Lots of Civil War battles were fought along the Natchez Trace. Including the Battle of Raymond, just south of Jackson, Mississippi. When I parted the scrub and stepped onto the battlefield, I didn’t hear Union and Confederate cannon fire, didn’t watch the Southern army fail to repel US Grant’s Yankee troops.
I was interested in a different war. The one the United States lost (as any Canadian will tell you.)
The Natchez Trace was used as a supply line in the Southern theater during the War of 1812. I remember reading about Andrew Jackson‘s brazen defeat of the British at the Battle of New Orleans. I never heard about the crushing losses along the northern border. The one we share with Canada.
The War of 1812 gave me a forgotten piece of Trace history to highlight.
I took the liberties of a novelist and moved the Raymond Battlefield about 75 miles north, to Kosciusko. When Merry and Em heard cannon fire, it was possible that it was a War of 1812 muster. They still occur along the Natchez Trace today. The tactics. The uniforms. The weaponry. All would have been familiar to Meriwether Lewis, who died a short three years before.
Click here to see the best photos from Day 13 of my Natchez Trace walk:Â Andra Watkins Tumblr
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Thanks for your great questions, Dear Readers. Keep them coming to mystories(at)andrawatkins(d0t)com.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiFEnAegoWg&w=560&h=315]
38 Comments
Andra, I love your Tumblog. Your photos are great and evoke all that you see, from the tiny details to the grand views…to the mysterious curved dirt road which leads off into the trees.
Thinking of you every day. Mentally urging you on.
I feel your good vibes.
I’m pleased with the Tumblr photos. I like the way they display better.
All of Mississippi is the middle of nowhere! (Now they will be mad at me.) I have driven through Mississippi once. It was … odd.
Parts of it are really pretty.
Well, Mr. Carnell, you beat me to it. So – hear hear, where? where?
A bit of history to go with this mystery of the muster! Thanks. I was wondering about the details of the enactment.
This whole scene was initially very different, Penny. I rewrote it several times to arrive at what I felt was right.
I really liked the video clip – Yes, I am in Mississippi. In.The.Middle.of.Nowhere!
Even worse today. Spotty cell coverage.
I love the questions readers ask!!! And I love how much history you know about and record in your writing.
I didn’t want to pound people over the head with it in the story. I hoped for layers. Some people get the layers, and some don’t.
Yes, we had to sing that blasted song all through grade school — IN CANADA!!! What were we thinking? Yes, we’re quite proud of our little 200 year old victory.
You should be. 🙂
It would be well for history teachers to take note of your walk and your style; they could make class so much more fun for their students! 🙂 Ah, that following shadow . . . in Nowhere.
I’m glad you got that from the shadow pic, Karen. I was going for that.
Well, I’m such a literal sort; symbolism is frequently lost on me, but that jumped right out! 🙂
Of all the states in our United States, Mississippi is the most fun to spell.
It is. I hope I haven’t misspelled it, but I probably did once or twice.
Millions of rounds were fired.. Lead rounds. Have you found any in your journey?
I’ve found lots of things, but no lead rounds. Did your video question today.
Cool… Hey if you find an extra one could you send it to me… Sounds weird but think of the history of that round.. Great writing inspiration… Have fun!
I appreciate the history of the muster. I know there are civil war enactments but I didn’t know folks did the war of 1812, and certainly wouldn’t have expected a battle there. Had no notion of the Trace as a supply line, but of course that’s exactly what it was! (Most American’s who even know there was a war of 1812 think it must have taken place in Russia because of Tchaikovsky. Go Canada!)
Hee hee. Your comment made me smile, Lisa. Russia……
I’m looking forward to reading your next novel and seeing how Merry and Em continue their journey…I’m assuming Merry is in it. You had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book Andra. There are some books that I’ve read wherein the characters didn’t grab me, All of your characters in your book grabbed me (and some of them, the Judge, I wanted to kick in the nuts…seriously). Thank you for writing this book and walking the Trace. It’s alive.
I am excited about the next one. 🙂 Thanks for saying these things, Lori. I’ve got to get a bookstore in Boise so I can meet you.
Oooh. Cool! Canadian content. Who knew?
I met Canadians yesterday, too. Driving the Trace from South to North.
That you can still smile through your videos this many days in, with that many blisters… Wow!
Made a couple more today. Still smiling.
This is why you’re amazing.
At first I thought you were referring to the ROY-mond Battle and wondered what Roy had done now. Hee,hee. On a serious note, I love all the facts you give us and how you tie them in to your story. Happy Feet!
I hoped readers would enjoy an inside peek. Thanks, Maria.
i love the pics and the history both )
Amazing how you get taught what’s regional. I didn’t know there WAS a Southern theater in the War of 1812 until a few years ago when I was researching some stuff for a short story set in the mountains of Upstate New York and along Lake Champlain.
Most Americans know nothing of the War of 1812. And they know even less about Mississippi. I am enjoying the trip along with you, Andra. I still have family living in Vardaman–Sweet Potato Capital of the World. 🙂 Woo-hoo!
One time when my husband had to spell out Tallahassee for a clerk, he said, “Good thing it’s not in Mississippi.” Sometimes the places in the middle of nowhere are the most beautiful 🙂 I’m enjoying your walk, Andra, albeit vicariously.
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