The 6-pounder Brooke tube is normally crewed by the Jeff Davis Artillery of Selma. Pictured here are Jeff Davis Artillery crew members (L-R) Clayton Cogle, Frank Brower, Preston Williams and Cliff Burkette. Not pictured are Nelson Andrews and Cloyd Nutt. Standing in the background is Col. Jim Busby, Chief of Staff, Cleburne’s Division of Fort Walton Beach, FL which hosted this years event.
SELMA, Ala.—The 151st Reenactment of the April 2, 1865 Battle of Selma was held April 20-24. Although hundreds of spectators attended the event, the turnout was noticeably lower than last year when the fields and camping areas were largely filled with reenactors, camp followers and suttlers. Artillery firing, troop movements, bag pipes and a Civil War era band playing period music were part of the event. The reenactors took the event personal and seriously with their portrayals of the soldiers from 151 years ago.
The Battle of Selma scenario was short on soldiers so the CSS Water Witch crew was invited to crew the “experimental” 6-pounder Brooke gun again this year. (L-R) Commander Jerry Franklin, Robert Davis, Parker Lockridge, Dean Dyck, Tom Hart and Steve Adams. The term “Experimental” is most often used for these tubes but the actual intent was to use them for destructive testing. There were two tubes that survived the tests and this is the only known survivor.
Pictured here is the crew of a Mountain Howitzer belonging to Michael Redman. (L-R) Marine Detachment Commander Captain Michael Redman, Jesse Oglesby, Jonathan Bolin, Jeffrey Hall, Mack Lott, Morgan Oglesby and a walk up volunteer powder monkey. (Photos William Lockridge)Pictured here is the crew of a Mountain Howitzer belonging to Michael Redman. (L-R) Marine Detachment Commander Captain Michael Redman, Jesse Oglesby, Jonathan Bolin, Jeffrey Hall, Mack Lott, Morgan Oglesby and a walk up volunteer powder monkey. (Photos William Lockridge)
