CWT Fall Muster 2025?

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

Has there been any discussion or consideration of a CWT muster event for fall 2025?

I bring it up now because for 2024 it was suggested that planning would have ideally started earlier than it did, and there was a lot of uncertainty about who would host or where it would be until someone volunteered at sort of the final hour.

I do not mean to critize anything about the 2024 Muster, merely to provide context for starting a thread about something 9-10 months in the future. I am not volunteering anyone (certainly not myself). I just want to bring up the topic for discussion.

Since 2023 was in Winchester and 2024 was in Mobile, I assume we will be back in Virginia or somewhere East Coast for 2025.

I recall previous suggestions for places where no Muster has previously occured were:

1. Overland Campaign or Fredericksburg & Chancellorsville, either of which could be based out of the Fredericksburg area.

2. Richmond and/or Petersburg. With Pamplin Park's recent troubles I think it might behoove us to go here. Wilson Greene's second volume about the Petersburg Campaign is also due out in 2025, IIRC.

3. Charleston or Savannah were suggested as a non-Virginia alternative, although there were concerns about cost.

4. Jacksonville, FL has Olustee, Fort Clinch, Yellow Bluff Fort at Dames Point, Museum of Southern History, the Maple Leaf exhibit in Mandarin, Camp Milton (not much to see), and some historic cemeteries in both Jacksonville and Fernandina. Not a strong contender, but I wanted to throw it out there as something different while keeping the basic format.

 

[bdtex]

I was gonna start a thread on it. The biggest issue is a QuarterMaster and staff. There have been 9 Musters. 5 members of CWT served as QMs of those Musters and I don't believe any of them want to do it in 2025. I know I don't. There's a lot of other things but a QM is first usually. We could vote on a destination and it still won't happen without someone doing some basic organizing. At Mobile, I think someone volunteered to be QM if the 2025 destination was Charleston. Beyond that, I don't know if anyone is interested in being QM for 2025.

 

[Jamieva]

I'd love it if the group met in Richmond but I cannot help organize I just don't have the time.

 

[Reconstructed Rebel]

Perryville, Kentucky. You will appreciate how important this oft overlooked battle was!

 

[Cato3rd]

My vote is for Fredericksburg. Since there is a lot to see/do and places to stay in the area. It doesn't hurt that it's pretty close to me and few others on here that live around the DC metro area.

 

[bdtex]

Wherever it is, it needs to be close to a good international or regional airport. We have occasional overseas attendees and some of the regular attendees live too far to be able to drive.

 

[Library Lady]

My vote is for Fredericksburg. Since there is a lot to see/do and places to stay in the area. It doesn't hurt that it's pretty close to me and few others on here that live around the DC metro area.

@Cato3rd , help me out here. I believe Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has a line to Fredericksburg. This is basically a commuter rail line, though my understanding is that it has a much more limited schedule than I'm used to from Metra here in the Chicago area. You could fly into Reagan/Washington National, take the Metro to Crystal City and catch the VRE there. You could also take Amtrak to Washington Union Station and pick the VRE up there. I know nothing about accommodations near the train station in Fredericksburg, although I do know there are hotels near the train station in Crystal City. I also don't know about transportation from Dulles to DC. I would imagine something exists, but I have no experience with it.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

@Cato3rd , help me out here. I believe Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has a line to Fredericksburg. This is basically a commuter rail line, though my understanding is that it has a much more limited schedule than I'm used to from Metra here in the Chicago area. You could fly into Reagan/Washington National, take the Metro to Crystal City and catch the VRE there. You could also take Amtrak to Washington Union Station and pick the VRE up there. I know nothing about accommodations near the train station in Fredericksburg, although I do know there are hotels near the train station in Crystal City. I also don't know about transportation from Dulles to DC. I would imagine something exists, but I have no experience with it.

There is a shuttle between Dulles and Reagan or the DC metro silver line. Car rentals would make more sense as the battlefields (while close to each other) still would need a dedicated vehicle.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

Amtrak runs thru Fredburg but I think it's not often during the day. VRE (ugh) is a commuter rail service out of Union Station with stops in Northern Virginia. Plenty of good hotel rooms down here and amenities…

 

[Cato3rd]

@Cato3rd , help me out here. I believe Virginia Railway Express (VRE) has a line to Fredericksburg. This is basically a commuter rail line, though my understanding is that it has a much more limited schedule than I'm used to from Metra here in the Chicago area. You could fly into Reagan/Washington National, take the Metro to Crystal City and catch the VRE there. You could also take Amtrak to Washington Union Station and pick the VRE up there. I know nothing about accommodations near the train station in Fredericksburg, although I do know there are hotels near the train station in Crystal City. I also don't know about transportation from Dulles to DC. I would imagine something exists, but I have no experience with it.

Yes it does. It has a VRE and Amtrak train that goes from DC all the way down to Fredericksburg. There are a few airport options; DC, Dulles, even BWI is pretty close. There is the DC metro which goes directly to Dulles airport. Pretty convenient those flying into the area

 

[Library Lady]

There is a shuttle between Dulles and Reagan or the DC metro silver line. Car rentals would make more sense as the battlefields (while close to each other) still would need a dedicated vehicle.

Is that Silver Line new, @Doc_Ralph ? I don't remember that color from the last time I was in DC, but that was probably about 20 years ago.

 

[Cato3rd]

Is that Silver Line new, @Doc_Ralph ? I don't remember that color from the last time I was in DC, but that was probably about 20 years ago.

It's pretty new, last few years they finally got it up and running. They don't use those paper cards anymore for the metro. They've made it pretty easy with a dispensable card that you can load money onto it

 

[Library Lady]

It's pretty new, last few years they finally got it up and running. They don't use those paper cards anymore for the metro. They've made it pretty easy with a dispensable card that you can load money onto it

That sounds kind of like the Ventra card here. As long as you're not limited to an app on your phone, I'm good.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

Is that Silver Line new, @Doc_Ralph ? I don't remember that color from the last time I was in DC, but that was probably about 20 years ago.

Yes it runs straight from the parking lot and merges in Arlington which has two lines running into town. A nice stop would be Arlington National Cemetery altho with luggage it might be a bear. And then on into DC to Union Station. VRE was uncomfortable and not dependable the year we took it from Fred to DC.

 

[Library Lady]

VRE was uncomfortable and not dependable the year we took it from Fred to DC.

I'm not a fan of undependable, but I'll cut them some slack for uncomfortable. Their bi-level cars are just like the ones Metra owns; in fact, some of VRE's cars were Metra cars at one time. I love my train!

 

[Doc_Ralph]

I think Fred would be a good location for a muster as you have lots of battlefields (1 & 2 Fredburg, C'ville, Wilderness, Spotsy CH & Salem Church & Guinea Station. Brandy Station and Cedar Creek are in reach as are all NVA and Richmond. Central Park is the main shopping area and has loads of foods and shops.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

I'm not a fan of undependable, but I'll cut them some slack for uncomfortable. Their bi-level cars are just like the ones Metra owns; in fact, some of VRE's cars were Metra cars at one time. I love my train!

Ugh we had to get up at 3 am to get to work in DC with two small children to get to the sitters and the rest. 18 hour daze. For a year? Not so much. I think they have quiet cars these days instead of the bright lights making napping hard

 

[archieclement]

There's no point in suggesting places if there isn't staff to organize it. It takes legs and time on ground for months to organize everything.

In the past once nail down a couple places that have viable staff, it's voted on them.

So probably should start with people willing to devote time and take responsibility for one in their area, as need someone rather local to run around making arrangements.

 

[Doc_Ralph]

They share the track with CSX freight trains which owns the track and so commercial commerce gets priority. If it was too hot there were speed restrictions which were maddenly slow. Snow on the track also slowed things down. That was a while ago and I haven't been on an American train since. UK trains are different. Oh boy .,. Not only uncomfortable but understandable due to flash train strikes and mechanical issues

 

[Doc_Ralph]

There's no point in suggesting places if there isn't staff to organize it. It takes legs and time on ground for months to organize everything.

In the past once nail down a couple places that have viable staff, it's voted on them.

So probably should start with people willing to devote time and take responsibility for one in their area, as need someone rather local to run around making arrangements.

What time of year are we talking about? I am kinda light with my field hospital first year.