CWT Muster Stunt 2022

[UCVRelics]

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!

There is an asphalt trail head that goes all the way to the river.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

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

We got @ucvrelics for that.

I've already thought to bring some James Pepper whiskey and Sam Adams to give him courage.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

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.

I've done it as well at work and on hunts, but like you not in CW kit. It's gonna be a new experience I reckon I'll relish till I hate it. And a change in cloths is the good route, me and pneumonia don't get along well. I've gotten pretty near soaked at events, but I wasn't sure about a full immersion.

I really like the idea of the flag with that line of thought. I hadn't thought of it that way, but it really does give method to the madness! An honorable one at that. It'll also make the flag used a prize of sorts; a 4th KY flag it shall be less someone has a better idea.

Maybe I'll get and carry a couple extra waterproof packaged flags in a bedroll for souvenirs to those present who would relish having such a thing.

 

[captaindrew]

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?

I'll be doing one this weekend in Sharpsburg, we've been told our crossing was about knee deep as of a couple weeks ago. I've done a few similar type crossings, knee deep or less. Dry socks are a must, the rest will dry out pretty quick.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

There is an asphalt trail head that goes all the way to the river.
View attachment 451170

Well, thanks to that, and handy dandy Google pictures of the river at that spot, I THINK YOU TWO OLD FARTS ARE TRYING TO KILL ME!!!!!!

I can't wait!!!

The river here:

McFadden's Farm - Google Maps

 

[redbob]

Well, thanks to that, and handy dandy Google pictures of the river at that spot, I THINK YOU TWO OLD FARTS ARE TRYING TO KILL ME!!!!!!

I can't wait!!!

The river here:

McFadden's Farm - Google Maps

Which two old farts, your fan club is much larger than that...

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Which two old farts, your fan club is much larger than that...

It is a very large fan club...

But no, I be referring to you and ucv. Y'all's idea, y'all's plot.

I look forward to it.

 

[redbob]

It is a very large fan club...

But no, I be referring to you and ucv. Y'all's idea, y'all's plot.

I look forward to it.

Not me, I'm just in charge of medical evac.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Not me, I'm just in charge of medical evac.

It better be a top shelf medical evac.

As you said, I have a fan club.

 

[redbob]

It better be a top shelf medical evac.

As you said, I have a fan club.

I already have the landing spot staked out.

 

[Old Breck]

Except the Orphans didn't cross the river.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Except the Orphans didn't cross the river.

And then there's this guy...

 

[Ole Miss]

Michael as always we stand in awe of your lack of awarness and indifferance to your health! The life of a sportsman such as your self is bright but often not long!
So by all means bring your best kit and caboodle so you can shine when emerging from your crossing!
The only snake around that area in Octobe is the Yocona Puff Adder!
Regards
David

 

[redbob]

This is gonna be good, here in the Deep South, something like this is usually preceded by the phrase "Hold my beer and watch this" followed shortly by the sounds of sirens.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Michael as always we stand in awe of your lack of awarness and indifferance to your health! The life of a sportsman such as your self is bright but often not long!
So by all means bring your best kit and caboodle so you can shine when emerging from your crossing!
The only snake around that area in Octobe is the Yocona Puff Adder!
Regards
David

The Yoco-what?! I've no clue what that is but it don't sound good.

As to my health, I got a lecture on that the other day. Been getting lectured quite often since the workplace nurses said I got high-blood pressure, but I don't reckon its hard to figure out my responses to the lectures. My usual reply is to not worry as I'll still be around 100 years from now, and still doing my thing after they're gone.

Last lecture went something like this:
"Michael, you need to start going to the doctor, especially at your age and your smoking!"

"Oh, I'll be fine."

"Mr. ---- never went to the doctor, and now he has terminal cancer! I don't want that to happen to you!"

"He was given 2 months to live 8 months ago, I'm pretty sure I'll be fine."

 

[Ole Miss]

Michael you would be one of those my mom would call "God's special ones" that are just a little not quite right but we love you anyway as you are not one for change.
I don't think you can help being a half bubble off being plumb and I believe I will buy you a Roast Beef sandwhich for lunch just to keep your strength up!
Regards
David

 

[UCVRelics]

"God's special ones"

Bless his heart Run Forrest

 

[DixieRifles]

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.

Remember, private, the objective is to cross the river(not in freezing conditions) and have your weapon ready to fight.
Keep your powder—and your rifle— dry.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Michael you would be one of those my mom would call "God's special ones" that are just a little not quite right but we love you anyway as you are not one for change.
I don't think you can help being a half bubble off being plumb and I believe I will buy you a Roast Beef sandwhich for lunch just to keep your strength up!
Regards
David

I appreciate that lunch, but as I've tried saying I'm not an eater like I was. While I ain't gotten near a scale and just been measuring the absence of inches, going by that and to quote a friend of mine when I saw him a few weeks ago after several months, "Holy sh*t Mike you've lost at least 40 pounds!" and that's probably 60 to 70 since Shiloh. I literally don't get hungry for lunches, a nice breakfast and maybe a snack or something small for supper and I'm about ready to burst. And if I eat a lot one day, I literally don't get hungry for two days. Heck, besides the very physically demanding job, I also got a girl who's done put me to lifting weights, and since last week convinced me to stop smoking. (We're still working on that last one, lots of bs to put up with at work and home, and she is the keeper of the cigs and determines when I may smoke till I'm in the clear.)

I expect to shed another dozen pounds or build more muscle before the muster.

So see, I can change. To a degree! My mind, stubbornness, need for thrill seeking, or otherwise raising h*ll and causing chaos? Not so much...

Going by the pictures of the river there, I think I'm good. I'm already back to my high school weight and size, and stronger than I was then, and back then this would've been no issue. And I've accomplished this before my 33rd birthday. My first Confederate jacket for reenacting I got at age 15 fits me again.

I didn't plan on so much detail bout my goings on, but hintin and surprising ain't seemed to work!

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Remember, private, the objective is to cross the river(not in freezing conditions) and have your weapon ready to fight.
Keep your powder—and your rifle— dry.

I think its going to be colors to be kept dry. I really like the idea of honoring the men who tried to cross that river that way. Also bedroll or knapsack, accoutrements, those will need to be kept dry.

Also, I'm technically a Sergeant in one unit. I'm still debating putting stripes on a Columbus jacket for this.