I can't remember the exact theme title but it has to do with what Charleston is known for. I was going to talk about lots of things, but I guess we are known mostly for being the birthplace of the Civil War. Nobody argues that slavery sucked. Even the deep seeded Southerners here. Well, at least they "say" they think racism sucks. But they sure do worship their heritage and claim it was about not having the government tell them what to do...which they still hold true. Frankly, I don't like government much either.
Anyhow...it started right here:
Fort Sumter -- out of focus but the best I've got
And it is a MAJOR tourist attraction
I think I've mentioned it before but lots of folks get into "reenactment." They take it seriously, particularly in the fall during the reenactment of the Battle of Seccessionville which wasn't actually at Boone Hall Planatation but its a good place for tourists to come and see the boys play. They draw straws for which side they will reenact and then they get to
...ride horses while holding guns...
...the North gets to shoot at the South...
...the South gets to shoot back...
...some get to pretend they were shot...
They tell me this is the worst role to get because you have to lie absolutely still while mosquitoes, gnats, flies, and ants have a field day!
...and widows reenact writing bad news home...
Charleston is also really well known for the Hunley Submarine. I didn't known this until a few years ago but while Charleston was under a blockcade during the Civil War, the Confederacy invented a submarine run by hand cranks. The first tests sank, drowning the sailers testing it. But even so, one night seven guys led by Dixon (no time to look up his first name) went out and actually rammed a tethered bomb into a Union boat. The Hunley, however, sunk. A few years ago they actually found it, raised it, and took it apart spoonful by spoonful, extracting all of the bodies. Then they put it back together, carefully cleaned and soaked it in solution to preserve it. It is now in the Hunley museum here...a big attraction.
One more quick story -- there was a legend about Dixon that his life had once been saved when a Yankee bullet was stopped by a gold twenty dollar piece his girlfriend had given him and he carried the Double Eagle everywhere he went. And yes, while excavating the sub they found the gold coin and it had dent from a bullet mark in it.
Anyhow, they eventually gave the crew a reenacted civil war burial that was incredible because it really had the feeling that the 1860's came from another world. The parade was huge. The photos are terrible because they are stills from a poor quality video. But here are some of them.
I need to post this and get back to a million things...if I have a moment I'll add an abstract manipulation I did of one of the video pics...but maybe not.
I really hope I get a chance to look at the other shootout stuff tomorrow...but don't know when...maybe by Sunday.
Love you all.
Oops...I found it...here it is
For a short, rushed post, this one is full of information and some very good photos. I have always had a love/dread relationship with the history of the Civil War. Recently read a book (fiction) about what happened to the father of Little Women when he left to minister to the soldiers. Compelling and depressing.
ReplyDeleteyou and I have different definitions for 'quickly thrown together', mine means for each photo is a small phrase 'this is a house' etc. Your story is long, detailed, well organized with enough detail to make it interesting.... I look forward to your 3 day planned story of your Grandfather.... now I mist come to Charleston because I need to see that first submarine. (well the 2nd one cause the test one failed)
ReplyDeleteThose ladies in black freak me out a little ......and yes Baggy, that was just for you.
ReplyDeletexxx
I guess anywhere one can find remnant of the CW. Here in The Bardstown Village they do the reenactments and have a CW museum. Out main attraction is My Old Kentucky Home, where The Stephen Foster Story is played out on the amphitheater stage nightly during the summer. I had too much on my post to add this. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteQMM
So much history. When I was a kid my big brother was stationed in Charleston while he was in the Navy. I did get a chance to visit and remember being a tourist at Ft. Sumter. We get lots of those reenactments at Gettysburg. But more often we get Revolutionary War re enactments.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how rushed your pics are always great to view, to see what a good photographer sees.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fabulously rushed post packed with great information. I swear, I think I am reincarnated from the civil war era. (and the 1940's) but I digress. The last photo really looks eerie. It really draws you in and you can feel the sorrow of the ghosts from the past. Even before the manipulation, the photo does seem like it really is from that era.
ReplyDeleteThis is my favorite post for this theme so far.
That was a wonderful post. Thanks for the history. The ladies in black are haunting! Hope you got your million other things completed.
ReplyDeletegreat history lesson for me. I have been out of school way too long!! love the shot of the horses and the last one. eerie! wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteThat sure was a nice post for someone so rushed. If I give you the password to my computer could you go through my photo folders and do some postings for me?
ReplyDeleteI will have to keep Bagman out of one folder, though. No telling where the photos would end up. No would want to see me cutting the grass in my old sweatpants. Fooled you, didn't I?
I am so tired, Mark. I am really close to retiring again. But then, I would end up going to McDonald's and drinking coffee every morning.
Is it that things are not like they used to be in this business or am I just getting too old to run out the door on a moment's notice?
This was a post to be proud of, and I wish I didn't know you rushed through it. A few days ago I spent an hour trying to figure out what to do for the "premier attraction" thing and it isn't nearly as interesting as this.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in Alabama we used to roll our eyes at the reenactments that went on. But they are really interesting, aren't they? All of that work going into those billowing widow costumes. The Civil War. Who could forget it.
I watched a TV program, I think it was "Without a trace." They had that too.
ReplyDeleteI guess it is quite fun, wonder if you need to know to ride a horse to be on the calvery.
And I did recognize Ft Sumter from your blurry photo. So I'd say you did a great job of catching exactly what I was looking for!
ReplyDeleteBith place of Civil War- i would love to know its history. Thanks for sharing the photo of Fort Sumter. ANd the shooting session. I smiled when I read the soldier pretended dead.
ReplyDeleteI've read your post twice now and will likely go back for a third reading.
ReplyDeleteYou need to rush all your posts Mark, and the photographs were haunting.
Sure you don't have a time machine in your basement?
This is my favorite post
ReplyDeleteI loved your post! Thank you for the history lesson. The southern belles in their funeral garb was quite compelling. The accompanying story was great (for a rush job). Wonderful!
ReplyDelete*sheeeeesh!* gonna give up bloggin' altogether . . . THIS was a "quicky" post!
ReplyDeletewas a fun read, interesting and informative.
thank you
..
.ero
I've only been to Charleston once but loved it. Really love the closeups of the boys playing with guns. They think it sucks to play dead? How 'bout lying there, bleeding to death from a gut or chest wound?
ReplyDeleteEspecially for something written and posted "on the run", this was really something ... and very interesting! The "1860 funeral" is impressive and the last photo, just beautiful and "impressionist"!
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