Seminar in the Woods: Chickamauga, March 7—8, 2025
Mission Statement: The purpose of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park Study Group is to create a forum to bring students of the American Civil War together to study and explore those events in the fall of 1863 that led ultimately to the creation of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, as well as explore other nearby Civil War-related sites.
Tour Leaders: Jim Ogden and Dave Powell
Date: Friday, March 7, and Saturday, March 8, 2025; By bus and car caravan.
Friday’s tour will begin and end at the History Company, 2949 LaFayette Road, just north of the Chickamauga Park north entrance.
Saturday’s tours will begin and end at the CCNMP Visitor’s Center.
Bus – Friday all day, 8:30 to 5:00 p.m.: Bragg’s Lifeline—The Western and Atlantic RR
We will travel to Marietta, Resaca, Dalton and other points to discuss the importance of the W&A to Confederate operations, and why it was the crucial focus of two years of war.
Friday evening, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Q&A Panel with Jim Ogden, Dave Powell.
Site: TBA, Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Reprise of the Annual free-form Question and Answer session.
Car Caravan – Saturday Morning, 8:30 to Noon: Palmer and Van Cleve, missed chances?
John M. Palmer’s division of the 21st corps was sent north on the morning of September 19th to coordinate with Thomas, and ended up in action east of Brock Field. Van Cleve was sent to his support. These two divisions were potentially very powerful force positioned to envelop Cheatham’s flank, but ultimately they were checked, and then in Van Cleve’s case, routed from the field.
Break for lunch
Car Caravan – Saturday Afternoon, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.: Bushrod Johnson and Mendenhall’s gun line, North Dyer Field
As Bushrod Johnson’s battle line emerged into Dyer Field, he was presented with a confounding sight—Federals fleeing in seemingly every direction. A line of Union artillery, apparently unsupported, was deployed on the far side of the field. We will examine the Confederate effort to assault and ultimately overrun these guns.
Costs:
Friday’s Tours will be by Bus. Pre-registration and Fee required: $60, due by February 1, 2025.
Sign-up after February 1 or on-site Fee (based on space available): $65.
Saturday: no charge.
The fee increase is due to the increased expense of the bus, which is now $1,800 per day. Fees raised in excess of costs (as well as any donations) will be used to support the causes of battlefield preservation, interpretation, and renovation.
In 2023 the Study Group made the following donation:
$500 to the Jewell Monument fund, run by the Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga, for maintenance and restoration needs.
I anticipate a similar donation in 2024, but given the increased cost of the bus, I have elected to wait and make sure I can cover that cost.
Send to (and make checks payable to):
David Powell
522 Cheyenne Drive
Lake in the Hills IL 60156
You may also send money via Paypal to dpowell334@aol.com
Note: Your cashed check or acknowledgement from my concerning the Paypal payment confirms your reservation on Friday’s bus.
This fee is NON-REFUNDABLE after February 1st, 2025. Once we are committed to the bus, we will be charged the booking fee, and unable to cancel.
Please note that everyone is responsible for their own lodging, meals, snacks, and incidentals.
Weather note: Two years ago, we had snow on Saturday but did not cancel. We are a (fool)hardy bunch, we go rain or shine. Dress accordingly.