[leadslinger]

Mods, I hope this is an ok topic for this area.

War of Southern Independence, Civil War, War of Northern Aggression, The Late Unpleasantness, War Between the States, Mr. Lincoln's War, War in Defense of Virginia, War of Secession, War of the Insurrection, Slaveholders War, Great Rebellion, War to Save the Union, War for Abolition, War of Southern Reaction, War to Prevent Southern Independence, Second American Revolution, and Second War of Independence it's all the same.

I thought it might interesting to have a thread dedicated to the tantamount event in the history of the United States, instead of creeping into other threads. Been to battlefield and you want to tell about your trip, read a good book and want to suggest it, read a bad book and want to warn others, want to put forth your idea of what went wrong, or what General should have been strung up instead of promoted, or discuss the often overlooked home-front. Got a local story you want to share, by all means share away.

I'd hope we could delve into the topic without all the "yankee this" or "rebel that" that so often plagues the discussion.

I'll start by asking, anyone been to Chickamauga or got a good suggestion to read regarding that campaign? I'm going for a visit in early October and need some insights since it's quite a large area to cover.

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

oh shit here we go again.......

SW

 

[SHOOTER Z]

WHY?? Why go this all over again??? Just let it die!!

 

[unreconstructed1]

I'll start by asking, anyone been to Chickamauga or got a good suggestion to read regarding that campaign? I'm going for a visit in early October and need some insights since it's quite a large area to cover.

lived virtually adjacent to the battlesite most of my life. you want to make the most of your visit, go to the museum/ learning center area on the Fort Oglethorpe entrance. buy a map, watch the little movie they have in teh back (if they use teh same one now that they did the last time I watched it, it has a lot of good info) mark particular areas of interest on the map, and just go exploring. so much rich history in the area that you'll find yourself consumed by the aura of the place. Don't forget to visit some of the other areas of interest, such as Missionary Ridge ( nice view of Chattanooga, and was also used as an artillery position for Union forces) check out Ringgold Gap, etc. Chattanooga, Ft. Oglethorpe, Ringgold and Chickamauga were vital points during teh war ( Grant saw Chattanooga as critical, the "gateway to the deep South) and Ringgold is where Shermans bloody march began.

 

[Silicon Wolverine]

oh BTW if you havent figured it out, unreconstructed1 is our resident CW expert.

SW

 

[unreconstructed1]

oh BTW if you havent figured it out, unreconstructed1 is our resident CW expert.

SW

expert? wow....

actually, I have tried to study the entire history of the Republic, with a particular interest in the War of Southern Independence.

 

[Rhodes]

Debating the combat and conduct of the second revolution has been done to death.

Debating the results of it may provide some insight on why the ends do not justify the means.

 

[leadslinger]

Well since this has been done over and over again I reckon we can just keep on pissing and moaning about Obama being a socialist muslim communist america hating antichrist bent on destroying this country...thankfully that has not been discussed very much.



Thanks for the tips unrecon, I've only about a day and a half to spend on-site before getting my rear back over the smokeys, thankfully my chief put me touch with an interp to help hasten the learning curve. Certainly will be spending some time wrapping my head around ringgold gap, hopefully gaining some insight to Cleburne's blocking actions.

 

[HiPoint45]

I understand your reaction to the "here we go again" stuff leadslinger, I haven't been here that long so haven't really seen many in depth threads on it. I would however like to point out something in your sarcastic remark about what is currently discussed. No I'm not judging you as I said I understand your reaction it just occurs to me that what is being said here to the point of excess about the current administration may have a parallel to the topic you are bringing up. Do you think the collective south just woke up one morning and said lets secede from the union? Or rather do you think there was alot of pissing and moaning about Lincoln being bent on destroying the country before that decision was reached?

Just a thought. I found it interesting.

 

[leadslinger]

Your thought is interesting HiPoint, but the sectional crisis existed long before Lincoln entered office, as evidenced by the 1860 split of the Democratic party, and the Nullification Crisis. Buchanan was still in the office when all of the forts and arsenals in the seceding states were lost to the upstart Confederacy and he essentially fiddled as Rome burned on that fateful date of 1.9.1861.

His comment to Lincoln was something to the extent of, "If you are happy entering the White House as I feel returning to Wheat land, you are a happy man," essentially saying, "good luck buddy; I left you a big pile of it."

I do concur there are similarities between then and now, but the now is not even close to the then. Hopefully this discussion can be just that, a discussion, academic even. It may be wishful thinking to think that we can avoid the typical turn into childish banter that so often arises when this topic is broached, it ran me away from the SCV and for some time, clear out of the living history/interpretation field and I have no desire to venture that road once more.

That being said, if this thread devolves into a CF mods, lock it down please.

 

[unreconstructed1]

Well since this has been done over and over again I reckon we can just keep on pissing and moaning about Obama being a socialist muslim communist america hating antichrist bent on destroying this country...thankfully that has not been discussed very much.

Thanks for the tips unrecon, I've only about a day and a half to spend on-site before getting my rear back over the smokeys, thankfully my chief put me touch with an interp to help hasten the learning curve. Certainly will be spending some time wrapping my head around ringgold gap, hopefully gaining some insight to Cleburne's blocking actions.

well, you really won't be able to see Ringgold gap too in depth, as the only area accesible, IF I remember correctly, is a small point just south of town where you can overlook a small area of it. the customary "on this date in..." sign marks the area.

however from Missionary Ridge, you can overlook quite a bit of what Grant saw, and at Chickamauga and Chattanooga military park ( the "official name, but locals just refer to it ambiguously as "the battlefield") you can get down and dirty on the landscape and walk over virtually every inch. If Wilder tower is open, I suggest you take a look from there as well.

 

[leadslinger]

well, you really won't be able to see Ringgold gap too in depth, as the only area accesible, IF I remember correctly, is a small point just south of town where you can overlook a small area of it. the customary "on this date in..." sign marks the area.

however from Missionary Ridge, you can overlook quite a bit of what Grant saw, and at Chickamauga and Chattanooga military park ( the "official name, but locals just refer to it ambiguously as "the battlefield") you can get down and dirty on the landscape and walk over virtually every inch. If Wilder tower is open, I suggest you take a look from there as well.

Well that's just suck. But I did write down the other location in my little blue walking book, hopefully the weather will be good and I'll put up some pictures when I get back.