Sunset from Mortons Overlook in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park just outside of Gatlinburg TN. Located on US 441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee NC, Morton's Overlook offers a classic Smoky Mountains scene and is a popular spot to watch the sunset for photographers and tourists alike. Click the image to view it large! Hope you enjoy it, comments welcome! ;-) Use "L" to view large, "F" to fave it! Shot with a Nikon D800, 70-200mm f2.8 VR lens, and a GND filter See My Profile for information on purchasing prints. Become a fan on my facebook page! I give away a free print there from time to time! © 2012 Dave Allen Photography, All Rights Reserved. This image may NOT be used for anything without my explicit permission.

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Spruce Flats Falls has got to be one of the most photogenic cascades in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The falls itself is interesting and somewhat atypical, with the rivulets of water slowly spreading out as they reach the pool beneath. There are a couple great trees around the falls - namely, the large curved branch overhanging the left-hand side of the frame (a common shot I've seen of this falls is from behind that curved branch). The rocks and stream beneath the falls provide a multitude of possibilities for choosing a unique foreground. I spent a great deal of time in front of the small cascade on the left-middle of the frame, but the 17 - 40mm lens just wasn't wide enough to form a composition that wasn't just straight-on. I took hundreds of shots from over there, but only a few of this particular shot. Lone behold, this is the one I actually ended up liking the best! I guess it pays off to try at least a few shots from different perspectives before you leave a place like this.

Smoky Mountains Tennessee

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Gatlinburg TN, for White Water Rafting Trip

Song Dad Parker wrote for the Palimpsest trip. To the tune of "Did You Ever See a Lassie?" "For 50 Years a Palimpsest Chorus 1: Oh, for 50 years a palimpsest, palimpsest, palimpsest; Oh, for 50 years a palimpsest: fourteen from two. Stalactites in Luray (They're not in a hurry!); The Skyline, the Smokies (They're both okey-dokey). Chorus 2: Oh, for 50 years, a palimpsest: God has been true. (Chorus 1) Go Dixie Stampeding, While cheering and feeding; To Dollywood and stables And Smith's dinner tables. (Chorus 2) (Chorus 1) Go ziplining, laughing, And white-water rafting; Up Gatlinburg's mountain, The Smokies a-countin'. (Chorus 2) (Chorus 1) See Orioles and Blue Jays, And then our adieu day; We linger, then dash off To Canada and Nashua. (Chorus 2) (Chorus 1) Virginia and Tennessee Are now left behind, you see; But we have a mem'ry, A Golden Anniversary. (Chorus 2)" Words A. W. Parker (2013) Parker "Palimpest" 50 anniversary celebration.

Gatlinburg TN, for White Water Rafting Trip

Gatlinburg TN, for White Water Rafting Trip

The Raw Travel Crew takes an RV from Charlotte, NC through the Smoky Mountains and back.

The Campaign for Vicksburg The primary strategic objective of the Union in the western theater of the Civil War was to obtain full control of the entire course of the Mississippi River, thus making it available for Northern commerce. Also, Union control of the Mississippi would geographically cut the Confederacy in two. By the winter of 1862-63, Union control had been established as far south as Vicksburg, and as far north as Baton Rouge. However, the Confederacy had retained control of the Mississippi between those points by holding powerful fortresses at Vicksburg and Port Hudson. Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton commanded the Confederate Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana. Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant commanded the Union Army of the Tennessee. Both assumed command during October 1862 and both were West Pointers. Grant’s initial offensive to gain control of the Mississippi using the railroads of western Mississippi as a main supply line failed on 20 December 1862 when Confederate cavalry destroyed his base of supply. This forced Grant to return to Memphis, and sealed the fate of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman’s cooperating amphibious expedition at Chickasaw Bayou on 27-29 December 1862. Early in1863, Grant moved the bulk of his army from Memphis to three camps in Louisiana opposite Vicksburg: Lake Providence, Milliken’s Bend, and Young’s Point. During a miserably wet winter, Grant’s attempts to bypass Vicksburg by digging canals at Lake Providence, DeSoto Point, and Duckport all failed. Other Bayou Expeditions also failed: The Yazoo Pass Expedition at Fort Pemberton on 20 March, and the Steele’s Bayou Expedition on Rolling Fork Creek in late March. The Vicksburg defenses seemed invulnerable. However, Grant never lost sight of his objective: "To secure footing upon dry ground on the east side of the river from which the troops could operate against Vicksburg." On 31 March, Grant marched his army southward through Louisiana, corduroying roads and building bridges as he went. He hoped to find a lightly-defended point on the Mississippi shore south of Vicksburg. Grant’s first plan was to cross the Mississippi River at Confederate occupied Grand Gulf. At Grant’s request, on the night of 16 April, Flag Officer David D. Porter ran the Vicksburg batteries. Porter’s seven ironclads and four transports were to provide gunnery support and transport for Grant’s troops. By 28 April, the bulk of Grant’s army had assembled at Hard Times Plantation, Louisiana, with plans to land at Grand Gulf, Mississippi. The next day, a determined effort by Porter’s ironclad gunboats failed to knock out the Grand Gulf guns. Undaunted, Grant moved his army further south to Disharoon’s Plantation. On 30 April his men, transported by Porter’s boats (which had run the Grand Gulf batteries the previous night), landed unopposed at Bruinsburg. Moving inland, on 1 May the Union force encountered Brig. Gen. John Bowen’s Confederates five miles west of Port Gibson. Though the Confederates were greatly outnumbered, they fought so tenaciously that an entire day was required to drive them back across Bayou Pierre. Grant then outflanked Bowen by a river crossing of Bayou Pierre at Grindstone Ford and advanced to Hankinson’s Ferry on the Big Black River. This forced Bowen to evacuate Grand Gulf. Grant immediately converted Grand Gulf to a forward supply depot. Grant decided not to advance directly on Vicksburg from Hankinson’s Ferry because of considerations of terrain and tactics. He boldly turned northeast toward Edwards to cut the railroad. He planned to cut off Pemberton’s supplies, as well as to draw the Confederates out of their fortifications. Grant’s plan changed after the battle of Raymond on 12 May, when Maj. Gen James McPherson’s corps was attacked by Confederate Brig. Gen. John Gregg’s brigade. While at Dillon’s farm Grant was informed of the Union victory at Raymond. He daringly decided to turn his army toward Jackson, assuming that a large Confederate force was assembling there. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston hadrecently arrived at Jackson with 5,000 Confederate troops. He abandoned Jackson on 14 May after a brief fight with Grant’s soldiers. The next day the Union army turned toward Vicksburg, leaving Sherman’s corps behind to destroy the city. Pemberton had moved 23,000 men eastward out of Vicksburg to defend his railroad supply line. On 15 May, he marched to interdict the Union supply line at Dillon’s farm. The Union and Confederate armies clashed at Champion Hill on 16 May, where a decisive Confederate defeat forced Pemberton to withdraw toward Vicksburg. Pemberton withdrew the bulk of his army across the Big Black Bridge, leaving Bowen with a force of 7,000 men to defend a fortified bridgehead. Bowen’s defenses collapsed under Union assault early on 17 May, turning an orderly retreat into the Vicksburg defenses into a rout. By nightfall, Sherman had bridged the Big Black River at Bridgeport, and was on the road to Vicksburg. Pemberton was able to rally his disorganized and demoralized troops in the trenches of Vicksburg. On 19 May they to repulsed an assault, primarily by Sherman’s corps. On 22 May a second assault by Grant’s entire army was also repulsed. Unwilling to expend more lives in attempts to take the city by storm, Grant began siege operations. By the end of June, with all communication by either land or river cut off, Pemberton realized that he could neither break out nor hope for rescue by Johnston’s Army of Relief. After 47 days of siege, Pemberton accepted Grant’s terms, including the parole of all Confederate troops. Fortress Vicksburg was officially surrendered at 10:00 a.m. on 4 July 1863. Port Hudson on the Mississippi River was now flanked and rendered inconsequential due to the surrender of Vicksburg. The river fortress was surrendered on 9 July 1863. Union control of the Mississippi was complete, and the strategic objective in the west had been achieved. Grant would write, “The fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell.” Vicksburg National Military Park National Park Service

St Vincent Cemetery, Osseo, MN David Dejarlis Company K 10th Minnesota Infantry he must be rolling over in his grave every time one of those new southern Republican politicians says the war wasn't about slavery 9th Regiment Infantry Organized at Camp Release, Hutchinson, St. Peter, Fort Snelling, Glencoe and Fort Ridgly August 15 to October 31, 1862. Company "A" participated in Campaign against Sioux Indians in Minnesota August 20-November 14, 1862, Joined 6th Minnesota August 25, and march to relief of Fort Ridgly August 25-28. Action at Birch Coolie September 2-3. Wood Lake September 23. At Camp Release September 26. Mustered in at Camp Release October 2, 1862. At Fort Ridgly until April, 1863. Company "B" participated in Campaign against Sioux Indians in Minnesota August and September, 1862. March to Glencoe. Action at Glencoe September 3. Defense of Hutchinson September 3-4. Duty at Hutchinson until April, 1863. Moved to Hanska Lake and duty there until September, 1863. Company "C" participated in Sibley's Campaign against Sioux Indians in Minnesota August to November, 1862. March to New Ulm, then join Sibley and attached to 7th Minnesota Infantry. Battle of Wood Lake September 23. At Camp Release September 26. Mustered in October 5, 1862. At Fort Ridgly until April, 1863, then on garrison duty at frontier posts until September, 1863. Company "D" moved to St. Peter and duty there until April, 1863. Mustered in September 23, 1862. Present as guard at hanging of Indians at Mankato December 26, 1862. Frontier duty at Judson, Fairmount and Chanyaska Lake until September, 1863. Company "E" organized at Mankato and duty there; at Lake Crystal, Judson, until April, 1863. Present as guard at hanging of Indians at Mankato December 26, 1862. Mustered in November 14, 1862. Frontier post service at Hutchinson, Forest City, Long Lake and Pipe Lake until September, 1863. Company "F" organized at Fort Snelling. Moved to Glencoe and duty there until December, 1862. Mustered in September 24, 1862. At Fort Ridgly until September, 1863. Company "G" organized at St. Cloud. Moved to Fort Abercrombie September 3, 1862, and duty there until September, 1863. Action at Fort Abercrombie September 26, 1862. Mustered in October 30, 1862. Company "H" organized in Carver County. Moved to Glencoe, thence to relief of Hutchinson. Action at Hutchinson September 4. At Glencoe until April, 1863. Guard at hanging of Indians at Mankato December 26, 1862. At Fort Abercrombie until October, 1863. Company "I" participated in Indian Campaign of 1862. Moved to Glencoe, thence to St. Peter and to Fort Ridgly, and duty there until April, 1863. Mustered in October 12, 1862. At Camp Pope April to June, 1863; at Fort Ridgly until July, and at St. Paul until September, 1863. Company "K" organized at Fort Snelling August, 1862. Duty there until November at South Bend until February 27, 1863. Moved to New Ulm and Madelia and duty there until September, 1863. Sibley's Expedition against hostile Indians in Dakota June 16-September 12, 1863 (Cos. "A" and "H"). Actions at Big Mound July 24. Dead Buffalo Lake July 26. Stony Lake July 28. Missouri River July 29-30. Regiment concentrated September, 1863, and furloughed September 23 to October 3. Moved to St. Louis, Mo., October 8-12, 1863. Attached to Dept. of the Missouri to May, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1864. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division (Detachment), Army of the Tennessee, Dept. of the Cumberland, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 16th Army Corps (New), Military Division West Mississippi, to August, 1865. SERVICE.--Moved from St. Louis, Mo., to Jefferson City, Mo., October 13, 1863. Assigned duty guarding railroad from Kansas Line to near St. Louis until May, 1864. Stationed at Rolla, Jefferson City, LaMine Bridge, Warrensburg, Independence, Knob Noster, Kansas City, Waynesville, Franklin, etc. Headquarters at Jefferson City fill April 14, 1864, and at Rolla until May 18. Companies "G" and "H" reached St. Louis November, 1863, and duty there until May, 1864. Regiment concentrated at St. Louis, Mo.. May 15 to 26, and moved-to Memphis, Tenn., May 29-31. Sturgis' Expedition to Guntown, Miss., June 1-13. Ripley June 7. Brice's or Tishamingo Creek, near Guntown, June 10. Ripley June 11. Davis Mills June 12. Smith's Expedition to Tupelo, Miss., July 5-21. Near Camargo's Cross Roads July 13. Near Tupelo July 14-15. Smith's Raid to Oxford, Miss., August 1-30. Tallahatchie River August 7-9. Abbeville August 23. Mower's Expedition to Duvall's Bluff, Ark., September 3-9. March through Arkansas and Missouri in pursuit of Price September 17-November 15. Moved to Nashville, Tenn., November 24-30. Battle of Nashville, Tenn., December 15-16. Pursuit of Hoot to the Tennessee River December 17-28. Moved to Clifton, Tenn., thence to Eastport, Miss., December 29 January 4, 1865, and duty there until February 6, 1865 Moved to New Orleans, La., February 6-21. Campaign against Mobile, Ala., and its Defenses March 17-April 12. Skirmish, Deer Park Road, March 25. Siege of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakely March 26-April 8. Assault and capture of Fort Blakely April 9. Occupation of Mobile April 12. March to Montgomery April 13-25. Duty at Montgomery and Selma until July. Moved to St. Paul July 26-August 11. Mustered out August 24, 1865. Regiment lost during service 6 Officers and 41 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 3 Officers and 224 Enlisted men by disease. Total 274.