Heading out to the CWMuster in Jackson, MI

[Michael Condon]

Yes got the wife and kids for this event. Just going to spectate, so thanks to the guys that will give a us a good show!

 

[Copperhead-mi]

You should have an excellent day with the weather being sunny and in the 70's. Enjoy! As for me, I'm headed out fishing.

 

[jenkingish]

I went with my family. My boys and my four year old daughter fell in love with the artillery guns. I kind of figured they would. A couple of the members could see their obvious excitment for all things that go boom, and asked if we considered joining the battery. I don't know, I'll have to look into this further.

Did you happen to see the guy who left in his eyebrow piercings and nose rings?

 

[BJ_BOBBI_JO]

I had a good time at Jackson. This was my 1st year there. We were one of the campsites that had to move away from our tent while they cut the tree down but that was no big deal.

I have never saw any other event, not even manassas, have as many venders/sulters. I was amazed at the amount of sutlers, food venders, farmers market booths and flea market booths. The port a potties were cleaned often and actually tolerable compared to many other events Ive been to.

That one smoke ring from the cannon night fire was so neat the way it lasted for a long time.

I loved the horse with 1 eye. It carried a since of respect about it.

I guess the only thing I didnt like was how Jackson wont pay powder bountry for certain cannons. This is unfortunate because I know of some dedicated artillary guys who would have been of value to this event.

But other then that I dont have any negitives to say about the Jackson event. But I did hear some of the guys after the battle complaining about how the battle played out on both days. But from the spectator aspect it didnt look bad other then the one time where both sides stood right smack in front of eachother pointing their guns in the air as if they were duck hunting. It seemed silly because here they were so close together and hardly anyone was falling over dead. But other then that is was good Im not complaining.

 

[deleson1]

Battles like that is one of the reasons i quit reenacting, something that was my life for 10 years. It makes a mockery of the soldiers who actually fought. Reenacting will always be like this until the reenactors quit gripping among themselves as you stated and take a stand with commanding officers who order this nonsense. You want me to stand 20 yards apart and fire in the air. Fine, we will fire our guns once and everbody fall down immediately. This would only have to happen once and I bet that commander would never do it again. Just a honest observation from someone who did this, done that.

 

[1stSgt E]

Hell, the one time I was there, the commanders were marching them whithin 20 yds or so of my loaded cannon!

 

[deleson1]

Hell, the one time I was there, the commanders were marching them whithin 20 yds or so of my loaded cannon!

I hope the commanders of civil war reenactments are not the ones criticizing civil war generals. Twenty yards apart in a open field, there would be about 4 volleys fired and the casaulties would have been so high both sides could no longer fight.

 

[Michael Condon]

hahah yea, i know it is for the saftey aspect for pointing high

 

[deleson1]

hahah yea, i know it is for the saftey aspect for pointing high

Then why do it. Stay 50 yards apart, a more accurate distance, and do battle. Everyone in the crowd laughs about it and it devalues some hard work by some dedicated reenactors. It just blows my mind how people think shooting from straight lines at 20 yards was the way it was done. At least 4 1/2 million rounds were fired at Gettsburg by the union themselves, plus Hunt said they fired over 32,000 artilliery shells.

 

[Fifer]

I've been involoved with the Jackson event for years. First of all, it's in a county park and the battlefield area is not all that big to start with. What it lacks in authenticity it makes up for in a great visual event for spectators. Secondly, the park is currrenty under reconstruction which reduced the size of the battlefield this year even more. It will be fully restored next year.

There's a lot more to a reenactment event than just the recreated battle. Jackson has the best Saturday night dance I've ever been to. The ruffwater string band is the best 19th century dance band in the nation. It has the best civilian participation I've ever seen. The special impressions area recreates 19th century living history in small towns like no other event I've ever been to. They always excellent church services on Sunday morning. Wood, water, straw, and hay are plentyful and close at hand, and that does make a difference. Cars parking is close. Getting in and out, setting up and taking down are quick and easy, and that also makes a big big difference. In those aspects Jackson is second to none.

 

[Michael Condon]

Then why do it. Stay 50 yards apart, a more accurate distance, and do battle. Everyone in the crowd laughs about it and it devalues some hard work by some dedicated reenactors. It just blows my mind how people think shooting from straight lines at 20 yards was the way it was done. At least 4 1/2 million rounds were fired at Gettsburg by the union themselves, plus Hunt said they fired over 32,000 artilliery shells.

Yea I hear you man. Well most of the people come for the sounds not to evaluate tactics for reenactors. Also I dont think it devalues anything. Alot of the reenactors are there to camp out and BS with others and chat with the spectators. LoL and to think of having cannons unlimbered 300 yards away from each other.

PS: They do it because one reenactor got killed from a ramrod (hence no loading with it). That was about 15 years back I believe...all about saftey.

 

[firefite44]

if they all marched out and stood at 20 yds and fired, would the battle not be over in like 2-3 mins? I usually like to keep my men at 50 yds and still even have them take hits, either wounds or dead as that would be accurate. The thing that frustrates me is that you get the enemy bearing down on you and are in a company formation and they march at us close to 30 yds and none of them fall in a volley? Now that is unbelieveable that none took hits when you have them in your sights and that close together.

I understand battles need to last for a certain time length, but get wounded if it is clear you would be, get drug off, and re-form and come back out if numbers are that low.

 

[Poor Private]

I was there for the whole weekend ( I actually arrived at 10am Friday). And the tree cutting in the civilian area was just behind my tent row. What we were doing was the battle of Big Bethal- take a minute and go see how many died in the real battle. The reason there was a big prgnant pause in the middle of the battle on the spectators left was do to a glich in the battle. The Yankees pushed to fast and pushed the IGB into the cannon line, we refused to fire in that location. WE were stuck between the cannon and the limbers for a few minutes until they could figure out how to rectify the situation, eventually it was straightened out.-- Sundays battle was alot smoother. The IGB wing commander ran the 4th companys' buts off. We ran to the left to rufuse the line to union cav., then had to return to our position in the line and refuse the right from a company of yankees. Our company was a composite company we included the 14th SC, 12thSC, 11th Mo. We had the command staff from the Stonewall Brigade fall in with us for the weekend a Col., a Capt. became privates, Gen. Jackson was our 2nd sarg. A major with the Brigade was our company commander. So if anyone ever tells you that the officers don't ever fall in as privates-well they are wrong, these fellers did. Sundays battle, is one I will remeber for a while, they ran our companys butt off. What a change from standing 50yds away from each other just exchanging powder. No rain for a change at Jackson, though at night it became 2 blanket temperature. Altogether it was one of the more enjoyable Jackson Weekends.

 

[bccowboy67]

well this time we were forced right in front of one and the they were hot,no choice when the other side wants to make up their own battle plan.it was a stupid battle and i felt sorry for those who came to watch it.

 

[Captain Fossil]

well this time we were forced right in front of one and the they were hot,no choice when the other side wants to make up their own battle plan.it was a stupid battle and i felt sorry for those who came to watch it.

Get use to it. That Federal battalion seems to do it at nearly every event they are at that I am at. They seem to advance too quickly or prematurely and the Confederates wind up face to face with them and no where to go - and in most all cases against the scenerio. And in a lot of cases there are times they will just right about face and walk away. They did something very similar at Manassas this year when we faced them.

So, get use to it if you reenact in Indiana / Michigan area 'cause in my reenacting history here it has been the constant and most of us realize it isn't going to change and now we comment about it in jest in quiet resignation.

 

[deleson1]

Get use to it. That Federal battalion seems to do it at nearly every event they are at that I am at. They seem to advance too quickly or prematurely and the Confederates wind up face to face with them and no where to go - and in most all cases against the scenerio. And in a lot of cases there are times they will just right about face and walk away. They did something very similar at Manassas this year when we faced them.

So, get use to it if you reenact in Indiana / Michigan area 'cause in my reenacting history here it has been the constant and most of us realize it isn't going to change and now we comment about it in jest in quiet resignation.

I just don't understand why you feel you have to take it and "get use to it". Why play the game? If it gets totally out of whack, which you say happens at every event, take a mass hit as a company as a protest and let everyone know thats what you did and why. If it catches on, and it would, commanders will think twice about doing it. These guys think they are gods, know everything, everyone else is always wrong. Reenacting has alot of good things going for it but until units take a stand you will never see different results. Isnt that the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

 

[1stSgt E]

Get use to it. That Federal battalion seems to do it at nearly every event they are at that I am at. They seem to advance too quickly or prematurely and the Confederates wind up face to face with them and no where to go - and in most all cases against the scenerio. And in a lot of cases there are times they will just right about face and walk away. They did something very similar at Manassas this year when we faced them.

So, get use to it if you reenact in Indiana / Michigan area 'cause in my reenacting history here it has been the constant and most of us realize it isn't going to change and now we comment about it in jest in quiet resignation.

Yup, sounds like typical Shackelford ...

 

[Poor Private]

Now that you let the cat out of the bag Eric- yep it's Shack daddy. Of course everybody in the midwest knew who was being talked about. Eric you coming to Holland next week?

 

[1stSgt E]

Now that you let the cat out of the bag Eric- yep it's Shack daddy. Of course everybody in the midwest knew who was being talked about. Eric you coming to Holland next week?

No, my next one is Hartford City. Just started a new job & time off is scarce.