Mind if I try something?

Rad2duhbone53 · #1 07-30-2006, 07:06 PM

Nope......nevermind. Its not working

ami · #2 07-30-2006, 08:39 PM

what ya trying to do? I might be able to help...

Rad2duhbone53 · #3 07-30-2006, 09:46 PM

Lets see if this works.

AZReenactor · #4 07-31-2006, 10:07 AM

It really gives a different perspective on skirmishes. They certainly do look hokey don't they. Not at all like real combat. No hint of danger and absolutely no urgency in the actions of participants. The obvious conversations, slow and awkward movements, and casual demeanors all speak of a day at the park rather than the life and death drama actually endured by soldiers of the Civil War.

Oh well, at least some of the Federals seemed to be utilizing cover as skirmishers.

Rad2duhbone53 · #5 07-31-2006, 05:41 PM

Grant it with the kids screaming in the backround, my son really didnt get a real concept of what the soldier really went through. What I would like to do is take him to Sharpsburg (almost pristine recreation of 1862) and show him at the Pry House (a hospital) what the consequences fell upon some of those brave men in Blue and Gray. Maybe this September.

william42 · #6 07-31-2006, 06:27 PM

Rad, it worked out well. I haven't tried video yet on photobucket. I'm just learning the still images part.

Nice skirmish footage. Everybody looked authentic to me. Sure, there may have been a small lack of urgency in it, but the participants looked like they were doing what they were supposed to do.

I saw some of the yankees reloading while kneeling, and others who stood up to reload after they fired. I had wondered about the feasibility of trying to load such a long gun while kneeling, so it was interesting to see it done. In reading I've come across passages where soldiers under heavy fire had to try to reload while in a prone, flat on the ground position, which seems to me would have been next to impossible, but I suppose it was done.

Thanks for the post.

Terry

VS on the belt plate · #7 07-31-2006, 08:27 PM

I agree with you AZ reenactor. Doesnt look anything like the skirmish drill Ive done.

I mean even if its a laid back weekend to please the kids and get a recruit or two...make it look good.

VS

Rad2duhbone53 · #8 07-31-2006, 08:52 PM

At least I know now I can place clip links on CWT

samgrant · #9 07-31-2006, 10:44 PM

Hope you will do it again (but with more enthusiastic reenactors).

johan_steele · #10 08-01-2006, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VS on the belt plate

I agree with you AZ reenactor. Doesnt look anything like the skirmish drill Ive done.

I mean even if its a laid back weekend to please the kids and get a recruit or two...make it look good.

VS

Unfortunately such is not uncommon... apparently neither side is capable of shooting straight, being remotely in shape or have an understanding of the term cover.

Example, the Union boys should have stayed in the cover of the edge of the woods, while the public might not have easily seen them the smoke and report coming from the trees would have far better masked the fact that they weren't terribly experianced in deploying or acting as skirmishers. Rapid firing in skirmish order can look rather intimidating when all that is seen is the flash and smoke rising... it's more realistic as well. Skirmish lines coming at each other then stopping in an open field and blazing at each other... without taking casualties or finding cover... hokey at best.

THe CS boys... the bored looks and barely muted conversations pale next to the poor loading & firing. NO urgency, fear or worry whatsoever... and I think I would have strangled the men (yes plural) who exhibited such poor control of their arms... and the man way out in front of the skirmish line taking a long swallow from his canteen ARGGGGGHHHHH!!! Apparently no one is shooting at them. After having seen quality CS units like 4th Al, 17th TN & several others... the frustration.

I have a feeling that if I would have been there I would either have been hanging my head in shame or in a raging fury. The point is this, I am no hardcore, not by any stretch of the imagination but I have seen mainstream units w/ poorer kits than I saw there (I mean a newbie wearing black tennis shoes!) but moving and working with real urgency and doing their ****dest to act the part of fighting men. This was nothing but powder burning... it wasn't educational and wasn't even vaguely accurate.

I have a real problem w/ powder burning shows for the public... they lack all of the horrors of battle and at best they illustrate marching and some manuevering. I don't think the public comes away w/ anything but an appreciation that a rifle sounds pretty when fired and when a couple dozen guys are shooting at each other it sounds vaguely impressive.

I apologize for my soapbox... I have been to events such as this and left afterward feeling somehow sullied by the experiance. There is a reason I prefer the smaller living history events where there is no hokey pretense of battle.