by Elizabeth Miller 

Abraham Lincoln’s election as the 16th president of the United States was so contentious, it caused 11 Southern states to secede from the Union. On Christmas Eve, 1864, as the Civil War raged, President and Mary Todd Lincoln prepared for Christmas at the White House.  This is the setting for the musical play “A Civil War Christmas,” and on Friday, December 28, the National Park Partners invites you to attend a special benefit performance at the Chattanooga Theatre Centre. 

Pulitzer-winning playwright Paula Vogel weaves fictional and historical characters together with American songs, marches and spirituals for this production. Vogel says that “theatre gives us the ability to talk with our ancestors,” and in this brutally honest depiction, we are privy to relationships among the soldiers and slaves, as well as the close bond between Mrs. Lincoln and her dressmaker, Elizabeth Keckley. 

Nicole Coleman plays Elizabeth Keckley and hopes through her character research to discover how it came to be that Keckley, who was born a slave, bought her own freedom. It is known that Mrs. Lincoln gave Keckley money to start the Contraband Relief Organization to help newly freed slaves, and she also took Elizabeth to Boston and other places to drum up support from black ministers, as the church was the foundation of black political society. Keckley also had a part-Caucasian son who passed for white, so he could enlist (men of color were usually barred from service). “Socially, to pass for white is like shaming your family,” Nicole noted. Keckley’s son was killed in battle and appears as a ghost in the play.

“Mary Todd Lincoln is one of history’s most misunderstood women. When a president’s wife was expected to be quiet, Mary was outspoken as a political strategist and proponent for emancipation. She was publicly ridiculed and in later years, her son committed her to an insane asylum,” Nicole said. From her book published in 1868, “Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House,” Keckley writes:

“It may be charged that I have written too freely on some questions, especially in regard to Mrs. Lincoln. I do not think so … Mrs. Lincoln, by her own acts, forced herself into notoriety. She stepped beyond the formal lines which hedge about a private life,  and invited public criticism.” 

Director, Todd Olsen is excited about staging “A Civil War Christmas” in a town with extant buildings and historians, and where people memorialize the battles that took place here. Olsen says that, “Vogel is smart to not get political, and although we meet Generals Lee, Grant, and Sherman, the war is the backdrop to the human stories.”
​
Your ticket purchase for the show on December 28 show includes food, drink and noshing with characters from the show, but most importantly, it supports the National Park Partners in its conservation of the natural, historic, and cultural resources of Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.

​For tickets, call the Theatre Centre Box Office (423) 267-8534 or go online at theatrecentre.com.

By George Davenport
​
Veterans may be a diminishing subculture in America, but here on Signal Mountain, a group of veterans and military history enthusiasts congregate regularly for breakfast and programs sharing our common history as veterans. We recall military experiences of a bygone era, perhaps seeking affirmation of our value to our culture as we recall our youthful deeds from a long ago and far away time.

Recently, a group of these kindred spirits, Jim Wade, Dan Saieed, Jerry Pala, Bill Leonard and George Davenport, decided to get a better appreciation of the men who fought in the American Civil War. We toured the battlefields of that war in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

On our way north, we stopped in Lexington, Va., and visited Washington and Lee University, where Robert E. Lee both finished his life as president of the school and is buried. Nearby, we watched the Virginia Military Institute cadets lower the flag at close of day. We finished our visit by stopping at the gravesite of Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson, a fitting way to start our tour.

Gettysburg, the pivotal battle of that war, was our main destination. It is full of historic settings, and we took a self-guided auto tour to experience them properly. The museum there is superb, and the Cyclorama is a grand overview of the battle’s culmination. If you have not seen Little Round Top, The Devil’s Den, Cemetery Ridge and the rest of those famous sites, your education is not complete.

We culminated this part of our experience by recreating Pickett’s fabled charge across the cornfield to Cemetery Ridge; like those soldiers, we disappeared from view as we crossed that long field. It was quite an experience to recreate that charge. We ended the day in the cemetery where Lincoln made his famous Gettysburg Address about the war to end slavery and restore freedom to all the people.

Onward we marched (metaphorically), down a narrow, twisting road, to Antietam. Antietam is a more compact battlefield than Gettysburg; it was the bloodiest single day in American history. We took another self-guided tour, stopping at the Dunker Church where so many fell in one brutal morning. We also walked the Sunken Road and later hiked down to Burnsides Bridge. They were all somber scenes. Antietam is not as vast an experience as Gettysburg, but led to the Emancipation Proclamation, and a change in the war.

From Antietam, we drove to Harpers Ferry, and viewed the fire hall where John Brown made his stand and lit the fuse that ignited the Civil War. This town is surrounded by steep mountains and is the juncture of two famous rivers, a site that changed hands 13 times in the war.

We spent the next morning in Manassas, where the first large battle of the war occurred, beginning the war in earnest. Here, also, Lee had one of his greatest victories the following year at Second Bull Run. It’s now a suburb of Washington, D.C.

We explored Arlington Cemetery, and watched the somber changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. We also visited the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the World War II Memorial. These memorials are deeply meaningful to us, and the cold and windy day was a fitting climate for their settings.

We continued to Marye’s Heights in Fredericksburg, which is now overgrown with suburbs. We walked along the sunken road, wondering how anyone could attack that hill, something the union forces did 13 times to no avail. The movie in the battlefield’s museum depicted a far different scene from the tranquil setting we saw, but that is true of all of these famous battles.

From there, it’s only a short drive to Chancellorsville, (perhaps not so short on foot in 1862). It is a confusing tangle of wooded forests, just as it was then. Here, Lee split his army in a daring maneuver, and here “Stonewall” was fatally wounded, even as Lee won his greatest victory.

That same day, we encountered a new general, U.S. Grant. Only a few miles further along the road, we came upon the Wilderness and Spotsylvania battlefields; they are not well-known, but impactful nonetheless. The trenches in the “Bloody Angle” at Spotsylvania are still there to help visitors get an impression of what the war became.

Our last day was spent in Richmond at the Tredegar Iron Works Museum, the industrial heart of the Confederacy. After immersing ourselves in this small but impactful setting of life in a beleaguered city, we headed for our last experience, Appomattox.

Appomattox is a serene, restored courthouse and village that makes you aware of how that war ended. We watched Gen. Lee sign the articles of surrender in a movie, as his small army passed Grant’s forces and were given their paroles.

The Civil War was a catastrophe, perhaps the only way our country could rid itself of the scourge of slavery. More than 700,000 men died as a result of that war, more than all our other wars combined. It was a transformative experience for our country, and it has yet to become the dust of history.

It’s difficult to define what the experiences meant to each of us. We spent eight days in close quarters, shared many meals and many stories, all the while enjoying our experiences. We traveled 1,700 miles in the confined interior of a Suburban, seldom at a loss for words, and our time together was an important feature of the trip. More than once, total strangers engaged us in lengthy conversations (one veteran even bought our breakfast – did we look a bit tattered?).
​
We were young soldiers and sailors once, and now we are no longer young. And yet, we are still soldiers and sailors in our hearts, sharing bonds that time cannot erase. As we rode home we sang everything from “Dixie” to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” perhaps not in perfect pitch, but with great gusto. We rejoiced at the unforgettable experiences we had serving our country and the camaraderie and privilege of wandering those hallowed grounds together. We are the old guard!

​For the past 25 years, Pat Persinger has been cooking the town maintenance department a Christmas dinner, because, as she says, “they are the nicest people.” Each year she varies the menu, serving ham, barbecue, chicken Cordon Bleu, and even veal scaloppini. This year she served country style barbecue ribs, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, lots of hot French bread, and a yummy dessert made with Butterfingers and caramels. But she doesn’t just cook this delicious meal, she also sets a delightful table for them, complete with Christmas placemats, plates and napkins. Pat even included green and red lidded-tumblers with Christmas straws. She always places a little present or candy cane by each plate, and then serves them all a seated dinner. Last year, after surviving a car wreck, she just wasn’t able to cook, but that didn’t mean she forgot about them. She sent her son to pick up a heavenly ham and side dishes to show them that she cares about them very much.
​
I watched this dynamo bustling around the maintenance kitchen as she prepared the luncheon, and asked her if she ever slowed down. “Lordy, I hope not!” she replied. What a sweet amazing lady she is. Pat Persinger is much appreciated by our town and is also one of the nicest people you will ever meet!

Since 1948 residents have recognized the fine contributions of the Town of Lookout Mountain Employees who provide so many services to our community and make it a great place to live.

Our community has been blessed to have brave and dedicated Fire, Police and Service Personnel. They have been on-line and ready for our emergencies, storms, clean-ups (think of all the leaves they have cleared in the last month) and school patrols keeping our children safe. In addition, we have an outstanding playground facility and various parks that our personnel supervise and maintain.

Each year there is an employee breakfast holiday celebration where the Mayor and Commissioners thank the town employees and give them a cash gift from your contribution.

Committee members Roy Exum, George McGee, Leslie Davenport, Peter Avisto, Greg Brown, Ginger Birnbaum, Tommy Hopper and Wilson McGinness urge every household to send $50 or more made payable to the L.M. Employees Christmas Fund.
​Checks can be mailed to:
Lookout Mountain Employees Christmas Fund
P.O. Box 178
Lookout Mountain, TN 37350.

By Taylor Hixson

Whether you’re considering running your first 5K or you already have a closet full of medals, A Christmas Tail 5K and Mutt Strut is the race for you. Held Saturday, December 8, and benefitting the Humane Educational Society, A Christmas Tail 5K is an out-and-back course that starts at 1885 Grill in St. Elmo, heads across Broad Street and onto the River Walk, and then turns back. The course is flat and fast, and cooler temperatures make running it a breeze. For beginner runners, this will be a great course to run your first 5K. If you prefer a brisk walk with your dog, you don’t want to miss the holiday-themed Mutt Strut.
​
Those participating in the 5K will have an opportunity to win awards in several divi- sions. Different than many races, winners will receive a commemorative ornament, and winners over 21 will also receive a commemorative pint glass that is good for discounts after the race at St. Elmo’s favorite spot for a cold one, the Tap House.

“I am excited to work with the Humane Educational Society because I believe in the work that they do with animals and ensuring they are cared for,” said Chris Calhoun, Tap House owner. “I believe [we are] a good fit because of the fact that I am animal-friendly and welcome animals onto the [Tap House] patio, as far as I am allowed to.”

In addition to hosting the event’s registration, the Tap House is also hosting A Christmas Tail VIP Brunch, sponsored by Taconooga.

“When I first visited the Humane Edu- cational Society four years ago, I [literally] cried while walking through the building,” said Taconooga owner Jenny Castro. “I wanted to grab [all of the animals] and hold and cuddle them to bring back the happiness in their eyes. From that night forward, the Humane Educational Society has held a special place in my heart, and really always will.

“We may not always be able to give the biggest contributions or donations, but we will always give the most we can,” Castro continued. “It also doesn’t hurt that we love working with the folks at the Humane Educational Society. The passion they have for the animals is really uplifting.”

Only 24 seats are available for the brunch, where guests will enjoy breakfast burritos, handmade Mexican chorizo, eggs, bacon, pico de gallo, salsas, tomatoes, on- ions, cheese, beans and aguas frescas (passion fruit and mango), all made from scratch. The Tap House will provide a “beermosa” for each guest 21 and over, as well. Brunch will be served following the 5K and Mutt Strut at 11 a.m.

If you’re not the running type, the Mutt Strut and costume competition is for participants of all ages and their canine friends. The Mutt Strut is a 1-mile fun walkstarting at 9:45 a.m., and participants are encouraged to dress themselves and/or their pet in their holiday best. HES will host a holiday pet costume contest following the Mutt Strut at the Tap House, and Angela Williams Photography will be on-site for pet photos, family photos and runner photos with Santa from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Angela’s work has been published in Fido Magazine, American Dog Magazine and First for Women Magazine, and she was a finalist in Best of the Best and featured on The Ellen Show. Photos with Santa will cost $25, with 20 percent of sales donated to help homeless animals at HES.

A Christmas Tail 5K and Mutt Strut has become a much-anticipated holiday event in St. Elmo and the surrounding area, with many runners and Mutt Strutters returning year after year.

“This race first caught my attention because it’s a running race and it had a picture of a dog - two of my favorite things!” said Sara Gibson, who has yet to miss the event. “I keep coming back because it raises money for a great cause and it is a flat, fast, PR-able 5K. I also think it’s really neat that it’s in St. Elmo instead of like most events that are downtown.

“It has a small, relaxed feel and easy parking, which makes race morning less stressful,” Gibson continued. “I am also super-excited that this year they are expand- ing the 5K awards to have the three-person team division and additional activities planned for after the race, making it more of an event!”

After the awards for the 5K and cos- tume contest are handed out, attendees can purchase food from food trucks, make their own ornament or treat for a shelter pet at a station hosted by the Humane Educational Society junior volunteers, and enjoy more festive fun at surrounding St. Elmo businesses.

If you’re looking for holiday fun that makes a difference for our community, you don’t want to miss A Christmas Tail 5K and Mutt Strut on Saturday, December 8. All proceeds benefit the mission of the Humane Educational Society. To participate, register at heschatt.org.