ECHOES OF CANNONS
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 10:33 pm
As you travel through the South, one thing you quickly note is that the American Civil War is no mere footnote in history. It was the bloodiest war in American history, taking the greatest toll on human life this country has ever known. We all know the outcome of this tragic conflict but in the South the loss is perhaps more poignant. All those casualties were incurred in a losing campaign and the disruption to family trees and the horrific war stories seem both fresher and more passionate in the South. It is also not easy to avoid reminders of this brutal war since many of the most important and bloodiest battlefields are located throughout the South. The War Between the States is not a chapter in a history book in the South, it’s a very concrete and sad reminder of so many lives cut down in their prime. While historians sometimes use the phrase “echoes of history,” it’s no exaggeration that traveling along the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers on the American Queen, you can hear the “echoes of cannons.”
While you can delve into the details, stories and strategies of the Civil War on almost any American Queen voyage, we have dedicated an entire cruise to an in-depth exploration of this fascinating yet heartbreaking subject. At the American Queen Steamboat Company, our 9-day Civil War cruise from Chattanooga to Memphis sailing October 31, 2014 follows in the footsteps of generals and soldiers and the battles that helped determine the outcome of the war.
A breathtaking panorama from the cliffs of Chattanooga's Lookout Mountain sets the tone for this unrivaled journey through ports of call that played a part in the conflict which tore a nation apart. Visit fascinating landmarks like Pope's Tavern Museum in Florence, Alabama that served as a stagecoach stop and hospital for both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War. The picturesque town of New Madrid offers beautiful vistas and a wealth of history to explore. As you pass through these gracious towns and encounter the welcoming people that inhabit them, you'll gain a new appreciation for how the fabric of America has been woven back together.
Delve into the strategies, military and political, that shaped the events of the American Civil War. Period characters will bring key historical figures to life. Visit the bloody battlefields and hallowed cemeteries of the fallen soldiers, and the ramparts that remind us of a war that changed a nation. Learn of the skirmishes that pitted brother against brother in a nation divided. Aboard the American Queen, you can learn from an array of special guest presenters, each with their own unique and insightful take on this terrible conflict.
Few people are as well versed in the music of the Civil War era as historian, composer and performer Bobby Horton. Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, his lifelong passion for music and history was nurtured at an early age by a trumpet-playing father and a banjo-playing grandfather. His love of music is matched only by his fascination with the American Civil War. While researching authentic mid-19th-century music for a film he was scoring in 1984, Bobby stumbled across thousands of period scores. The discovery led to what has grown into 14 volumes of Civil War era songs composed with period instruments while Bobby accompanies himself on the vocals. Bobby has collaborated on 13 PBS films with acclaimed director Ken Burns, including The Civil War and Baseball. He has also scored two films for A&E and 16 others for the National Park Service.
Dr. James “Bud” Robertson served as executive director of the Civil War Centennial Commission, working with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. He was a longtime editor of Civil War History journal and is an award-winning author or editor of more than 20 books about the conflict. Bud’s award-winning studies include Civil War! America Becomes One Nation, General A.P. Hill and Soldiers Blue and Gray. His biography Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend, won eight national awards and earned Dr. Robertson a role as Chief Historical Consultant for the major motion picture Gods and Generals. The recipient of every major award given in the Civil War field, and a lecturer of national acclaim, Dr. Robertson is probably more in demand as a speaker before Civil War groups than anyone else in the field. His Virginia Tech course, Civil War Era, attracts 300 students per semester and is the largest of its kind in the nation.
After a long tenure at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, author and Civil War historian Dr. Brian Steel Wills became the director of the Civil War Center and a professor of history at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is the author of numerous works relating to the American Civil War, including a new biography, George Henry Thomas: As True As Steel. Among Brian’s many other titles are distinguished histories like The Confederacy's Greatest Cavalryman: Nathan Bedford Forrest, a work that was chosen as both a History Book Club selection and a Book-of-the-Month Club selection. In 2000, Dr. Wills received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the state of Virginia, becoming one of only 11 recipients from all faculty members at public and private institutions across the state. He was named Kenneth Asbury Professor of History and won both the Teaching award and the Research and Publication award from University of Virginia's College at Wise.
But as somber as the subject of the Civil War may be, we also recognize that there have been other influences on Southern culture over the last 150 years. We celebrate the tastes of the South in our cuisine, a refreshing blend of fresh ingredients, family recipes and contemporary twists. But perhaps music is the vehicle that celebrates the South with the greatest joyful abandon. On this special cruise, we’re featuring a bevy of musical performances by The Quebe Sisters, Dave & Cathy, and Herb Reed’s Platters.
Internationally renowned western swing performers, The Quebe Sisters, keep to the true roots of the great swing masters such as Bob Wills, Ray Price and the Sons of the Pioneers. This Fort Worth based act is creating the new sound of swing by holding on to the roots and infusing it with their own brand of energy and fun. Playing a wide array of eclectic acoustic instruments, Dave & Cathy provide a folksy feel to their river songs. With a nice blend of Bluegrass and Folk musical styles, these performers reach a nice synergy with the riverboat culture while on board the American Queen. The original doo wop act, the Platters, still create the magic of their heyday. Members of the rock and roll hall of fame, this incredible group performs all of your favorite hits such as: “The Great Pretender,” “Only You,” “Twilight Time,” “Harbor Lights” and “My Prayer.”
Quilting is also a Southern tradition and often the patches in a quilt were composed of scraps of clothes of family members as a reminder of their presence or the lives they had led, an appropriate way to reflect on those lost in the war. You can learn this age-old skill from Pat English who will offer a quilting demonstration on this special voyage with the opportunity for you to try your hand at this unique craft. Pat owns Quilters Alley in Paducah, KY, and has been an active contributor in the quilting community for over 30 years.
Remarkably, this Civil War journey has a few suites and staterooms available and you can save up to $800 per stateroom* on not just this amazing voyage but on several select American Queen departures in October, November and December of this year as well.
*Save $800 is per stateroom ($400 per person) on the following 2014 American Queen voyages: 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/14, 12/05 and 12/12. Offer expires December 23, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem this offer. Not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations; cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Offers are based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Promotional fares are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, land transportation or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.
While you can delve into the details, stories and strategies of the Civil War on almost any American Queen voyage, we have dedicated an entire cruise to an in-depth exploration of this fascinating yet heartbreaking subject. At the American Queen Steamboat Company, our 9-day Civil War cruise from Chattanooga to Memphis sailing October 31, 2014 follows in the footsteps of generals and soldiers and the battles that helped determine the outcome of the war.
A breathtaking panorama from the cliffs of Chattanooga's Lookout Mountain sets the tone for this unrivaled journey through ports of call that played a part in the conflict which tore a nation apart. Visit fascinating landmarks like Pope's Tavern Museum in Florence, Alabama that served as a stagecoach stop and hospital for both Confederate and Union forces during the Civil War. The picturesque town of New Madrid offers beautiful vistas and a wealth of history to explore. As you pass through these gracious towns and encounter the welcoming people that inhabit them, you'll gain a new appreciation for how the fabric of America has been woven back together.
Delve into the strategies, military and political, that shaped the events of the American Civil War. Period characters will bring key historical figures to life. Visit the bloody battlefields and hallowed cemeteries of the fallen soldiers, and the ramparts that remind us of a war that changed a nation. Learn of the skirmishes that pitted brother against brother in a nation divided. Aboard the American Queen, you can learn from an array of special guest presenters, each with their own unique and insightful take on this terrible conflict.
Few people are as well versed in the music of the Civil War era as historian, composer and performer Bobby Horton. Born and raised in Birmingham, AL, his lifelong passion for music and history was nurtured at an early age by a trumpet-playing father and a banjo-playing grandfather. His love of music is matched only by his fascination with the American Civil War. While researching authentic mid-19th-century music for a film he was scoring in 1984, Bobby stumbled across thousands of period scores. The discovery led to what has grown into 14 volumes of Civil War era songs composed with period instruments while Bobby accompanies himself on the vocals. Bobby has collaborated on 13 PBS films with acclaimed director Ken Burns, including The Civil War and Baseball. He has also scored two films for A&E and 16 others for the National Park Service.
Dr. James “Bud” Robertson served as executive director of the Civil War Centennial Commission, working with Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. He was a longtime editor of Civil War History journal and is an award-winning author or editor of more than 20 books about the conflict. Bud’s award-winning studies include Civil War! America Becomes One Nation, General A.P. Hill and Soldiers Blue and Gray. His biography Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Soldier, The Legend, won eight national awards and earned Dr. Robertson a role as Chief Historical Consultant for the major motion picture Gods and Generals. The recipient of every major award given in the Civil War field, and a lecturer of national acclaim, Dr. Robertson is probably more in demand as a speaker before Civil War groups than anyone else in the field. His Virginia Tech course, Civil War Era, attracts 300 students per semester and is the largest of its kind in the nation.
After a long tenure at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, author and Civil War historian Dr. Brian Steel Wills became the director of the Civil War Center and a professor of history at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is the author of numerous works relating to the American Civil War, including a new biography, George Henry Thomas: As True As Steel. Among Brian’s many other titles are distinguished histories like The Confederacy's Greatest Cavalryman: Nathan Bedford Forrest, a work that was chosen as both a History Book Club selection and a Book-of-the-Month Club selection. In 2000, Dr. Wills received the Outstanding Faculty Award from the state of Virginia, becoming one of only 11 recipients from all faculty members at public and private institutions across the state. He was named Kenneth Asbury Professor of History and won both the Teaching award and the Research and Publication award from University of Virginia's College at Wise.
But as somber as the subject of the Civil War may be, we also recognize that there have been other influences on Southern culture over the last 150 years. We celebrate the tastes of the South in our cuisine, a refreshing blend of fresh ingredients, family recipes and contemporary twists. But perhaps music is the vehicle that celebrates the South with the greatest joyful abandon. On this special cruise, we’re featuring a bevy of musical performances by The Quebe Sisters, Dave & Cathy, and Herb Reed’s Platters.
Internationally renowned western swing performers, The Quebe Sisters, keep to the true roots of the great swing masters such as Bob Wills, Ray Price and the Sons of the Pioneers. This Fort Worth based act is creating the new sound of swing by holding on to the roots and infusing it with their own brand of energy and fun. Playing a wide array of eclectic acoustic instruments, Dave & Cathy provide a folksy feel to their river songs. With a nice blend of Bluegrass and Folk musical styles, these performers reach a nice synergy with the riverboat culture while on board the American Queen. The original doo wop act, the Platters, still create the magic of their heyday. Members of the rock and roll hall of fame, this incredible group performs all of your favorite hits such as: “The Great Pretender,” “Only You,” “Twilight Time,” “Harbor Lights” and “My Prayer.”
Quilting is also a Southern tradition and often the patches in a quilt were composed of scraps of clothes of family members as a reminder of their presence or the lives they had led, an appropriate way to reflect on those lost in the war. You can learn this age-old skill from Pat English who will offer a quilting demonstration on this special voyage with the opportunity for you to try your hand at this unique craft. Pat owns Quilters Alley in Paducah, KY, and has been an active contributor in the quilting community for over 30 years.
Remarkably, this Civil War journey has a few suites and staterooms available and you can save up to $800 per stateroom* on not just this amazing voyage but on several select American Queen departures in October, November and December of this year as well.
*Save $800 is per stateroom ($400 per person) on the following 2014 American Queen voyages: 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/14, 12/05 and 12/12. Offer expires December 23, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem this offer. Not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations; cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts. Offers are based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Promotional fares are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, land transportation or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.