Confederate Odyssey

I feel like I've written about war a bit much over the last few years. I am not a warmonger. I detest war. But don't think I'm not a patriot. I proudly served my country in the U.S. Navy. And I'd do it again to preserve our freedom. It just confuses me to no end that we call ourselves "civilized" and yet we can't manage to live in peace. Perhaps one day.

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

I am, however, quite grateful for exhibits such as "Confederate Odyssey: The George W. Wray Jr. Civil War Collection", currently on display at the Atlanta History Center. 

Why? Because it reminds us of the atrocities that humans are capable of and should strive to fully and completely mitigate. The 670,000 souls we lost in the U.S. Civil War, for example, could have led very different, fulfilling lives...were humankind the peaceful sort.

Quite on the other hand, Confederate Odyssey is a beautiful collection. It also reminds us of the artistry and industry that humans are capable of when challenged. The exhibit includes the rarest-of-the-rare, including Southern-made uniforms, flags, firearms, bayonets, and small-caliber artillery pieces, many of which are one-of-a-kind!

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

I was caught off guard when I first entered the exhibit, located on the lower level, under the Olympic Games exhibition. The collection contains an inordinate number of rifles. I didn't do my research before going in, which sometimes I won't do so that I experience an exhibition as a tourist who was brought to the museum unexpectedly might experience it. I don't do that too often, but I feel doing so once and a while keeps me on my toes. And did it ever this time!

Don't get me wrong, the exhibition is presented in extremely good taste. It demonstrates some of the remarkable achievements resulting from that time. 

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

Confederate Odyssey includes uniforms, including rare enlisted uniforms, caps, and the bloodstained coat of a 17-year-old boy killed at the Battle of Chickamauga, the first major battle of the war that was fought in Georgia.

I love uniforms. And as much as I indulge in creativity, I'm a fan of uniformity...when the situation calls for it. Now, there are some of my friends and colleagues who might disagree, but that's perhaps because they see my wide range of interests and the challenges of keeping those organized.

I recall the great pleasure I derived from marching in Boot Camp, and later during team aerobics at the gym, when EVERYONE was in perfect cadence. I suppose that's where I learned to marvel at the success of real teamwork, which serves as a motivator today. Not the precision of "left", "right", "about face", but the success of a team effort.

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

Even though I was an expert marksman with an M-16 when I was in the Navy, the lead-spitting sort of weapon just didn't grab my attention. An afternoon at the range can be fun, but I always wanted to learn how to fence.

Whether my captivation was Hollywood's influence of depicting the chivalrous act of dueling to the death for the woman who captured your heart or Obi-Wan Kenobi calling the light saber "an elegant weapon for a more civilized age", the sword can be, and often is, a beautiful work of art. 

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

Allow me to share with you the thoughts of a friend, when I shared my initial surprise about there being so many guns in this exhibition, paraphrasing of course:

"There's certainly nothing wrong in finding beauty in such items. They were a craft, a treasured art form back then, more so than today. In large part, anyway. But they certainly gained a bad reputation, and for good reason. Many certainly have stories to tell, most of which we will never know, and probably shouldn't. Before the war, the gun was already necessary in everyday life. Guns enabled us to more humanely put food on the table and up until mass production for wars, guns and swords were a personal possession to take pride in, especially a finely made sword. Even gentlemen who would likely never have the opportunity to use a gun or sword would carry one, or both, as a sign of wealth, fashion, masculinity, tradition, or to showcase a family heirloom, much like a woman wearing jewelry or her grandmother's diamonds."

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

The exhibition is divided into nine (9) different themes, so be sure to explore them all...I think you'll be quite fascinated. 

If you're thirsty for Civil War information, you're in the right place. There's of course the Civil War exhibition upstairs—one of the most comprehensive in the world. There's also a temporary exhibit next door in the Kenan Research Center titled, "Wilbur G. Kurtz: History in Gone With the Wind". 

That exhibit chronicles Kurt's influence as the film's historian and technical advisor, including accuracy of the film's depiction of the Civil War.

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

The American Civil War was the first conflict where soldiers were specifically selected and trained as snipers, or sharpshooters. Arms technology developed such that, although incredibly expensive to purchase, said snipers could hit a target three-quarters of a mile away! Some of these sharpshooter rifles were made in Macon, Georgia.

The highest quality sharpshooter rifles designed during the war were out of England, by an engineer named Whitmore. One of the most rare in Confederate arms collections, there are only about 20 Confederate-purchased Whitmore sharpshooter rifles in existence today.

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

You're also going to see the flag carried by a Georgia regiment in the 1864 Battle of Atlanta, as well as the patent model and prototype of George W. Morse's breech-loading gun, the direct predecessor of all modern firearms.

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

The collection on display features quite an array of remarkably preserved weapons utilized in the American Civil War. If truly an interest, I highly encourage you to visit the permanent Civil War exhibit at the Atlanta History Center, "Turning Point: The American Civil War".

Confederate Odyssey is impressive with nearly 200 artifacts, but Turning Point contains more than 1,500 Union and Confederate artifacts. May I suggest completing your Civil War exploration—or starting it—with that exhibition.

Confederate Odyssey, Atlanta History Center

Confederate Odyssey: The George W. Wray Jr. Civil War Collection is considerably more than a wonderfully impressive collection, it's a reminder to honor the 670,000 lives lost in the U.S. Civil War, to ensure that their sacrifice is never forgotten.

Remember, there's lot more to see at the Atlanta History Center, ranging from Native American history in Georgia to folk art, and Bobby Jones to the 1996 Olympic Games. Not to mention the on-campus historic homes and gorgeous gardens. Go explore!