Over on the cw-reenactors forum, RJ Samp suggested that one specialty impression that was always needed, was an officer's cook/servant.

Coincidentally, I've been thinking it would be fun to attend closer events in a functional role, but I'll just never be happy as an infantry private carrying a musket.

So, is it true? Are officers always short of cooks/servants even at small local events? I know a lot of Ohio reenactors hang out here, so thought I'd ask.

Is your Ohio unit, or some unit you know, in need of a private to cook (or help cook) three meals a day for its officers, appropriate to the historic scenario? Or do the officers generally already have enough cooks and/or prefer other arrangements for food?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Hank, I recently had an extended conversation with a gentleman about cooks for AHT--and the fact that he was short handed and needed to put on an officer's mess.  

I quized him a bit about what he really wanted--was the plan for a true officers mess, or was the need simply to slop maters and peas on a plate and slam it in front of them, on track, on time, and keep these fellers working for the good of the event instead of trying to feed themselves.  I think of this as a 'logistical mess'--food soley for the sake of time, but done period.  Gerry Barker termed this type of cooking " running the wagoneers camp"--hot coffee, 24/7, hot food within 15 minutes of when the wagoneers pull in.  

The man in question knew that he had no one available to do the serving required for a true 'dining-in', and the real need was maters and peas on a plate.  

I do an awful lot of small festivals--and the absence of an officer's cook is evident--normally these guys are eating with the men if they are lucky, or doing without simply because they have no time.  

And, there is an additional kindness in this mix--while I'm certainly not the correct gender to do such, I often find myself carrying a plate for some commander or another who needs to eat a certain diet,(heart, diabetic) at a certain time.   It makes the difference of keeping this sort of commander in the field.  

Training the officer to rely on this sort of servant is another matter, and will take the right combination of folks.  Once or twice, I've seen someone combine this role with that of body servant to an officer--polishing shoes, buttons, brushing uniforms, stuffing bed ticks and the like.  

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Spinster wrote : I quized him a bit about what he really wanted--was the plan for a true officers mess, or was the need simply to slop maters and peas on a plate and slam it in front of them, on track, on time, and keep these fellers working for the good of the event instead of trying to feed themselves.  I think of this as a 'logistical mess'--food soley for the sake of time, but done period.

Actually, that's what I'm picturing, unless it's a historic situation where the officers just want a sit-down meal. Portraying a cook has the advantage that it gives the cook an activity which is actually needed, while separating him socially from the officers so each can do their own thing, authenticity wise.

However, as I said on the other forum, just from attending local events as a spectator, I get the feeling that the job is either already filled by female (or occasionally male) members of units, or the officers actually would prefer not to have period-appropriate food and/or they already have other arrangements.

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Training the officer to rely on this sort of servant is another matter, and will take the right combination of folks.  Once or twice, I've seen someone combine this role with that of body servant to an officer--polishing shoes, buttons, brushing uniforms, stuffing bed ticks and the like.

That'd be fine too. Did something kinda similar at Ft. Duffield a while ago, sweeping the officer's cabin, making his bed, etc.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Interesting--that 'already filled' thing is not happening down here, except of a sort in the 'family friendly' units, where females do tend to do the cooking (period cooking about 50% of the time)

The real gap is in the 'soldiers only' units, where the officers do not dine separately from the men.  About the only folks I've seen do that properly is the PLHA.  

Well, honestly, that's based on a very small sample of a handful of local events I've wandered into as a spectator in the last few years, and may not be accurate at all. Which is why I'm asking.  

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

You might also possibly consider enlisted man serving his time as cook for his company in garrison.

Either of those impressions may fit well with the 6th OVI's spring training camp at Caesars Creek, or (if we ever do it when it isn't raining herds of elephants and gets cancelled) Battalion Drill for the Army of the Ohio, which will be held at a different location each year within Ohio.

I can't promise that either would give you the full immersion experience you prefer, just a chance to try something different.

You might also make an excellent AIG, sent to inspect a training camp and its recruits.

Greetings Fellow Soldiers,
I am the commissary Sgt. for the 6th Ohio. I have thought of doing an officers mess at our events. But I am so busy providing food for the troops that it has not been possible as of yet.  Our NCO's and officers eat last, after the troops. And as a Sgt. I am not supposed to be a servant to an officer.  We need all our privates in the field with rifles.  
If we have a private that is unable to man the firing line (Like Me ), I would like to develope an officers mess.

Your Obedient Servant, Comm. Sgt. Dan Girton , Co A, 6th OVI

Hank,

Has "unwrapping sandwiches" finally come full circle? Oh, my.

But, seriously, quite a number of events have had an officer's mess in recent years, and having an extra hand about the fires is a real benefit. One of the challenges we've faced is training the officers to eat. You'll understand that at some point, and I used to jerk them out of the enlisted line, however, as time goes by I've decided if the officers in question are too dumb to figure out they need to be eating what everyone else wearing straps is eating, then so be it. I can tell you some other funny tales, too.

Labor is generally the first challenge to overcome, and then the material goods to functionally carry out the impression, followed by transportation. Looks like you have a handle on the labor portion of the equation, and finding people who instinctively know what to do around a firepit or cookhouse is getting to be rare. Not everyone in the hobby these days was raised on 19th century style cooking.

The smallest officer's mess we assembled in recent years was one of the most fun, and that was at the rainy/sleeting Fort Ontario event in 2002. Being a garrison event in an actual fort, we had some good opportunities working within some rather unusual limitations.

Serving a dozen or more hungry strap hangers, such as at Camp Curtin, Antietam 2002, or the 2007 NPS LH at Shiloh, was enjoyable. If you take the time to show the contrast or sameness between enlisted an officer rations, it can be a heck of a lot of fun. Although much smaller, the food at Pamplin Park 2002, Fort Donelson 2006, Shiloh 2007, and Vicksburg 2007 demonstrated that. Saving time, such as your efforts at Payne's Farm 2006 was a good thing. Being able to identify a sweet potato put you miles ahead of some of the folks.

In recent years, having an extra set of hands to help to prepare meals has been a heck of a lot better than just a one man effort, as Ft. Ontario, Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg showed.  Steve's efforts at Fort Gaines 2004 were about perfect. The enlisted folks were getting pure slop, and the officer's across the lake/walkway were enjoying some decent food. His "scrambled eggs" were a hoot. I still laugh at that.

I don't know how much you saw of Sparky's efforts at Winter 1864 2008, but that was a great example of a time and place for an officer's mess, and he took care of them hand and foot. That was the perfect time, place, and person for that job.

Yep, it sure beats arriving on site, and having someone hand you one mess kettle, and announcing "you are the cook for 30 men" for the weekend. I guess some events have different levels of organization than others....

Hank,

As someone who's commanded at a few events, I can tell you that depending on the event, doing a "by the book" Officer's Mess ain't going to work. With everything else that's going on, the commander and his staff eat when they have time to grab something, or not.

That meal you put together at "September Storm" last year, was about perfect for that situation. Nothing fancy, but something that could be left by the fire until people had time to eat. I've found that having somebody to tap you on the shoulder, hand you a plate and say "eat this" is a good person to have around.

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Sink Rat wrote :  We need all our privates in the field with rifles.   If we have a private that is unable to man the firing line (Like Me ), I would like to develope an officers mess.

Interesting. That bears out exactly what I was thinking, in the thread on the other forum.

I'm perfectly fit and healthy, so could man the firing line just fine, but don't have any interest in that impression. Therefore, I guess it'd be a choice of portraying a private with a rifle in the 6th Ohio, or nothing, and so I'd choose nothing. No big deal. I was offered the same options 20 years ago with another Ohio regiment (15th? can't remember), when I wanted to portray a surgeon, and I just said thanks but no thanks.

Charles wrote:

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But, seriously, quite a number of events have had an officer's mess in recent years, and having an extra hand about the fires is a real benefit.

It's funny, doing the hobby by events, I wind up cooking for officers a fair amount, not that I'd want to do it every time if other things are available. Actually, I'm doing it again at the event-after-next.

But looking for a niche by unit (in other words, showing up with the same guys all the time closer to home), there doesn't seem to be any necessary, functional role but rifle-toter (or officer or musician, neither of which I'm qualified for or interested in). RJ suggested officer's cook, and it's true, there's usually one officer at even the smallest living history and they always have to eat.

But Dan pointed out the problem, whether it's spoken or unspoken. A healthy male who can sorta pass for under 45 is always going to have the albatross around his neck if he joins a unit in any capacity but rifle-toter: Why aren't you pulling your weight? Why are you playing around doing that when we need you on the line?

Edited to add:

Bill wrote:

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That meal you put together at "September Storm" last year, was about perfect for that situation. Nothing fancy, but something that could be left by the fire until people had time to eat.

That's pretty much what I'm picturing.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net  

--Last edited by hanktrent on 2008-05-29 13:57:30 --

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hanktrent wrote :   But Dan pointed out the problem, whether it's spoken or unspoken. A healthy male who can sorta pass for under 45 is always going to have the albatross around his neck if he joins a unit in any capacity but rifle-toter: Why aren't you pulling your weight? Why are you playing around doing that when we need you on the line?

Hank,

That depends on the unit. We have a young man in the 4th. Texas who has no interest in a military impression and protrays a civilian at every event. We figure that's fine, since this is a hobby and not the real Army. Recently, he's taken on the very demanding real world role as our Unit Treasurer. He stepped up when all the old soldiers, including me, were sitting on our hands.

[cit]hanktrent wrote :  It's funny, doing the hobby by events, I wind up cooking for officers a fair amount, not that I'd want to do it every time if other things are available. Actually, I'm doing it again at the event-after-next.[/quote]

Hank,

A certain wing of the hobby moved from being unit based to event based well over ten years ago. This has pros and cons, like much of anything else. Due to rising insurance costs, and some lesser factors, perhaps the pendulum may swing back in the other direction.

Finding a niche in a more traditional company and letter club, isn't all that difficult. You can find dozens if not hundreds of units where the officers, civilians, and specialties outnumber the men totin' the muskets.  One of my eye opening moments in the hobby was noticing four of us had muskets at a particular LH event, where nearly two dozen others were, well, I'll be nice.

Once you find that local unit who does local events with local folks, then you may find yourself portraying the mythological founder of Corinth once again. Yep, rolling that "first person" rock uphill, but, and this is a Sir Mixalot moment, you'll have the "do" part of the equation well in hand. I like that.

A feller has to be a little crazy to show up at an event after being awake for a couple of days, catching 2 hours sleep, prepping the area, decanting what needs to be unmodernized, waking up at 4:30 a.m. to fix breakfast for folks who generally don't eat breakfast (and stuffed themselves at Cracker Barrel the night before), get the midday meal rolling before the breakfast fire is cooled down, and repeat for supper. (Did you know the Army really only had two meals per day on paper? Try telling that to reenactors.)  Wake up, cook up another breakfast, clean up, pack up, and head home. Yep, it's a fun impression. I kinda like growing the period foodstuffs, but that little element is often lost on most reenactors.

Good times. You have no idea how much it meant to us when the ONV fellows offered us a plate of their fine supper at the SCAR's Shiloh NPS LH in 2007. Dagnabbit, but that was great. I really can't even put my personal appreciation of that act into words.

So, Hank, if you don't want to be Dr. Slaughter at Crittenden's Farm (Death March X) this year, just let me know, as I could use a kettle kicker. Well, at least on Friday night, as Saturday night could prove to be a bit more difficult in terms of finding a place to set a spell. If we get to that campsite, at least it has a fair view, and (I hope) a cool breeze. At least in August 1862, the area around Culpeper Virginia still had some decent food supplies.

Of course, that isn't in Ohio.  

Hank, the role I play is the one Bill mentioned and it is not a bad way to go.  I’m just hanging around occupying space while the others are doing their military stuff.  My function has become the admin guy--writer of checks, collector of dues, maintaining umpteen rosters, writer of anything the CO wants written, generating after action reports, keeping command staff informed about finances, and sender of e-mail messages by the pound.  In other words, I have become the chief paper pusher.  If anyone needs narration I can do it.  Hey, it keeps me active in a hobby in which I am no longer physically able to participate and I’m happy to have such opportunity.

Charles Heath put together a fine period Officer's Mess at Camp Curtin a few years back. He and his staff worked very hard and the meals were much appreciated by the officers. I always remember as we were eating at the officers mess the rank and file coming by and salivating at our meal as compared to what they were going to eat.

Charles and his staff also prepared the rank and file food,but not the same as the officers ate.

The Rowdy Pards at Harrison's Landing in 2002 used a woman of free color (Anita Henderson..a wonderful lady) as the officer cook..she earned it also as it was one of if not the hottest event I have attended.

Depending on the event it does add authenticity.

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hanktrent wrote :But Dan pointed out the problem, whether it's spoken or unspoken. A healthy male who can sorta pass for under 45 is always going to have the albatross around his neck if he joins a unit in any capacity but rifle-toter: Why aren't you pulling your weight? Why are you playing around doing that when we need you on the line?

"Healthy" can be deceptive:  Older gent who wants to contribute to the war effort, but can't quite keep up with the rigors of the battle line?  Got shot up early in the war, but can still take care of his unit's officers?  Lung disease that mainly shows up upon exertion, contracted during winter quarters?  Quaker?  Loyal household servant to the officer from before the war?  Officer's civilian father who wants to be near his son?  Feeble minded, but can cook?

Anyone who "complains" about your position just gives you more fodder for your first person mutterings and lamintations while you do the cooking.

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flattop32355 wrote :   "Healthy" can be deceptive:  Older gent who wants to contribute to the war effort...

Oh, I've got no problem portraying someone who's not healthy. I've done that many times, most recently at September Storm where I was one of the many barefoot privates who couldnt' keep up on the march, and wound up back with the ambulances and then cooking.

But it's like being a female soldier. Even if you can fool people in the field, your regular friends soon learn the truth, and then that inevitably affects how they view what you do.

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Anyone who "complains" about your position just gives you more fodder for your first person mutterings and lamintations while you do the cooking.

The whole idea, though, is to find acceptance and camraderie from a reenacting group locally, while also doing what I enjoy. I can't see the point of joining a group and deliberately doing on a regular basis what they've already said isn't wanted.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Hank...I just read this thread and I may have the opportunity you seek.  I serve the Army of Ohio battalion as QM Lt.  In addition to my normal duties as Commissary officer when we issue rations, the new Colonel asked me this winter if I would be interested in developing an officers mess,  He envisoned this as a way obviously to keep his staff fed at events but also as way to foster staff teamwork.  I agreed to work on this as I thought the idea was a good one.  The truth of the matter is I'm an average cook and in reality, Im an officer too and probaby shouldnt be cooking for other officers.  There aren't alot of Ohio events anymore but I certainly would entertain the notion of working with you. I will discuss this next weekend with the AOO staff at AHT.

Kent Dorr
1st Lt QM
Army of the Ohio

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OVVI wrote : There aren't alot of Ohio events anymore but I certainly would entertain the notion of working with you. I will discuss this next weekend with the AOO staff at AHT.

Hey, that's great! I'm primarily interested in fairly close events, say within a few hours drive of southeast Ohio, since I can find lots of stuff to do at distant ones. That should cover most of the state except for the Toledo and Cleveland areas.

My goal would be to give the illusion, as much as possible, of someone who stepped out of the 1860s to be their cook. If you think that would fit in with their/your goals, keep in touch!

Edited to add: Just saw on your calendar that you're going to Hale Farm in August? That's right near my wife's mother, so she could visit her mother while I attended the event, so that would be a convenient trip for me, even though it's close to Cleveland.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net  

--Last edited by hanktrent on 2008-06-22 12:39:14 --

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"Edited to add: Just saw on your calendar that you're going to Hale Farm in August? That's right near my wife's mother, so she could visit her mother while I attended the event, so that would be a convenient trip for me, even though it's close to Cleveland."

Hank..where did you see that the AOO battalion was going to attend Hale Farm?  Its not on our schedule

After At High Tide, we have Wildwood in Sept.  Next year will probably look better with Buffington Island and Zoar.
 As a cook/servant, would you be a civilian or a soldier on detached duty?

Kent Dorr - Ohio

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OVVI wrote : Hank..where did you see that the AOO battalion was going to attend Hale Farm?  Its not on our schedule

I see now, I googled and got an individual unit's schedule, but not the overall AOO battalion schedule. Do you guys have a battalion web page? armyoftheohio.com off their page was a dead link.

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As a cook/servant, would you be a civilian or a soldier on detached duty?

I was picturing a soldier on detached duty, but could do it whichever way you wanted.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net