Nashville was in a panic. The Tennessee capital was a key Confederate rail link, supply depot and industrial center for the war’s Western theater. Despite Nashville’s importance, the Southern army defending it was withdrawn when Northern forces advanced on the city in February of 1862. The army’s commander, Brigadier General John B. Floyd, a hapless political officer who had already abandoned nearby Fort Donelson, hastily retreated from Nashville – leaving behind vast stores of desperately needed military equipment and supplies.

Left behind too, however, was a bold and decisive Confederate officer and his troops – Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest and his brigade of cavalry. The retreating commander had left Forrest to tidy up the evacuation and he took his orders seriously. Soon, Forrest restored order out of the chaos.

Forrest then commandeered wagons, and put his troops to work saving military supplies, equipment and ammunition – including more than 700 wagonloads of army rations. Not until Northern troops were entering Nashville in full strength on the evening of February 23, did Forrest suspend his disciplined salvage operation and retire from the city. By then, order had been restored, and Nashville’s mayor was able to surrender the capital – which was spared the fiery destruction that awaited other Southern cities. Forrest’s salvage operation had provided the stores necessary for Southern forces to fight again. The same daring and determination would soon make General Nathan Bedford Forrest famous – as the “Wizard of the Saddle.”

Release Date: 2007

It was a passing moment of cheer amid the harsh realities of war.

On Christmas day of 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, attended a holiday dinner hosted by his valued "right arm" – General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Lee and some of his officers were invited by Jackson for a Christmas meal at an outbuilding at Moss Neck, where Jackson had established winter headquarters near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Surely it was a rare respite from the severities of warfare. Just three months earlier, Lee’s army had been sorely pressed at the battle of Antietam — and Lee’s attempt to take the war to the North had been turned back in the bloodiest day of the war. And less than two weeks earlier at the battle of Fredericksburg – in one of his most decisive victories – Lee had his army overwhelmingly defeat the Army of the Potomac. So shocking were the harsh realities of war at Fredericksburg that Lee had observed: "It is well that war is so terrible; lest we grow too fond of it."

Lee left the warm environment of General Jackson’s hospitality to return to his headquarters and matters of war. He passed some guests that were arriving for a holiday party at the manor house and was momentarily refreshed by the events of the day and the warm wishes of "Merry Christmas General Lee."

Release Date: 2007

It was a passing moment of cheer amid the harsh realities of war.

On Christmas day of 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, attended a holiday dinner hosted by his valued "right arm" – General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Lee and some of his officers were invited by Jackson for a Christmas meal at an outbuilding at Moss Neck, where Jackson had established winter headquarters near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Surely it was a rare respite from the severities of warfare. Just three months earlier, Lee’s army had been sorely pressed at the battle of Antietam — and Lee’s attempt to take the war to the North had been turned back in the bloodiest day of the war. And less than two weeks earlier at the battle of Fredericksburg – in one of his most decisive victories – Lee had his army overwhelmingly defeat the Army of the Potomac. So shocking were the harsh realities of war at Fredericksburg that Lee had observed: "It is well that war is so terrible; lest we grow too fond of it."

Lee left the warm environment of General Jackson’s hospitality to return to his headquarters and matters of war. He passed some guests that were arriving for a holiday party at the manor house and was momentarily refreshed by the events of the day and the warm wishes of "Merry Christmas General Lee."

Release Date: 2007

It was a passing moment of cheer amid the harsh realities of war.

On Christmas day of 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, attended a holiday dinner hosted by his valued "right arm" – General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Lee and some of his officers were invited by Jackson for a Christmas meal at an outbuilding at Moss Neck, where Jackson had established winter headquarters near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Surely it was a rare respite from the severities of warfare. Just three months earlier, Lee’s army had been sorely pressed at the battle of Antietam — and Lee’s attempt to take the war to the North had been turned back in the bloodiest day of the war. And less than two weeks earlier at the battle of Fredericksburg – in one of his most decisive victories – Lee had his army overwhelmingly defeat the Army of the Potomac. So shocking were the harsh realities of war at Fredericksburg that Lee had observed: "It is well that war is so terrible; lest we grow too fond of it."

Lee left the warm environment of General Jackson’s hospitality to return to his headquarters and matters of war. He passed some guests that were arriving for a holiday party at the manor house and was momentarily refreshed by the events of the day and the warm wishes of "Merry Christmas General Lee."

Release Date: 2007

It was a passing moment of cheer amid the harsh realities of war.

On Christmas day of 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, attended a holiday dinner hosted by his valued "right arm" – General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Lee and some of his officers were invited by Jackson for a Christmas meal at an outbuilding at Moss Neck, where Jackson had established winter headquarters near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Surely it was a rare respite from the severities of warfare. Just three months earlier, Lee’s army had been sorely pressed at the battle of Antietam — and Lee’s attempt to take the war to the North had been turned back in the bloodiest day of the war. And less than two weeks earlier at the battle of Fredericksburg – in one of his most decisive victories – Lee had his army overwhelmingly defeat the Army of the Potomac. So shocking were the harsh realities of war at Fredericksburg that Lee had observed: "It is well that war is so terrible; lest we grow too fond of it."

Lee left the warm environment of General Jackson’s hospitality to return to his headquarters and matters of war. He passed some guests that were arriving for a holiday party at the manor house and was momentarily refreshed by the events of the day and the warm wishes of "Merry Christmas General Lee."

Release Date: 2007

It was a passing moment of cheer amid the harsh realities of war.

On Christmas day of 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, attended a holiday dinner hosted by his valued "right arm" – General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Lee and some of his officers were invited by Jackson for a Christmas meal at an outbuilding at Moss Neck, where Jackson had established winter headquarters near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Surely it was a rare respite from the severities of warfare. Just three months earlier, Lee’s army had been sorely pressed at the battle of Antietam — and Lee’s attempt to take the war to the North had been turned back in the bloodiest day of the war. And less than two weeks earlier at the battle of Fredericksburg – in one of his most decisive victories – Lee had his army overwhelmingly defeat the Army of the Potomac. So shocking were the harsh realities of war at Fredericksburg that Lee had observed: "It is well that war is so terrible; lest we grow too fond of it."

Lee left the warm environment of General Jackson’s hospitality to return to his headquarters and matters of war. He passed some guests that were arriving for a holiday party at the manor house and was momentarily refreshed by the events of the day and the warm wishes of "Merry Christmas General Lee."

Release Date: 2007

He was first on the field – and may have saved the war’s greatest battle for the Union. Brigadier General John Buford was 37 years old when he led his First Cavalry Division into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on June 30, 1863. Known to his troops as “Old Steadfast,” he was considered one of the best cavalry officers in the Northern army – and he showed why at Gettysburg. As General Robert E. Lee moved his spread-out Army of Northern Virginia across Pennsylvania in late June, the cross roads town of Gettysburg lay on his route of march – and also in the path of General George Meade’s pursuing Army of the Potomac. The first to fully reach the field might win the major battle both armies were seeking. Buford’s cavalry got there first, and his orders were clear: “Hold Gettysburg at all costs until supports arrive.”

Buford knew the bulk of Lee’s army was arriving from the west, so he located strong defensive lines for the Federal army on ridges flanking the town’s west side – with an excellent fall-back position on Cemetery Ridge to the rear. Buford did his job – and well. His cavalry was first to engage Lee’s army, and held back its advance until the Federal army began arriving in force. When Northern troops were finally driven back on the battle’s first day, they dug in on Cemetery Ridge. There, they delivered a decisive defeat to Lee’s battle-hardened troops over the next two days, and made Gettysburg the decisive battle of the American Civil War. General Buford’s choice of defensive positions on June 30th had enabled the Union to prevail on the war’s greatest field of battle.

Release Date: 2007

This is an originial charcoal sketch of "Rendezvous With Destiny," signed MK on the right side.  This preliminary sketch serves as the Artist’s initial steps before painting the image onto the canvas.

Retail Price $ 520.00

The dimensions of the image are 8 inches by 9.5 inches and the frame dimensions are appromixately 19 inches by 20.5 inches.  The sketch is framed in acid-free materials and museum conservation glass (containing UV protectant).

Interested parties should contact the gallery for additional photos highlighting the sketch’s details, framing, signatures, etc.

Release Date: 2007

This is an originial charcoal sketch of "Order Out of Chaos," signed MKünstler in the bottom right corner.  This preliminary sketch serves as the Artist’s initial steps before painting the image onto the canvas.

Retail Price $ 825.00

The dimensions of the image are 9 inches by 12 inches.  The sketch is packaged in plastic wrap with a foam core board behind the image for support and is not framed. 

Interested parties should contact the gallery for additional photos highlighting the sketch’s details, framing, signatures, etc.

Release Date: 2007