46 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 The Victorian Era tHE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR: tHROUGH THE sOUTHERN hEARTL The Southern States and the March to the Sea A wonderful 15 day tour which visits some of the most iconic and beautiful Southern cities and countryside in the states of Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. We trace the hard-marched routes of the soldiers of both sides through some uncompromising yet striking country; the battlefields around Chattanooga; the stunning Appalachian Mountains; the beautiful antebellum cities of Savannah and Charleston on the eastern seaboard. Make no mistake, these campaigns involved long marches and consequently we cover a lot of ground during the tour. Whilst this was a campaign of manoeuvre, we will still enjoy some superbly preserved battlefields with their interpretation centres, films, museums and historic buildings. We will hear from specialist park rangers whose stories will compliment those of our excellent guide, Fred Hawthorne. We will see some unusual aspects of the Civil War: the first submarine to sink a ship, fortresses with their extant siege damage, famous locomotives and prisoner of war camps. We’ll stay at great American full service hotels and end each day at a different restaurant where we’ll enjoy some great American food and hospitality. 19 March - 2 April 2019 15 Days with Fred Hawthorne Activity Level 2 Essentials Return flights from London, 3 and 4 star hotels, buffet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour Price: £4995 Single supplement: £795 Deposit: £350 Price without flights: £4245 The last great victory for the Confederate Army was on the bloody battlefield of Chickamauga on 19 – 20 September 1863. But despite this success, their ensuing siege of Chattanooga was finally broken by the unified and reinforced Federal forces in the west under the overall command of Ulysses S. Grant. Subsequently made responsible for all Union forces, as part of his grand pincer strategy, Grant dispatched an army group under Sherman to pursue the Confederate army to Atlanta which fell at the end of August 1864. Abandoning his line of communications Shermancommencedhisfamousmarchtothe sea which culminated in the fall of Savannah in December. He then turned on Johnson’s recently unified Confederate command and pursued it through the Carolinas finally accepting their surrender at Durham Station on 26 April 1865. Day 1 – Arrival. Fly London to Chattanooga, Tennessee and check-in to our hotel for three nights. Welcome dinner and introductory talk. Day 2 – Battle Of Chickamauga. A full day exploring Chickamauga, the great battle of the Western Theater. Much of our time is spent in the field but we find time to visit its orientation film, museum and historic buildings, all set amidst this wonderfully preserved National Military Park, the first and largest in America. Day 3 – Battles around Chattanooga. We gain an appreciation of the Union assault and capture of Missionary Ridge from Orchard Knob Reservation; pay our respects at the National Cemetery; drive or take the tram to the top of Lookout Mountain, view the electric map, admire the magnificent views over Chattanooga and its surrounding mountains at Point Park and explore Craven Plateau; climb down to Bragg and Longstreet’s fantastic observation Point at Sunset Rock. Day 4 – The Campaign for Atlanta. In the path of Sherman’s pursuit of Johnson we visit some lesser preserved sites such as Tunnel Hill, the site of the great locomotive chase, the rugged terrain of Rocky Face Ridge, the railroad depot of Ringgold and the Southern Museum of Civil War in ‘Big Shanty’ (Kennesaw) with its famous exhibit - the ‘General’ locomotive. Check-in to our Atlanta/ Cumberland hotel for four nights. Day5– TheBattlesonAtlanta’sDoorsteps. At New Hope Church and Pickett's Mill we explore the last stages of Joe Johnson's defensive retreat before Sherman's force. The last major mountain obstacle is well preserved at Kennesaw Mountain National Park. We obtain great views of the surrounding area and visit its interpretation centre. At Pigeon Hill there are magnificently preserved Confederate breastworks whilst at Cheatham's Hill we visit the earthworks, tunnels and stand upon the glacis like slope. Day 6 – Atlanta History Centre and Stone Mountain. We take a break from battlefields today to visit the famous recently restored and relocated Atlanta Cyclorama at the fabulous Atlanta History Centre, where we can see the ‘Texas’ Locomotive, the Tully Smith Plantation House and the superb museum and gallery which contains some of the finest memorabilia of the era. This afternoon we travel to Stone Mountain with “Fred’s knowledge of the subject is exceptional, as is his ability to impart it. In addition his organisational skills and social interaction cannot be faulted.” early booki ng for 2019