Author Russell Bonds speaks at Chickamauga Civil War Show

IF YOU GOWhat: Chickamauga Civil War Show.When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.Where: Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center, 2211 Dug Gap Battle Road, Dalton, Ga.Admission: $8 ages 13 and up.Phone: 706-272-7676.Website: www.dalton150th.com.RELATED EVENTSLecture series: 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, free.Civil War dinner: 7 p.m. Saturday, $16.99.

Meanwhile, in Manchester...A Civil War dance will be held at 7 p.m. CST Saturday in the Ada Wright Building of the Manchester (Tenn.) Recreation Department, 557 N. Woodland St. Appropriate attire for the 1862 St. Valentines Day Ball is a period ballgown or day dress for women and a period uniform or tuxedo for men; and white gloves for both sexes.Dance instruction will be provided; no experience necessary.Light refreshments will be served.Reservations are appreciated. To RSVP, contact Jenny Calvin at jennycalvin0828@gmail.com (preferred) or 615-210-6205.

Historic Civil War events occurring in North Georgia will be highlighted in this weekend's Chickamauga Civil War Show coming to the Northwest Georgia Trade & Convention Center in Dalton.

Russell Bonds, author of "Stealing The General," will speak on the Great Locomotive Chase. A colloquium of Civil War scholars will discuss topics relating to "Protecting Home & Hearth: Civil War Georgia in 1862."

"We have about 300 vendors in 500 tables coming to this show," said organizer Mike Kent. "Pretty much anything and everything to do with the Civil War will be shown, and all of it is for sale: firearms, swords, uniforms, documents, personal effects of soldiers. Our policy is everything must be authentic."

In addition, Kent said there will be a section of about 50 tables with items from wars through World War II.

Visitors wondering about family antiques in their attics are invited to bring them in for appraisals.

"We offer free appraisals all weekend with experts in every area. They will be able to tell you what you've got and exactly what it's worth," Kent said.

The show organizer said interest in antebellum artifacts has risen as more sesquicentennial commemorations take place.

"Everybody expected a resurgence in interest with the anniversaries," he said, "due to so many towns having festivals in relation to Civil War battles their citizens participated in. Since December, we've been seeing bigger and bigger numbers coming to these shows."

Dr. Jim Burran, chairman of the Dalton 150th Committee, describes speaker Bonds as "a foremost expert in his field."

Bonds is an in-house lawyer for Coca-Cola Co. in Atlanta and a lifelong resident of North Georgia. He was born in Atlanta and grew up in Marietta, just a few blocks from the spot where James Andrews and his men boarded The General on April 12, 1862, according to the Dalton 150th website. He has had several articles and reviews on Civil War topics published in national publications.

Burran said the Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia is sponsoring the colloquium spotlighting three noted Civil War scholars. The free talks will be given by Dr. Richard McMurry, Dr. Mark Wetherington and Dr. Keith Bohannon 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday in the lecture hall of the convention center.

Kent said show visitors may purchase tickets on the showroom floor to stay after the lectures and attend Saturday night's Civil War theme dinner. The $16.99 tickets also may be purchased in advance online at www.daltontradecenter.com.

Dinner guests will be entertained by multi-instrumentalist Bobby Horton, who is noted for re-creating authentic period music from the Civil War era.

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