Civil War Tour - Day 1

Today we began our tour of the Civil War. We started by talking about the war of 1812, so we visited Fort McHenry, where the Star Spangled Banner was written. Then we visited the USS Constellation, a Civil War era sailing ship. We finished up with Arlington, home of Robert E. Lee and now a national cemetery.

Fort McHenry

Cannon Looking out into Baltimore Harbor

Demonstrating a gun crew

USS Constellation

Fellowshipping in Baltimore

Arlington, Home of Robert E. Lee

Arlington surrounded by the cemetery

Sunset Over the Ohio

Last week while traveling to Ohio for a filming trip (check back soon for a post on that) we were able to see a great sunset over the Ohio river.

New England Filming Trip

Last month, we went up to New England to film part of our Civil War DVD series, which will be on the antebellum period leading up to the Civil War. Stephen Breagy, one of our friends, came with us to help, and also Erik Woodard, a video producer who is staying with us. On July 7, we drove up to New England, and spent the night at Princeton. The next morning we filmed at Princeton University:

Nassau Hall at Princeton University

The Cathedral at Princeton

The shoot took longer than we were planning, and also there was traffic, so we did not get to one of the places we were planning on going to. We drove to one of our friends' houses, and spent the next three nights there. On Saturday morning, we drove to Plymouth, MA and filmed in the Church of the Pilgrimage and at Burial Hill, the cemetery on the hill next to it:

The Church of the Pilgrimage

The Church of the Pilgrimage from Burial Hill

On Sunday Daddy preached at our friend's church, and we spent the day fellowshiping with them. On Monday we drove to Boston, and filmed at the First Church of Boston and Park Street Church:

Park Street Church

We then filmed in Cambridge at two of the graves of the Secret Six, men that were influential in the abolitionist movement, and the funders of John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry. We also filmed at Harvard University:

The grave of Samuel Gridley Howe, one of the Secret Six, and the husband of Julia Ward Howe, who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic

Harvard University

On Tuesday morning, a couple of the guys got up early and filmed at Faneuil Hall in Boston. We then drove 5 hours to John Brown's Farm in North Elba, New York:

John Brown's Farmhouse

On Wednesday we went to the Old South Church in Newburyport, MA and interviewed the pastor.

The Old South Church

Interior of Old South Church

George Whitefield's Crypt in the Old South Church

Then we went to the replica of the Friendship of Salem. We don't have any pictures because it was raining and we were busy. On Thursday we went to Concord, MA and filmed at the North Bridge, and the Wayside, a house on the underground railroad that Louisa May Alcott lived in at one point:

North Bridge (from when we went a few years ago)

We went to the grave of another of the Secret Six:

Sanborn, one of the Secret Six

We also went to Walden Pond, were Henry David Thoreau lived for a period of time:

Thoreau's Cabin

On Friday we drove to Philadelphia and filmed at Independence Hall, Congress Hall, The 1st and 2nd National Banks, the President's House, and the Declaration House:

Second National Bank

President's House

On Saturday we drove back to NC.

Panorama from the Bell Tower of the Old South church. (Click on image for larger version.)

150th Manassas Battle Reenactment

Last Saturday we traveled to Virginia to attend the 150th anniversary reenactment of the Battle of Manassas/Bull Run. With over 8,000 reenactors, it was the biggest reenactment I have ever been to, and one of the largest there is. Although it was very hot, it was amazing to be able to get an idea of what a battle of that size would have looked like. Above is a short video of some of the footage we shot there. Here are some pictures as well. The complete album is here.

The Confederates Prepare for Battle

A Regiment Advances

The Federal line through the smoke of battle

The Confederate line advances

Part of the Confederate Battery

Memorial Day 2011

Here are a few pictures from our last Memorial Day celebration. Although Mr. Brown was in Europe with Vision Forum, there were still a lot of people there. My father gave a few short messages. This year we had some really neat speakers. There was Woody Williams, the last surviving Iwo Jima Medal of Honor winner. You can read about his story here. and Mr. Glass, a Holocaust survivor. Here are a few pictures:

My father speaking

Col. Henderson, Iwo Jima Veteran

Buck Bunn, WWII bomber pilot

Vietnam Veteran

Mr. Glass, Holocaust Survivor

Woody Williams, last surviving Iwo Jima Medal of Honor winner

Bill Brown, WWII fighter pilot

New Market Reenactment

New Market Reenactment from Joshua Horn on Vimeo.

Last Saturday we went to the reenactment of the battle of New Market. Above is a short clip of some video we took there.

Living History

Historic House in New Market

 

Plymouth Civil War Reenactment

On April 30th we drove to Plymouth, NC to film a Civil War Reenactment, which included a 3/8 scale replica of an ironclad ship, the C.S.S. Albemarle. In the original battle, the Confederate troops were trying to capture the Union forts, with the aid of the Albemarle. At first the land attack was failing because the troops were being bombarded from Union gunboats in the river. They sent the C.S.S. Albemarle down the river to drive off the gunboats and help to capture the forts. The Unions tried to trap the Albemarle by tying chains between the U.S.S. Miami and the U.S.S. Southfield. The Confederate ram turned and rammed the U.S.S. Southfield. The Southfield began to sink, and the Albemarle began to sink too because her bow stuck into the side of the Southfield. When the Southfield struck the bottom, providentially she rolled, which released the bow of the Albemarle, just as the water began pouring in. The Miami fired a point blank shell round at the Albemarle, but it bounced of her iron plating and exploded, killing the Miami's commander, Captain Charles Flusser. The Miami's crew attempted to board the Albemarle, but were driven back by musket fire. The Miami then untangled herself from the Southfield and escaped into the Albemarle Sound. With the river cleared of enemy ships, the Albemarle helped to bombard the forts,which were captured by the Confederates. Six months later, the Albemarle was sunk at night in her dock by a steam launch armed with a spar torpedo.

The C.S.S. Albemarle

A replica of one of the launches armed with torpedoes that sunk the C.S.S. Albemarle

The Albemarle firing one of her cannons

Union reenactors

Union Reenactors firing

Confederate reenactors firing

A Cannon

Joshua filming with our camera

A Confederate Battle flag in front of a tent