Our Living History

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Once a historic place is gone, photographs, books, and historical markers can preserve part of its story, but they can never completely replace the original place.

In this episode of Our Living History, I discuss the growing pressure facing historic sites, battlefields, museums, historic buildings, and culturally significant landscapes. This is not an attack on property owners, developers, or communities that need housing, businesses, roads, schools, jobs, and public services. Growth is necessary, and landowners deserve a voice in what happens to their property.

The question is whether we are identifying historically important places early enough to consider alternatives before irreversible decisions have already been made.

Could historic buildings be reused? Could development plans be adjusted? Could protective buffers, preservation easements, archaeological investigations, land purchases, or professional documentation help protect the most important parts of these places?

Not every historic site can be saved. However, preservation should become part of the conversation before the demolition notice is posted or the bulldozers arrive.

How can property owners, developers, local governments, historians, museums, preservation organizations, and ordinary citizens work together to protect our most significant historic places while still allowing our communities to grow?

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Before daylight on August 3, 1864, an exhausted Union cavalry command resting near King’s Tanyard was struck by Confederate pursuers.

In this episode of Our Living History, we examine the Battle of King’s Tanyard, also known as the Battle of Jug Tavern. The engagement occurred near present-day Winder, Georgia, during the closing stages of Major General George Stoneman’s unsuccessful cavalry raid.

After Stoneman surrendered at the Battle of Sunshine Church, parts of his command escaped and began retreating north. Colonel Horace Capron’s brigade was blocked from entering Athens by Georgia Home Guard units supported by artillery. Capron turned west, passed through Jug Tavern, and stopped his exhausted command at King’s Tanyard.

The historical account also records that a large group of enslaved people seeking freedom had followed the Union column. Before dawn, Williams’ Confederate Kentucky brigade attacked by surprise, throwing Capron’s command into confusion. Approximately 430 Union soldiers were captured. Capron escaped with six men and reached Union lines near Marietta four days later on foot.

This battle became the final action of Stoneman’s Raid and remains one of Georgia’s lesser-known Civil War engagements.

Follow Our Living History for more military history, battlefield stories, historic sites, museums, and living-history 

I'd like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor.

Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters.

If you'd like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below:

Cell: (839) 292-6571

I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and the content we share here. Please join me in thanking him for helping make future projects possible.

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

What really happened at the Battle of the Narrows, also known as the Battle of Currahee Mountain?

In this episode of Our Living History, we examine the surviving evidence behind a little known Civil War encounter reported near Baldwin, Georgia, on October 12, 1864.

According to a Georgia Historical Commission marker erected in 1953, Confederate troops defeated Union cavalry in a nearby mountain pass, protected Habersham County and its grain fields, and suffered only a small number of casualties. The marker also states that local residents cared for the wounded.

Those statements preserve the best known public version of the battle, but no wartime battle report, identified casualty list, or detailed contemporary account has yet been located to confirm the complete story independently.

Later accounts describe a possible local home guard made up largely of older men and boys. Another tradition claims that Confederate soldiers from nearby communities were home on special leave for the harvest and joined the defense. Those soldiers supposedly included members of the 43rd Georgia Infantry’s Middle River Volunteers. No wartime roster, furlough order, or military report has yet been found to confirm those claims.

We also examine the modern claim that Brigadier General Kenner Garrard commanded the Union troops. Sherman’s orders and Garrard’s own October 12 report place Garrard and his cavalry division near Rome and Coosaville that day, making it extremely unlikely that he personally commanded a fight at the Narrows. The reported encounter also occurred more than a month before Sherman began his March to the Sea.

This episode uses audio recorded during the Battle of the Narrows reenactment at Hurricane Shoals Park. The reenactment helps preserve the local memory of the reported encounter, but it should not be treated as a proven, scene by scene reconstruction of the original battle.

The goal is not to dismiss local history. It is to separate what surviving records can verify from what remains tradition, possibility, or an unanswered question.

Sources:

Georgia Historical Society marker page:
 https://www.georgiahistory.com/ghmi_marker_updated/battle-of-narrows/

Historical Marker Database:
 https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=40640

Kenner Garrard’s October 12, 1864 report:
 https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146045/m1/240/

Sherman’s October 1864 instructions:
 https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146045/m1/243/

Follow Our Living History for more battlefield stories, reenactments, historical investigations, and living history from across the United States.

I'd like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor.

Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters.

If you'd like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below:

Cell: (839) 292-6571

I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and the content we share here. Please join me in thanking him for helping make future projects possible.

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

The Battle of Yorktown was not won in a single dramatic charge. It was won by closing a trap—on land, at sea, and through three weeks of siege warfare.

In this episode of Our Living History, we visit Yorktown Battlefield and follow the 1781 campaign that brought George Washington, the Comte de Rochambeau, and Admiral de Grasse together against Lord Cornwallis. We examine how Washington and Rochambeau concealed the Allied move from New York to Virginia, how the French fleet blocked British relief by sea, and how American and French artillery steadily crushed the British position.

The story reaches its decisive point on the night of October 14, when approximately 400 French troops attacked Redoubt 9 while approximately 400 American light infantry under Alexander Hamilton assaulted Redoubt 10. Capturing those two positions allowed the Allies to complete their second siege line and move their artillery even closer to Cornwallis’s defenses.

With his position collapsing, a river evacuation ruined by a storm, and British relief arriving too late, Cornwallis sought terms. His army formally surrendered on October 19, 1781.

We also separate the verified history from two common Yorktown myths. The surrender did not legally end the American Revolutionary War, which continued until the Treaty of Paris in September 1783, and the identity of the tune played during the surrender remains unknown. Yorktown was the last major land battle of the war, and its outcome broke Britain’s effort to regain control of the colonies.

Which part of the Yorktown campaign made the greatest difference—the deception, the French fleet, the Allied artillery, or the capture of Redoubts 9 and 10? Share your answer and follow Our Living History for more battlefield history, living history, military history, and stories from the American Revolution.

I’d like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor.
 Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters.
 If you’d like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below:
 Cell: (839) 292-6571
I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and the content we share here. Please join me in thanking him for helping make future projects possible.

Sources used for this episode:

American Battlefield Trust — Battle of Yorktown
 https://www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/yorktown

National Park Service — History of the Siege
 https://www.nps.gov/york/learn/historyculture/history-of-the-siege.htm

American Battlefield Trust — Yorktown, September 28–October 19, 1781
 https://www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/yorktown-sep-28-oct-19-1781

American Battlefield Trust — Assaults on Redoubts 9 and 10
 https://www.battlefields.org/learn/maps/yorktown-assaults-redoubts-9-and-10-oct-14-1781

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

On August 16, 1780, the larger American army under General Horatio Gates faced Lord Charles Cornwallis near Camden, South Carolina—and collapsed in roughly forty-five minutes.

In this narrative episode, we follow the British Southern Strategy, Gates’s march toward Camden, the unexpected nighttime collision between the two armies, the placement of inexperienced American militia against veteran British troops, Johann de Kalb’s final stand, and the aftermath of one of the most devastating American defeats of the Revolutionary War.

According to the American Battlefield Trust, the Americans suffered an estimated 1,050 casualties, compared with 324 British casualties.

This audio episode is adapted from the Our Living History battlefield video and was created so you can experience the complete story wherever you listen to podcasts.

I'd like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor.

Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters.

If you'd like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below:

Cell: (839) 292-6571

I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and the content we share here. Please join me in thanking him for helping make future projects possible.

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

Approximately 4,000 Union soldiers were captured during the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky.

Fought August 29–30, 1862, the battle ended in a major Confederate victory after Union troops were driven back from position after position.

In this episode of Our Living History, we follow the course of the fighting—from the first clashes on August 29 through the Confederate attacks of August 30, the repeated Union retreats, the fighting near Richmond, and the capture of thousands of Federal soldiers.

According to the American Battlefield Trust, estimated casualties totaled 5,650 — 4,900 Union and 750 Confederate.

The consequences didn’t end at Richmond. The Confederate victory opened the way farther north into Kentucky, and on September 2, Confederate forces captured Frankfort.

Whether you’re listening while driving, working, walking, or just relaxing, come along with Our Living History as we explore what happened during the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky.

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsor

I’d like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor.

Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters.

If you’d like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below:

Cell: (839) 292-6571

I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and the content we share here. Please join me in thanking him for helping make future projects possible.

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

On the night of February 17–18, 1865, as Union forces occupied Columbia, South Carolina, a catastrophic fire swept through much of the city.

But who actually burned Columbia?

In this episode of Our Living History, we go back to the primary sources used in our research—including eyewitness accounts, diaries, sworn testimony, military orders, and contemporary records—to separate what we can establish from what remains unresolved.

The evidence paints a complicated picture.

Cotton was burning in Columbia during the day, and at least some of those fires were fought and brought under control. After dark, eyewitness testimony establishes that some Union soldiers deliberately set individual buildings on fire. At the same time, other Union soldiers were actively fighting fires and attempting to protect buildings.

Some Federal soldiers became intoxicated, while extremely strong winds helped spread flames and burning material through the city.

We also examine what General William Tecumseh Sherman actually ordered destroyed. His instructions called for the destruction of military, railroad, manufacturing, and machine-shop property while directing that libraries, asylums, and private dwellings be spared. The primary-source evidence examined for this episode does not establish that Sherman issued an order to indiscriminately burn Columbia’s civilian areas.

So did Union soldiers deliberately burn buildings? Yes.

Did Federal forces deliberately destroy Confederate military and industrial property? Yes.

Can we prove that Sherman ordered the entire city burned—or identify one single fire as the cause of the great conflagration?

Based on the primary sources examined for this episode, no.

Sometimes history doesn’t leave us with a simple answer. This episode follows the evidence as far as it will take us—and no farther.

Our Living History is dedicated to exploring the places, people, events, and surviving evidence that connect us with America’s past.

Sponsored by Albert Meyer

A special thank you to my friend Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History. Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters.

Cell: (839) 292-6571
 

YouTube- https://youtu.be/SDGCbzfheW8?is=7gMtNYzICbgxCe69

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

On October 7, 1780, Patriot and Loyalist forces collided on the wooded slopes of Kings Mountain in one of the most important battles of the American Revolution’s Southern Campaign.

In this episode of the Our Living History Podcast, we tell the story of the Battle of Kings Mountain — why Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist force came to Kings Mountain, how Patriot militia surrounded the position, how the fighting unfolded across the slopes, and why the Patriot victory had consequences far beyond the battlefield.

Unlike many major engagements of the Revolutionary War, Kings Mountain was fought largely by militia. Patriot forces fought their way uphill while Ferguson’s Loyalists attempted to drive them back.

By the end of the fighting, Ferguson was dead and his Loyalist force had been defeated.

The Battle of Kings Mountain became a major Patriot victory at a critical point in the war and helped disrupt British operations in the South.

This podcast episode uses the audio from our full Our Living History battlefield video.

WATCH THE FULL BATTLEFIELD VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/OeQEf5PyGvU?is=_YtMt-wlddZKqjS9

VISIT OUR LIVING HISTORY ON YOUTUBE:
https://youtube.com/@ourlivinghistory?si=vWWJQCe8OSlRlbZR

If you enjoy Revolutionary War history, battlefield tours, museums, historic sites, living history, military history, and exploring the places where history actually happened, follow the Our Living History Podcast and subscribe to the YouTube channel.

Help us keep history alive by sharing this episode with someone who loves American history.

CHANNEL SPONSOR

I’d like to take a moment to thank Albert Meyer for supporting Our Living History as a channel sponsor.

Albert is an attorney serving clients throughout South Carolina in Criminal Defense, Immigration, and Personal Injury matters.

If you’d like to learn more or get in touch with him, his contact information is below:

Office: (803) 200-2000

Cell: (839) 292-6571

Email: [email protected]

Website: carolinadefenselawyers.com

I appreciate his support of historical education, living history, museums, and Our Living History.

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

Experience the official Our Living History song.

Our Living History is dedicated to bringing America’s past to life through living history, historical demonstrations, museum visits, battlefield tours, reenactments, interviews with historians and craftsmen, and hands-on experiences that connect people with the people, places, and events that shaped our nation.

This original song was created to capture the spirit of that mission—the determination, sacrifice, and heritage that continue to inspire us today.

If you enjoy American history, living history, historic sites, black powder, military history, traditional crafts, and preserving our shared past, you’re in the right place.

Thank you for listening and for supporting Our Living History. Every listen, share, and subscription helps us continue documenting and preserving history for future generations.

Support the show

Hey!!! We would love to hear from you about any questions or topics or locations that you want to hear about. You are the reason that we do what we do!!!

In this episode of Our Living History, we explore the fascinating history of the Old Sunset Beach Swing Bridge and the people whose vision, hard work, and determination helped shape Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

We’ll discuss the historic swing bridge that connected the mainland to Sunset Beach for decades and examine how it became one of the community’s most recognizable landmarks. Through photographs, artifacts, records, and exhibits preserved at the Old Bridge Museum, we uncover stories that many visitors to Sunset Beach may never have heard.

The episode also looks at the work of Mannon C. Gore, whose dredge, the Little Dawn, was used in the hydraulic dredging process that helped create the causeway to the island. Museum exhibits explain how material dredged from a parallel channel known as Gore’s Ditch was used to build up the causeway, helping make access to the island possible.

Finally, we examine the efforts of the Old Bridge Preservation Society, which was formed in 2010 by Karen Dombowski, Chris Wilson, and Ann Bokelman to save the historic bridge from demolition. Through the support of thousands of residents, visitors, and property owners, the bridge and tender house were preserved and relocated, ensuring that future generations can continue to learn from this important piece of Sunset Beach history.

The Old Bridge Preservation Society and Museum are currently fundraising to help pay for the relocation of the bridge to its new home next door and for future preservation costs.

To learn more about the museum or support their preservation efforts, visit:

http://www.theoldbridge.org/

If you enjoy local history, museums, historic preservation, and stories from America’s past, be sure to follow Our Living History wherever you listen to podcasts.

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