Civil War re-enactment planned here

Instead, men dressed in the colors of blue and gray will gather during this time in Bedford County to commemorate the 145-year anniversary of the Tullahoma Campaign of the Civil War, which took place along the banks of the Duck River.

The event is being organized and sponsored by Jerry Smith of the Blockade Runner, a Bedford County business which specializes in gear for Civil War reenactors. Many Civil War historians and reenactors from across the mid state will be camping out under the stars, including calvary, infantry, artillery units and "people doing different impressions from the period."

"We'll be there to entertain and hopefully do a little educating too," Smith said. The 46th Tennessee Infantry, one of the largest Civil War reenactment group in the south, will be a big part of the weekend festivities.

The event is slated to take place on land on Highway 269 between Wartrace and Cascade School, although the exact site has not been selected as of yet. Instead of having the event on the actual site of the Battle of Liberty Gap, which lies north of Bell Buckle, Smith wants to make it more convenient for visitors.

About 200 reenactors will be on hand, which may seem small, but Smith says they can put on a great show with those numbers.

The reenactors will be bringing uniforms of both colors in case they are pressed into service with one of the opposing sides.

Other events planned are a dance, a horse race and of course, a battle, or a "sham battle" as the soldier would call them in the 1860's, where reenactors will conduct maneuvers and "fight" each other. Concessions will be available as well.

The Tullahoma Campaign began immediately following The Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro in January 1863 and continued until the start of the Battle of Chicamauga in September of that year.

Union General Rosencrans, who commanded the Army of the Cumberland, had approximately 60,000 soldiers facing Confederate General Bragg, who led 47,000 soldiers. The federals were scattered in and around Liberty Gap and Hoover's Gap, while the Confederate forces were stationed in Shelbyville and Wartrace with the rebel headquarters in Tullahoma.

Confederate States Corp. Commander William J. Hardee was headquartered at Beechwood, now known as BeechWood Farm on Highway 269 near Wartrace.

The Confederates were eventually driven from Tennessee and pushed into Georgia. The fall of Vicksburg and The Battle of Gettysburg, all took place during the same time frame.

More announcements about the event will be given as the date draws nearer, Smith said. For more information, Smith can be contracted at the Blockade Runner at 389-6294.