BJ_BOBBI_JO
Private
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2011
- Location
- Indiana
1st off I want to ask about the rumor of 2 re-enactors dying from heat related issues. How true is this? One man said one of the deaths was from a man camping next to him. Anyone know about any of this?
I realize we will all have different feelings and thoughts about this event and that no one is 100% correct or wrong. It all depends on what, where, how and alll that stuff. Maybe we can give our feelings on how it went without bashing on eachothers feelings about it.
How did it go for you?
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I can only tell how it went from my eyes so here it goes:
THE GOOD:
-the firemen, emt, ect did a great job tending to the heat related sickness.
-the soldiers had free water passed out to them in the battlefield and ice.
-There was plenty of port a potties, sulters and food venders.
-even though this was the manassas 1 it was fought on the land manassass 2 was on. So it had neat history
-There was tons of spectators.
-there were misting stations and a large air conditioned cooling medical tent that received much useage. The medical staff/firemen worked their tales off in there helping many many re-enactors and some spectators.
-some other re-enactors found a creek (not on state park land so they didnt get chases off) way at the back and many went into that nice cool creek to cool down. Some of the re-enactors tried keeping it secret cause they didnt wantg to share it. So me and others spread the word that it was there so others could cool down. It was literally a life threatening thign to be in that heat, people needed to cool down!
-the fire wood was nice and dry and seasoned.
-in the morning we were woke up at a little past 5am by drums and trumpets. And even though it was some annoying to be loudly woke up it was neat to hear it and picture what it was like to be a real CW soldier back then.
THE BAD:
-the horrid triple diget heat and high humidity.
-the very long distances to walk to get water and to the port-a-potties (depending on where your encampment was)
-depending on where your encampment was the water was undrinkable due to it literally coming out of the thing hot. I was told the water way way way up front was not hot though. For us in the very back it was hot enough to make coffee with and to make it worse the health department made it be chemical infested. That was our only drinking water, hot chemical infested water that we had to walk close to a 3/4 a mile to get to.
-due to the long distances of having to get and carry water in triple diget heat one of the re-enactors went and bought a long garden hose and hooked it up to our only water source in the back, which was hot, and put a water station closer to the folks in the back. That helped because we didnt need to walk so far.
-We in the far back had to walk almost just as far to the port a potties. Some of the re-enactors got so fed up they loaded 2 of the port-a-potties in the back of a pick up truck and took them to the back and that helped out a lot.
-The calvery in the back only had access to that horrid hot checmial infested water for their horses. The General re-enactor who bought the hose was helpful to those calvery cause carrying enough water to water those horses was awful and it was too hot to walk the horses out of the woods in the blistering sun to go drink hot water.
-The specators could hardly stand walking due to the heat understandably. There needed to be a shuttle, like at all the other events Ive been to, to shuttle them around to see the encampments.
-there wasnt enough room for everyone to bring their flys. So there wasnt enough shade. So understandably ppl went into the woods and laid on posion ivy infested grounds.
-a group of re-enactors in the woods found a pond/ creek simming hole type of thign and went swimming to cool off. They got chased out because it was state park land.(this was not the same as the other creek that ppl laid in to cool off)
-they had a lot of canopy tents for shade for the handicapped which is a nice thing to do, but the problem was they put the shade tents back and had spectators walking and standing in front of the handicapped tents and other tents. Those stuck in wheel chairs could not see the battle because of this. One handicapped women loudly asked ppl to please sit on the ground or move so she could see the battle. Hardly anyone would listen. She then started begging for ppl to please move and not stop standing right in front of her so she could see the battle. PPl looked at her then ingored her! I couldnt believe ppl would be so hartless and cruel! I thought southern culture was more freindly then that! Those ppl would not listen to the handicapped lady or anyone else. Those who could not see the battle paid $27 to see butts and the backs of heads of those standing in front of their wheelchairs, walkers and chairs.
-The only ice we camping re-enactors had was part metled bags of ice that cost $4. They would bring the ice back in wagons/4 wheelers/trucks which was nice. But by the time it got back to the back the bags were partly melting and we still had to pay $4 a bag.
-many many re-enactors (maybe half) packed up and left saturday night due to the heat and poor treatment. And my family and I was one of them. I wasnt goign to expose my kids tot hat one more day and make them keep drinking nasty hot chemcial water.
-some re-enactors got taken to the hospital due to the heat.
-some companies got to fight and enjoy doing the battle and others got to endlessly be marched around for 4 hours in the hot blazing sun only getting to shoot a few times.
-We stood in the heat for 1 1/2 hours just watching the tropps be marched around while the cannons occassionaly shot off. Finally the battle took place but by then many had got bored and left to go see whatever there was to see.
-the spectators were trapped there all day in that heat cause they couldnt drive to the event due to a lack of parking space. They were shuttled in a bus. That is fine but the problem was that they couldnt leave and were stuck in the heat. The venders (not all I guess) of course charged high prices for drinks.
-many of the men said the heat in the battle was bad but what got them the most was the long long walk back to their encampment in that sun in the 105 degrees temp on Saturday. They were laying on the ground panting all over the place.Some asked the ice drivers and security 4 wheelers for rides to their encampment cause they were over heating. NO rides allowed unless it was to go to the medical tent.
-You'd think that since the re-enactment and actual battle was in Virgina that they'd reconize the Virgina companies. But oh no the one big Virgina group had to pretent to portray a Georgia group instead of portraying Virgina. Made no since. All the other events Ive been to they always give reconition to the groups who portray their state and local area. Made no since at all and was kind of a slap in the face to those men who fought and died in the Virgina regiments back then.
-we re-enactors had to actually pay to be there and drink hot chemcial water. Ive never had to pay to be a reenactor. I dont know if they gave powder bounties or not? Maybe they did I dunno but no one around seemed to have gotten any.
---------------------------------
But there was fun times too as always and many good re-enactors. The rules were that re-enactors could not bring their vehicles into camp until Sunday afternoon to pack up. Many flipped out on the event planners and demanded access to their cars and the gate opened for their cars to come in so they could pack up and go. Finally this was allowed. Ppl knew their limits and knew they could not take another day of triple diget temps drinking hot water and little shade.
This is the 1st event that did not offer a meal for the re-enactors but considering the amount of us I can understand why they didnt. All the other events have not been for prophet and have been to show history to ppl. This event did not come across like that.
Saturday after the battle and the horrid long walk back to our campsites many ppl got out of charactor and got into cooler clothing. It was a matter of survival at that point. If anye vent planners had barked about them being out of charater while spectators where still there I think there would have been a real war cause tempers were flarred and ppl were at the point of not caring and just needing to survive. Infact a few re-enactors did scream and yell at the event planners as did some spectators aboutt he conditions.
The cooling medical tent had ppl of all ages and walks of life suffering. You couldnt drink enough water and stay in enough shade to prevent the heat sickness. It was impossible to not be effected in some way.
It makes me respect the smaller re-enactments more. At those we dont have to pay to be there, we get powder bounties, we get drinkable water and free meal(s), we get good treatment and the crowd loves the exciting battles and re-enacting.
Many re-eanctors said they have never been treated this bad at any event. Nor have they ever had to partake in such a crappy battle. Although day 2's battle was way better from the way ppl talk.
I hope the 150th Shiloh will be better! I dont blame the event planners. It isnt their fault we had triple diget temps. I believe they worked hard and did their best and I thank them for their work. They did what they could, but thigns must not have been fully thought and planned out. Although I hear this event was better then some of the other manassas events in the past.
I realize we will all have different feelings and thoughts about this event and that no one is 100% correct or wrong. It all depends on what, where, how and alll that stuff. Maybe we can give our feelings on how it went without bashing on eachothers feelings about it.
How did it go for you?
------------------------------------------
I can only tell how it went from my eyes so here it goes:
THE GOOD:
-the firemen, emt, ect did a great job tending to the heat related sickness.
-the soldiers had free water passed out to them in the battlefield and ice.
-There was plenty of port a potties, sulters and food venders.
-even though this was the manassas 1 it was fought on the land manassass 2 was on. So it had neat history
-There was tons of spectators.
-there were misting stations and a large air conditioned cooling medical tent that received much useage. The medical staff/firemen worked their tales off in there helping many many re-enactors and some spectators.
-some other re-enactors found a creek (not on state park land so they didnt get chases off) way at the back and many went into that nice cool creek to cool down. Some of the re-enactors tried keeping it secret cause they didnt wantg to share it. So me and others spread the word that it was there so others could cool down. It was literally a life threatening thign to be in that heat, people needed to cool down!
-the fire wood was nice and dry and seasoned.
-in the morning we were woke up at a little past 5am by drums and trumpets. And even though it was some annoying to be loudly woke up it was neat to hear it and picture what it was like to be a real CW soldier back then.
THE BAD:
-the horrid triple diget heat and high humidity.
-the very long distances to walk to get water and to the port-a-potties (depending on where your encampment was)
-depending on where your encampment was the water was undrinkable due to it literally coming out of the thing hot. I was told the water way way way up front was not hot though. For us in the very back it was hot enough to make coffee with and to make it worse the health department made it be chemical infested. That was our only drinking water, hot chemical infested water that we had to walk close to a 3/4 a mile to get to.
-due to the long distances of having to get and carry water in triple diget heat one of the re-enactors went and bought a long garden hose and hooked it up to our only water source in the back, which was hot, and put a water station closer to the folks in the back. That helped because we didnt need to walk so far.
-We in the far back had to walk almost just as far to the port a potties. Some of the re-enactors got so fed up they loaded 2 of the port-a-potties in the back of a pick up truck and took them to the back and that helped out a lot.
-The calvery in the back only had access to that horrid hot checmial infested water for their horses. The General re-enactor who bought the hose was helpful to those calvery cause carrying enough water to water those horses was awful and it was too hot to walk the horses out of the woods in the blistering sun to go drink hot water.
-The specators could hardly stand walking due to the heat understandably. There needed to be a shuttle, like at all the other events Ive been to, to shuttle them around to see the encampments.
-there wasnt enough room for everyone to bring their flys. So there wasnt enough shade. So understandably ppl went into the woods and laid on posion ivy infested grounds.
-a group of re-enactors in the woods found a pond/ creek simming hole type of thign and went swimming to cool off. They got chased out because it was state park land.(this was not the same as the other creek that ppl laid in to cool off)
-they had a lot of canopy tents for shade for the handicapped which is a nice thing to do, but the problem was they put the shade tents back and had spectators walking and standing in front of the handicapped tents and other tents. Those stuck in wheel chairs could not see the battle because of this. One handicapped women loudly asked ppl to please sit on the ground or move so she could see the battle. Hardly anyone would listen. She then started begging for ppl to please move and not stop standing right in front of her so she could see the battle. PPl looked at her then ingored her! I couldnt believe ppl would be so hartless and cruel! I thought southern culture was more freindly then that! Those ppl would not listen to the handicapped lady or anyone else. Those who could not see the battle paid $27 to see butts and the backs of heads of those standing in front of their wheelchairs, walkers and chairs.
-The only ice we camping re-enactors had was part metled bags of ice that cost $4. They would bring the ice back in wagons/4 wheelers/trucks which was nice. But by the time it got back to the back the bags were partly melting and we still had to pay $4 a bag.
-many many re-enactors (maybe half) packed up and left saturday night due to the heat and poor treatment. And my family and I was one of them. I wasnt goign to expose my kids tot hat one more day and make them keep drinking nasty hot chemcial water.
-some re-enactors got taken to the hospital due to the heat.
-some companies got to fight and enjoy doing the battle and others got to endlessly be marched around for 4 hours in the hot blazing sun only getting to shoot a few times.
-We stood in the heat for 1 1/2 hours just watching the tropps be marched around while the cannons occassionaly shot off. Finally the battle took place but by then many had got bored and left to go see whatever there was to see.
-the spectators were trapped there all day in that heat cause they couldnt drive to the event due to a lack of parking space. They were shuttled in a bus. That is fine but the problem was that they couldnt leave and were stuck in the heat. The venders (not all I guess) of course charged high prices for drinks.
-many of the men said the heat in the battle was bad but what got them the most was the long long walk back to their encampment in that sun in the 105 degrees temp on Saturday. They were laying on the ground panting all over the place.Some asked the ice drivers and security 4 wheelers for rides to their encampment cause they were over heating. NO rides allowed unless it was to go to the medical tent.
-You'd think that since the re-enactment and actual battle was in Virgina that they'd reconize the Virgina companies. But oh no the one big Virgina group had to pretent to portray a Georgia group instead of portraying Virgina. Made no since. All the other events Ive been to they always give reconition to the groups who portray their state and local area. Made no since at all and was kind of a slap in the face to those men who fought and died in the Virgina regiments back then.
-we re-enactors had to actually pay to be there and drink hot chemcial water. Ive never had to pay to be a reenactor. I dont know if they gave powder bounties or not? Maybe they did I dunno but no one around seemed to have gotten any.
---------------------------------
But there was fun times too as always and many good re-enactors. The rules were that re-enactors could not bring their vehicles into camp until Sunday afternoon to pack up. Many flipped out on the event planners and demanded access to their cars and the gate opened for their cars to come in so they could pack up and go. Finally this was allowed. Ppl knew their limits and knew they could not take another day of triple diget temps drinking hot water and little shade.
This is the 1st event that did not offer a meal for the re-enactors but considering the amount of us I can understand why they didnt. All the other events have not been for prophet and have been to show history to ppl. This event did not come across like that.
Saturday after the battle and the horrid long walk back to our campsites many ppl got out of charactor and got into cooler clothing. It was a matter of survival at that point. If anye vent planners had barked about them being out of charater while spectators where still there I think there would have been a real war cause tempers were flarred and ppl were at the point of not caring and just needing to survive. Infact a few re-enactors did scream and yell at the event planners as did some spectators aboutt he conditions.
The cooling medical tent had ppl of all ages and walks of life suffering. You couldnt drink enough water and stay in enough shade to prevent the heat sickness. It was impossible to not be effected in some way.
It makes me respect the smaller re-enactments more. At those we dont have to pay to be there, we get powder bounties, we get drinkable water and free meal(s), we get good treatment and the crowd loves the exciting battles and re-enacting.
Many re-eanctors said they have never been treated this bad at any event. Nor have they ever had to partake in such a crappy battle. Although day 2's battle was way better from the way ppl talk.
I hope the 150th Shiloh will be better! I dont blame the event planners. It isnt their fault we had triple diget temps. I believe they worked hard and did their best and I thank them for their work. They did what they could, but thigns must not have been fully thought and planned out. Although I hear this event was better then some of the other manassas events in the past.