Last weekend I had the distinguished honor of photographing The Skirmish at Gamble’s Hotel Civil War Reenactment in Florence, SC. It was hosted by the 23rd SC Infantry. A friend of mine is a member of a local troop and was able to loan me a period outfit. By being in costume, and concealing my camera in a rucksack, I was allowed to be the only photographer actually out IN the battlefield! What an exhilarating experience!!!
The Skirmish At Gamble’s Hotel depicts an encounter that occurred on March 5, 1865 when 500 federal soldiers, under the command of Colonel Reuben Williams of the 12th Indiana Infantry, marched into the Florence area to destroy the railroad depot. These federal troops were met by a group of Confederate soldiers who drove them away with the help of 400 reinforcements from the area home guard.
The Columns is a popular name for The Harwell House at Rankin Plantation, a beautiful antebellum home that dates back over 100 years. The name refers to the 22 Greek style, Doric columns that surround the home on three sides. The house was placed on the National Register of historic places in 1974, and was the location of the reenactment.