_dsc0296-2 — Federal reenactors helping the wounded during the battle.

_dsc0470 — Confederate reenactor keeps watch for approaching Federal troops.

_dsc0613 — Confederate soldier smokes his pipe between firefights.

June 19th, 1864

The Confederates are entrenched on the Kennesaw Mountain line and have multiple artillery pieces to the top of Little Kennesaw and Big Kennesaw. It took 100 soldiers to move each cannon up the mountain. Skirmishing continues all along the line, Federal and Confederate Artillery Batteries begin dueling back and forth. General Sherman has ordered General Schofield’s Army of The Ohio to move from Lost Mountain, via the Sandtown Road, thus swinging the Federal right over Mud Creek and toward the south western portion of Kennesaw Mountain. On the evening of the 19th, Schofield reaches Nose’s Creek, about half way between Mud Creek and Kennesaw Mountain.

Video: Artillery Demonstration at the top of Big Kennesaw Mountain during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain.

_DSC0392.bw — A cannon now sitting silently atop Big Kennesaw Mountain in the original earthworks. The park service has protected the artillery pieces and earthworks here with a split rail fence.

_DSC0517.bw — Remnant of the period road that soldiers used to drag the cannons up to the top of Kennesaw Mountain. It took 100 soldiers to drag each cannon to the top.

_DSC0025.bw — An artillery piece sits atop Little Kennesaw Mountain in what is called “Fort McBride”.

_DSC0051.bw — Earthworks and cannon at Fort McBride, Little Kennesaw Mountain.

_DSC0072.bw — Looking down the barrel of a big gun. Ft. McBride, Little Kennesaw Mountain.

_DSC0171.bw — Part of Kennesaw Mountains extensive trail system snake behind the parapets and cannons where Confederate soldiers once fought bitterly against the attacking Union Army.

Resaca Reenactment 2015 Artillery Video

Here is a link to a short video of some of the cannons firing at the 151st Battle of Resaca Reenactment. This is the Federal Battery during Saturdays Battle.

Resaca cannons firing

Here is another link to the images from the event.

Resaca 2015 images

Photographing Cannons

Wanted to share this blog post I wrote for my photography blog here because I think most of you will be interested and will like the images.

How to Photograph Cannons

The image below is from the recent living history event at Allatoona Pass. I was allowed to set up and photograph the nighttime artillery demonstration. It was a great event and the images really turned out well.