An afternoon at Davis Ford, where Hood crossed Duck River

On Saturday afternoon, I visited super-remote Davis Ford, roughly five miles from Columbia, Tenn., where 25,000 of John Bell Hood’s Army of Tennessee soldiers crossed the Duck River on Nov. 29, 1864. My guide was local expert Neal Pulley, who's deep into research for a book on the Battle of Columbia. Among the soldiers to cross the Duck long ago was Sam Watkins, who wrote the classic Civil War memoir, Co. Aytch. Earlier this year, I visited with Watkins' great-granddaughter, Ruth Hill. (Turn up volume for optimal experience. Problematic WiFi connectiion.)