Just Sending News from the Battlefield

"Selma has fallen!" is what I imagine these Civil War Battle of Selma

 reenactors are texting to relatives or friends on their phone! 

View a video of the 5th Alabama Infantry Regiment Band 

playing "Amazing Grace" during Sunday's closing ceremony.

Linking to Blue Monday

and City Daily Photo Blogs

Battle of Selma 150th

One hundred fifty years ago, much of Selma was in ruins...

the price it paid for its part as a major weapons, munitions and warship producer

 for the Confederacy during The War Between the States.

This weekend, the Battle of Selma is commemorated by hundreds of Union 

and Confederate reenactors from around the country. But the battle is much

 more than a battle with black powder and cannons and horses and swords.

 While that is certainly the highlight, those who attend will experience

 a living-history education in the lifestyle of the 1860s via battle tactics,

 weapons, medicine, communications, apparel, cooking, music and more. 

Why remember this relatively short battle during the last days of the Civil War?

It educates our children and ourselves in a way that no history book can.

 It brings authenticity to  America's bloodiest conflict, a four-year war 

that took hundreds of thousands of lives, injured millions more

 and set the course of our nation.

Selma's battle comes near the end of the 150th anniversary reenactments.

 For more information on Civil War 150 events, click HERE.      

(Photo is from a previous Battle of Selma event.)

The Battle Begins

So what would you do if invaders were about to storm your town?

Back in April 1865, there weren't many able-bodied men left to defend Selma 

from federal troops, but the city that supplied much of the Confederacy's munitions

 was surrounded with a three-mile long semi-circle of fortifications.

 After a hard-fought but brief battle led by wounded

 Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest,  Selma's arsenal, naval ordnance works

 and many private homes and businesses were burned. 

The 149th reenactment of the battle is this weekend at Riverside Park.

Blue skies are forecast.

Linking to Good Fences, Skywatch Friday and City Daily Photo Blogs

Fortifications

Selma is once again ready for the Yankees in this 147th year since the Battle of Selma.

 The annual re-enactment is this weekend, and the April 1865 Society has prepared fortifications.

 Unfortunately, on Sunday, the federal cavalry will burn the house 

and spill over the fences to capture the town in one of the last battles

 of the American Civil War. Selma was important to the Confederacy

 as a major manufacturer of arms and munitions.

Posted at Friday Fences

Unfurling Old Glory

Union troops in Sunday's Battle of Selma Reenactment unfurl Old Glory prior to engagement. While the rifle shots, cannon blasts and burning of the businesses bring "shock and awe," I enjoy visiting the camps beforehand to get a sense of the anticipation. The reenactment debuted in 1987, and in a few more years, Selma will recognize the 150th anniversary of one of the last battles of the American Civil War.

See more photos at Selma NOW.

Homemade Root Beer

Looks like a good day to head out to the Battle of Selma and buy a bottle of homemade root beer or lemonade.

Little John's Homemade Root Beer is one of the most popular sutleries in Selma every battle weekend. The drinks are manufactured on site and served from wooden barrels into heavy, glass bottles that can be refilled at a discount. I still have my blue bottle from last year, and while root beer isn't my preference, the lemonade is the best you will ever find anywhere!

The Battlefront

The river has receded and overgrowth cut back to make room for reenactors and spectators at this weekend's Battle of Selma.

In the background, you see a small structure that likely will be set on fire by the Yankees as they approach Selma's fortifications (center). Bleachers in the foreground provide a good view of the battlefront.

For more information, click on

www.battleofselma.com

To see a photo of "Scarlett O'Hara" at a recent Battle of Selma Ball, click HERE.

The Next Big Event

Southern Belles will be watching for their loved ones to return home from the battle again this weekend when the Battle of Selma reenactment returns to Riverside Park.

The event is in its 23rd year and features school tours, a memorial service, night cannon firing, antebellum ball to which even the "Yankees" are invited, a Saturday skirmish and full battle on Sunday afternoon.

Check out the Battle of Selma website HERE.
View the video from last year's reenactment.

The Battle is Back

The Battle of Selma Reenactment is returning after all!

Last fall, organizers announced that there were too many conflicts to continue this popular April event that serves as a living history lesson of the April 1865 Civil War battle.

But an article in today's Selma Times-Journal states that the battle will be back, although scaled back from previous years. School tours will be limited to one day, and more details will be available soon.

Above a unit from Mississippi fires a cannon at the invading Yankees during the 2008 battle.