THREE STAR BATTLEFIELD TOUR – Forts Wright, Randolph and Pillow – West Tennessee You are invited to join TCWPA’s next Three-Star Battlefield tour in west Tennessee at Forts Wright, Randolph and Pillow on Saturday, November 12th. On Friday night, November 11th, participants are invited to a pre-tour reception and program in Covington, TN at 6:30 pm. Saturday morning at 8 am participants will gather in Covington and drive to the privately-owned Fort Wright, nicknamed by the soldiers “Fort Yellow Jacket” (seems yellow jackets tormented the soldiers while drilling). Join lifelong site historians Graydon Swisher and Tim Sloan for a fascinating tour of these rarely accessible forts. At Fort Wright walk the grounds where Nathan Bedford Forrest and his brothers did their first “tour of duty.” Underneath Fort Wright explore the original, largely intact, 1861 Confederate powder magazine, one of only two in existence. View Fort Randolph overlooking the Mississippi River and visit the Fort Wright visitor center and museum. By mid-morning participants will drive to Fort Pillow for an “off the beaten track” tour of the Fort beginning at the outer works of the Fort that once held 10,000 troops. Follow tour leader and historian Lee Millar to the inner works, passing campsites, Confederate sharpshooter positions and Union gun emplacements. The tour will end by 1 pm. About the Tour: The tour will go “rain or shine”; participants are encouraged to wear weather-protective clothing and sturdy shoes or boots – particularly if it’s rained recently (yes – there might be mud – but NO yellow jackets). The terrain will be mostly level, but uneven and not paved. The only short incline is near the powder magazine at Fort Wright. We’ll have bottled water for everyone but we recommend you bring a snack or two as Fort Pillow is some distance from restaurants. Want to join the tour? The tour is open to all and there is no fee – we only request that you register. That’s easy to do. Click here and let us know you’re coming. There is a limit on the number of folks for the tour so we encourage you to register early. We’ll provide registrants more details about the Friday evening reception, lodging in the Covington area, tour details, etc. as we get closer to the tour date. |
