Saturday, October 3, 2026
Another action packed day in the Deep South.
We had agreed to divide our forces for the day.
Jacob and Michael would stay in
LaFayette, Georgia for the first day of
their Battle of Franklin reenactment
I, on the other hand, would be driving back north to Sewanee, Tennessee to take in the glory of a DIII football game at the University of the South.
Of course, I started the morning
addressing the needs of any days
most important meal, breakfast
The grits were yummy.
I needed to fill our rent-a-car's tank
before my one hour drive
Almost $3.00/gallon cheaper than in California.
Why?
I know, it's Biden's fault.
Cookout is a great fast food chain
all over the South
We ate dinner here last night, their Cheerwine Cherry Float alone is worth the stop.
It had started to rain and I tried to touch base with the boys for an hour before I left but to no avail. Without a callback, I was on my way via a drive through the Chickamauga National Battlefield.
Cannons ready to blast any enemy
force coming out of those trees
A random log cabin
An ode to the men working
the cannons
Wonderful carvings sans any
computer age aid
The 81st Ohio Infantry
fought at Chickamauga
A lonely monument
My battlefield drive-through complete, I headed to Tennessee.
The entrance to
The University of the South
in Sewanee, Tennessee
Most just know the university as Sewanee, Home of the Tigers.
Interesting architecture
Sewanee's impressive
All Saint's Chapel . . .
. . . lets go in
I was greeted by the university's
impressive seal
Of course the chapel has
stained glass windows
They each highlight a special part of Sewanee's history.
Ode to the great "Iron Man Team"
of 1899 that recorded a miraculous
12-0 football season
During the Civil War, in 1863,
Union soldiers blew up the Sewanee's
six ton marble cornerstone because
they could
DAMN YANKEES!
The U.S. Air Force ROTC program's
start was another important moment
Many Tigers went into the Armed
Services during WWII
The Sewanee once had an
important Military Academy
The Sewanee Chapel was BEAUTIFUL
 |
| Stained glass honoring the USA's Military |
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St. George but, where's the dragon?
An old bench
A majestic tower of
Convocation Hall
Abbot Alley, a wooded path,
is just to the left
It was time to head to the football game
Old Duhan Gymnasium
I just had to step inside the gym
That pesky 1899 team yet again
In a mythical battle of the greatest National Championship teams of all-time, posted behind the football, obviously the 1899 Tigers won the 16 team tournament!
Sewanee's tournament wins, in succession, came over 1971 Nebraska, 1947 Notre Dame, 1974 Oklahoma and 1961 Alabama.
Impossible to argue these results in my opinion.
More Sewanee football
hardware on display
As I got closer I got to Harris Stadium, more and more banners alluding to the Tigers fabled history appeared.
Seven Tigers on the All-Time
CAC/SCAC squads
Ten College Athletic Conference crowns
Two titles in their Southern
Collegiate Athletic Conference days
The Orgill Cup goes annually
to the winner of the Sewanee vs.
Rhodes rivalry game
My first view of Harris Stadium
Now, let's look at our combatants in today's Southern Athletic Association (SAA) opening game.
Southwestern University Pirates
Georgetown, Texas
0 Wins - 3 Losses
0 Wins - 0 Losses in SAA play
at
Sewanee, Tennessee
1 Win - 3 Losses
0 Wins - 0 Losses in SAA play
Easily the Best Dressed
Tiger of the Day!
The Pirates Kicking Off to start
the game's festivities
Pirates on Offense
The Tigers turn to run the rock
A 63 yard TD BOMB
for dear old Sewanee!
The Pirates responded in kind
The home stands were ROCKING!
The Tigers blocked this Pirates
Field Goal attempt on the last
play of the First Half
With the score tied at 14-14 and my concern about the rain in Georgia and its effect on Michael and Jacob's reenactment experience, I decided to start the one hour drive back to LaFayette, TN.
As for this game . . .
FINAL SCORE
Southwestern (1-3, 1-0 SAA) - 42
Sewanee (1-4, 0-1 SAA) - 21
On my way out of Sewanee, I caught a few more glimpses of life in this serene, rural college town.
The name says it all
Colorful Mercantile
Artsy
Somewhere on the drive
back in Georgia
When I finally arrived back at the reenactment site in LaFayette, GA, both battles of the day had been fought despite the early morning downpour.
Definitely NOT period correct chow
The boys wanted me to meet them at the sutlers settlement.
Sutlers are people who sell all of the materials that an army needs to function properly.
Passing the Confederate Camp
Rebel Battle Flag on parade
Confederates foraging for food
Sutlers THAT-A-WAY
Found them in a swampy condition
in the Georgia clay
Jacob's favorite sutler . . .
. . . with LOTS of coats
I loved this sutlery!
This is the fun couple that are
the owners of the Tophats Sutlery,
GREAT PEOPLE!
7 lbs of Bacon
Old Time Music
Lots of mud on Sutlers Way
Michael and Jacob leading
the way
Michael window shopping
Despite the mud, this young couple
was still stepping out tonight
Cincinnati Depot & Tent
Jacob wanted the Weller Over Coat that this man hand stitched in the worst way.
Finally, I asked our two Union soldiers how the day went.
Michael was flabbergasted
by the epic day's battles
Camp the night before the battles
Same scene, different view
Friday night, I picked up Jacob at a designated spot near the Union Camp. Today Michael sent me some photos of our rendezvous.
Meet us by the train tracks
There they were
It was still so humid that Michael was shirtless.
Jacob is much more fashion conscious that his father.
Now for some photos of today's events.
Rebs coming over the hill
Union squad on the march
Union reserves
Get ready, men!
What, me worry?
Things starting to heat up
Now he does look worried
Protected by the breastworks
1,600 reenactors fighting
it out in LaFayette
Eerie scene
Jacob on the front lines
Load up that musket, Jacob!
Still alive after the first battle of the day
He would not be as fortunate in the afternoon as he suffered a fatal groin wound.
Almost hand-to-hand combat time
Our boy after his fatal wound
A miraculous reenactment resurrection
Thank goodness!
After our meeting, the boys went back to clean up their campsite.
While I opted for . . .
. . . good BBQ ribs
After my meal, I picked them both up as they wanted a shower and a warm bed after spending so much time in the wet, humid and muddy conditions.
It was about two hours after we all got back to our motel that we received a notice.
Because of even heavier rains
predicted for Sunday, the reenactment
was cancelled
This called for an all-out fire drill as the boys rushed back to the Union Camp to get of their gear out safely before the deluge.
I was miffed as I had planned on taking lots of photos of the battles on Sunday.
Meanwhile, at the L.A. Coliseum . . .
Washington vs. USC
It is NEVER easy being
a Husky fan
I still can't believe how excited both Michael and Jacob were by what transpired for them today, their smiles and stories were worth the trip.
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