May Theme Day, Revolution

"Revolution" is the focus of May Theme Day at City Daily Photo Blogs,

 and the wagon wheels were turning at the 150th anniversary

 Battle of Selma Reenactment. 

The extent of authenticity in these reenactments is amazing!

Linking to City Daily Photo Blogs Theme Day

Alert: Yankees Headed This Way!

The Yankees are coming and headed toward Selma! Hide your gold, your silver and get ready to defend our city!

The Battle of Selma reenactment returns this weekend to present living history of one of the last battles of the Civil War, fought just days before the South's surrender in April 1865. Almost 2,000 school children have pre-registered for the authentic 1860's campground tours on Thursday and Friday that include the Alabama Division Headquarters. A skirmish takes place on Saturday as well as the Battle of Selma Ball at Sturdivant Hall Saturday night and the battle on Sunday afternoon.

An article about the event is featured HERE.

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.

April 2, 1865

On April 2, 1865, Union Gen. Ulysses Grant finally made it to the Confederate capital of Richmond, Va., and Gen. J.H. Wilson's cavalry made it to Selma, Ala., where one of the South's biggest and best arsenals was destroyed. It was a Sunday. Spring had arrived. Lady Banksia roses were blooming. But, the beautiful day soon turned to gunshots and smoke. Outnumbered by thousands and outgunned by the Yankees' Spencer repeating rifles, one of the last battles of America's War Between the States was short, and much of Selma burned.

According to Walter M. Jackson in The Story of Selma: "Selma lay in ashes; Selma lay at the feet of her conqueror; many of her finest sons lay from Vicksburg to Gettysburg; Selma stood at the tragic decade of American history; but the spirit of Selma was not dead. Regardless of all of these things, Selma would live again, because the spirit of her people was alive and would live on and on."

The photo was taken at a recent reenactment of the Battle of Selma.

This year's reenactment will be the weekend of April 18.