Civil War Battlefields – Page 12

Photography days 11 and 12 are done.

June 14th was my 11th day of photography for my project. I spent the day at several events centered around Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk. I photographed the 5th Indiana Battery where the fatal shot was fired from, as well as the top of Pine Mountain where the General fell. Later I went to an event at the Kirk House. The original home is long gone, but a house is built on the original site and is occupied by descendants of the original homes family. It was used for a Headquarters by Polk until his death. His body was brought back to the house to lay in state until other arrangements could be made.

Today was day 12. I went to photography Gilgal Church and the surrounding area, as well as part of the Mud Creek Line. I will be back out there tomorrow in the same area along the Mud Creek Line.

150 Years Ago Today: June 14th, 1864

June 14th, 1864
Lt. General Leonidas Polk, the Fighting Bishop, was killed by an artillery round while observing Union positions from atop Pine Mountain. Polk was the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. Dearly loved by the soldiers that served in his command, his death was a great loss to the Confederacy.

A Project Within A Project

So, a new project has been born within my current War Was Here project. It is something I can do in parallel and shoot all the images for both projects at the same time. The new mini project is going to be a portrait series. I made a portrait at the Resaca Reenactment that really resonated with me and I have decided to make all the portraits in a similar style. The subject was standing with his back to the wall of a white canvas tent. I was able to “blowout” the white background and ended up with a sort of modern look that seems to work well with the juxtaposition of the period attire. The portraits will all be of reenactors, both military and civilian. I have acquired a portable backdrop and will use it along with my speedlights to recreate these portraits. I will have to travel light since I will be on foot and away from the car at most reenactments. I still don’t have a title for the side project, but I am sure it will come to me in time. Below is the portrait that I made at Resaca. All the rest will be styled after this one. I can not decide which one I like better, but eventually the images will let me know. I usually lean more toward black and white, but for some reason I like the color one. Must be the contrast with the black and white image he is hold in his hands. Or the blue coat.

150 Years Ago Today: June 11th, 1864

June 11th, 1864
     Both armies have endured nine straight days of rain. It slows down General Sherman’s advance to a snail like pace as the wagons are mired down in the mud. General Johnston’s troops are nearly swimming in their trenches.
     On this day, Sherman’s armies have located the Confederate line about two miles south of Big Shanty. It stretches from Brushy Mountain on the Confederate right, across the Western & Atlantic Railroad, all the way to Lost Mountain on the Confederate left. The line is 10 miles long and is stretched pretty thin. The Confederate Army has also fortified Pine Mountain, which sits in advance of the main line at roughly the center.
     The railroad bridge over the Etowah River has been repaired and the first train, a railroad repair train, pulls into Big Shanty. This is welcome news to General Sherman, his supply line is now up and running and he will no longer be so dependent on wagon trains traveling muddy roads for his supplies.

150 Years Ago Today: June 8th, 1864

June 8th, 1864
General Sherman receives welcome reinforcements in the form of the XVII Corp, commanded by Major General Francis Blair. They have traveled from Illinois and have arrived at the front with 9,000 additional soldiers, after leaving 2,000 to garrison Rome, Ga. and 1,500 at Allatoona Pass.

150 Years Ago Today: June 6th, 1864

June 6th, 1864
General McPherson, with his Army of the Tennessee, established a line just south of Acworth at Proctors Creek. General Sherman joins him there. It has been one month since the start of the campaign. Massive amounts of men and material have been moved a great many miles over the last month. The Union Army now controls the railroad from Acworth on up to Chattanooga and beyond. As soon as the bridge over the Etowah is repaired, the flow of desperately needed supplies will resume.

Photography days 8,9 and 10 are done

I have finished days 8 and 9 of photography for my project. Last Saturday was day 9 and I spent the day at Pickett’s Mill and photographed the reenactment. It was a great reenactment and came home with some really great images. I have already had the image of the cannons firing made into an 11 x 14 print. It looks great, can not wait to frame it.

I finished up day 10 today. I took the boys with me back out to Pickett’s Mill, where I made images of the Federal Lines and Battery. We had a nice hike and the rain held off for us. I also worked my way back down County Line Rd. and made a few images of where the lines extended toward Acworth.

150 Years Ago Today: June 4th, 1864

June 4th, 1864
The Confederate forces are moving toward their prepared lines that stretch from Lost Mountain to the railroad just south of Big Shanty. Once General Sherman learns of General Johnston’s retreat from the Dallas – New Hope line, he orders General McPherson to move from New Hope Church toward Acworth. In most places along the line, the Federal troops never hear or see the Southern soldiers leave. They wake up to a deserted battlefield after the Confederates leave under the cover of darkness.

150 Years Ago Today: Along the Dallas – New Hope – Pickett’s Mill line

June 3, 1864
General Schofield advances to the crossroads at the Allatoona Church, the current intersection of Hwy 92, Dallas – Acworth Hwy, and Cedarcrest Rd. His lead division moves slowly for fear of Confederate attack and being separated from the main body of the Federal army. They take the entire day to advance and when they reach the crossroads, they discover the Confederates are gone. General Sherman’s route to Acworth and the railroad now stands unopposed.
General Johnston issues orders to the Confederate army to fall back from the main line and move to the newly prepared lines the stretch from the railroad south of Big Shanty, west to Lost Mountain.

Pickett’s Mill Reenactment Images

Here is a link that will take you to the images I made this past weekend at the Pickett’s Mill 150th Anniversary Reenactment. When you open the link you will also see a gallery for the Resaca Reenactment.

War Was Here Images

I have only edited or altered a few of the images in these galleries. I will be picking out the best shots later and adding a special gallery selected images that are my favorites.