CivilWarTalk Throwback Thursday, 10-8-2020

[James N.]

This week Throwback Thursday appears a day early, as I plan to be out-of-pocket tomorrow; since this is still near the anniversary of the battle, the subject is my very first large-scale reenactment, held way back in 1976 at Corinth, Mississippi. Above, Yours Truly is serving as No. 1 at far right on the scaled-down cannon in our sandbag "Battery Robinett" while Jim Marrs at far left does the honors firing; below, Colonel Rogers of the 2nd Texas portrayed by Randy Gilbert of Tyler (wearing a wristwatch!) leads his men forward while carrying their flag before he falls. For more photos of this early event and a true farbfest, please see:

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/reenacting-the-battle-of-corinth-may-1976.150459/

(Photos by Jim's lovely wife Carol Marrs)

Anyone else having (preferably) old Civil War-related photos, mementoes, or memorabilia from reenactments, living history or other events or vacation or other travel is welcome and encouraged to share them with us in this weekly thread!

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Living history at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield, Missouri. Near as I can remember this was during the late 1980s or early 1990s. My outfit, Holmes' Brigade, had a good relationship with the NPS and was often invited to do living history at Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge. We prided ourselves on being able to tailor our interpretation to fit the occasion. Here we are portraying a company the the 1st Kansas Infantry, which had been issued regulation coats, arms and accouterments, but had to rely on civilian trousers and head gear. A color photograph would better show the diversity of clothing, but what you see is what you get. I'm the 2nd Lieutenant on the left of the three officers kneeling in the front.

 

[donna]

Good to see. Hope the library won't be closed too long. They may shut ours down or scale back again. We haven't been since this all started. Sure miss it. I always got books.

 

[James N.]

View attachment 377565

Living history at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield near Springfield, Missouri. Near as I can remember this was during the late 1980s or early 1990s. My outfit, Holmes' Brigade, had a good relationship with the NPS and was often invited to do living history at Wilson's Creek and Pea Ridge. We prided ourselves on being able to tailor our interpretation to fit the occasion. Here we are portraying a company the the 1st Kansas Infantry, which had been issued regulation coats, arms and accouterments, but had to rely on civilian trousers and head gear. A color photograph would better show the diversity of clothing, but what you see is what you get. I'm the 2nd Lieutenant on the left of the three officers kneeling in the front.

You might remember or at least enjoy this photo of Dick Stauffer (pointing) and the other members of Holmes' Brigade that attended the filming of North & South in Natchez, Mississippi around that same time:

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Thanks for the photo from North and South, I have fond memories of that week in Natchez. Remember the night when the porta-pots caught fire? Dick and I both worked for MO Dept. of Natural Resources in Jefferson City and were close friends and collaborators in the early days of Holmes' Brigade. Dick was responsible in 1980 for bringing together a widely-spread collection of small Union reenactment groups from Missouri and surrounding states into a single "brigaded" unit of actual company size to serve together at major events. As far as I know Holmes' Brigade is still going strong. I'll post more pictures of our adventures when I get the chance.

 

[James N.]

Thanks for the photo from North and South, I have fond memories of that week in Natchez. Remember the night when the porta-pots caught fire? Dick and I both worked for MO Dept. of Natural Resources in Jefferson City and were close friends and collaborators in the early days of Holmes' Brigade. Dick was responsible in 1980 for bringing together a widely-spread collection of small Union reenactment groups from Missouri and surrounding states into a single "brigaded" unit of actual company size to serve together at major events. As far as I know Holmes' Brigade is still going strong. I'll post more pictures of our adventures when I get the chance.

I look forward to it! I featured another long-ago unit you will no doubt remember in another thread:

Famous Reenactment Units: Thomas' Mudsills | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

Firing line of Thomas' Mudsills led by Capt. George Derenberger, standing, at Corinth, Mississippi, in May, 1976. Back around the time of the Bicentennial of the American Revolution in the mid-to-late 1970's Civil War reenacting as we have come to know it was still in its infancy. In states...

civilwartalk.com

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Yes indeed! I remember the Mudsills very will, although I didn't realize they dated as far back as the 1960s. Whenever Holmes Brigade went east we would brigade with the 'Sills. They would occasionally come west for events at Jefferson Barracks or Pilot Knob. During the 125th we were fellow members of the Western Battalion. Great guys to emulate and serve with.