November 10th, 1864
General Sherman sent word via telegraph to General Corse, who was in command of the garrison at Rome. Corse, who had distinguished himself in early October at the Battle of Allatoona Pass, was to begin destroying anything in Rome that had or could have military value to the Confederates. The most important items of military value were the Noble Foundry and the Rail Road. The Foundry was destroyed with explosive charges and the remainder of the majority of the city was put to the torch. While many buildings were not designated as being of military value, some were set on fire by over zealous soldiers and others burned because of their proximity to military targets. By morning there were very few buildings still standing. The ones that survived were isolated from the main part of town that burned. The Federals destroyed two train depots and a warehouse as well as a livery stable still containing horses. As Corse and his men moved south to rendezvous with the remainder of Sherman’s Army, they began to destroy the railroad.
In Atlanta, Sherman’s Chief Engineer, Capt. Orlando Poe, was busy at work destroying anything of military value and was focusing much attention on the railroad and its related facilities. Poe had built a battering ram with an iron bar that was just over 21 feet long and suspended from a ten foot tall wooden suspension system. This was used to destroy the round house and depot. Some buildings were also rigged with explosives to be set off upon their departure. In five days, as the Federals leave Atlanta, it will be nothing more that a smoldering ruin.
Category: March to the Sea
150 Years Ago Today: November 9th, 1864
November 9th, 1864
After playing cat and mouse with General Hood in North Georgia during October, General Sherman stopped the chase and established his headquarters in Kingston Ga. From here, he was in a position to lash out at Hood if he reentered North Georgia, and he could also direct and finalize the logistical components of his March to the Sea.
Sherman had ordered the removal of all civilians in Atlanta and had also directed that all military personnel not going on the March to the Sea, to return to Chattanooga and other parts north. Civilians not wanting to travel north were, transported to Rough and Ready where they were transferred through to the Confederate lines. Sherman also ordered all the excess equipment and unnecessary war material to be sent back to the Federal lines in the north and that anything that could be of any possible military value to the Confederates was to be rendered useless and destroyed. Once the last train had left Atlanta, the railroad was to be destroyed as well as the telegraph lines. This would completely cut Sherman off from any support until he reached the coast and could be resupplied by the Federal Navy.
150 Years Ago Today: Mid October, 1864
After the Battle of Allatoona Pass, Hood continued to move his army to the north and west of Atlanta. He threatened the Federal supply line in several locations, but did not do any real lasting damage. He was pursed for a short while by Sherman and his army, but as the Confederates moved farther west into Alabama, Sherman held his position along the railroad and upon receiving orders to proceed with his plan to March to the Sea, he began making preparations. He established a headquarters in Kingston and directed all the activities in preparation for the March. He ordered all the non essential personnel and equipment in Atlanta to be sent back to Chattanooga and had rations and ammunition stockpiled in Atlanta for their departure in early November.
Photography Day 42 is Done!
Day 42: My friend Jeff and I were going to my Dad’s house in Woodbine, Ga. for a weekend of fishing, so, I decided to make the most of the drive and photograph as many locations of the March to the Sea as I could. We mostly followed the right wing for the trip. I was able to photograph 11 antebellum structures that were visited by Federal troops on the march. Three of them by Sherman himself.
We started at Jarrell Plantation Historic Site where I photographed the plantation house. From here we went to Round Oak where I photographed the area around the Battle of Sunshine Church. Not technically part of the March to the Sea, but for logistical reasons I photographed it out of sequence. From Round Oak we drove down to Clinton, where I photographed several home. One of which was Kilpatrick’s Headquarters while the March to the Sea moved through the area. After Clinton, we drove a short distance to the Griswoldville Battlefield. This was the site of the only major engagement or battle along the March to the Sea.
We left Griswoldville and headed toward Ball’s Ferry. Along the way we passed through Irwinton and Toomsboro. I photographed the river and surrounding area at the location of Balls Ferry. From here we traveled through Wrightsville and Kite and then made our way into Swainsboro, where we had lunch at the Crossroads Cafe. I had the Reuben and it was really good, but the best thing I had was their Chocolate Chip Toffee cookie.
From Swainsboro we traveled north toward Midville where we took Ga. 17 east toward Millen. Along the way I stopped at several cotton fields to make images. Before Millen, we took a detour to a place called Birdsville. It is the site of an antebellum plantation that suffered tragically from the passing of Sherman’s Army. It is you classic plantation with the ancient Live Oaks overhanging the lane that leads to the front of the house. It was truly a beautiful location. It has been in the same family since the King granted them the land in 1785. From Birdsville we went to Buckhead Church on Buckhead Creek.
After leaving Buckhead Church, we drove through Millen and then continued on Ga. 17 towards Savannah. Along the way we stopped to photograph the Little Ogeechee Baptist Church and then passed through Guyton and between Guyton and Bloomingdale, I photographed Zion Lutheran Church.
All in all it was a very productive day and I turned what is normally a six hour drive in to a 12 hour drive.
Below is an image of Birdsville Plantation.
It Starts Tomorrow!
Tomorrow will be my first day of principle photography for my War Was Here project. I will be heading up to the Dalton area to make some images and will be back up there to shoot at Tunnel Hill on Wednesday. I’m looking forward to this great weather we are having and hope to have some great images for show later this week or early next week. I’m going to try and shoot some video as well and if I get a chance tomorrow, I will post one here in the blog. Get ready folks, it’s going to get a little crazy around here for awhile.
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.
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/
And So It Begins
Here is the big announcement! As you all know I am working on a book project and in an effort to help fund it, I have created a Kickstarter campaign.
If your not familiar with Kickstarter.com, it is a website for anyone who has some type of creative project that needs help with funding. It could be anything from a book, to a movie, to a new album for your band. It is all or nothing funding and after my 30 days are up, I will either be funded or not. If the project is funded, then I will receive the funds, but if it is not fully funded then I will not get any of the funds and none of the backers or supports will be charged for anything. So it is very important that I get everyone’s help and support. Please share with any and all your friends, family, history teachers, and whoever else you think would be interested.
Here is the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/504639503/war-was-here
I have lots of rewards for backers and supporters of my project. There are a range of different support levels and all of them have some kind of reward. The rewards range from a post card image to limited edition prints, copies of the book in Hard Cover or Soft Cover and even guided battlefield tours. All prints and copies of the book will be signed by me prior to delivery. Some of these rewards could make for nice gifts down the road.
Thank you everyone for your support and please share, share, share with anyone you think would be interested.
War Was Here 