Andre Braugher, who played Cpl. Thomas Searles in 'Glory,' dies at 61

Andre Braugher, who gained fame portraying a member of the 54^th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment in the 1989 film “Glory,” has died at age 61, according to news reports.

Braugher played Cpl. Thomas Searles, a sensitive African-American recruit who had a difficult time adjusting to army life and was ridiculed by many of his comrades.

But the bookish Searles, who was a family friend of white regimental commander Col. Robert Gould Shaw, toughened up and volunteered to carry the flag should the color bearer fall during the Union assault on Fort Wagner near Charleston, S.C., in July 1863.

When Shaw asks whether anyone would pick up the staff, Searles stepped forward and said, “I will” to cheers.

“I’ll see you in the fort, Thomas,” said an emotional Shaw, played by Matthew Broderick, who before then ordered the soldier not to speak to him by first name.

Shaw, Searles and many other members of the regiment died in the failed assault.

“Glory” also starred Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman.

Braugher  (left, Peabody Awards photo via Wikipedia) later starred in a number of movies and television shows, including “Homicide: Life on the Street” and the comedy series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” according to CNN.

In 2015, the actor introduced “Glory” when it was broadcast on USA Network.

“It was an incredible honor to be involved in ‘Glory’ and work amongst a tremendous cast to highlight some of our nation’s first black military heroes,” said Braugher, according to The Wrap.

“The film pays tribute to the brave soldiers and inspires us to defy adversity when all odds are against us, while paying tribute to those who selflessly fought to preserve the union during the American Civil War."

USS Montauk, other monitors get bigger story at Fort McAllister in panels created by gaming and interactive design students in Savannah

Wall panels at the museum at Fort McAllister (Picket photos)

Students at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) dreamed big in a project they hoped would add some pizzazz for visitors to Georgia’s Fort McAllister State Historic Park in nearby Richmond Hill, Ga.

Their goal was to create compelling interpretive panels, a 3D ship model and film that explained the role of USS Montauk and other innovative Federal monitors in the siege of Confederate outposts on the Atlantic Ocean, specifically Fort McAllister.

The plan turned out to be too ambitious, given graduations and the complexity of work that ran up against limited class time. Still, a half dozen panels were installed late last year in an exhibit dedicated to the clashes between Federal ships, the fort and the Rebel raider CSS Nashville, which was sunk by USS Montauk near the fort in 1863. I paid a visit to the site a couple weeks back.

The new panels in the park museum cover these topics: Civil War monitors, the Passaic class of monitors, armament, ironclads versus an earthen fort, commanders of Confederate and Union vessels and what happened to the Montauk and the others at Fort McAllister after the fighting. Near the panels are enlarged blueprints of the USS Montauk.

The panels feature photographs, drawings and illustrations. Park officials created a dock scene (left) with cotton bales to increase the effect.

The Picket, which first wrote about the SCAD project in March 2022, recently contacted Greg Johnson, interactive design and game development professor at SCAD, to get his perspective on the endeavor. The responses have been edited. 

Q. Were you pleased with how the panels worked out? How do they complement the rest of the exhibit on the monitors and the Nashville?

Greg Adams: Yes, I was pleased by how that portion of the project turned out. The new panels do a much better job of teaching the public about the fort and the historic events there than the previous displays did.

Q. What are the key takeaways on all the work, planning and production to create the panels? Was it harder than the team first thought?

Greg Adams (right): It was much harder than the team first thought, mainly on a time management level. Partly this was due to classes being only 10 weeks long. Partly due to students graduating from SCAD. Partly it was due to simply trying to do too much in too short of a time. I was very pleased by the persistence of the student teams who worked on the wall panels. That group of students truly went above and beyond the expectations of the class.

Q. What skills from this project will most benefit your former students in the years ahead?

Greg Adams: The most beneficial thing was the chance the students got to work on a professional project with such a fine institution. The project really demonstrated to all of my students how they can apply their skills in ways they had never considered before.

Q. The large blueprint/sketch and top view of the Montauk, both on the wall near the panels. How specifically did you and your team produce those?

Greg Adams: That was created by photo documenting the blueprints at a high resolution. We used a custom-built camera rig to enable us to slide the blueprints underneath a high-end camera. These images were then processed, enhanced and stitched together using photo editing tools to make the panels.

Renderings of USS Montauk and other items meant for film (Courtesy of SCAD)

Q. Is the Montauk 3D model still in production? I know you expected it to be completed by now. Why has it not been finished?

Greg Adams: That part of the production is paused. The student(s) responsible for making the model graduated and are now working full time and no longer have the time to work on the project. While the model got quite far along, it remains unfinished. If the museum is interested, that portion of the project may yet be able to be completed, but it would require an investment in a new group of students.

Q. Same for the film. Will that happen at some point?

Greg Adams: Unfortunately, the film production crew did not get very far and the students simply ran out of time. While a number of wonderful assets, such as the CSS Rattlesnake, were built, the film itself was nowhere near finished by the end of the class at which point these students graduated. 

Q. Any other thoughts?

Greg Adams: Overall, the results were good. The students got the most critical elements, the wall panels that the museum needed, produced and these have been installed at the museum.

The whole project was a wonderful learning experience for all of the students involved and everyone greatly enjoyed working with the museum on the project. I am very pleased that SCAD was able to help the museum create a new display.  

(Civil War Picket photos)

Numerous historic artifacts have been found during restoration of Georgia coastal building that survived burning in 1863, as shown in movie 'Glory'

Ceiling rafters and joists will be repaired, left exposed (Photos, Marion Savic)

You’ve got to be willing to play the long game – and the expenses that come with it – when trying to fix up a 200-year-old building that was close to collapsing in a cloud of dust.

Milan and Marion Savic and a team of preservation experts are in second and final phase of the extensive restoration of the Adam Strain building, a tabby structure that survived the controversial burning of Darien, Ga., during the Civil War.

The Strain, damaged in the fire, has stood on the bluffs of the small port city since circa 1813. The Savics hope new businesses – a brewery and event space -- will be open by mid-2023.

Crews stabilized the structure by shoring up the walls and installing tie rods and plates – all aimed at strengthening the picturesque landmark. They more recently have focused on steel support columns as they move toward shaping the interior space.

Interior of annex building next to Strain

“We have found a great deal of historic artifacts while digging for the footers. Everything is at the archaeology lab at Coastal Georgia Historical Society on St. Simons Island,” Marion Savic wrote in a recent email. “They are processing and dating all the finds. We have found items from Native American periods, 18th century and 19th century.”

Among the items found by an archaeological team in 2020 was a Civil War-era bullet -- likely an Enfield round. The team found it on a bluff that overlooks water, Savic told the Picket. The so-called Pritchett bullet was used in the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle. The rifle was used by both sides during the conflict, and the Confederacy imported thousands from England.

It’s too early to surmise how the bullet came to be there, when it was deposited and to whom it belonged. 

The Adam Strain was used to store cotton prior to shipment in 1861 and 1862 before the Union naval blockade clamped down on Georgia’s coast.

By summer 1863, coastal towns knew that where the Union army was going, emancipation of slaves was soon to follow. That fact permeated society in Darien. Most of the town’s 500 white souls had fled before June 11, frightened by the blockade and the deployment of African-American troops on nearby St. Simons Island.

On that day, Darien was largely vacant.

Civil War bullet found during 2020 archaeological dig (Marion Savic)

Darien held little strategic value to the Union, but Col. James Montgomery, commanding the African-American 2nd South Carolina Volunteers, supposedly believed it was a safe haven for blockade runners.

He apparently had another reason for shelling, looting and burning Darien, leaving only a few buildings standing among the charred ruins. The destruction was depicted in the award-winning 1989 film "Glory."

Steven Smith, site manager for nearby Fort King George Historic Site in 2013 when the Picket first wrote about the town’s burning, said Montgomery “wanted to make a political statement. Here was a town built on the backs of slaves.”

Montgomery ordered Col. Robert Gould Shaw and the famed 54^th  Massachusetts Infantry to participate. While Shaw didn’t mind the looting to help resupply his troops, he opposed setting the town to torch. He apparently relented under threat of court-martial.

The Strain survived the fire but much of its interior was destroyed.

The Adam Strain building before stabilization work began in 2020

It was repaired and saw a rebirth for several decades before it was used for storage following World War II and then shuttered. 

The Picket first wrote in 2020 about the efforts to save the building after decades of deterioration. At one point before the Savics’ purchase, it appeared the beloved piece of history might be demolished. Made of oyster shell tabby and stucco, the structure, one of the oldest in Darien, is beloved by its 2,000 residents.

The Savics, who have experience in operating retail businesses in metro Atlanta, turned to an array of contracted historic preservation experts to bring back a building that was at risk of being toppled by strong winds. The work has often had to break for permits, updated engineering plans and supplies. A Facebook page keeps those interested up to date.

“Covid didn’t help with material prices and availability. It slowed it down more than we had anticipated. The building was also in worse shape that we all had thought, though that wasn’t a surprise,” says Marion Savic. “We expected the worst, so not a lot of surprises, but definitely some delays and unusual situations regarding the procurement of materials.”

Steel support pit showed evidence of fire (Marion Savic)

The Adam Strain is one of few tabby structures remaining on the Georgia coast.

Tabby is a type of cement made from crushed oyster shells and was popular in the region for several centuries leading up to the Civil War. Stucco is placed on the exterior to protect it from water damage.

Contractors are installing a steel membrane of columns and beams to support the walls.

“There will be tabby loss when we begin to straighten and tighten up the steel membrane. The worst spot is on the back facing west facade. Landmark Preservation is our contractor and they are tabby experts, so all tabby will be reused if possible and they will make tabby to replace lost areas,” says Savic. “The entire building will be tabby, either original or rebuilt, covered with stucco as it is meant to be.”

The Adam Strain will house a brewery on the first floor and a history center/museum and event space on the second. A one-story adjoining building, which housed a bank and other businesses, will house a kitchen, brewing equipment, bathrooms, office and storage.

The museum will include artifacts and information from the archaeological dig. It  will convey the Strain’s and Darien’s history -- including shrimping, timber and the story of thousands of enslaved people who were the backbone of the economy in McIntosh and neighboring counties. (At left, these bottles were found beneath floorboards)

The Savics, from Marietta, Ga., want the Strain building to meet requirements for the National Register of Historic Places and they are pursuing economic incentives, including federal and state tax credits, available for such preservation. The property is a contributing resource to the West Darien National Register Historic District, which was listed in 2001.

According to Rebecca Fenwick with Ethos Preservation, which is working for the Savics on the project, property owners at the state level can receive a 25% historic tax credit and an eight-year year tax freeze. At the federal level, the property owners can receive a 20% historic tax credit.

“Tax credits can be taken against hard and soft costs, to include work on walls, windows, doors, floors, etc. Soft costs that are eligible include architect's fees, engineer's fees, contractor labor, etc.,” says Fenwick. “Of course, there are some strings attached, as all work proposed must be reviewed and meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation.”

“The incentives acknowledge that historic rehabilitation projects often cost more than other projects and that historic buildings help tell our collective story and improve the quality of life of Georgians. Projects are made possible by these incentives that might not otherwise have the necessary funding to proceed,” Fenwick says. 

“I think the most interesting finds have been the discovery of additional masonry openings (windows and doors), with the removal of interior wall cladding," she says.

The preservation of the Strain building, which sits on the southeast corner of Broad and Screven streets, is just one piece – albeit a significant one – in any plans to boost the small downtown district, which has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years.

A new boutique hotel on the river is scheduled to open this fall and there is new housing in the area. Savic’s husband, son and daughter-in-law opened The Canopy Restaurant in the historic Emanuel Brown house in Darien. Marion Savic also cites plans for downtown streetscaping and plans for repaired and expanded docks.

“Everyone is very excited for the completion of the project, and we hope that things will keep moving along,” she says.

As workers stabilize tabby building that survived burning of Darien, a scene in the movie 'Glory,' another team finds a Civil War bullet

A view of the archaeological project (Courtesy of Marion Savic)

[Updated Nov. 30]  -- Crews have worked for months to stabilize the Adam Strain building in Darien, Ga. They shored up the walls and installed steel supports, tie rods and plates – all aimed at strengthening the picturesque structure that survived the port town’s burning during the Civil War.

While most of the attention has been focused on the fragile tabby structure, Milan and Marion Savic -- who bought the Adam Strain and plans to host businesses and a museum after it is restored – recently brought in an archaeological team to see what’s under the building and buried on the bluff just behind.

Among the items found was a Civil War-era bullet -- likely an Enfield round. The team found it on a bluff that overlooks water, Marion Savic told the Picket.

The so-called Pritchett bullet was used in the Pattern 1853 Enfield rifle. The Enfield was used by both sides during the conflict, and the Confederacy imported thousands from England.

Civil War bullet found during archaeological dig (Courtesy of Marion Savic)

It’s too early, of course, to surmise how the bullet came to be there, when it was deposited and to whom it belonged. 

The Adam Strain was used to store cotton prior to shipment in 1861 and 1862 before the Union naval blockade clamped down on Georgia’s coast. Darien was destroyed in 1863 by black troops, under orders from an anti-slavery white officer. The incident was recounted in the 1989 movie “Glory.” The Strain survived the fire.

The Picket first wrote in April about efforts to save the circa 1813 building after decades of deterioration. At one point in a long campaign to save the Strain, it appeared the beloved piece of history might be demolished. Made of oyster shell tabby and stucco, the oldest structure in Darien is beloved by its 2,000 residents.

Support system used during stabilization (Marion Savic)

Savic said she hopes to soon get an inventory on what was recovered during the dig; she was uncertain whether there were other Civil War-related artifacts. The archaeology was led by Dr. Nicholas Honerkamp, who has done extensive research on coastal Georgia.

"The bullet was found at the bottom of a trench that we excavated in the lower bluff, next to the road. I recall that it was identified by Dr. Carolyn Rock, who is on the crew," Honerkamp wrote in an email to the Picket. "Precious little was present in that feature, which was filled with bricks, brick bats, and tabby plaster fragments."

The crew was working near a tabby foundation of some sort. The material could have been the result of a wall or roof collapse, "which seems to be extensive at (the) Strain," the archaeologist said.

"I did see some burned plastic near the bottom. We were working in mud most of the time, and artifact IDs will be considerably enhanced when we finish cleaning the assemblages in the lab."

On a Facebook page devoted to the project on Broad Street in historic Darien, Savic wrote:

“It was an exciting two weeks and all the cool finds will go to the lab at Coastal Georgia Historical Society for further examination and cleaning. The oldest find is the Native American prehistoric pottery, likely 3000+ years old. The report and artifacts will be on display in the museum planned for the second floor of the Adam Strain.”

The Savics have big plans for the Adam Strain: a nano brewery that will serve house-brewed and other local beer, local non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks. There will be retail space on the first floor; the second floor will feature a museum and event space.

The museum will include artifacts and information from the dig. It  will convey the Strain’s and Darien’s history -- including shrimping, timber and the story of thousands of enslaved people who were the backbone of the economy in McIntosh and neighboring counties.

The Facebook page has chronicled the journey, with locals and others interested in the project posting comments and questions.

One find during the work was the discovery of Savannah grey bricks behind the walls of a one-story building that adjoins the Strain. It had been used as a bank and law offices following the Civil War.

Savannah grey bricks (Courtesy of Marion Savic)

“These bricks date to the early 1800s and were handmade by slaves at the Hermitage plantation, once located on the Savannah River west of the city. The grey clay was rare and not suited for crops but turned out to be ideal for making bricks,” the post says.

The Savics, who have experience in operating retail businesses in metro Atlanta, have turned to an array of contracted expertise to bring back a building that was at risk of being toppled by strong winds.

The stabilization phase is nearly complete. Besides the supports, tie rods and plates, crews removed the heavy slate roof, relieving stress on the building. Interior wood framing has been erected throughout the building.

(Courtesy of Marion Savic)

“We will soon begin an interim period when the steel supports will be jacked to push against and reverse some of the deflection in the walls,” Marion Savic wrote in an email. “The installed supports and tie rods will hopefully hold the building together as this occurs. We will also be repairing the roof joists and rafters and setting those back in place.”

Restoration will begin after the building is secure and fully supported. The Strain, which was burned in the 1863 fire, was repaired and saw a rebirth for several decades before it was used for storage following World War II and then shuttered. 

The building interior will have the appearance of its immediate post-Civil War days. Crews will recover the tabby with smooth, white stucco.

“The end goal is to have a fully restored tabby building honoring its history. It will look like it did in the 1800s,” Savic wrote.

The Adam Strain before work began this year.

Grab some popcorn and weigh in!

Online Surveys & Market Research

If you prefer a movie not on the list above, give it in a plug in the comment area of this post.

Confederate flag to be removed from mural

A new movie theater in Fredericksburg, Va., is removing a Confederate flag from a mural after it received complaints. The Muvico theater includes a Civil-War themed bar and the mural is painted on a wall of an outside seating area. The mural depicts a U.S. flag on one side, a Confederate flag on the other, and has stars, an eagle and other adornments. • Article

'Conspirator' follows drama of Lincoln death

Any grade-school student can tell you the story of the 1865 assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theater. But what happened next? Robert Redford's new film, "The Conspirator", follows the race to hunt down the band of Confederate sympathizers behind the attack. James McAvoy stars as a Union soldier who agrees to defend one of the accused, boarding-house owner Mary Surratt (Robin Wright), whose son was the lone conspirator to escape the manhunt. • Article

Lost movie on Lincoln found in barn

A contractor cleaning out an old New Hampshire barn he was about to demolish found the only known copy of a 1913 silent film about Abraham Lincoln. "When Lincoln Paid" was directed by and starred Francis Ford, the older brother of famed director John Ford ("The Grapes of Wrath," "The Quiet Man"). In addition to battle scenes between Union and Confederate forces, the film's plot includes the mother of a dead Union soldier requesting that Lincoln pardon a Confederate soldier whom she had initially turned in. • Article