1760: Cherokee Victory at Fort Loudoun (A Few More Pictures)

I don't have too much to add to the last post, but here's a few more photos I took at the event. 

Garrison Commander/Park Manager Jeff Wells

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1760: Cherokee Victory at Fort Loudoun

Sallying Forth

I was able to attend the 250th landmark anniversary of Fort Loudoun's surrender to the Cherokees last weekend. Plenty of living history re-enactments, lectures, and guided tours at the Vonore, TN historic park - which includes a reconstruction of 18th Century fort. 

One of the significant aspects of the conflict between the British garrison and the Cherokees is that they had been allies for much of the war, but relationships soured over the lack of justice over the British killing numerous Cherokees further north.

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The fort wasn't just a military site, it was a commercial and diplomatic one as well. The relationships between the garrison and the local villages was much more complex and complicated than you might think.

Three Cherokees at Village

The Chattanooga Times Free Press published a story I wrote about the event - follow this link.

I was pleased with the quality and dedication of the living historians that attended - that made - the event.

Living History at Chickamauga Battlefield

I got to do a news story on the 37th Georgia Living History Regiment while they appeared at Chickamauga Battlefield Park last weekend. They gave interesting talks on camp life, equipment, and recruiting. They also performed a number of different musket-firing drills. 

You can follow a link to the online version of the Chattanooga Times Free Press here.

The above photo is one I took with my old digital camera. A much cooler slide show of images taken by the staff photographer may be found at the bottom of the online article.

Fort Christmas

While in Florida, I visited Fort Christmas, which is at the southeastern edge of Orange County (Orlando). The park contains a replica of Fort Christmas, built as part of the United States' campaigns against the Seminole Indians in the nation's second war with them.

The original fort was abandoned within three months, its purpose ended by the army's southern advances. The replica has two 20' x 20' blockhouses and a few buildings. The original is long gone. I'm sure it didn't have central air conditioning in the blockhouses, as the modern version, but no complaints from me on that point. 

The replica was built as part of an initiative to celebrate the nation's bicentennial.

If time had allowed, I would have visited some of the other prominent Seminole War sites, especially the replica of Fort Foster and the Dade Battlefield.

Nottingham and the Beginning of the English Civil War

Outside of the Commandery in Worcester, I wasn't looking for any particular sites related to the ECW theme. As it turns out, I kept stumbling across them. On the walkway up the sandstone hill on which Nottingham Castle rests, one can find a marker dedicated to King Charles' attempt to rally Royalist support (see picture to the right).

Dan F of Wargames Illustrated advised me that Nottingham was a Parliamentarian stronghold and that "approximately three men" joined Charles.

Set into the side of the sandstone hill is the pub Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, which claims to be the oldest pub in all England. Nice sandwiches and beer - the staff was nice too. Maybe the three Royalist recruits had a pint there before embarking with the king.

Worcester and the End of the English Civil War

I like to visit historical sites. While I have never written anything on the English Civil War, I enjoy studying it. 

We visited the Commandery Museum in Worcester during a holiday trip to England a few years ago. The audio tour leads you through the last desperate hours of the Royalist cause as you walk through the medieval building (which began as a monastic hospital). I recommend spending an afternoon there if you are in the area.