Guys,

It seems that most of the threads around here are started by Ken, Grumpy Dave, or myself. Is there something you'd like to talk about? Civil War battles or generals, clothing and equipment, events, soldier life, or whatever. Anything at all except "My pards and I are the only ones who know how to reenact. Everyone else is a stitch nazi or farb". There are other places where that discussion goes on adinfinitum.

Bill,

But you guys start such good threads. Part of the problem may be that not too many people have found us yet. Also, so much information is available on the AC and Szabos, it's just noce to come over here and discuss some issues as we do tend to avoid the usual shots over the bow of each other so common elsewhere.

I wish there was some way for us to have a folder where we can address the fence sitters. In other words a place where mainstreamers who are progressive can get information without it becoming an us vs. them excretion contest. Perhaps a place where fence sitters and C/P/H folks still interested in missionary work could guide the newbies and dissatisfied.

In regard to the above post, I received the following e-mail the other day and though it was quite interesting.

"I think of the boards sort of like a college:

The Common ground is the undergraduate area where people at all levels are free to discuss the hobby without fear of retribution. Many grad students hang out here to help the new students and perhaps learn a few things themselves.

The AC is for the grad students where research is paramount and the students do not have time to take care of the newbies.

The Civil War Reenactors (Szabos), that's the sports arena where competitions are slug out.

Of course there's the OTB and Hard Case Boys.......... also known as the frat houses. "

What do you folks think?

Quote :

toptimlrd wrote : Bill, I wish there was some way for us to have a folder where we can address the fence sitters. In other words a place where mainstreamers who are progressive can get information without it becoming an us vs. them excretion contest. Perhaps a place where fence sitters and C/P/H folks still interested in missionary work could guide the newbies and dissatisfied.

Hey Bob,

You're talking to the orginial Fence Sitter. Problem is, there's sort of two difinitions of fence sitter. One is your definition, people who are dissatisfied and only need someone's help to jump over to the CPH side of the Hobby. The other is where I fit in. I love the Mainstream events I attend with my cooler, cot and beer. I also love the more authentic events I attend. Frankly, I'm not dissaisfied at all. I figure I've got the best of both worlds. And no, I don't ever sleep with one blanket under the stars at the Mainstream events I attend. I leave that to the "Camplaners".    I can truthfully say I've never attended a reenactment and didn't have a good time. (Except for Neshaminy until about 3:00 PM on Sunday afternoon)  

Quote :

Bill wrote : In regard to the above post, I received the following e-mail the other day and though it was quite interesting. "I think of the boards sort of like a college: The Common ground is the undergraduate area where people at all levels are free to discuss the hobby without fear of retribution. Many grad students hang out here to help the new students and perhaps learn a few things themselves. The AC is for the grad students where research is paramount and the students do not have time to take care of the newbies. The Civil War Reenactors (Szabos), that's the sports arena where competitions are slug out. Of course there's the OTB and Hard Case Boys.......... also known as the frat houses. " What do you folks think?

Bill

I can agree with that assessment.  I tend not to read Szabo's forum that much anymore because I took a 3 or 4 month break from reading there and when I went back the discussions were the same topics just different event names.

I like this forum, because if there is a photo or topic I can lay it out there and get a pretty good set of responses.  Then once I see the types of response I get here, I can lay it out on the AC and present it to a wider audience to see what happens.  

I like the undergrad vs grad idea.  I do more reading on the AC and more posting here.  I think after all the names you listed I am next on the list of posts.

Bill,

Sorry I never did get around to posting that e-mail I sent I'm Ok with sharing I sent it. As to the fence sitter moniker I am right there with you and have the exact same definition; my wife has even been in the same wall tent with little ole Private me in a military camp before . Yet I can throw down a gum blanket, cover up with an Abe Thomas blanket, eat out of my haversack, stand picket duty at oh dark thirty (and have a small patrol still sneak through our lines   ), march all over creation while only shooting a handful of rounds all weekend and have a blast. I'm not at all dissatisfied with mainstream reenacting and I love it too. I just think the 1% on each side that wants to fire 00 buckshot at each other catches the 98% in the cross fire and makes us all look bad. The problem IMHO is there is still the trepidation some in the mainstream feel about trying the C/P/H thing and are afraid to ask questions because of the they are ripped apart.

I'm going to make a post under the C/P/H folder and see what kind of responses we get. If you don't feel it's appropriate then feel free to delete it and my feelings won't be hurt in the least.    

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-04-15 17:33:38 --

Bob,

Guard duty at oh dark thirty? Spent some time in the military did you? Sorry I didn't ask before posting your e-mail to me. You forgot to sign and I didn't recognize the e-mail address. I did think it was worthwhile to post for the group.

Looking forward to your CPH post. Hey, nothing wrong with disagreements. If we all agreed about everything why bother to talk. For me, at least, there's just more interesting things to disagree about then why my event was better than yours. BTW, in your day to day life do you go by Robert, Rob, or Bob?

Greg,

You're right. You are probably number four in the number of threads. We just need about ten or twenty more folks who'll post. Plenty of lurkers out there, who really ought to say something. Nobody will bite them.

Quote :

BTW, in your day to day life do you go by Robert, Rob, or Bob?

Yes to all. Just don't call me late to dinner.  

--Last edited by toptimlrd on 2007-04-15 21:03:53 --

Quote :

toptimlrd wrote : Bill, Sorry I never did get around to posting that e-mail I sent I'm Ok with sharing I sent it. As to the fence sitter moniker I am right there with you and have the exact same definition; my wife has even been in the same wall tent with little ole Private me in a military camp before . Yet I can throw down a gum blanket, cover up with an Abe Thomas blanket, eat out of my haversack, stand picket duty at oh dark thirty (and have a small patrol still sneak through our lines   ), march all over creation while only shooting a handful of rounds all weekend and have a blast. I'm not at all dissatisfied with mainstream reenacting and I love it too. I just think the 1% on each side that wants to fire 00 buckshot at each other catches the 98% in the cross fire and makes us all look bad. The problem IMHO is there is still the trepidation some in the mainstream feel about trying the C/P/H thing and are afraid to ask questions because of the they are ripped apart. I'm going to make a post under the C/P/H folder and see what kind of responses we get. If you don't feel it's appropriate then feel free to delete it and my feelings won't be hurt in the least.

Bob

I have to agree with you here.  

I like the mix of events, because that is what fits with my schedule better.  I enjoy going to some of the mainstream events because they are in "my backyard" type places and so people I know can come and visit.  The youth group I work with at our church comes to watch the Ridley event every September.  It is a neat experience for this 8-12 year old boys and their dads.  It is a chance for them to do something they might not normally go to and to bond.

But at the same time I enjoy the events where I need to strap on my knapsack, fill my haversack and away we disappear into the woods for a weekend.  

--Last edited by lhsnj on 2007-04-16 09:26:13 --

Making folders are easy.  I didn't want to stretch our spectrum too far or too short.  Make suggestions and I will bring it to the moderators for counsil.  I revamped this forum just for the undergraduate types.  I like that term because it does seem to fit.  No bows and arrows here.

Quote :

Ken Cornett wrote : Making folders are easy.  I didn't want to stretch our spectrum too far or too short.  Make suggestions and I will bring it to the moderators for counsil.  I revamped this forum just for the undergraduate types.  I like that term because it does seem to fit.  No bows and arrows here.

Ken,

If you want to make a new folder for my post in CPH, please do it was the most logical place I could think of (either there or the equipment forum but I wanted to make equipment only part of it. I'll even volunteer (oh now I probably shouldn't have said that) to help moderate if necessary.

Hmm, I thinking, I'm thinking... .

Where was the leadership element of a Civil War era regiment assigned for administrative and personnel matters?  Asking that another way, did the Civil War regiment have an equivalent to the modern day army’s “headquarters and headquarters company?”  And yet another way, upon which company’s morning report was the regimental commander placed?  

--Last edited by Curtis Makamson on 2007-04-20 09:42:23 --

I'll throw this question out. Didn't get any replies on two other forums, perhaps the knowledge is here right under my nose.

I'm reading Sabres, Saddles & Spurs, a war time diary by Lt. Col. William R. Carter, late of the 3rd Va. Cavalry. In it, he mentions (in several places) the practice of senior officers, usually regimental commanders, conducting interviews and examinations of soldiers to determine fitness for promotion, usually to officer positions within a company of his regiment upon reccomendation of the regimental commander. As he describes it, at least 3 officers of colonel rank would visit the 3rd Virginia camp, conduct the "exam", and then make a decision as to the man's fitness for the position.

Does anyone have any information as to whether this was a common practice amongst the rest of the army? I would imagine the area's reviewed with the nominee would be of the leadership, drill, and tactics of the era, but this is only speculation unless someone can point me in the right direction.

Mark

Mark,

That's a terrific little book. I wish he'd lived longer and written more, as I enjoy his comments on weather, weapons, and drill.

As a parallel to the rebs version of "volunteer officer exams," check out what the federals did during the war, and you'll see similarities. Those who attended Fort Granger last year noticed such a visit was a major portion of that living history.

Chris asks:

"Asking that another way, did the Civil War regiment have an equivalent to the modern day army’s “headquarters and headquarters company?"

Toss out the HHT, HHB, and HHC concept, and try to work the modern military out of your mind when dealing with the CW version of MTOE and TDA info. One of the best places to start is the opening sequence of most period tactics manuals. The illustrations of regiments and companies along with the text is dry as dust, but well worth understanding. A concept that tends to elude us moderns is the notion of brigades being, as Silas Casey points out, "the unit."  

"And yet another way, upon which company’s morning report was the regimental commander placed?"

Owning a copy of Kautz's The Company Clerk is useful, but for real bargain, try this excellent resource:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?p=56248#post56248post56248

Remember, strength reporting went up the chain of command, too.
 

Quote :

Bill wrote : Guys, It seems that most of the threads around here are started by Ken, Grumpy Dave, or myself. Is there something you'd like to talk about? Civil War battles or generals, clothing and equipment, events, soldier life, or whatever. Anything at all except "My pards and I are the only ones who know how to reenact. Everyone else is a stitch nazi or farb". There are other places where that discussion goes on adinfinitum.

I don't start too many discussions, because I'm so new, I haven't got much to talk about yet.  In the threads I have started (seeking advise and whatnot), I've recieved the very helpful and curtious responses.  I thank you all for that.  I've tried that on other forums, and I get replies like " do a search".  Don't you think I tried that first?!  

Anyhow, after I get to go to a few events I'm sure I'll have more to add.