By Lauren Vaught
Staff Writer

At least Sherman didn't have such an easily marked path when he and his troops went on their Civil war-time March to the Sea.

More trailblazer signs and historical markers marking Georgia’s Civil War Heritage Trails are being added to historical sites all over the state, and the March to the Sea Heritage Trail will be the first to receive the additional signage.

The trail, of course, runs directly through the county -- Social Circle to Rutledge, Madison, Lake Oconee, Eatonton, Milledgeville and all the way to Savannah.  

 Most of the signs will be trailblazer signs, or directional signs, that point to the historical site from nearby roads. Two signs were added in Rutledge, two in Madison and three in between. The Rutledge signs went up Thursday, but the signs in Madison will be installed the start of next year, as will more across the state.

“Right now it’s kind of like a game of connect the dots. We are putting them up in pieces now, but when they are all up it will make sense,” said Steven Longcrier, executive director of the Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails.

Other markers will also be going up at some historic sites, including a historical marker in Madison in front of the Old Depot, and one in Rutledge at the City Park. The Rutledge marker will narrate the town's history, and the importance of the railroad during that time. The marker to be put up at Lake Oconee, where the   railroad  crosses over the lake, will describe the scene where Sherman burned the bridge across Oconee River.

Adding more directional markers and historical markers  is important to preserving Civil War history, according to Longcrier.
“We feel like there’s such interest in the study of the Civil War. [These signs will benefit people] by telling people, in the easiest way, where these armies went,” Longcrier said. “People like to see these sites where the armies went and that they’ve read about.”

Published in the January 1, 2009 edition.