Category: Civil War Georgia

Book Review: Crossroads of Conflict, A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia

Crossroads of Conflict, A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia
By Barry L. Brown and Gordon R. Elwell
A publication of the Georgia Civil War Commission
University of Georgia Press 2010

This is a well written guide set up by regions of the state.  It contains a brief history and location directions or an address for each site.  While they did not cover every single historical marker in the state, they sure did come close.  They did an outstanding job of documenting the most significant and important sites to the state.  There are lots of good images and maps.  I really like how they included contact information for site and locations where applicable as well as information for local historical societies.  This has been a very helpful book for me as I have been researching locations for upcoming book. 

My Ancestors in the Civil War

My Dad has been working on our family genealogy for many years.  Last week while the boys and I were visiting my parents for spring break, I talked with Dad about our ancestors that fought in the Civil War.  Turns out, we have quite a few that participated in the war.  My 3rd Great Grandfather, Captain Andrew Kroeg, was the Captain of a Schooner called the “Santee”.  He was a blockade runner for the Confederacy.  He and his ship were captured near Charleston attempting to bring rice into the city.  I also had four 3rd Great Grand Uncles that were in the 42nd Regiment Georgia Volunteers.  They were Milton S. Brownlee, who was wounded in the right arm and wrist at the Battle of Resaca, Thomas Brownlee, who died of disease in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Warren Brownlee and John C. Brownlee who fought throughout the war with the 42nd Georgia Volunteers.  They were assigned to the Army of Tennessee and fought throughout the Atlanta Campaign.  They were involved in some pretty heated battles.  I will do another post about the 42nd at a later date.  I will also be highlighting some of their battle locations in my book.  There was also Robert Mooney, who is a first cousin six times removed, he was in the 43rd Regiment Georgia Volunteers and fought in many of the same battles as the 42nd.  He was captured during the fighting around East Atlanta and Decatur on July 21, 1864.  He was sent to Camp Chase in Ohio where he died some time later.  Another relative was James W. Rutledge, he was in the 155th Georgia Infantry and was captured at Cumberland Gap.

Book Review: The Battle of Resaca

The Battle of Resaca
By Philip L. Secrist
Published by Mercer University Press

This is one of the few, if not the only, book dedicated just to the Battle of Resaca along General Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.  It is a fairly short book and a fast read with around 100 pages.  The maps in the book are very good and show troop locations with modern roads, which really helps you understand the battlefield when you see it.  I also like the inclusion of period images.  The book is in two parts.  The first part is about the battle itself and the second part is about the rediscovery of the battlefield during the construction of I-75.  A very interesting book as a whole and I was really interested in the second part and how they were able to identify locations and units on the battlefield based on artifacts uncovered.  If you are a Civil War buff and have an interest in the Atlanta Campaign, then this would be a good fast read for you.

Book Review: The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line

The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line
By Brad Butkovich
Published by The History Press

I purchased this book at Pickett’s Mill State Historic Site during a Civil War History talk by the Author Brad Butkovich.  After the talk, he took us on a walk through part of the battlefield and described the events that took place there.

I have finally had a chance to finish the book and I have to say that it is very well written and an exciting read.  He covers all the action of the engagement and the events in the area leading up to the battle in great detail.  I really enjoyed the personal accounts from soldiers and officers that were in the battle.  That really shows the great amount of research that went into this book.  Not just regimental histories, etc, but reading personal diaries and letters of those that were there.  There is nothing like the first hand account of those engaged. 

One of the best parts of the book is the introduction.  It is short, but the information that it includes about how the Union Army and the Confederate Army named and numbered units is very valuable.  It has confused many people over the years and now, to have it written and explained so well, is an invaluable addition to the book.  I also like the inclusion of the complete Order of Battle.  The book is annotated and has a fantastic bibliography for those that would like further reading. 

Brad has just finished his new book on the Battle of Alatoona Pass and it should be available by June.  I am really looking forward to it as I enjoy his writing style and the amount of detail he includes.

If your interested in a copy of The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line, it can be purchased at the Pickett’s Mill State Historic Site or through Amazon.The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line. 

Whirlwind Tour

For Spring Break, I decided to take the boys to see the Grandparents, and along the way we scouted out a bunch of locations for the book.  We were able to see the following locations:  Sunshine Church (Where Stoneman was captured), Griswaldville Battlefield, Balls Ferry (where Sherman’s right wing crossed the Oconee River), Buckhead Creek and Buckhead Church, Camp Lawton (prison camp like Andersonville), Ebenezer Creek, Shaw’s Bridge, and Fort McAllister.  We camped at Magnolia Springs State Park (where Camp Lawton is).  On our way home we will stop in Milledgeville to check out the old Governor’s Mansion (where Sherman spent the night) and the old state house.

15 Days to go with Kickstarter

Well, I have 15 days left to raise my funds for producing my War Was Here book.  If you have not looked at my kickstarter page please take time to check it out here:  War Was Here Kickstarter page

I would like to thank all of my supporters thus far and I appreciate your support.

Thanks
Clint

Allatoona Pass location scouting images

Yesterday my friend and I went to Allatoon Pass to scout the location for the shoot in October.  While we were there I made an image from the same general location as a period image made in 1864 by George Barnard.  Make note of the home on the left side of the images.  It has a two story front porch and is still standing today.  The angle is a little off, but the terrain has changed with the construction of the lake.  The home has also been through some repairs or remodels over the years but is essentially the same.  I hope to have similar comparisons in my book.  First will be the period image and mine will be below.

The above image is by George Barnard, circa 1864

This image is one that I made yesterday.

I you have not had a chance yet, please check out my kickstarter campaign to help my fund the book.  Here is the link:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/504639503/war-was-here?ref=live

Thanks again for all your support.

Allatoona Pass Battlefield, location scouting

Heading out tomorrow to scout the battlefield at Allatoona Pass.  Hope to find some good locations to come back to in October on the anniversary of the battle.  I will have a sneak peek image of some thing at the battlefield in a day or two. 

Don’t forget to check out may Kickstarter page here:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/504639503/war-was-here

My personal paranormal experience at New Hope Church

Here is a link to a post I wrote for Paranormal Georgia Investigations blog.  It is about a personal experience I had while scouting the New Hope Church Battlefield for my book.

http://paranormalgeorgia.wordpress.com/2014/03/01/war-was-here/

Pickett’s Mill Location Scouting

Went out to Pickett’s Mill and New Hope Church with a friend today, to do some location scouting.  It was cold!  I’m looking forward to spring.  Here is an image from our walk on the battlefield.  It was taken from the approximate position of the 15th and 49th Ohio as they were facing the Confederate Line across what was once a wheat field.  The Confederate Line was just beyond the tree line at the far end of the field.  There is a road just beyond the tree line down the left of the image.

Even though it was cold, the sun was out and the wind was not blowing so it made for a good day of hiking.  I was able to pick out some good locations to come back and photograph in May.

If you have not had a chance please check out my Kickstarter page here:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/504639503/war-was-here?ref=category  

Thanks for your support!