News
Waltzing Through Time
Date:
August 2005
By Chantel Escoto
The Leaf-Chronicle
Visitors to the Smith-Trahern Mansion stepped back in time about 140
years Sunday as ladies dressed in traditional Civil War-era gowns
waltzed with their gray and blue uniformed beaus.
The dinner and dance known as a cotillion, often was held in the south
during the 1860's to introduce debutantes to eligible men.
But on Sunday, it was a way to introduce Clarksville to its local
heritage and s a fundraiser for the Mount Olive Cemetery
"We watched (the movie) "Gone with the Wind" to prepare for this," said
Cynthia Lilley, who wore a green velvet dress and matching hat, similar
to Scaret O'Hara's in the movie. She was accompanied by her
"Yankee" Union Army husband, James Lilley, and friends, Vernon and Terri
Riggins.
"It sounded like so much fun," Terri Riggins said. "This is our
weekly date night." After the couples dined on an authentic Civil
War-ear meal of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread,
greens and peach cobbler, then it was time to hit the dance floor for
waltzes played by the country and bluegrass band Dixie Volunteers.
The ball was part of the Civil War Heritage Days designed to bring the
past to life through various reenactment and other events.
Wearing a gray Confederate Army uniform with the rank of Captain, Robert
Hundley who is a staff sergeant with the 86th Combat Support Hospital at
Fort Campbell, has been Civil War roleplaying for about 25 years.
He said it's not only entertaining but educational.
"If you don't learn history, embrace history and teach history, people
will forget their history and forget their heritage," said Hundley, who
also is the first sergeant of the 50th Tennessee Company A, a Civil War
living history unit. He said because some of those who fought for
either the North or South during the Civil War were related, it would
not be uncommon to see both gray and blue uniforms at a similar event.
Geneva Bell, who was co-coordinator of the dance with Theresa Jones,
said she enjoyed serving food to the patrons as long as it helped raise
money for Mount Olive Cemetery. The cemetery has recently been
revived and dedicated with an estimated 13500 residents buried there --
many of them black Civil War veterans and slaves.
"My grandmother (served). She had to do it," Bell said of her
grandmother and other relatives having to work as black slaves in the
South.
"The difference today is I want to do it. I just want people to
enjoy themselves and go back and tell people what a good time they had,"
Bell said, who hopes to involve children in the next cotillion.
"Whatever takes to make it happen, I'll help."
Chantal Escoto covers military affairs and can be reached at
931-245-0216 or by email at
chantalescoto@theleafchronicle.com