Mixed Media Wall and Floor Pieces
1
The Dead Angle Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia
46"x 60"
27 June 1864 3,750 American Casualties
In the morning the Union army staged two massive frontal attacks on the entrenched Confederate line. In vicious fighting, often hand to hand, the Federals made some small gains at a terrible price. The next few days were a standoff and then the Union resumed its flanking actions, making it necessary for the Southerners to move even closer to Atlanta.
The materials were found on battlefields of the Atlanta Campaign - Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, Peachtree Creek, Ezra Church, and Jonesboro.
2
Jackson, Mississippi
Position of the Confederate Trenches near the River (photograph)
55"x 63"
10-16 July 1863 2,339 American Casualties
After Vicksburg had fallen, the Union army returned to Jackson which had been reoccupied by Southern troops. After a siege of a week involving several Federal attacks, the Confederates withdrew.
All the materials were found on the Jackson battlefield except the cotton, which comes from the nearby Big Black River battlefield, and the magnolia cones, which come from Vicksburg.
3
To the Army of Tennessee
Just in front of the Union Works, Franklin, Tennessee (top photograph)
60"x 46"
30 November 1864 8,526 American Casualties
Attempting to pull the Union army out of Georgia, 40,000 soldiers of the Confederate army that had evacuated Atlanta moved into Tennessee towards occupied Nashville. They pursued and attacked 28,000 Federals at Franklin by relentless charging over two miles of flat ground. The Southerners broke the first Union line but were cut to pieces at the second line of entrenchments. The slaughter of Confederates was worse than at their final charge at Gettysburg. The Union army withdrew to Nashville that night.
Site of a Rearguard Action after the Main Battle, Nashville, Tennessee (bottom photograph)
15-16 December 1864 7,407 American Casualties
With the Confederate army encamped outside Nashville's defenses, the Federals prepared their attack for two weeks. Their plan worked well and they crushed the once powerful Army of Tennessee in front of thousands of spectators lining the hills. The Southerners who were able to retreat were pursued continuously.
The pressed wall panels are from a razed house on the Franklin battlefield.
4
Petersburg, Virginia Site of the Confederate Line opposite Union Fort Stedman
46"x 60"
15 June 1864 - 2 April 1865 70,000 American Casualties
The ten months of trench warfare were punctuated with several unsuccessful large scale attacks, including the one launched after the detonation of four tons of gunpowder under the Confederate line. The Union steadily extended their line westward to exceed a length of thirty miles, stretching the outnumbered Southerners to the breaking point. At Five Forks on 1 April 1865, Federal soldiers overwhelmed the Confederate right flank. The next day Grant ordered an assault that finally broke through the main line. Lee managed to extricate a large portion of his army, but Petersburg and Richmond were lost. The Southern army surrendered at Appomattox on 9 April.
All the materials were found on the Petersburg battlefield or those nearby - Fair Oaks, Savage's Station, Sappony Church, Drewry's Bluff, Deep Bottom, Five Forks, Petersburg, Amelia Springs, Sayler's Creek.
5
The Richmond Campaign Known Dead from May 1864 - April 1865
112"x 124"
The 17,476 names are Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the last campaign against Richmond from May 1864 to April 1865. An additional 70,000 unknown soldiers died during this campaign. The transparencies are portraits of Union and Confederate soldiers. The dirt is from the Wilderness battlefield. The color photograph is from the Cold Harbor battlefield. Cold Harbor and the Wilderness were important battles in this campaign.
Site of the Confederate Center, Cold Harbor, Virginia (Color Photograph)
1-3 June 1864 14,437 American Casualties
This critical road junction became the focus of Lee and Grant's armies in the Union drive towards Richmond. Reinforcements were rushed in by both sides. Attacks and counterattacks failed to break the stalemate on the first day. After a day of preparations, the Union army launched a major assault against strong entrenchments on June 3. In less than half an hour, 7,000 Federal soldiers were killed or wounded. Grant ordered a withdrawal to the southeast.
6
Unknown Dead from the Richmond Campaign, May 1864 - April 1865
84"x 84"
These 61,716 Unknowns represent a conservative estimate of the unknown Union and Confederate soldiers who died during the last campaign against Richmond, Virginia. The transparencies are photographs and maps of the battlefields of this campaign - Wilderness. Spotsylvania Court House, Sheridan's Richmond Raid, Cold Harbor, Bermuda Hundred, Topotomoy Creek, North Anna River, Petersburg, Five Forks. The jump rope was found on the battlefield of the Second Winchester in Virginia; the flowers are from the Cross Keys battlefield in Virginia.
7
West Virginia
60"x 75"
South of the Confederate Breastworks on the Union Left at Rich Mountain, West Virginia (bottom left and bottom right)
11 July 1861 346 American Casualties
One month after the secession of the pro-Union counties of western Virginia from the state of Virginia, Union troops attacked and, after three hours of fighting, overran the undermanned Confederate position on the heights of strategic Rich Mountain.
An Unknown Wounded Soldier (middle)
Inside the Union Fort, now a closed Strip Mine, at Cheat Mountain, West Virginia (top)
11-13 September 1861 281 American Casualties
Misinformation from captured Federals confused the multi-pronged Confederate attack on this strategic fort.
All the materials were found on West Virginia battlefields. The coal is from Cheat Mountain. The pieces of red root are from Droop Mountain. The carpet underlayment is from Barboursville.