CWT Muster Stunt 2022

[Rusk County Avengers]

As someone who is famous for acting out and doing a stunt at annual CWT Musters, such as climbing Thayer's Approach in a CS jacket and rain at Vicksburg, wandering off into the distance at Shiloh and disappearing during an excellent tour, this year at Murfreesboro I will be going above and beyond. Instead of me just going off on something random, @ucvrelics @redbob and others have decided in advance what they want to see:

Me crossing Stones River in full kit and uniform where the Orphan Brigade crossed...

Now, thanks to the admirable efforts of a pretty friend, and my promotion to a job several months back that involves half my day swinging a sledgehammer with lots of running, I've been losing a lot of weight and been having to get new reenacting kit anyway, plus needing more loaner gear for new folks trying reenacting, this has been a good time for them to ask, especially after I got to personally examine a Columbus Jacket I've been planning on making one anyway. So, I already see a Columbus Depot Jacket and some more jean trousers.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm cheaping out on this stuff. I foresee Blockade Runner getting some money off me. I've no time to make a new jacket in the next few weeks, plus having a typical reproduction CD jacket to show alongside one or two I may make would be good for local SCV programs. But I got questions on what to expect and do with a jean cloth uniform after going waist to chest deep in cold water!

I've never done it, looking forward to it, but I've no idea what I should expect. Shrinkage from h*ll? I don't really know.

Should I wear them dry? Or what? I'm betting and hoping some others will know.

Also, I'm torn between carying a musket and accoutrements or carrying a replica of the one of the famous Orphan Brigade flags through this historic site. It'll all go up here on CWT I'm sure, so I think it best to leave it up to all y'all what I should do.

Either way, I'll get bragging rights of a kind for future stories around the fire and maintain my reputation as a nutcase.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Pictures of previous CWT stunts:

 

[redbob]

View attachment 451141

As someone who is famous for acting out and doing a stunt at annual CWT Musters, such as climbing Thayer's Approach in a CS jacket and rain at Vicksburg, wandering off into the distance at Shiloh and disappearing during an excellent tour, this year at Murfreesboro I will be going above and beyond. Instead of me just going off on something random, @ucvrelics @redbob and others have decided in advance what they want to see:

Me crossing Stones River in full kit and uniform where the Orphan Brigade crossed...

Now, thanks to the admirable efforts of a pretty friend, and my promotion to a job several months back that involves half my day swinging a sledgehammer with lots of running, I've been losing a lot of weight and been having to get new reenacting kit anyway, plus needing more loaner gear for new folks trying reenacting, this has been a good time for them to ask, especially after I got to personally examine a Columbus Jacket I've been planning on making one anyway. So, I already see a Columbus Depot Jacket and some more jean trousers.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm cheaping out on this stuff. I foresee Blockade Runner getting some money off me. I've no time to make a new jacket in the next few weeks, plus having a typical reproduction CD jacket to show alongside one or two I may make would be good for local SCV programs. But I got questions on what to expect and do with a jean cloth uniform after going waist to chest deep in cold water!

I've never done it, looking forward to it, but I've no idea what I should expect. Shrinkage from h*ll? I don't really know.

Should I wear them dry? Or what? I'm betting and hoping some others will know.

Also, I'm torn between carying a musket and accoutrements or carrying a replica of the one of the famous Orphan Brigade flags through this historic site. It'll all go up here on CWT I'm sure, so I think it best to leave it up to all y'all what I should do.

Either way, I'll get bragging rights of a kind for future stories around the fire and maintain my reputation as a nutcase.

As in the past, your friends will be standing by, not with an AED or snake bite kit; but with life preservers and possibly a lifeboat.
Just like the government, ... Trust us, we're here to help.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

As in the past, your friends will be standing by, not with an AED or snake bite kit; but with life preservers and possibly a lifeboat.
Just like the government, ... Trust us, we're there to help.

I expect I'll be cold, but I reckon I'll do just fine. This seems easy to me, though the possibility of being caught in the middle of a river with a Water Moccasin after me is a little unnerving.

I'd prefer to have a shotgun loaded with buckshot over an unloaded or blank loaded musket any day in that possibility!

That reminds me, are there Water Moccasins in October Tennessee? Or are they just a Deep South menace?

 

[redbob]

I expect I'll be cold, but I expect I'll do just fine. This seems easy to me, though the possibility of being caught in the middle of a river with a Water Moccasin after me is a little unnerving.

I'd prefer to have a shotgun loaded with buckshot over an unloaded or blank loaded musket any day in that possibility!

That reminds me, are there Water Moccasins in October Tennessee? Or are they just a Deep South menace?

Why, yes they are; but don't worry, maybe it will be too cold for them...but don't count on it. I guess that the the snake bite kit is back on. Plus, that part of Tennessee also has some very nice Eastern Diamondbacks.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Also, just remembered an important to me question for @ucvrelics. What type of buttons have been known to be found where the Orphan Brigade was at Murfreesboro?

Might seem mundane to some, but me and my dedication its important.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Why, yes they are; but don't worry, maybe it will be too cold for them...but don't count on it. I guess that the the snake bite kit is back on. Plus, that part of Tennessee also has some very nice Eastern Diamondbacks.

As someone who's shot Water Moccasins in December here in Texas, that's not reassuring in the least!

Also, Eastern Diamondbacks! There are many reasons why we Texans have eradicated those s.o.b'.s here in the Ark-La-Tex. They get big!

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I foresee the need for me to examine this site Friday morning before the festivities start with a garden hoe. I think a clear path to and from the crossing would be a good idea to deter snakes.

They're not fond of open spaces that are new.

This country boy knows how to handle snakes!

 

[archieclement]

Reminds me of a sign at a local watering hole.....

A friend helps you up when you fall......
A good friend is too busy laughing their *** off.

 

[John Hartwell]

I don't know the locale, but it may be wise to check ahead to make sure you're not going to be arrested for trying it.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I don't know the locale, but it may be wise to check ahead to make sure you're not going to be arrested for trying it.

Near as I can tell by discussions, that's been taken care of.

Now, if this is all a convoluted Alabamian plot and I am arrested, that ought to make for an interesting mug shot.

I can see the Tennessee newspaper headline now: "Texan in Confederate Uniform Arrested for Armed Criminal Trespassing, Blames Alabamians for His Actions"

 

[bdtex]

I went down to look at the creek across Thayer's Approach and a squad followed me.

 

[Mrs. V]

I would not worry so much about shrinkage…of the clothes. Wool can get wet. And it can be cleaned too..Fels Naptha for the win..just, please, please just air dry them. Do not sit by the fire, do not hang them by the fire while off your body..just them them dry naturally..it might take a day or three…you can hang them out of the sun and let the breeze dry them.

As for the snakes…well, you are on your own there, but I hear they are tasty roasted over an open fire..

 

[dlofting]

Take a good look at the site first. My rule of thumb is that you can cross or walk in shoulder deep water if it's moving slowly, nothing above the knees if it's fast.

I live in an area where some streams can be crossed easily at certain times of the year, but will drown you at other times, regardless of how good a swimmer you are.

The other thing is are you wearing anything that may pull you under if it gets wet...good luck.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I would not worry so much about shrinkage…of the clothes. Wool can get wet. And it can be cleaned too..Fels Naptha for the win..just, please, please just air dry them. Do not sit by the fire, do not hang them by the fire while off your body..just them them dry naturally..it might take a day or three…you can hang them out of the sun and let the breeze dry them.

As for the snakes…well, you are on your own there, but I hear they are tasty roasted over an open fire..

Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for!

Though I won't be in straight wool, but wool-cotton jean. Also, I highly doubt there will be a fire of any kind. And for air drying I have a feeling it'll be me in the back of a truck...

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Take a good look at the site first. My rule of thumb is that you can cross or walk in shoulder deep water if it's moving slowly, nothing above the knees if it's fast.

I live in an area where some streams can be crossed easily at certain times of the year, but will drown you at other times, regardless of how good a swimmer you are.

The other thing is are you wearing anything that may pull you under if it gets wet...good luck.

Going by all the photos of Stones River, it heavily reminds me of the Sabine and other rivers here in NE Texas. Should be just as easy to cross, provided there's been no heavy rain.

As for stuff pulling down, I really hate it, but past experiences tells me I'd be better off doing this barefoot due to how easily shoes of any kind drag one down. Unless there's rocks in the river bottom, or dangerous under water fauna...

Snakes going near the bottom could be an issue from h*ll, but given how far North it is for the South, possible cooler temps, I imagine most snakes still out and about would be towards the surface or on the shore to keep warmer.

But I'm told the spot rarely goes above waist level, so I may be overthinking it.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I need some more fellow reenactors in on this discussion, @7thWisconsin @captaindrew @Yankee Brooke any of y'all got experience with river crossings in full kit?

 

[7thWisconsin]

Well, not in my reenacting kit, but I´ve waded many a swamp in fatigues and ALICE gear. That might have been one of the reasons I became armor (¨jine the cavalry, they said¨) I would recommend wearing as light a gear order as you can. You don´t want to be wearing anything that will snag or hold you down if you fall in while crossing. I´d carry the flag if that´s possible. It would really stand for the soldiers who did it the first time. I would bring a change of clothes. Wet + cold = hypothermia. So I´d change as soon as possible after crossing. If you lay your clothing out, or let it hang dry slowly, it should actually be fine. I´ve been soaked to the skin by rain and let my uniforms air dry without ill effect.

 

[redbob]

Going by all the photos of Stones River, it heavily reminds me of the Sabine and other rivers here in NE Texas. Should be just as easy to cross, provided there's been no heavy rain.

As for stuff pulling down, I really hate it, but past experiences tells me I'd be better off doing this barefoot due to how easily shoes of any kind drag one down. Unless there's rocks in the river bottom, or dangerous under water fauna...

Snakes going near the bottom could be an issue from h*ll, but given how far North it is for the South, possible cooler temps, I imagine most snakes still out and about would be towards the surface or on the shore to keep warmer.

But I'm told the spot rarely goes above waist level, so I may be overthinking it.

It is named Stone's River and it does live up to it's name.

 

[redbob]

It is named Stone's River and it does live up to it's name.

Also, keep in mind that I am way past my prime when it comes to water rescues.