Dalton Civil War Show Continues DALTON, Ga.—While a polar vortex threatened north Georgia early in the week, skies cleared and temperatures rose to almost balmy levels just in time for th 24th Annual Chickamauga Civil War Show and Sale held at the Dalton Convention Center on February 2-3. Enthusiasm was high as the parking lot filled to capacity early Friday morning as dealers jockeyed for positions to ensure a good spot close to the doors for the move in. Many vendors had not seen each other since th Franklin show in early December, and all were excited to quickly up their tables and begin search ing for that perfect item to add
Show Promoter Mike Kent of MK Shows expected this show to be a success based on the results of the preceding Richmond and Franklin shows and he was not disappointed. With all 500 tables sold out weeks ahead of time, Kent had to contend with a promoter’s worst nightmare; turning away quality dealers due to lack of space. Over 15 dealers were unable to secure tables because the popular show sold out much earlier than usual. The folks who were fortunate enough to acquire tables were treated t
America’s Monthly News Accolades show reminiscent of the old days with a huge crowd, money freely changing hands, and lots of fresh material walking in the door. As always, an enthusiastic group of history buffs from the Atlanta Civil War Round Table journeyed to Dalton to take in the sights and visit with old friends what has become an annual pilgrimage for the group. Other celebrities spotted at the show were Wayne and Greg Williams, promoters of the well-known Ohio Civil War and Artillery Show, in town to check things out with the promise of returning next year with one of their museum quality displays. Over the course of the weekend, many dealers expressed the feeling that the Dalton show was one of their favorites on the circuit. When questioned about it, Kent agreed and provided an insight into why so many dealers felt that way.
The Dalton Convention Center is a state of the art building wit 50,000 square feet of unobstructed exhibit space in one room with great lighting, an easy move in via multiple ground level doors, a huge carpeted lobby, free internet access, acres of free parking, and good concessions. It is the perfec venue for our type of event.
Dalton is centrally located between Atlanta and Nashville, two major population areas, and only 20 miles south of Chattanooga. These areas saw some of the heaviest fighting in the Civil War and there is tremendous interest in the war even today. In fact, th address of the Dalton Convention Center is Dug Gap Battle Road; it is located less than a mile off Iat Exit 333.
Convention Center, lodging, meals, and social activities are easy and convenient to access.
Show promoter Mike Kent and Marc a quick photo.
The Staff Although the Convention Center staff are rarely encountered by dealers, they are fully supportive of the show and go out of their way to ensure the event goes off flawlessly each year. They have been invaluable in scheduling dates, arranging speakers, and working with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to make the show a success. Even though the Dalton show is not the biggest event of its in the country, exhibitor Martha Nelson summed it up best: “It’s not too big, it’s not too small; just the right size!” As always, there are several items at each show that are a little unusual and garner a lot of attention. This year was no different; two items had a direct Dalton connection. Will Gorges of Battleground Antiques in New Bern, N.C., brought a Confederate battle flag manufactured in Augusta, Ga., that was delivered to the 1864 Confederate winter camp in Dalton to replace an original fl that was either lost or destroye One of only eleven similar flags known to exist; it was being of-
was a war log from the Battle of Chickamauga that featured a
8 – Black Powder, White Smok 36 – Book Reviews 38 – Critic’s Corner
owner of Owens and Ramsey Books (Jack Melton)
projectile embedded in the trunk It was being displayed by Dicky Ferry of MacClenny, Fla., and was originally part of the Steve Mullinax collection. Several new dealers were participating in the Dalton show fo the first time and promised to b back next year after an exciting and profitable first time out. I addition, several vendors who had not been seen in several years were back as well. Kent discussed the aging of vendors as well as the aging of attendee and opined about the difficulty of attracting new blood into the Civil War collecting community. While many older enthusiasts “just know” about Civil War shows, promoters are having to work smarter and rethink the way they advertise their events to reach new potential customers as the old traditional ways are coming less and less effective. the past, newspaper ads, TV and radio commercials, billboards, post cards, and flyers were the primary modes of advertising. Fast forward to 2019 with fewer and fewer people reading newspapers, more people listening to commercial free Sirius radio, TV cable companies who won’t air commercials featuring weapons of any type, and postage rates
22 – The Graphic War 24 – Inspection, ARMS! 20 – Preservation News
that are prohibitive for mailing thousands of post cards for a show. That leaves you with billboards and the new advertising trend known as social media. Kent made a bold move 5 years ago when he switched from mailing 5,000 post cards to previous attendees to sending 5,000 email with no downturn in attendance. In addition, he runs digital ads on all Civil War and gun related advertising forums, maintains an up to date website, has a corporate Facebook presence, accepts
and partners with all his venues to advertise via Facebook. If we are to survive and grow in this business, Kent thinks it is impe tive that we embrace these newer trends and use them to their ful est potential to attract and kee engaged younger and more tech savvy enthusiasts, even though the material we all deal in is o 100 years old! The next Dalton Civil War Show and Sale is scheduled for Feb. 1-2, 2020, but make plans t attend Mike Kent’s Capital of th Confederacy Show in Richmond, Nov. 16-17 and the Franklin Civi War Show on Dec. 7-8.
10 – The Unfinished Fight 28 – This And That 14 – Through The Lens
Published by Historical Publications 520 Folly Road, Suite 25 PMB 379, Charlesto
W. Melton Jr. C. Pet isher Found or: Lawrence E. Babits, Ph.D. rtising, Marketing & Assistant Editor: Pegg mnists: John Banks, Craig Barry, Joseph Bil wick, Stephen Davis, Stephanie Hagiwara, Go
Prince, Salvatore Cilella, John Sexton, Mic orial & Photography Staff: Greg Biggs, Jose y Goss, Gordon L. Jones, Michael Kent, John segger, Gregory L. Wade, Joan Wenner, J.D. Review Editor: Stephen Davis, Ph.D., Cummi
520 Folly Road Suite 25 PMB 379 Charleston, SC 29412
lay advertising rates and media kit on requ Civil War News is for your reading enjoymen ions expressed herein are those of its auth rtisers and they do not necessarily reflect
Letter to the Editor: I enjoyed Leon Reed’s artic
most seriously.” Well, there w more than one reason New York State gave such strong support its militia; it was the Irish Fenian Brotherhood. Some, not all, were Irish Regiments and some of them wer training in hopes of returning Ireland to cause trouble for t English. Some Irish Regiments the time were the 9th, 69th, 7
and 12th. New York Governor Fish even gave the Irish regiments the right to wear green
uniform coats in 1849. The 69t wore their green coats for the
My great grandfather’s regiment, the 69th New York Militia, was later nicknamed t
commanding officer. The Irish political power w
so strong, that the State of N York even allowed the 69th to train as artillerymen, since t could raise infantry in Irelan but not artillery. Then, on April 12, 1861, th South fired on Fort Sumter and
Irish regiments went to war to preserve the union.
Lost Mountain, Geor Letter to the Editor: “Let Them Rest” by Gould Hagler. I’d like to thank Mr. Hagler for his fine piece on
Confederate Statues. He points out the Smithsonian’s Magazine
Vol. 42, No. 3 Battlefield Of Franklin Land Pres By GreGory L. Wade FRANKLIN, Tenn. — What is
considered the bloodiest acreage the Nov. 30, 1864, Battle of Fran is now being reclaimed as part of evolving Carter Hill Battlefield Local preservation leaders recent
from owners Reid and Brenda Lovell after a months-long proces of coordinating various funding
sources for the critical 1.6 acre adjoin the Carter House, a major battle landmark.
Details were recently provided a press conference led by Frankli Charge board member Julian Bibb, who praised the “remarkable transition” of the Franklin battlefie Franklin’s Charge is a coalition civic and preservation groups who
joined together more than ten yea ago to purchase local battlegroun
Over 150 years ago the Army of Tennessee stepped off in a series of charges to be virtually destro by Federals under John Schofield hopes of taking Franklin and late Nashville. At that time, most of the terr
was open farmland on the outskirt of what was once a small Middle
Tennessee farming community. Over time development covered much of the battlefield with houses, ligh dustry, and small businesses. All that remained of the criti area where the Confederates temporarily broke the Federal line w the small farmhouse and a few acr
The 1.6 acres purchased, which adjoin the southern boundary of t Carter House property, is compris of two lots. Today, they are occu
Purchase that were turned over to the City of Franklin Parks Department by
Franklin’s Charge and the Battle Franklin’s Trust (BOFT), managers of the Carter House the nearby Ca ton Plantation. The structures wi removed in coming months, possibl relocated for other use. The purchase is only the lates in a long and arduous effort to r build the Franklin battlefield.
“It had to be a miracle,” quip Civil War Trust (CWT) President James Lighthizer, referring to th
most recent acquisition. Local re ident Michael Grainger, long time Trust board member and former chairman, said, “Local leadership has been incredible and will cont ue to be a partner [with the CWT] In 2005, after years of frustr
attempting to preserve Franklin b tleground, local preservationists
cided it would have to be done th hard way, by buying properties, o ten with buildings on them. The largest parcel of land was originally a local golf course sl to be sold to a developer to buil houses on what was the right flan
of the Confederate attack north t ward the Federal lines just south
the town. It was then that Franklin’s Ch came into existence. Funds have
chase from private donors, the CW the City of Franklin and others. 110-acre segment, now fully inter preted and known as the Eastern
preservation ball rolling in Fran Since that time nine other par in proximity to the Carter House have been purchased and have been or will be, turned over to the Fr
at the Lovell purchase regory L. Wade photos)
lin Parks Department, according t Bibb. But it was the land just south Carter House, long considered the most bloodied ground in Franklin, and some say in America, that was
BOFT Chief Executive Officer Eric Jacobson noted, “to not have this ground reclaimed and preserv would be like having Omaha Beach cut out of Normandy.” The most recent acquisition evolved when Franklin’s Charge an the BOFT began discussions with t
Lovells, who have a strong sense the history of the land, having g
up in Franklin. “I was born and raised in Fran lin on ground many believe should have been a national park,” said Lovell. He recalled when visitors came to town and had to envision what happened, not walk on ground where it transpired.
here, and my parents would be pro of what we are doing here today,” said at the press conference. The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously in February to fund part of the remaining debt on the Lovell property purchase. The previously
paid by the city on a non-interes basis over seven years. These funds will cover the bal now bridged by a local bank and w
be derived from the city’s hoteltel tax. Local banker Chuck Isaac
by his employer, First Farmers an Merchants Bank.
