Day 61 - South Carolina

Day 61

Dec. 11

Charleston, SC

Miss Smith

            Today we had a light breakfast so we wouldn’t be late to our tour. The tour we took was called “Savor the Flavors ofCharleston."

The streets were beautiful with the trees and all. Part of the tour we got to sample some food. It was delicious.

The tour was two and a half hours long. When the tour was over, we visited the gift store. I bought my mom some hot pads cause she’s always losing them. Abigail bought a cookbook and Cilla bought a chef’s hat. I have no idea where she is going to store it since the RV is already pretty full. Abigail is going to embroider Priscilla's name on the hat.

            We had a light lunch and drove to the Fort Sumter office. Since the only way to get to the actual fort is by ferry, we had to wait for the ferry to come back. While we were waiting, we looked around at the museum they had.

            Soon the ferry returned and we loaded up. It was a nice day so Abigail and I rode on the open top of the ferry. Cilla was afraid she would lose her “Mrs. Walton” hat so she stayed inside. While on the ferry we saw some dolphins following it. All too soon we reached the island. There was so much to see. The fort was exciting.

They had cannons, a few museums and you could walk on the fort.

42 pounder cannons

The museum was about the history of the fort. 

Ruins of the Officer's Quarters

Sadly we had to leave after an hour. Riding back we talked about everything we did that day and this time Cilla rode on top with us.

            We listened to some Christmas music on our way back to the cottage. We all sang along as we knew the words. We spent another relaxing night at the cottage. My absolute favorite part of the day was the ferry on our way to Fort Sumter.

Your friend,

Susanna

Day 56 - Georgia

Day 56

Evening

Dear Miss Smith,
    Since Levi has written you about the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum, I won’t spend much time on it myself except to say that it was a fascinating place to visit!

    Of course my favorite exhibit was the centerpiece of the museum which was a train. It was an old steam locomotive named “Texas” which was used to pursue the Union raiders who had captured the Confederate locomotive “General” and were steaming away with it. The “Texas” not only pursued them, but also recovered the coveted engine much to the Confederates joy. The story about the raid, pursuit and recapture of the “General” was so interesting that Disney made it into a movie in 1956 called “The Great Locomotive Chase.”

    The other thing worth noting was the purchase of Civil War Rifle Pens for each of the boys, Amy and myself. Mine will go on my hat to add quite a unique touch. Amy has fixed it so that I might pull it out to use should I so desire.

    It is evening now and growing late. We met Susanna and Abigail at the airport, and, since the boys’ planes didn’t leave until a later time, we all enjoyed supper together. It really was quite interesting, Miss Smith, since Abigail is the older sister of Christian, and Susanna is the older sister of Levi. The four of them chattered non stop until the boys boarded their planes for home. And alas, Miss Smith, I had to say good bye to Amy as well. The farewell was touching, for in spite of our extreme differences in character, we had grown quite fond of each other. I will still keep Timber for a few more days before he is picked up. I am grateful to have Susanna and Abigail with me for South Carolina or I would be quite lonely.
    But all is now quiet and I must get some rest.

Must love,

~Priscilla

Day 56 - Georgia

Day 56

December 6

Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Miss Smith,
     We were up and ready to go by 8:00 a.m. We went to the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum. It was fantastic. This is some of the information I found. The Atlanta Cyclorama is the largest of only three Cycloramas in the U.S.. Overseas there are only sixteen that still exist and they are known as panoramas. A Cycloramas is supposed to give the viewer a 360 degree view. 

The circumference of the painting is 358 ft. and covers 15,030 sq. ft..

The depth of the display is 30 ft. The painting alone weighs more than 10,000 lbs. The tallest figure in the diorama is 3 ft. 

The Cyclorama was painted in 1885-86 by German artists. The shortest figure in the diorama is 17 inches. 

One of the dying soldiers in the diorama is a portrait of the actor Clark Gable.

When we were done looking at the cyclorama we went to the store. Christian and I got a Rifle pen each. Pricilla got a Rifle pen to add to her states hat and Amy got an Atlanta Cyclorama Pin.

Love,

 Levi

Day 55 - Georgia

Day 55

December 5

Atlanta, Georgia

Dear Miss Smith,
     Today we went to Nash Farm Battlefield. It was fun!! There were four battles fought there
during the Civil War. During the second half of 1864, the Nash farm was the scene of considerable
military activity!! One of the most famous battles was a Cavalry charge that was done by General Sherman's Cavalry.

     While we were walking around I was imagining what it would be like to be there when it happened. It was too bad that we were not here in September when there was a Battle Re-enactment and Living History. It would have been exciting to see that!!
     Well, I have to go now.

Til later,

-Christian

Day 55 - Georgia

Day 55

Dec. 5

West Point, GA

Postcard

Dear Miss Smith,
    I'm short on time and space here. Just finished visiting Fort Tyler in West Point, Georgia. The Union troops attacked this earthen fort on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1865 and many soldiers died. That was seven days after General Lee had surrendered to Grant. One thing that Christian found interesting was that the "spoils of war," the Confederate flag, was given to the Wisconsin regiment. Since he is from Wisconsin, he wondered what happened to it.
    Off to Nash Farm Battlefield. No more room.

~Priscialla

Day 54 - Georgia

Note from Miss Smith: This letter must have been delayed in the mail. Sorry.

Day 54

December 4

Fort Benning, Georgia

My Dear Miss Smith,
    We are so busy these days and enjoying the time we are spending here in Georgia. At least Christian, Levi and I are, though I can’t be sure Amy still is since she has been so distracted. At least, now that arrangements have been made for her return home, the last few days should be quieter. Timber will be traveling back with some friends of Amy’s who we will meet in South Carolina. It will be sad to see him go as he has been a wonderful traveling companion for Nellie. Yes, Miss Smith, Penelope is now responding more to the name Nellie then to her real name. I suppose I must not complain for as Amy put it, “She’s too small a dog to carry around such a long name. And she’s so cute, she needs a cuddly sounding name.” As though names could really be cuddly!




    This morning we drove up here to Port Columbus and headed to the museum. Our first stop was the Water Witch which is actually outside between the museum and the highway. This U.S. steamship served a surveying ship in South America before the Civil War. During the War between the States it was a supply ship, mail ship and then became part of the North’s blockade of Savannah, Georgia. However, in a daring raid one night, a group of Confederate Naval forces captured the Water Witch! But alas, Lt. Thomas Pelot, the leader of the raid, and Moses Dallas the new pilot, were both killed. Without the new pilot, the ship had to be kept hidden for months and at last sunk to prevent the Union from recapturing it.

    Inside the museum we were able to see what part of the USS Hartford was like. That was the flag ship of Admiral David Farragut. It was quite fascinating, I assure you. There was a flag collection as well as many other exhibits including the CSS Jackson which is the largest surviving confederate warship! It was captured in Columbus in 1865 by General James Harrison Wilson. Perhaps you recall hearing or reading about Wilson’s Raiders, Miss Smith. This General Wilson was the same man. He ordered it set on fire so the Confederates wouldn’t be able to use it later. The blazing ship drifted for two weeks down the river before it finally sank nearly thirty miles down river. Ninety-five years later the citizens from the area banded together to pull it from the river during the Civil War Centennial. Imagine pulling a ship that had been sunk ninety-five years before, out of the Chattahoochee River!

    After spending the morning at the Naval Museum, we headed to the National Infantry Museum. Yes, we are doing a lot of war things in this state. It’s because we have the boys with us.

    Our first stop at the museum was the Fife & Drum restaurant. The food was delicious! We all enjoyed the Big Benning Burger, Chicken Brie Grape Salad and the Infantry Chili Cheese Fries. Miss Smith, those Infantry Chili Cheese Fries were the best any of us had ever had.

    Once we had fortified ourselves we started our tour. First stop: Last 100 Yards. The life-size dioramas took us from Yorktown, to Antietam, Normandy to Iraq; we crossed Burnside Bridge where the Confederate soldiers held back the Union longer than anyone expected. Above our heads a WWII troop glider hung. We saw the D-Day landing, a Huey helicopter during the Vietnam war, a damaged Bradley Fighting vehicle along a bombed road in Iraq. The entire thing was incredible! We were all awestruck and even Levi was silent. An event that rarely happens.
    We found out that the figures in the scenes were not just mannequins; they are actually sculptures of real active duty soldiers who auditioned to be the ones to represent their fellow soldiers.
    A loud and somewhat intimidating drill sergeant’s voice pulled us into the Fort Benning gallery. That was the place that loosened Levi’s tongue again!

    It would take me much too long to try and describe all the places and scenes we saw at the museum. One place that I have never seen before in a war museum was an entire gallery honoring the families of our military. It was quite refreshing to see that here at least, those who stay at home and wait are remembered and honored. Tell Bekah that if she ever comes to Georgia, she should do a book signing of her book “Home Fires of the Great War” here in the Soldier’s Store. It would fit right in.

    One other place I must tell you about the World War Two Company Street. During the second world war Fort Benning had to expand rapidly to meed the growing demands of building a larger military. It was then that the “series 700” buildings were built. They were intended to last only as long as the war; however, they proved to be so well built and so solid that it wasn’t until the 90s that they began dismantling them. The Museum was able to rescue one of each kind of building. They even have the headquarters used by General George S. Patton before he was deployed to North Africa.

    It has been a busy day and I am quite tired. The boys have gone to bed and even Amy has quit packing. She still has two more days before she leaves. Now I must get to bed. Tomorrow we drive up to Fort Tyler.

Love,

~Priscilla

Day 33 - Mississippi - Postcard

Day 33

Postcard

Dear Miss Smith,

It was fun going to Jefferson Davis' home in Biloxi, Mississippi. The house was big. I counted twenty-six stairs going up to the house. It had nine windows all around the house. Inside there was lots of old furniture. There were silhouettes of Jefferson Davis' family. We saw the furniture in Jefferson Davis' room. We had fun!

Love,

Natalie