Philip Smith of the Blockade Runner, located between Bell Buckle and Wartrace, is getting ready for this weekend's reenactment of the Battle of Liberty Gap, which took place in this area 145 years ago. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The smell of black powder and thunder from the past will be heard in the hills between Bell Buckle and Wartrace this weekend as 300 Civil War reenactors gather for the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Liberty Gap.

On Saturday and Sunday, visitors can step back in time and observe demonstrations of cavalry, artillery and infantry units of the period, as well as games for the kids.

The event takes place at 924 Bell Buckle/Wartrace Road (Highway 269 between the two towns) and there will be plenty of arrows and ribbons to guide you on your way to the site.

Admission to the event is $5 per person with kids four and under admitted free. Also getting free admission will be all active duty military, police, fire and paramedics that show up in uniform.

Reenactments of the Battle of Liberty Gap will take place at 2 p.m. on both days.

The entire weekend is sponsored by the Blockade Runner, a shop that provides wares and sutlery to history buffs and Civil War reenactors.

The event will take place at the former site of an original redoubt, which protected the vital Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. The location is also within view of Fort Wartrace, an existing earthwork fort.

Phillip Smith, who runs the Blockade Runner, says his interest in the Civil War came from his father Jerry, whose hobby of collecting relics led him to attend a Civil War reenactment.

After taking part in another event, Jerry was hooked. Phillips noted his father said it was like playing cowboys and Indians again as he did as a child.

The reenactment has educational value, and lets children get a view of what life was like 145 years ago.

In addition to the reenactment, a live period horse race is also scheduled for Saturday afternoon, with a $250 purse.

Saturday evening will see a historically-based social event on the parade grounds -- a period dance, called by Paula White of Kentucky. Dance instruction will also be available and all those who attend the dance are required to wear period clothing. Admission to the dance is $10.

Live music will be performed by the Poitin Sting Band, who will play period music from 7 to 9 p.m., including the Grand March, Virginia Reel and other waltzes of the time.

After 9 p.m., the music will change to bluegrass to let the crowd dance to something a little more familiar.

The Battle of Liberty Gap was part of the Tullahoma Campaign, which began immediately following The Battle of Stones River in Murfreesboro in January 1863 and continued until the start of the Battle of Chickamauga 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 Corps 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 into Georgia.