Tales of Events

Robert,
I absolutely loved it. Very well told. Losing the tooth is very funny since it didn’t happen to me. I agree Missouri soldiers during the war tended to be a bit more informal than most but they sure could fight.

Thank you very much for the tale and the info. Very cool.

YMOS
tommy

[jenna]

I thought since I had been asked on the intro page that I would start by sharing some of my own re-enacting experiences.

I am a civilian re-enactor from Wisconsin, and we had an event this past June in a town called Watertown, and that weekend we found out how it got it's name.

We set up on a Friday night, and it was drizzly, nothing big and that we couldn't handle, but we have gotten far more rain then needed this year and the ground we well saturated. The tent stakes literally did not need to be pounded in, they just sunk. So we got set up in the dryest area we could and stayed as dry as we could. Went to bed knowing that there was a storm coming in but hoped that there would be no bad weather. Well, at about 1:00 in the morning it came down in buckets. There was an artillary group up on a hill that were campainging it, and they came running down in a hurry to crowd into the first aid building. We were camped in an area of an RV/Camping resort, so about 50-80' away from our tents was a tennis court with a metal cyclone fence around it. I remember at one point during the storm seeing an orange glow, thinking it was a truck or someone coming in late to set up. Found out the next morning from a cav unit camped right next to it that lightning had struck the fence and caused the whole thing to glow orange! Thankfully none of the horses had been teathered to it, or we'd have had horse brisquettes for breakfast! That morning we woke up to 4" of standing water and our fire pit was more a bathtub for my friends pomeranian then a fire bit. It is the only event we have to date left early from. No hoop skirts for that event! Just muddin' dresses for us!!

Just the tip of the iceburg on what I can certainly share for re-enacting stories.

Would love to hear what others have heard our of spectators mouths that's for sure. We've heard some dussies.

Jenna}

[jeffdavislegion]

Neil,

I forgot to post some of the photos of Ft. Larned. If you want to see more, go to the URL below and click on "Photos."

-DF

http://www.geocities.com/union_guard/index.html

[unionblue]

Daniel,

I VERY much enjoyed the web site and the pictures there. Ft Larned must have been one heck of a living history event and I envy anyone who had a chance in such original settings! Thanks for sharing with me.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

[qwincbruce]

Dan,
I have been to Ft. Larned, but in the late 80's. It IS a great place to do living history.
Members of my unit, Holmes Brigade have been there on various occasions, most notably during Memorial Day weekend.
Do you know John Maki or Steve Hall?
Steve has been known to do a phrenologist's impression (person who can tell about someone by feeling bumbs on head).
Also used to know Chuck Counts, Bill Elswick, and a fellow named John Hollywood-from 1st Colorado.
Maki has great relationship with "George."-can't remember last name. Maki has made many boxes for the fort.
Remember going up to fried chicken place up near I-70. Place was an old hotel-Brookfield Hotel?- that was converted to family dining.
Fondest memory was one year we were staying in infantry barracks, snoozing away. It was right about 6AM. Outside the cannon roared. A second later, First Sergeant George crashed into the room telling everyone to "GET OUT OF THOSE BUNKS!"
****, I thought I was back in bootcamp.
A trip to Ft. Larned is not complete unless you read some of the etching on the stone buildings, maybe scratched in at or before the turn of the 20th century. I always hoped they'd rebuild the bowling alley. I'd come back for that.
Bob


(Message edited by Qwincbruce on August 03, 2004)

[unionblue]

Friends,

I feel great to announce I have recovered enough in body (I will leave the mind out of it, as there are many of my Southern friends who will claim I was NEVER in a right frame of mind) that my wife and I plan to attend the Guyandotte, WV, 15th Annual, 'Thunder In The Village' reenactment this year.

Here is a small, one page, web site with the dates and some pictures of past reenactments. I am proud to say, that the majority of the Union pictures are of my reenacting company, the 76th OVI, Company H. If you look closely at the fourth picture in the top row of pictures, you will see my cowering Yankee body, trying to take cover from Rebel bullets behind a white, picket fence. We are fighting a losing battle in front of the actual building that was used as a Union recruiting post during the ACTUAL raid on Guyandotte.

Also, if you click on the picture of the Rebel calvary, you should know that most of them are actual WV Mounted Police, using the reenactment as training for their mounts so they can get used to the sound of gunfire. I have had the distinct pleasure of running away from these gentlemen on many an occasion at Guyandotte! Nothing like a bunch of Rebel Yells, flashing sabers and HUGE horses running straight for you to make you suddenly realize you have to go home 'and help with the churnin!'

The picture of the ladies and gentlemen at the ball was taken inside the local VA hall, which helps sponsor the event every year. The public is encouraged to get involved and learn the steps with reenactors helping out. Wait till you see the 'broom dance!'

http://www.geocities.com/guyandottecwdays/home.html

For some history on the actual events that took place in Guyandotte during the Civil War, check out this site.

http://www.wvculture.org/history/jou...h/wvh54-2.html

This reenactment is such a fun deal as it involves EVERY type of reenactor, both military and civilian, and trys to involve the public as much as possible. This is usually our last reenactment of the year as we then go into 'winter quarters' until the season picks up again in April or May.

Hope to see a few of you there.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

(Message edited by Unionblue on September 22, 2004)

[unionblue]

Another fond memory...

I just happened to come upon the web site of the 52d Tennessee Infantry, C.S.A., and recalled the time I had the honor and the privilege of serving with them at 'The Battle of Sacramento' in Kentucky one year long ago. Here is this excellent unit's web site:

http://members.aol.com/Tenn52d/home.html

Ron Goodwin, Harry Keenan, Mike Rush, myself and several others donned the gray to participate in this event and Ron had recieved an invitation from the 52d's Captain, Jim Reed, to join up with him for this reenacting event.

Again, I am happy to report the Southern hospitality is no myth and the event organizers went all out to help support the reenactors coming to the event by providing a HUGE meal on Saturday with every food you could imagine, from fried chicken, ham, grits, green beans, potatoe salad, etc., etc.! These folks even provided free rides from local motels where some of the reenactors were staying for the weekend so they would not have to worry about finding parking spaces for their own vehicles!

Now, this is about one of the funniest things to ever happen to me in all my reenacting memory. I have participated in many 'skits' or scenarios so that the public could view actual events in camp and on the battlefield during these enactments. Cpt. Reed had approached me before the day's battle (recreating a battle where Gen. Bedford Forrest had commanded) and induced me to desert under fire. (I guess Ron had talked to the Captain, warning him of my favorite skit part, running away!)

I said sure, why not, and then he told me to play along with anything that happened AFTER the battle. I was a little curious about that instruction, but Cpt. Jim seemed nice enough, so I said sure.

Well, we marched out to the battlefield, faced our Yankee foes and had at it. Volley after volley was fired and all seemed well, until the Yanks brought up their cannons close to our lines. Several well-placed cannon shots mowed down dozens of our men, some WAY to close to me, so I threw down my gun, shed my haversack and canteen, and charged for the rear without a backward glance. (Ron Goodwin had already agreed to watch my stuff while I played jackrabbit!)

Many spectators saw me run and expressed their astonishment, pointing and calling, "He's running away!" Point taken and lesson given, I went back to our encampment to await the return of our company. I wasn't long in waiting.

Capt. Reed came back, madder than Lucifer himself, when he saw me cooking over a campfire. He ordered me arrested and held in a wedge tent until he had talked the matter of my desertion over with Gen. Forrest himself. When I overheard that, I knew that I was in a bad fix, as Gen. Forrest was known as 'a hard man.'

Well, I didn't have to wait long for the outcome of taking it to the General. Capt. Reed came back, ordered my two guards to tie my hands behind my back and march me out to an empty field (with LOTS of spectators watching) with the entire company in attendance.

Five men were picked from the ranks of the company to be my firing squad, as I had been condemned to death as deserting while under fire. The Capt. announced the charges to soldiers and spectators alike and then ordered the sergeant in charge of the firing squad to make ready. At the same time, the Capt. came up to me and offered me a blindfold and under his breath in a low tone said, "Take it, and whatever happens, DO NOT fall down."

I was a tad confused, but nodded slightly that I would comply with his unusual request. Capt. Reed tied the blindfold around my eyes, but left it loose enough so I could see he was standing about five feet off to my left. He then gave the order for the sergeant in charge of the firing squad to commence the execution.

"READY! AIM! FIRE!"

There was a TREMENDOUS crack of rifles with which Capt. Jim Reed fell DEAD! Shot by his own men who had completely missed their intended target, me! Talk about unexpected! (The thought quickly crossed my mind where I wondered just how popular a Captain Capt. Jim had been with his men!)

The crowd watching the whole affair was just as surprised and caught completely off guard as I was, began to howl at the 'miracle' of my escaping punishment! I started to run, but one of the boys in the firing squad had loaded late and managed to get a shot off which crashed into my back, as I was headed full run, blindfold still on, for the nearest woods.

Hope you enjoyed this one.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

(Message edited by Unionblue on September 22, 2004)

(Message edited by Unionblue on September 22, 2004)

[dawna]

Neil:

I believe you are having too much fun! And this goes against your character...running scared with your tail between your legs!!

Dawna

[unionblue]

Dawna,

I'm glad you enjoyed the story, but again, this is one of my pet peeves.

Almost no modern reenactor, from either side, wants to portray incidents where frightened men ran from the battlefield. I do it, and manage to convince others in reenacting, to portray this typical happening for the viewing public, as battle, any battle from any time, is not a tea social, but a frightening experience and not every man was up to it.

I also like to portray a dead Yankee soldier who has his shoes and personal effects stripped off his body by Rebel soldiers who have no shoes or food. It makes for another great learning experience for those who come to see us and is a very real change from the stand-up battles they have come to expect at reenactments.

Glad you like my stories, I got a million of 'em!

Until next time,
Runnin' Blue

[dawna]

Runnin' Blue:

It seems that we are burning the midnight oil! My legs turn into jelly just imagining what it would have been like for any soldier during the Civil War. It must have happened frequently Neil...men running away in terror and I'm sure that you've given your crowds much to think about.

Dawna