When: June 15 - 17, 2012
Where: Davies Manor Plantation just outside Memphis, TN - Davies Manor was built around 1831, and is the oldest house in Shelby County, TN.
History: At the outbreak of the war, the house was owned by a young couple, James and Francis Davies. In her memoirs, Francis Davies ran the plantation during her husband's (a CS cavalryman) absence. She tells an account of Federal troops coming to the plantation and attempting to steal their last prize horse, which she single-handedly denied them by cutting the horse's bridle from the commanding officer's hand with a butcher knife. Also, on June 30, 1862, a Federal wagon train bound for Memphis was attacked by Confederate cavalry (some accounts say it was the 7th Tennessee), resulting in 8 destroyed wagons and approximately 50 casualties on either side. According to the account, Francis watched the battle from the upstairs window of the manor house.
What: Recreating the small community of Morning Sun, circa June 1862. There will be a Federal contingent (led by Greg Richardson), which will portray troops patrolling from Memphis. A Confederate contingent (led by Michael Comer) will also be on site. There will be a carefully scripted engagement each day, portraying the skirmish at Morning Sun.
On site, there is the manor house itself, plus 3 log cabins of varying size, and a commissary. The property is also fenced with split-rail fencing throughout. The main idea behind this event is to recreate the community and it's everyday life, with the military as a side show. Due to the small size of the site, numbers will be limited (more information on numbers to come later).
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