Published: September 06, 2008 10:44 pm            

Blasts from the past

Battle of Tunnel Hill continues today

TUNNEL HILL — Women strolled around in crinoline skirts, while men lounged under shade trees wearing blue and gray wool uniforms. If not for the cell phones almost everyone seemed to be holding to their ears, you might think you’d stepped back in time to the Civil War.

But it was all part of the 15th annual re-enactment of the Battle of Tunnel Hill.

Mike Worrell admitted he didn’t know quite what he’d gotten himself into. The Hiram resident, a member of the 2nd Battalion Georgia Sharpshooters, said the battle would be his first re-enactment.

“I’ve just been recruited,” by a fellow member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, he said.

“I’ve always had an interest in it,” Worrell said. “I had great-great-grandfathers who fought in the war, and I’ve been researching them. This is a chance to sort of walk in their footsteps.”

Worrell said he would be part of the skirmish line starting the battle.

Craig Wolfe, the friend who convinced Worrell to come to Tunnel Hill, said there’s one key thing re-enactors need to remember.

“Just listen to the officers, same as in the real army,” he said.

Wolfe has been an infantry re-enactor for the past three years and an artillery re-enactor for about 12 years before that.

“A friend had an artillery unit he was forming. He bought a cannon and asked some guys to help him,” he said. “I had ancestors who fought in the war, so I was interested in it from that standpoint. I do pretty much everything in the Southeast.”

The Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation has hosted re-enactments since 1994. During Gen. William T. Sherman’s advance to Atlanta, Union soldiers reached Tunnel Hill on Feb. 23, 1864, and had several skirmishes with Confederate troops. Sherman took over the Clisby Austin House near the battlefield from May 7-12.

In addition to re-enactors and spectators, several merchants also lined the field. Like the re-enactors, these “sutlers” also attend many re-enactments across the country.

“We are doing a run of Civil War events, from Decatur (Ala.) to Tunnel Hill to Barboursville, Ky., then back to Chickamauga,” said Floyd Miller of Rosemont, Texas.

Miller and his wife were selling period foods.

“It’s home cooked, and we do anything they might have had back in the 1860s — roast beef, rice, cornbread and beans,” he said. “We don’t use mixes. We make everything from scratch.”

The Millers have been sutlers for the past six years.

“We had a friend who was doing it. We’ve always been interested in history, so we go into it and really enjoyed it,” he said.

Florida’s Wilahmena Lauramore has been coming to Tunnel Hill since the event started.

“We do about 25 or 26 (re-enactments) a year. This is a small event, but it’s a fun event,” said Lauramore, who was selling period dresses.

Several veterans of the re-enactment said the crowds seemed down this year. Some re-enactors said that others who normally come to Tunnel Hill may have passed it up this year to attend the upcoming re-enactment of the Battle of Chickamauga, scheduled for Sept. 19-21 near LaFayette.



What: The Battle of Tunnel Hill re-enactment

When: The re-enactment continues today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The battle begins at 2 p.m.

Where: Near the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center, 215 Clisby Austin Road

Admission: Each day is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children under 3. Admission to the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center is free during the battle weekend from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Parking: Free, but donations will be accepted by Boy Scouts who are helping with parking.

More info: Call (706) 876-1571 or visit www.tunnelhillheritagecenter.com. Directions are posted on the Web site.

        

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