American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

My wife and I may be coming over to the US for a few weeks in September (If I can get the leave) to do a driving tour of the southern states. Which battlefields are worth a visit?

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General Cam McOmish

Brigade Commander
Alabama State Volunteers
Cleburne's Division
Hardee's Corps
(1/1/1)
Army of Tennessee
Confederate States of America

Hi, General,

My personal favorite in the South is Vicksburg, Miss. What sets it apart is the USS Cairo, the ironclad they raised from the bottom of the Yazoo River. After that, Chickamauga-Chattanooga, which are pretty close together. Then Shiloh, which is a bit off the beaten path. But there are a whole slew of battlefields within about 50 miles of Richmond. Haven't been to any of the major ones lately, but back in the 70's I found them less than impressive.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

If you only have a few days fly into Nashville and you can see everything from Perryville in Kentucky (a beautifully preserved and untouched battleground), to Fort Donelson on the river, to Fort Granger and local Nashville sites (plus a heck of a lot of honkytonk bars and pretty women), if you go south then you can nail Stones River and Franklin in a day and then head further south and see Shiloh and Chickamauga/Chattanooga in two days.

I guess it all depends on how many days you have to spend here!

If you are on the way sometime be sure to let us know as there is a whole bunch of us Club Members in Tennessee who'd love a chance to witness your "drinking" ability in real life...

Neal passed out after his first Sweet Tea... that lemon wedge was just too much for a man his age.

I went to Shiloh, Chickamauga/Chattanooga, and Stones River about 20 years ago. They all were very good but I rate Shiloh the best of the 4, then Chickamauga/Chatttanooga, and then Stones River.

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Brigadier General Dale Lastowicka
2nd Brigade
Hindman's Division
Stewart's Corps
Army of Tennessee
Confederate Army

I second Vicksburg. It has the most monuments of any Civil War battlefield and the ironclad is impressive. You can still see where the trenches were in many areas of the park. There is also a free museum that just opened related to the MS river where you can tour a steamboat.

Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga is a smaller park, but the views are incredible.

I've been to Shiloh multiple times and they recently added some new monuments and a new film. The 62 guns lined up to bombard the Hornet's Nest is an impressive sight. I'm not sure any other park has that many cannons in one area. When we went a few years ago, Bald Eagles had nested in the park and they had cameras with live feeds from the nest.

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Colonel James Edwards
II Corps/Second Division/Infantry
Army of Alabama

The City of Atlanta has sprawled over all of the battlefields fought to capture the city. If you are in Atlanta, however, I recommend a visit to the Atlanta Cyclorama, in Grant Park, downtown Atlanta. North from Atlanta, zipping up the interstate highway, are all the fields of the campaign, from Kenesaw Mountain to Resaca and Chickamauga. A ride up the incline railway to the top of Lookout Mountain is worth the ticket.
With a day or two notice I could meet you in Gettysburg--and I would take you up on that drink or three.
Drive carefully!
John
LTC 2/20th Corps

Hi Cam: If this is a once in a lifetime visit--go to Gettysburg and Antietam. If you must go south, visit Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Natchez, Camp Moore in Tangipahoa, LA, and have some fun in New Orleans.

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Dave Danner
General
Commanding Cumberland Rifles, II Division, XV Corps
Army of the Tennessee
S = √ 30 x d x f + - e

Gents for your information I have been to Gettysburg and Antietam before. Although I am tempted to go back

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General Cam McOmish

Brigade Commander
Alabama State Volunteers
Cleburne's Division
Hardee's Corps
(1/1/1)
Army of Tennessee
Confederate States of America

Cam
You might take note on what 150th reenactments might be taking place when you are here. Winchester in September, Cedar Creek in October and Franklin in November, to name a few.
John Ferry
LTC 2/20th Corps

I am going to the 150th reenactment in New Market in a couple of weeks. We went to the one in Antietam in Sept. 2012. It was very well done.

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Brigadier General Dale Lastowicka
2nd Brigade
Hindman's Division
Stewart's Corps
Army of Tennessee
Confederate Army

If you've been to Gettysburg, then I would recommend the western battlefields. Put Shiloh at the top of your list, then the battlefields of the Atlanta campaign. If you have the time, though, I would add Vicksburg, Franklin, and Murfreesborough to the list.

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Brigadier General Robert Webb
> 3nd Brigade, Edward C. Walthall Division (2nd)
> II Corps, Army of the West
> "Gator Alley"

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler !!!

Cam,
Chick is an easy drive thru and lookout mountain is next door and is the most scenic site in the south. I recommend a large staff meeting when you arrive.

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Gen. Jim Garner
Sons of Cleburne
II/I/ANV



"Well, Govan, if we are to die, let us die like men."

MGen.Patrick R. Cleburne

Here's a good site that does a in depth virtual tour of Chickamauga, Allatoona Pass, Pickett's Mill and maybe some others. Very well done. Pics, Info, OOBs, all that good stuff. Definitely worth a look.
http://www.civilwarvirtualtours.com/

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Lt. Col Joe R. Matthews
6th Brigade/3/III
Army of Northern VA