Here are some upcoming programs at the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Park:
Saturday, June 14
10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. - each 30 minutes
"Driven Him Like a Whipped Dog" - Captain Peter Simonson and His Fifth Indiana Battery
Free, no reservation needed. Artillery demonstrations will occur near the King Monument, off Battleline Road. Signs will be posted from the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center to the program location.
Captain Peter Simonson was a rising star among the young officers of the Army of the Cumberland and his 5th Indiana Battery was considered one of the best. Through their courage and skill, they had made a reputation across many bloody fields from Kentucky to Tennessee and now, Georgia. We invite you to come hear the story of Captain Simonson and his men and experience how a cannon was fired during the Battle of Chickamauga.
Saturday, June 14
11 a.m.-noon
"A Hurricane of Shot and Shell" - 5th Indiana Battery versus the Polks
Free, no reservation needed. Participants will meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center before traveling out onto the battlefield.
The Fifth Indiana Battery had an extensive record during the American Civil War. The battery played a major role in the Battle of Chickamauga by repulsing the attacks of Confederate Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk’s right wing of the Army of Tennessee. However, this was not the last time that members of the Polk family would face the “hurricane of shot and shell.” We encourage you to join a park ranger for this special presentation on Chickamauga Battlefield. Please dress accordingly for the weather, and a folding chair might be desirable.
Sunday, June 15
"Let the Rebels take me but save the flag!" - The Importance of the Colors and Color Bearers at Chickamauga
11 a.m.-noon
Free, no reservation needed. This tour begins inside the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present a special tour concerning the important roles that colors (flags) and their bearers played during the Battle of Chickamauga. “Rally Round the Flag!’ was a popular refrain during the Civil War and illustrated the importance of unit’s colors (flags) on both sides. Flags of both armies did more than illustrate what side a unit was on, but they served important functions such as rallying broken units, showing men where they were going when the roar of battle drowned out all other sounds, and came to represent the heart and soul of regiments that many soldiers were willing to sacrifice their lives to protect. To hear some of the stories about the men who bore the colors and the role the flags themselves played in the Battle of Chickamauga, please join us for this special talk.