Falcon Rest's newest group entertainment is an interactive show in the spirit of the popular "Murder at the Mansion," based on real historical events in McMinnville, Tennessee, during the Civil  War.

     The show combines a ball welcoming the celebrated Confederate general and his new bride to McMinnville,  given by Lucy Virginia French, with the invasion of Federal troops attempting to capture them.  Audience members take on the characters of actual people living in McMinnville or soldiers who were involved with Morgan at the time. 
     There are no lines to remember or pressure to participate, so they're free interact as much or as little as they like in character.  Even in the midst of a war, the Morgans' days in McMinnville were happy ones, so the show weaves humor in with history.  A delicious meal is included, inspired by Virginia French's description of the menu for the ball in her famous diary.

Who was John Hunt Morgan?

     A dashing Confederate cavalry officer from Kentucky, John Hunt Morgan was famous on both sides of the Mason-Dixon Line for lightning raids against Union supplies and forces that earned him the nicknames, "Thunderbolt of the Confederacy" and "Swamp Fox of the South."  In mid-1863, he began a raid that would take his troops into Indiana and Ohio, farther north than any other Confederate force would advance during the Civil War.

     His happiest days during the war were probably spent here in McMinnville.  Morgan was promoted to Brigadier General in December 1862 in Murfreesboro, and the next day the 37-year-old general married 21-year-old Mattie Ready of that city.  When Federal troops took over Murfreesboro a few weeks after the wedding, Morgan and his young bride took up residence at the downtown McMinnville home of her relative, Dr. J.B. Armstrong.

     During an idyllic three months of relative calm, the young couple enjoyed riding in Warren County's mountains and visiting with the locals, most notably famous poetess Lucy Virginia French and her husband John.  Virginia even threw a ball that winter to welcome the Morgans to town. 

     The honeymoon ended in mid-April 1863 when Union troops invaded McMinnville to capture the elusive Morgan.  He and Mattie managed to escape, but the town remained under Union control throughout the rest of the war.  Thereafter, Morgan's Raiders started their sweep through Union territory, possibly conceived during his stay in McMinnville.  It was designed to divert Federal troops in Tennessee, enlist recruits in Kentucky, and take the war to the North in an effort to erode the citizens' will to continue.  In 24 days, Morgan passed through 52 towns in Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio, captured nearly 6,000 prisoners, and damaged 10 million dollars worth of public property before being captured. 

Lucy Virginia French
     Writing under the name of "L'Inconnue," Virginia was already a famous authoress when one of her stories so intrigued
Col. John French that he married her and brought her to his McMinnville plantation, "Forest Home." 
     Virginia kept an eloquent diary from 1861-1865, chronicling civilian life during the war as well as her encounters with generals from both the Union and Confederate armies.

Performances may be booked any time for groups of 20 or more. Daytime: $28 per person; Evening: $30 per person Sales Tax additional. Includes interactive show, three-course meal and mansion tour.

For information or to make reservations, call 931-668-4444 or e-mail falconrest@falconrest.com