"Cannonball House" Still Stands In Georgia
Named For Damage Sustained During War Between the States By A Hotchkiss Shell, The 2-Story 1850s Patriotic Home Contains Civil War Relics For Visitors
It seems that the Civil War started and ended in Georgia. One of seven slave states that formed the Confederate States in 1861, it triggered the start of the Civil War. Then it was the Battle of Columbus, fought on the Georgia-Alabama border on April 16, 1865, that many believe is the last battle of the Civil War. With such a rich history, it's not surprise that the state is full of historical buildings that tell the story of the Civil War, one tale at a time.
With a population of over 230,000, Macon is Georgia's fourth largest city, full of large skyscrapers, museums and numerous tourist centers. Nestled in this hustle and bustle is the Cannonball House, an historical building with a unique story to tell.
The family home was hit by a hotchkiss shell by Union troops in 1864, earning it its name. The shell hit the pillar in front of the parlor, shattering it. It went through the front parlor walls and landed in the entrance hall. Luckily, the residents were not home and nobody was hurt.
Union troops had started firing into the town of Macon from across the Ocmulgee River, which had flooded so much that the soldiers couldn't make it into town. It had thwarted their plan to destroy the town, which was an industrial city where federal officers were positioned.
During the Civil War, Macon served as the official arsenal of the Confederacy. At one point Camp Oglethorpe held up to 2,300 captured Union officers and enlisted men, a prison camp that was used until 1864. The city's town hall had been converted to a hospital to tend to the wounded. There weren't many survivors from the five companies that came out of Macon and the human death toll was very high.
It was taken by Union forces during Wilson's Raid on April 20, 1865. Still, the city holds onto its history by maintaining old buildings like the Cannonball House. Said Guest Services Coordinator Jessie Whitehead: “It's part of our history. We can always learn from history.”
Furnished to appear as it may have during its time as a home in the 1850s, the Cannonball House is also home to a Civil War museum on the upper level. It features officers' uniforms, company flags and even weapons used by Georgians during the Civil War.
The museum also features a large textile collection of quilts and period clothing, including a collection of five 19th century wedding dresses from 1850 to 1889 and children's clothing.
“If you love history,” wrote one Trip Advisor reviewer, “go experience any offerings made by the Cannonball House. The staff were very informative and dressed in period clothing. They demonstrated toys, letter writing and note taking, which would have happened in that time period. Worth making plans to visit if you are interested.”
Another reviewer from Macon said they learned things about Macon they'd never known before, even after living in the city their whole life. It's this plethora of facts and passion for knowledge that make the Cannonball House an exciting place full of unexpected facts about the country's history.
Whitehead has been working at the Cannonball House for 14 years. But she's been volunteering at the historical home since she was a teenager. Those are the type of people that make the Cannonball House what it is.
“I love the time period,” she gushed. “It just draws me closer to my ancestors. Being in this home feels so similar to feeling as if you're in that time period. I love the home front, part of the war's history. You have to remember that there were families at home that had to carry on every day activities while this was happening. They couldn't just stop living.”
One of the major supporters of the Cannonball House is the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, which was formed in 1890 to promote patriotism and preserve American history.
When the Cannonball House was put on the market in the 60s, the ladies from Chapter 25 purchased it. Many were also former Ab Pi and Phi Mu members, two sororities from the Weslian Female College, Macon's first college to give degrees to women.
The sororities furnished the home and also acquired an original kitchen structure, which is unattached and in the back of the main building (The kitchen was kept separate in that time period to avoid fires). There is also a servant's bedroom upstairs, furnished with bedroom décor and furniture from that time period.
For travelers looking for an authentic experience, the Cannonball House is a pleasant surprise, tucked away where people may not expect it. Amongst all of the modern buildings and tourism spots, the Cannonball House allows people to look back at the state and country's history, to step back in time and learn more about an era in which civil war sparked and led to the way we live today.
Olivia Richman
A graduate of East Connecticut State University in Journalism, Olivia has written for Stonebridge Press & Antiques Marketplace among others. She enjoys writing, running and video games.
Make Sure To Stay At:
Scenic Mountain RV Park and Campground, is a 112 acre gem in the hills south of Milledgeville, Georgia. It has 71 full hook-up camping sites, a bathhouse, coin laundry and a pool available for all guests.