Brief description:
This is a five act play about the battle of Allatoona Pass in 1864 near Rome Georgia. It merges fictional characters with actual Union and Confederate officers in the actual settings: West Point, New York City, and Georgia.
Act I
Scene 1: A barracks room at West Point – cadets discuss then argue about the fall of Fort Sumpter and future loyalties of the Corps.
Scene 2: On the Plain at West Point – Southern cadets fall out. Charles Dunbar, Georgia in lead.
Scene 3: A barracks room at West Point- northern cadets decide to confront southern cadets.
Scene 4: A barracks room at West Point – acrimonious confrontation between southern cadets let by cadet Dunbar and loyalist cadets behind cadet Estes.
Act II
Scene 1: Village hall at Knox Vermont – patriotic villagers fired up to volunteer for the Union
Scene 2: Knox VT outside a villager’s house: husband and wife debate his decision to enlist
Scene 3: City residence in New York City: Observing regiments pass through to Washington
Act III (Three years later)
Scene 1: Residence in Rome Georgia: U.S General Corse discussing strategy to stop C.S. General Hood’s advance, with his adjutant Colonel Estes who, when at West Point, was a former beau of Helen Dunbar.
Scene 2: Grounds of Union camp at Rome Georgia: Joshing among enlisted soldiers
Scene 3 Woodlawn Plantation – Home of the Dunbars. Yankees under General Corse and Col. Estes in seeking forage confront Helen Dunbar mistress of plantation. Her brother and other Confederates are concealed in cellar. After the Yankees depart, a plot is hatched to have Helen invite Corse to dinner, where Dunbar and his friends will take him prisoner. Helen objects but is convinced by her friend May that she must do it to prevent a battle and much bloodshed.
Act IV
Scene 1: Residence in Rome Georgia: General Corse making plans to stop General Hood when he receives an invitation to dine at Woodlawn Plantation. A negro servant overhears that Dunbar’s plan and informs The General’s orderly, but the general as left to survey his defenses and Colonel Estes has already left for the dinner engagement.
Scene 2: In a grove near Woodlawn, Dunbar is waiting for the Yankee officers to appear. A fellow officer and regimental surgeon attempts to dissuade Dunbar, saying it is dishonorable and will bring terrible misfortune to his estate and sister. Dunbar refuses to change his plan.
Scene 3: Interior of Woodlawn: Col. Estes arrives with a small escort and is soon surrounded and attacked. Dunbar and Estes engage in sword dueling. Helen stands between them to stop their struggle. General Corse enters the room with escorts and takes Dunbar prisoner. At that point a dying rebel soldier is brought and indicates that Hood is on the march to Allatoona Pass. General Corse, alarmed, says he must move his troops quickly to prevent Hood’s movement. The house has been set on fire by soldiers outside. All depart, Helen Dunbar in tears at the loss of her home.
Act V
Scene 1: Sherman’s HQ in Atlanta: Sherman learns that Hood’s forces have crossed the Chattahoochee River headed for Allatoona Pass. Colonel Estes rides in with a dispatch from General Kilpatrick that he and General Corse are fighting a delaying action, but need support. Sherman order the Army to mobilize.
Scene 2: The battle of Allatoona Pass. Corse’s troops in desperate defense pending the arrival of Howard’s Corps. Estes has returned to report that help is forthcoming and then joins the fray. He discovers that Dunbar (somehow escaped) and is now leading rebel charge. Estes and Dunbar engage, but Dunbar is shot down. Howard’s troops arrive to save the day.
Act I
Scene 1: A barracks room at West Point – cadets discuss then argue about the fall of Fort Sumpter and future loyalties of the Corps.
Scene 2: On the Plain at West Point – Southern cadets fall out. Charles Dunbar, Georgia in lead.
Scene 3: A barracks room at West Point- northern cadets decide to confront southern cadets.
Scene 4: A barracks room at West Point – acrimonious confrontation between southern cadets let by cadet Dunbar and loyalist cadets behind cadet Estes.
Act II
Scene 1: Village hall at Knox Vermont – patriotic villagers fired up to volunteer for the Union
Scene 2: Knox VT outside a villager’s house: husband and wife debate his decision to enlist
Scene 3: City residence in New York City: Observing regiments pass through to Washington
Act III (Three years later)
Scene 1: Residence in Rome Georgia: U.S General Corse discussing strategy to stop C.S. General Hood’s advance, with his adjutant Colonel Estes who, when at West Point, was a former beau of Helen Dunbar.
Scene 2: Grounds of Union camp at Rome Georgia: Joshing among enlisted soldiers
Scene 3 Woodlawn Plantation – Home of the Dunbars. Yankees under General Corse and Col. Estes in seeking forage confront Helen Dunbar mistress of plantation. Her brother and other Confederates are concealed in cellar. After the Yankees depart, a plot is hatched to have Helen invite Corse to dinner, where Dunbar and his friends will take him prisoner. Helen objects but is convinced by her friend May that she must do it to prevent a battle and much bloodshed.
Act IV
Scene 1: Residence in Rome Georgia: General Corse making plans to stop General Hood when he receives an invitation to dine at Woodlawn Plantation. A negro servant overhears that Dunbar’s plan and informs The General’s orderly, but the general as left to survey his defenses and Colonel Estes has already left for the dinner engagement.
Scene 2: In a grove near Woodlawn, Dunbar is waiting for the Yankee officers to appear. A fellow officer and regimental surgeon attempts to dissuade Dunbar, saying it is dishonorable and will bring terrible misfortune to his estate and sister. Dunbar refuses to change his plan.
Scene 3: Interior of Woodlawn: Col. Estes arrives with a small escort and is soon surrounded and attacked. Dunbar and Estes engage in sword dueling. Helen stands between them to stop their struggle. General Corse enters the room with escorts and takes Dunbar prisoner. At that point a dying rebel soldier is brought and indicates that Hood is on the march to Allatoona Pass. General Corse, alarmed, says he must move his troops quickly to prevent Hood’s movement. The house has been set on fire by soldiers outside. All depart, Helen Dunbar in tears at the loss of her home.
Act V
Scene 1: Sherman’s HQ in Atlanta: Sherman learns that Hood’s forces have crossed the Chattahoochee River headed for Allatoona Pass. Colonel Estes rides in with a dispatch from General Kilpatrick that he and General Corse are fighting a delaying action, but need support. Sherman order the Army to mobilize.
Scene 2: The battle of Allatoona Pass. Corse’s troops in desperate defense pending the arrival of Howard’s Corps. Estes has returned to report that help is forthcoming and then joins the fray. He discovers that Dunbar (somehow escaped) and is now leading rebel charge. Estes and Dunbar engage, but Dunbar is shot down. Howard’s troops arrive to save the day.
Publication
Pranava Books reprint