April 9, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Step back in time to the turmoil of the American Civil War as members of the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table perform a short play, Civil War Coroner’s Inquest: The Death of Captain Freeman. This presentation is a gripping courtroom drama that blurs the line between battlefield and justice. Set in 1863 war-torn Tennessee, this powerful play unfolds as a coroner’s jury investigates the controversial death of Captain Samuel L. Freeman of Forrest’s Artillery. This short play reveals clashing testimonies from Confederate soldiers and a Union officer present under a flag of truce. Written by one of our roundtable’s past presidents, John Scales, the coroner’s inquest is fictional but you will hear authentic dialogue drawn from real witness accounts that were written down in the aftermath of the 1863 event. The audience becomes the jury—challenged to decide whether Freeman fell honorably in battle or was executed in cold blood. With its tense exchanges, moral conflict, and raw emotion, Civil War Coroner’s Inquest: The Death of Captain Freeman offers a rare, human glimpse into the chaos and conscience of war. Don’t miss this immersive historical experience where honor, truth, and memory all go on trial.
