Published: July 23, 2009 11:49 am      

Chickamauga Battlefield hosting Civil War demonstrations Aug. 1-2

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park invites the public to attend a special Living History weekend at Chickamauga Battlefield on Saturday, Aug. 1, and Sunday, Aug. 2.

Living History volunteers representing the 58th North Carolina Infantry will conduct demonstrations at Snodgrass Hill (Tour Stop No. 8).

The living historians will present talks about the life of the soldier on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will also be rifle firing demonstrations at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. on Saturday, and at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the camp to learn what life was like for the Civil War soldier.

The 58th North Carolina Infantry Regiment was part of Col. John Kelly’s Brigade, Army of Tennessee, the principal Confederate Army fighting for control of Chattanooga, “The Gateway to the Deep South,” during the late summer and fall of 1863. The regiment participated in the bloody assaults against Snodgrass Hill/Horseshoe Ridge on the afternoon of Sept. 20, 1863. As part of Alexander Reynolds’ brigade, the 58th North Carolina participated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge on Nov. 25, 1863, and went on to fight in the 1864 Atlanta campaign.

For more information about this and other summer programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, visitors may contact Kim Coons at (423) 752-5213, extension 139, the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at (706) 866-9241, the Lookout Mountain Battlefield Visitor Center at (423) 821-7786, or visit the park’s Web site at www.nps.gov/chch.