Father Neil,
Maybe I missed you mentioning it but when are you doing this?
Just curious but were there monasteries where the monks tended to wounded? The topic came up tonight while a friend and I watched The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I could not recall any.
I am of the opinion this heavenly impression will take place early next year or as soon as Sister Sue (my wife) and Sister Arnold (My wife's friend, Lorrie) can research, create, cut and sew the outfit for me. They are also both dear friends of a retirement home for former nuns, the Sisters of Mercy, in Fremont, Ohio, who have said they would provide period bible, beads, cross, etc., IF I do the part with honor and respect to the 'office.' I promised I would do no other than honor the memory of the priest of that period and bring no shame to it either. A BIG responsibility I will not take lightly.
As for wounded priest and monks, got me, I'm the new guy here!
Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
I've been researching women who rode with the cavalry and I think I may have come up with a few possible ideas. I'm wondering who I should contact next, or perhaps it's you Shane since I believe you mentioned you had dealt with a few horses last weekend?
Father Neil, I may have to come to you for a blessing before I cavort the countryside with the Union army!
Of course, my child, and may the Almighty, who knows the hearts of all, bless and keep you in your noble cause to save this honorable Union!
Amen,
Father Blue
PS This is fun!
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Good God NO! Practicing is one thing, but with this hard-core bunch? Who knows what deep and dark secrets would be revealed and then joyless experience of sharing them with no one?
Where's the fun in that?
Plain Old Unionblue
__________________ "The American people and the Government at Washington may refuse to recognize it for a time but the inexorable logic of events will force it upon them in the end; that the war now being waged in this land is a war for and against slavery." Frederick Douglass
"Loyalty to our ancestors does not include loyalty to their mistakes." George Santayana
Dawna, I was the only one assigned to the HQ party that had any experiance w/ horses other than the man riding her... he was scripted to take a hit and it was my job to make certain the mare stayed calm and didn't step on anyone as there were to be several casualties right there... no plan survives the first contact intact... the rebs weren't shooting at us for some inexplicable reason. The mare was fine w/ cannon & rifle fire but when the bugler blew ANY signal she would stat to raise both her forelegs as though to rear up and the man riding her wasn't real comfortable w/ that especially as she wasn't his horse.
I would be happy to pass on info on a good bit of gear and may even be able to get you some of it used. I know several guys who used to do dismounted cav and have switched to Infantry. If I had known you a year ago I could have gotten you one heck of a deal on an original McClellan Saddle in superb shape. Heck I darn near jumped on it and would have if I could have sratched up $250 w/out the wife drawing & quartering me.
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
Father Blue, it has been fourteen years since my last confession... since that time I havegrown up, got married, divorced, married again had a little girl, been in a dismounted cav unit, partaken in ***** powder burning contests, gained a passion for the Civil War...
HOW MANY HAIL MARRY'S?????!!!!!
__________________ Few take the trouble to understand or to view the American scene with perspective. And we Americans love to find ourselves guilty of something. However, it is never I who am guilty, but those other Americans, the past or present government or the other political party. Americans almost never find other countries guilty. It is always ourselves or our fancied influence in other countries. Louis L'amour
Regarding your willingness to confess your sins to Father Hamilton, I should perhaps re-think my strategies and consider riding a draft horse to support the weight that I'll be needing from all his Hail Mary's!
I hope that I'm not taking up too much of your time with my questions but I assumed that there was specific training involved, or drills to practice etc. with the horses? But I guess that with units arriving for events from all over the States it would be impossible to train together, so am I correct in determining that you just show up with your horse and receive your orders on arrival?
Since I have access to an indoor arena in winter, I usually pick a discipline to work on to keep the horses fit and interested. If a unit definitely accepts me, then I planned to spend the winter training in specific cavalry drills. Also, I would be more than happy to enroll Jesse in the division of the RCMP course that I previously mentioned, as there's very little that these horses are not exposed to. No cannons, but lots of bugles, crowd control, noise, guns, etc.etc.
I'm not surprised to hear that the mare you handled became a little freakish with the bugler, but accepted everything else...what one horse fears, another would scoff at with righteous indignation. I had to put down my quarter horse mare of 22 years this past summer, and Lady was an amazing animal with a career as versatile as her breeding. I could land a plane beside this horse or ride her down a major highway and she was literally bombproof, but if Lady saw a spinning pinwheel in someone's garden, she would almost stroke on the spot. Every horse has a button that makes them come undone, and Lady would stare down the most unruly of bovines, but remained severely traumatized at the sight of a miniscule garden decoration!
I haven't given much thought to tack etc. as I would want to know first who is willing to accept "Hildalgo" and I, and also what impression I would be doing. Once I know my role, then I can spend the next several months acquiring tack, clothing, and of course studying.
I do appreciate your help Shane and if it's not too bothersome, I would consider you my "cavalry mentor!"
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