June 17th, 1864,
Heavy skirmishing continued along the Lost Mountain, Mud Creek, Brushy Mountain Line. Heavy engagements happened in the area of Latimer’s Farm, now the Marietta Country Club. Calvary actions were also happening continuously on both flanks. General Johnston begins planning to move to his next defensive position at Kennesaw Mountain. General Sherman, who has become frustrated, begins to contemplate a direct assault on the Confederate lines as opposed to a flanking movement.
Category: Civil War Georgia
150 Years Ago Today: June 16th, 1864
After the fighting at Gilgal Church on the 15th and continued fighting on the 16th, the Union Army has figured out that lines in the area form a salient and begin to pour in enfilading fire on the Confederates. Other Union forces move against the thin line of southern soldiers west of Gilgal Church towards Lost Mountain. Schofield’s XXIII Corps is now in a position to turn Johnston’s left flank, Schofield may or may not realize that he is in such an advantageous position, but Johnston does and orders Hardee’s Corp to pull back at dark, to the far side of Mud Creek and establish a new line. During this retrograde movement, a Union artillery shell explodes near Brigadier General Lucius Polk. He is the nephew of Lt. Gen. Leonidas Polk and only two days after the death of his Uncle, Lucius Polk is wounded and loses his leg.
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 9th, 1864
June 9th, 1864
General Sherman is informed by Colonel Wright, head of the Railroad Construction and Repair Corps, that the bridge over the Etowah will be completed and operational by June 12. Upon hearing this, Sherman orders Generals McPherson, Thomas, and Schofield to begin moving forward the next morning and begin to find the Confederate positions.
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 5th, 1864
June 5th, 1864
The Southern soldiers are settling into their new earthworks along the Lost Mountain Line, Sherman’s soldiers are continuing toward Acworth and their life line, the railroad.
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.
War Was Here 