Garrison at Fort Negley -Nashville, TN -  November 7-9, 2008

Photos by Brian T. McGarrahan. Wetplate Images by Tim Parsons

The Widow's Sons Mess with assistance from the Armory Guards and others held a living history program at the Fort Negley Park in Nashville, Tn. on the weekend of November 7, 8 and 9.  We represented the 142d Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Organized at Indianapolis, Ind., and mustered in November 3, 1864. Left State for Nashville, Tenn. on November 18 where they stayed until the end of the war. The 142nd mustered out July 14, 1865. Regiment lost during service 1 Officer and 1 Enlisted man killed and 70 Enlisted men by disease. During the course of the weekend we operated as a military camp, conducting various duties including Guard, fatigue details, drill with firing demonstrations and bayonet drill with dummies for striking practice. We will also have a continuous interpretation area demonstrating the life of the Federal soldier in the field, what he carried on his back, and how he campaigned during the war. There will be a small civilian contingent who established a field kitchen for feeding the men on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Our hats are off to these ladies for providing wonderful meals. Late Saturday afternoon, the officers of the regiment arranged for some unique entertainment in the form of a conjurer named Professor Barclay.

Armory Guard Members at Negley	Capt Hicks & Lt Thomason play Chess	Capt Hicks in full uniform	The Conjurer, Prof. Barclay	The men eat breakfast	Our camp	Full view of the camp
Breaking Camp	Cutting fire wood	Prof. Barclay performs	AG member CJ Davis becomes part of the act.	The Fort

Sparks of Secession -Westville, GA -  October 17-19, 2008

Photos by Greg Deese, Rachel Ochs, & Herb Coats

Sparks of Secession hosted by the SCAR was a first person, Living History in an authentically reproduced, 1850's Georgia town.  Complete with shops, blacksmith, courthouse, homes, etc. We portrayed various towns people during the period of Aug-Oct, 1861 in "Lumpkin, GA" of Stewart County. The event was held in the Westville Historic Village on the outskirts of Lumpkin, GA.

one of the main streets	a crossroads in town	the street in front of the Courthouse	One of westville's fine homes	Another fine house	Citizens gather in the street
The local merchantile	Outside the tavern	Inside the tavern	One of our fine Deputies relax at the tavern	In the sheriff'soffice	Sheriff's office again
and again	Our Judge, Attorneys, and Clerk of Courts	yet again	The Sheriff of Westville (aka Herb Coats)	Getting ready for patrol	The law men of Westville
The law on the Courthouse steps	Military Camp	The newly formed Stewart Grays drill	The Sgt provides instruction	More instruction	Preparing to march out.
Break Ranks	A new recruit signs up for service	The Sgt talks with a local woman	She was not happy with what he had to say	In front of the Courthouse	Stewart Grays in front of the Courthouse getting ready to march out
Ladies of the town present our brave men with a flag

Battle of Atlanta Living History - July, 2008

The Armory Guards hosted  a living history over in the Grant Park area to commemorate the battle of Atlanta particularly the actions around Bald Hill. Following a day of living history demonstrations, we were taken on a tour of Oakland Cemetery and other historic sites.

 

 

Battle of New Hope Church - May, 2008

The Armory Guards and The Critter Company hosted the 2008 Battle of New Hope Church event. The event was held at Pickett's Mill State Park and recreated the actions that occurred during the Battle of New Hope Church in the area around Owens Mill.  We raised money for the Atlanta History Center to help them save the George W. Wray Collection.  We focused on the actions of the 29th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, 14th Louisiana Sharpshooters Battalion, 32nd Alabama Consolidated Infantry Regiment and the 9th Texas Cavalry. These units were heavily engaged with each other through out May 25th and 26th, 1864. At times they found themselves with in just a few feet of each other.

 

Photos by Anna Allen and Wendell Decker
 

Lt. Brian Hicks	Pat Landrum & Jim Conley	Pioneer Platoon

 

Winter of 64, Niagara County, New York  - February, 2008

Several of the Armory Guards made the long trek north to attend this four day event including Herb Coats, Kiev Thomason and Brian Hicks. This was a semi-immersion winter quarters event that provided a truly unique living history experience. It was held at a location that provided a slice-of-winter-quarters life for approximately sixty-five participants all quartered in reproduction winter hutments, including auxiliary buildings such as a guard house, cookhouse, commissioned officer quarters, and other structures. Participants are organized into two infantry companies, plus limited civilian participation portraying laundresses and possibly other impressions.

 

					By Hank Trent

 

 

2007

Battle of Jonesboro, Jonesboro Georgia - October 13-14, 2007

The Armory Guards sponsored the Living History interpretive area at the Battle of Jonesboro event this year portraying the 8th Arkansas Infantry. The 8th Arkansas which was part of Cleburne's division was involved in some of the heaviest fighting during this battle. During the course of the weekend we built entrenchments and participated in the Battle scenarios on Saturday and Sunday. Kiev Thomason of the Armory Guards was heavily involved in the planning and coordination of this event.

 

Photos by Herb Coats.

 

 

Battle of Chickamauga AOT & ANV Living History, Fort Oglethorpe Georgia - September 21-23, 2007

The WIG and the Stonewall Brigade hosted a living history at the Chickamauga National Battlefield on September 21-23, 2007.  Three Confederate Infantry Companies and one Confederate Artillery Battery were protrayed. Our very own Tripp Corbin commanded one infantry company that portrayed Co. A of the 7th Texas Infantry also known as the Waco Guards. Patrick Landrum command Co. C of the 7th Texas rounding out the impressions for the Army of the Tennessee. Jerry Stiles commanded the Army of Northern Virginia contingent representing Co. A of the 7th South Carolina from Longstreet's Corps. Also present was a horse drawn Artillery piece portraying Bledsoe's Missouri Battery.

 

This was not a static living history. We followed the actual movements of these units in real time during the weekend putting on demonstrations for the public through out the day. All of out movements were directed by the bugle.

 

Photos by Alan Becton, Tripp Corbin, and Matt Grubb

 

 

Battle of Tunnel Hill, Dalton Georgia - September 7-9, 2007

Following on the success of Resaca, The Armory Guards' Kiev Thomason  raised a Federal Campaigner Company for the Battle of Tunnel Hill Reenactment. This company revived our portrayed Co. K of the 7th Ohio. Several different units and messes supported this effort including: the Possum Skinners Mess, 21st Ohio, 56th Georgia, 48th New York, 1st Georgia Regulars, 17th South Carolina and others. Our thanks go out to all those that supported this effort. You all made this event another big success.

Photos by Gregg Deese. Tin Types by Wendell Decker

		Herb with his lovely fiancé Kira	Garrett Silliman	The Company

Battle of Vicksburg, Mississippi - June 2007

Photos by Herb Coats & others

Several members of the Armory Guards made the long trek out to Vicksburg Mississippi to portray the 20th Alabama and the Square Fort. This event is set during the siege of Vicksburg in 1863. Vicksburg was the key to controlling the Mississippi river and was the last Southern stronghold on this important body of water. The South could not afford to lose it and the North could not afford to all the South to keep it. Thus one of the most famous sieges of the war began. This event was unique in that we were allowed to have both sides represented at the same time on a National Park.

Pat Landrum, the event organizer, relied on several members of The Armory Guards to fill key slots in the Confederate command structure. Our own Art Milbert was the overall Confederate Commander for the event. Kiev Thomason served as Sergeant Major and Tripp Corbin was Captain for Company B. Armory Guard members further filled roles in Company B including Herb Coats as 1st Lt, Robby Mitchell as 2nd Sgt, CJ Davis as a Corporal and Terry Hancock as a Corporal.

Click here for a full report from Lt. Coats.

The GA Line at Vicksburg	The Mississippi River @ Grant's Canal	The Battery over the Mississippi	20th Alabama Camp	Inside the Square Fort
A platoon from Co. B rests	Watching the enemy from the Square Fort	Sun rise in Camp	Yes that is a Rat aka lunch	The men fight for the Rat
The Armory Guards

Battle of Resaca, Resaca Georgia - May 2007

photos by Herb Coats & Ed Henry

The Armory Guards' very own Tripp Corbin  raised a Federal Campaigner Company for the Battle of Resaca Reenactment. This company portrayed Co. K of the 7th Ohio. The original Co. K had only 33 men at the time of the Battle of Resaca. Our Company had 52 men in ranks making us the largest infantry company at the event. Several different units and messes supported this effort including: the Possum Skinners Mess, 21st Ohio, Salt River Rifles, WIG, 56th Georgia, 48th New York, New Madrid Guards, and others. Our thanks go out to all those that supported this effort. You all made our first outing as an official unit in the Georgia Volunteer Battalion a big success.

Living History at Dug Gap, Dalton Georgia - May 5 2007

photos by Herb Coats

This living history was hosted by the Armory Guards and the Possum Skinners Mess. The purpose of the event was to help raise awareness about this Battle which kicked off Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.

Encampment at Pittsburg Landing, Shiloh National Battlefield, Tennessee - April 2007 (photos by Herb Coats)

This was officially the first event that the Armory Guards attended since being formed this past February and what an event it was. We got to experience a first rate living history event and extreme weather all in one weekend. We were part of Co. C 8th Illinois Volunteer Infantry commanded by our very on Art Milbert. The Armory Guards filled many of the leadership roles including Robby Mitchell as 2nd Lt, Kiev Thomason as 1st Sgt, Herb Coats as 2nd Sgt, Tripp Corbin as 3rd Sgt, and Matt Grubb as Chief Bugler. Also in attendance were Garrett Silliman, Ray Williams, Marshall Grubb, Kelli Grubb, CJ Davis, and Andy Davis.

Armory Guards	Capt. Milbert & Sgt Corbin	Pvt CJ Davis	Camp	Commissary	Company C falls in
Sgt Coats	Sgt Coats enjoys his Ginger Beer	Sgt Coats is excited about his purchases from the Sutler	Home away from home in a Sibley	Orderly Sgt Thomason relaxes	Musicians
Sgt Herb provides amusement	The Officers of Co C. tent	Co. C's Sgt tent	The inside	The Company street	Cpl Whitehead & Pvt Silliman relax
The Sutler	Sgt Corbin relaxes	Sgt Corbin talking with Pvt Shuman of the ONV

2006 and earlier

Christmas at the Fort, Fort McAllister, Georgia - Dec 2006 (photos by Mike Hicks)

This event helped raise over $2,000.00 for the Fort McAllister State Park which will be used for various preservation projects. Our hats are off to the event organizers, including but not limited to Armory Guard members Robby Mitchell and Kiev Thomason for a great event

Co. A 1st Georgia Inf.	The entire garrison	Garrison Officers

Confederate Muster, Shaker Village, Pleasant Hill, Kentucky - Sept 2006

This was a WIG hosted event. The event recreated the early war recruiting of southern sympathizers to form a company that marched from town to join the Confederate Army.

Mr. Coats listens to speechifing about the southern cause	More speeches	Ladies of the town present the small company with a flag
The flag is attached proudly to our flag pole.	With our Flag held proudly aloft, we march to war	Our own Kiev Thomason helps raise money for orphans

Return to the Ranks, Historic Harris Homestead, Monroe, Georgia - 2005 (photos by Art Milbert)

This event recreated the 42nd Georgia during their time in holding camps after the fall of Vicksburg before they were properly exchanged. This event helped raise money to preserve the Historic Harris Homestead site located in Walton County, Georgia.

The Camp	Sgt Coats	Capt Corbin, Capt Jerram and Lt Jerram prepare paperwork	HQ
Inside the Harris Home	The Camp again	Forming up	Forming the Battalion	Inspection
Inspection	The Officers	Capt. Tripp Corbin	Sgt Herb Coats

 

 

 

 

 

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