Selma, Ala. Daily Photo: Battle of Selma Reenactment

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Battle of Selma Reenactment

The 21st annual reenactment of the Battle of Selma was held today in Riverside Park. The actual battle was fought April 2, 1865, and was one of the last battles of the U.S. War Between the States. After the battle, reenactors joined forces and fired a gun salute to remember America's fallen soldiers.

The Battle of Selma isn't going well for Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest (on white horse). First, a courier was captured and tactical plans stolen. Then Union Gen. J.H. Wilson got the layout of Selma's fortifications. Forrest was wounded by a Yankee saber but shot the soldier. He arrives in Selma not long before Wilson's cavalry to a group of mostly older men and young boys manning the breastworks. Amazingly, few Confederates died in the battle, but much of the town was burned.

To view the 2008 BATTLE OF SELMA SLIDESHOW, click HERE.

11 comments:

Jim Klenke said...: Wonderful picture and history.; April 20, 2008 at 6:11 PM
Lynette said...: Your photos of the re-enactors are great. I imagine there wasn't a dry eye on the field when the troops fired shots in memory of the fallen soldiers.; April 20, 2008 at 9:54 PM
George Townboy said...: Love this photo!! And the history is fantastic!!; April 20, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Pappy said...: General Nathaniel Bedford Forrest. Once the Mascot of the University of Southern Mississippi where I graduated. Hattiesburg, Mississippi is in Forrest County Mississippi. My brother is a avid Civil War student and I get all sorts of interesting articles from him. Thank you I am feeling better now. Perhaps its time to stop and smell the honeysuckle.; April 20, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Anonymous said...: I don't know quite what to say. The color in that photograph is absolutely stunning. It knocks my socks off. If perfect is possible then this photo comes close if not on the spot.; April 21, 2008 at 4:48 AM
Janet said...: Thank you all for stopping by.

Texican, I am aware that Forrest was a lot of things but didn't know he was once the USM mascot.

Mr. Lincoln, I appreciate the compliment! Coming from a professional and one of the most respected members of CDPB, that means a lot. Sometimes the sun and the subjects line up just right!; April 21, 2008 at 5:48 AM
Destitute Rebel said...: Beautiful picture and love the history that goes with it.; April 21, 2008 at 8:04 AM
Halcyon said...: Sounds fun. I hope no one got hurt!; April 21, 2008 at 9:01 AM
marley said...: Great photo. Do they know the stable is burning down?!; April 21, 2008 at 11:30 AM
smilnsigh said...: It may not have gone well... But this re-enactment certainly had wonderful weather.

Mari-Nanci
Photos-City-Mine
Smilnsigh; April 22, 2008 at 3:13 PM
lv2scpbk said...: Beautiful photo. Love the white horse and my husband loves to read about the Civil War and visit battlefields.; April 24, 2008 at 5:49 PM

WELCOME!

Selma is among the oldest cities in Alabama and has the largest contiguous historic district. It is known for its Civil War and Civil Rights history. The Battle of Selma was one of the last fought in the War Between the States, and the town was a center for the Voting Rights Movement in the 1960s. Today, with a population of about 20,000, Selma is the largest town in the western Black Belt region. The Black Belt, named for the color of its soil, stretches across Central Alabama from Mississippi to Georgia.