Historic Donnell House in Athens, Alabama

A couple weeks ago, Hubby and I toured the former home of Presbyterian minister Robert Donnell.  He finished the house in 1851, dying in 1855.  However, he was spared seeing his home invaded by Union soldiers.

 

 

This was one of the few homes we have visited that has allowed us to take pictures inside.

 

The spiritual life of all those around Rev. Donnell was more important than the physical and he furnished his house plainly compared to other antebellum home.

 

 

Our tour guide was a direct descendant of Rev. Donnell.

 

Prayers were held in the dining room twice a day for the family, guests, and laborers.  The overseer complained, in vain, that prayers were taking time away from the laborer's work.

 

So many mirrors in a home served to reflect light.

 

 

The Donnell House is not normally open for tours but today was a special occasion.

 

This was the anniversary of the invasion of Union troops in May, 1862.  Col. John Turchin, a Russian Cossack, quartered his soldiers on the Donnell property.

 

On this day we were treated to a re-enactment of an actual event that happened while the troops were camped on the lawn.  Upstairs, a family member lay dying.  Soldiers were asked for peace and quiet but when they did not comply.........

 

.....the lady of the house dumped a chamber pot on the unlucky trooper stationed below.  On this day the "lady" was our tour guide and the "soldier" was a direct descendant of the soldier who had the chamber pot dumped on him.  Fortunately, on this day it was just water.

 

Up until the invasion by Union troops in 1862, Athens had been largely pro-Union.  However, Col. Turchin "closed his eyes for two hours" - allowing his troops to sack and plunder the town of Athens as they pleased.  Even today you really shouldn't boast to anyone in town that you are a Yankee!

 

We are immersing ourselves in Civil War history or, as it's called around here, the War Between the States.  Last weekend we learned all about the Battle of Franklin (Tennessee) and the families and homes involved.  Stay tuned for more!

 

 

 



Shiloh National Military Park

A couple weeks before Ceekay came to visit, Hubby and I visited the site of the Civil War battle that took place at Shiloh.

 

We started out at the visitor center to get an overview of the battle.

 

We discovered that there were quite a few participants that later became famous.  Union General Ulysses S. Grant became President of the United States, Rebel soldier Henry Morton Stanley became famous for "finding" Dr. David Livingstone in Africa, and Union officer Ambrose Bierce became one of America's best known writers (Ben Hur).

 

We found out that drums were used to signal such things as "assembly," "attack,"  "retreat," "chow," "officers' call," and similar messages in camp or on the battlefield.  Drummer boys were most often in their teens, but not always.  The youngest drummer boy at Shiloh was only 10 years old!

 

Next stop was the National Cemetery where many of the Union dead were re-buried after a hasty burial on the battlefield.

 

 

The cemetery is a sobering reminder of the sacrifices made by so many men.

 

Next up was a driving tour of the battlefield.  How appropriate that this bald eagle would make this hallowed ground a nesting place.

 

Lots and lots of cannon and monuments dot the landscape, marking places where important parts of the battle took place.

 

In case you don't know - the North very nearly lost this battle.  If not for last minute reinforcements from Grant and Sherman the Union army would have been defeated.

 

Perhaps the most important aspect of this battle is that both sides realized this was not going to be a quick and easy war and there would be a terrible toll.

 

In contrast to the neat orderly Union cemetery, the Confederate dead remain in five burial trenches, like this one, around the park  To avoid disease, the dead were piled by the hundreds into trenches and covered up.  Later, when the Union dead were re-interred, the Daughters of the Confederacy refused to have their dead disturbed electing, instead, to erect monuments in their honor.

 

And how did the Battle of Shiloh get its name?  From the Shiloh Church of course.

 

This is a re-creation of the original church where the floors were stained with the blood of the wounded, and dying, soldiers.  After the battle the church was literally picked apart by souvenir hunters.

 

Tomorrow, Hubby and I head off to Franklin, Tennessee to learn about the important Battle of Franklin and tour plantations that survived being in the midst of the fighting.  There might be, just a little, shopping involved too.

 

 





We Did As Much As We Could Do!

I am so far behind in blogging but my dear friend, Ceekay, from ThinkinofHome, visited me for two weeks and we did as much as we could possibly do in the time allotted.

 

First up, was a road trip to Hannibal, Missouri to visit my parents.

 

We turned a one day trip into two, stopping at a historic schoolhouse, turned bed and breakfast, in Anna, Illinois.

 

While in Hannibal, we stayed at my parents' bed and breakfast, Robards Mansion.

 

It happened to be "Just Girls Weekend" and we enjoyed a performance of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" at a delicious afternoon tea.

 

On our way back to Alabama, Ceekay got up close and personal with Superman in Metropolis, Illinois.

 

After a few days resting up from that road trip we were off on another one - this time to Tennessee where we toured Belle Meade Plantation in Nashville.

 

We didn't forget to tour the Parthenon either - this one for Ceekay's hubby.

 

In Columbia, Tennessee we saw historic treasures at President James Polk's home.......

 

......and antebellum treasures at a mansion called Elm Springs.

 

Back in Alabama, we finished up Ceekay's vacation with a tour of "Fighting Joe Wheeler's" home.

 

It was a busy couple of weeks.  Don't even get me started on all the antique stores we shopped at and wonderful little restaurants we ate at!   We had a wonderful time!

 

 



Sweet Home Alabama

I thought I'd finally show some pictures of where we're staying right now.  We're pretty much out in the country in Tanner, Alabama.  The closest large towns are Athens and Decatur.

 

Here's where we have parked our 5th wheel - not exactly the resort we stayed at in Florida!

 

However, the price is reasonable, the people are friendly, and the park is quiet...........

 

.............except when the tornado siren screams and we all have to race for the shelter.

 

In fact, I had to do that one day last week.  We're bracing for more severe storms tonight.  I just hope we don't have to crowd in with 300 other people in their pajamas!

 

Two years ago, on April 27th, while people sat shoulder to shoulder on these benches, the park above them was destroyed.  There are still lots of empty spaces where mobile homes once stood.  We are located in a real "tornado alley."

 

On the plus side, Hubby is enjoying his work at Brown's Ferry Nuclear Power Plant.

 

There are so many guys he knows from Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant in Arizona, they have dubbed it "Palo Verde East."

 

We're making sure to get in our sightseeing though.

 

Civil War sites abound!

 

So do beautiful old homes.

 

These are in the Decatur Historic District.

 

If only I could see inside!

 

They have house tours for Christmas.  I'm hoping they have one for spring too.

 

Of course, I've just begun to shop!  These are spent bullets from the Civil War I purchased for the grandsons, but they will have to wash their hands after handling them since they're made of lead.

 

We also got these "cannon" pins for their "Junior Ranger" vests.  Richard had to have the Confederate Flag pin for himself.  According to the curator at the museum where we purchased it, the real Confederate flag is actually square, not rectangle, like we usually see it displayed.

 

We continued our tour of the south last weekend with a visit to Shiloh National Military Park - but more about that later.