Fort Negley

[Augusta Carr]

I will be attending a meeting soon with the powers that be at Ft Negley and will need some input from y'all.

Would any Federal group be interested in doing some type of garrison event at the fort? If so y'all are on your own for what you would like to do and how you want to do and I can promise as least a good home cooked supper on Saturday,

Please contact me at augustacarr@aol.com if interested or have any ideas.

[Augusta Carr]

Almost forgot, will get as much publicity as I can for the event and we will have a mail call with letters as well as comfort sacks.

This will be the first time anything like this has been done at the fort and will be open to the public and will be a great time to tell the real story.

BTW I had been advised that some folks think the confederates castrated there Federal prisoners. So we have a lot of work to do.

[BrianHicks]

Since the Fort has been renovated, and the new visitors center opened, the place certainly lends it self to be a good site for a Federal LH program.

However... I don't know if the renovations of the Fort have made the grounds, and surrounding neighborhood (i.e. security of the participants vehicles) safe for an overnight presence there. Perhaps when you meet with the officials from the Park service, this might be a question worth asking.

A daytime presentation, securing at sunset might be very easily done. I participated in a small presentation for Montgomery Bell Academy Students up there about three years ago.

[Augusta Carr]

Brian:

I assure you that the parking lot will be manned the entire time the event is going on and if I get any interest will contact the park service and metro police for additional security.

I have been to the area and there is a great improvement in getting rid of the unsavory elements that had been in the area. We are all united in making Ft Negley a place tourist and locals will want to come and see.

[BrianHicks]

Keep me advised as to how your meeting comes out. There are a few folks in the Nashville area whom can put together quality Federal impressions (not to mention the numerous other folks who don't mind traveling to a new venue for a different event).

I'll be spending next weekend with a number of the fellas from Ga. I'll see if I can generate some interest amongst them. Meanwhile, I'll query the likes of the MOOCOWs and WIG fellas here in the Nashville Area.

The next question is... when? Most everyones schedule is already pretty tight for this year.

When you meet with the Park folks, query them as to when they would like a program to be presented, and what size they would like to accommodate.

[Augusta Carr]

Brian:

Will do! I hope to meet with the folks with in the next week or two and as long as I know lthere is interest will run with it.

[BrianHicks]

There have been a group of us, whom had always been interested. The problem had been, getting the Metropolitan Nashville Park Services interested. Perhaps with the visitors center now open, the right person, talking to the right people may make a difference.

[Augusta Carr]

I have a meeting set up for this Tuesday. IM me if you like and I'll give you my telephone number if you want to talk about what we can do. I have the park service behind me so that is one big obstacle out of the way.

[BrianHicks]

My Cell # is (615) 948-3983. I'm here in Nashville.

The big questions for the park service are;

1. How many people would they like on site?

2. What restrictions would be in place? (i.e. Would we be able to do firing demonstrations with blanks? If yes, can we use the ramrods to load? )

3. Can we stay overnight? If yes... then what are the restrictions on fires. Is potable water available? And more importantly, knowing the neighborhood, what kind of security is available, for the fort itself and the parking area.

What can we provide? That would depend on when they would like the event to take place. As I stated earlier, most folks are already committed for most of this year. And closer to the anniversary of the Battle of Nashville is difficult because of the Holiday, and conflicts with the Nashville Civil War show.

The farther out we plan, the greater the numbers we can have involved.

Ideally, I think the site would support a late war Company sized Infantry element (30-40 men). Smaller is always easier.

[Micah Trent]

I too would be interested. It is not far from where I live and have been there several times. I also have some of the same concerns that Brian has, but if something can be worked up, I would love to do something there.

[Thomas Alleman]

Have any pics of the place recently? I went there in 2004 and it was well in ruins. I know they put in a walkway but have they done anything else? I found this site http://www.bonps.org/neg.htm Also since it was rebuilt by the WPA in the 30's could it be rebuild again, there are plenty of trees around it already.

[hpotter]

Thomas, like you said, they have put in the boardwalk and information signs around the exterior walking path as well as several inside the fort. From what i understand there are going to be several phases of work done to the fort and the fist has just been done. Most of the fort still looks like its been beat to hell and back. It is still a GREAT site and I'm excited about future improvements.

I would also be very interested in an event there. My question would be will we be able to garrison inside the fort or on the south slope?

[BrianHicks]

A visitors center has been built (and is now open) at the entrance.

Setting up inside would be preferable. But that wold be dictated by numbers participating.

If we strive for something for this year, November has already been suggested.

How about the weekend of 8-9 November as a tentative date to plan towards?

[Rebel Yell1863]

Brian,

I'm interested too, if it is the 8-9 November or around then I can plan towards going to it. I don't do Federal much, but I have been wanting to do a good Federal LH. I'll keep updated by the emails.

[Coatsy]

All,

I am definitely interested in a L.H. at Negley. If the park is keen for a good program then great. Just watch the '09 dates please. I know that The Piney Woods event in Lousiana is in March and Bummer is in Mid November.

[BrianHicks]

Herb,

Nothing set yet... but I'm leaning towards the 8-9 November of this year (providing the park service will allow it).

[Micah Trent]

8-9 of November sounds great. Not much going on after mid October, well, at least for me, and November is usually a drag, so I'd shoot for it! There seems to be a good interest from those who live near and around Nashville that want to do something there.

[plankholder]

Brian, count me in, and I will bring my minions! -Eli Geery

[Augusta Carr]

:)Brian Hicks has kindly stepped up to handle the mitlitary end of the event for me and I thank him kindly.

I'm looking for a few civilians to plan the civilian side of things. I'm open to any suggestions.

Please feel free to contact me at augustacarr@aol.com if interested and I'm open to any ideas. So far we plan to do the cooking for the military so they can do there thing and we can do ours. I hope we can get creative and have a great time as well.