Battle of Johnsonville 161st Anniversary Event

Cannon will ring out along the Tennessee River to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the Civil War Battle of Johnsonville. The free event will feature Civil War-era living history presenters, Federal encampment, Civil War authors, and more. The program is a living history educational event, and no battle reenacting will take place.

This project is funded under a Grant Contract with the State of Tennessee, Tennessee Arts Commission in partnership with the Clarksville Arts & Heritage Development Council.

-Scheduled to Appear-

1st Kansas Artillery:  This veteran artillery unit made a valiant effort to answer the Confederate artillery during the Battle of Johnsonville. Hear the roar of the cannon along the banks of the Tennessee River. Artillery demonstrations scheduled for 10:30am, 11:30am, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm.

5th Ohio USCT: United States Colored Troops served at Johnsonville in 1864. Learn how United States Colored Troop helped to secure victory for the Union.

1st Missouri Engineers: Organized February 17, 1864, by consolidation of Bissell’s Engineer Regiment of the West and the 25th Missouri Infantry Regiment the 1st Missouri Engineers constructed the railroad, earthworks and warehouses that would become the Johnsonville Supply Depot.

Mr. Lincoln’s Brown Water Navy: In May and June of 1861, Commodore John Rodgers purchased three riverboat freights and had them converted into gunboats. The USS Tyler, USS Lexington, and USS Conestoga made up the Timberclad gunboats, and it was with these gunboats that the Brown Water Navy was formed.

President Ulysses S Grant as portrayed by Larry Werline: Larry Werline has portrayed first-person General/President Grant for over 20 years. During this time, he has presented at museums, schools, libraries, reenactments, historical sites, symposiums, banquets, and Civil War round tables. His goal is to bring history to life for his audiences.

General Ulysses S. Grant as portrayed by Dr. E.C. (Curt) Fields: Dr. E. C. (Curt) Fields, Jr., has been a lifelong student of the American Civil War. His interest in portraying General Ulysses S. Grant was driven by his study of the Civil War and his subsequent deep respect and admiration for the General.   Dr. Fields is the same height and body style as General Grant and, therefore, presents a convincing, true-to-life image of the man as he really looked. He researches and reads extensively about General Grant in order to deliver an accurate persona of the General.   His presentations are in first person, quoting from General Grant’s Memoirs; and he draws from articles and letters the General wrote, statements he made in interviews or wrote himself, and first-person accounts of people who knew the General or were with him and witnessed him during events. For more information visit www.generalgrantbyhimself.com

19th Century Photography – Sam Reed: Sam will produce ambrotypes, tintypes, and glass plate negatives using reproduction cameras and wet-plate chemistry faithful to the original 19th-century recipes.

Supply Depot Quartermaster – Peter Cash: Learn what role civilians played in the operations of the Johnsonville Supply Depot. How could a southerner possibly want to work for the Federal forces that invaded Tennessee?

Civil War Laundry – Rita Rains: This is the way we washed our clothes in 1864. Lend a helping hand at the Soldiers Huts.

VISITOR CENTER

10:30  Meet the Generals

11:00  A Visit with Abraham Lincoln - Theater

12:00  American Civil War Era 1850-1870 – 5th Ohio United States Colored Troop’s Co. G

1:00   A Visit with Abraham Lincoln - Theater

1:30   Unlikely Hero: Ulysses S. Grant – Larry Werline and Curt Fields, Ph.D.

3:00   American Civil War Era 1850-1870 – 5th Ohio United States Colored Troop’s Co. G

Also scheduled:

Appearances by General William T. Sherman, General John Schofield, General Nathan Bedford Forrest

Civil War Telegraph – Richard Bomar, Lt Commander, Isham G Harris Camp # 109, Sons of Confederate Veterans

Federal Fife & Drum Corps – Lilly Fields & Friends