Federals:
22 infantry
8 Cavalry
14 artillary, 10 pound Parrott & 12 Pound Napoleon

Confederates:
28 infantry + the Stonwall Brigades fife and drum group.

Original ground where parts of, not one but 3 CW battles took place. A relative of mine fought. And two future presidents participated, Hays and McKinley. McKinley won the Medal of Honor here. There are still 30 or so Federal soldiers buried somewhere on the ground.
(View from Pricards Hill. The Confeds. Started in that fence line waaaay down at the bottom, in that rectangular field. We were deployed about 1/3 of the way into the field to start. The thing lasted about 45 minutes. We broke and ran when we got about 1/2 way back up the hill.)

Federal camp was in the same place as the Federal Camp at 2nd Kernstown.


Sunny weather with no humidity.

Basic NPS firing demo in the morning. Rebs reviewed Skirmish, Federal reviewed some simple manuver and the basic firings.
There were also Cavalry and Artillary demo's. Some of the participants wrote first person accounts of their experiences there for an Eagle Scout project which, had reconstructed a large portion of the stone wall along the Prichard House lane and a rail fence.

Afternoon, there was a "sham" battle where we recreated the Confederate final push which drove the Federals from the field. Firing distances never got closer than 150 yards. Yes, we played with our rammers. (Something sort of funny happened. It's very, very dry in the Valley. The wadding from both sides started small grass fires. And, for a time, each side had men stomping and pouring canteens on burning grass.)

Evening, one of the funniest period minstral shows I have ever seen or participated in. The evil wizzard from "Rapunzel:"


For me, a horse ride back to camp. Imagine a cavalryman saying, "Here Dave, I'll walk."

Sunday morning, a private tour of the battlefield given by the park service, just for the participants. I guess we raised somewhere around $3000 for the field. I had spectators say they knw it happened but never saw it before; troops fighting in full marching order, lying down or kneeling to load, standing only to fire, an officer using the land to cover his men.

Prichard House(taken during the tour):


Opquin (O-Pick-in) Church:



Home and happy.

The ticks held high carnival. But, we prevailed and there were no participant casulties.

You missed a great event.

(Side note: when I take my camera to an event. First I ask the organizers and my camooanding officer if it's OK. Then, I try to get it out when others don't know what I'm doing.)  

--Last edited by grumpydave on 2007-07-23 07:54:59 --

Dave,

Were you guys on NPS land when you did that "shoot at each other" scenario on Saturday afternoon?

Yes. Maybe it's CWPT or that Shennandoah Valley Historical Society(whatever the name is) land. Not NPS. However, there will be oposing fire at Fredericksburg this October. That opposing fire on NPS land rule is, I think, up to the discression of the park. Can you imagine the kooks that would show up in Gettysburg?

Quote :

GrumpyDave wrote : There will be oposing fire at Fredericksburg this October. That opposing fire on NPS land rule is, I think, up to the discression of the park.

Grump,

Has the Slaughter Pen been turned over to the NPS yet? I remember there was a reenactment at Malvern Hill the weekend the land was turned over to the NPS. No opposing fire reenactments on that ground since that time, that I'm aware of.

Quote :

Has the Slaughter Pen been turned over to the NPS yet?

Bill,

Not yet. That is yet another reason to attend the event in October. See the website for more info.

Two other opportunities loom large, as well. One on each side of the big scary mountains!

Quote :

Charles Heath wrote : Two other opportunities loom large, as well. One on each side of the big scary mountains!

Charles,

Don't be coy. What events are you talking about?  

Bill, as an OTB Forum member, you know you can get your event information months, and sometimes years ahead of the crowd. Plus, that 2008 list is floating around online somewhere....

Charles,

There's a bunch of events in both the 2007 and 2008 folders taking place on both sides of the mountains. Which ones were you talking about?

Remember, not everybody on this forum hangs out on the OTB.

20-23 February 2008
Winter 1864
Sons of New York
Newfane, NY

March
Open

April
Open


Early May 2008 (Tentative)
Chancellorsville NPS LH

30 May – 1 June 2008
144th Anniversary Battle of Pickett's Mill
Wool Hat Mess
Dallas, GA

6-8 June 2008
145th Anniversary Battle of Brandy Station
Brandy Station, Virginia

June through September Timeframe 2008
CWPT Battle of Glendale/Frayser's Farm

27-29 June 2008
Andersburg
CVG
Either PA or MD

July
Open

Late August 2008
Living History Guilds Death March
New Location in North Penna.

Mid-September (Tentative)
Antietam NPS LH
HHM/Tom K.

26 -28 September 2008
SWB Picket Post
South of Pittsburgh, PA


17-19 October 2008 (tentative)
Battle of Bristoe Station
1st Minnesota
Bristoe Station, VA

Mid-November 2008
Living History Guilds Annual Battlefield Memorial March
Gettysburg, PA

December 2008
White Oak Museum Work Day
POC'R Boys
Falmouth, VA


Well, it's something. If not the big list.

Oh, heck, Grumpy, let's go to Pea Ridge in 2009.  

Come on Charles,

Event pimping is not only tolerated here, it's expected. In another month, I'll begin extolling the virtues of the annual Neshaminy event. Heck, I even buy space on the OTB to advertise that reenactment.

Of all those CPH events listed over on the OTB, which two were you recommending? Inquiring minds want to know!  

Glendale, the Death March, Bristoe Station and the Andersburg event(at you own discression) of course.

Grumpy, you keep forgetting Winter 1864.  

Charles & Grumpy,

Unless there's been a major shift in the topography, all the events you guys mentioned are on the eastern side of the "Big Scary Mountains". Is the Pickett's Mill event coming together?  

Quote :

30 May – 1 June 2008 144th Anniversary Battle of Pickett's Mill Wool Hat Mess Dallas, GA

That's the second person to miss PM on that list....hmmm.

Athens is August, but it may not be as big as the last two.

I'm planning on hitting Pickett's Mill, did the LH with the Armory Guards last month.

Quote :

Charles Heath wrote : [ That's the second person to miss PM on that list....hmmm.

Charles,

I saw Pickett's Mill on the Grump's long list, but not the short.  

I'm on my way to the 6th. event this season. I've got a total of 13 events on the schedule so far. Can divorce court be far behind?  

--Last edited by Bill on 2007-07-27 15:35:56 --

Quote :

I saw Pickett's Mill on the Grump's long list, but not the short.

Bill,

I'm not sure why Grumpy saw fit to post some internal working papers over here, but that's okay since most reenactors outside the CPH world don't even clue in to events until January-February timeframe.

We had an interesting conference call last night, and part of the agenda was what to do with the 2008 events that are currently getting clustered in a few tight spots.  Hold them away from the anniversary times? Move them a year back? Cancel them because they just can't fit anywhere in the next two years?
It's the annual seven pounds of sugar for a five pound bag problem, but like most years this will work itself out.

I do have a few personal picks for next year. While I'm not sure where the rest of the unit wants to go, I can make some educated guesses for their participation, but as for me:

Like the last Winter 1864, some of us will put 12 to 18 months work into this effort, and the event will shine because of it. I hate to see this billed as the last biggie for this site, but it is better to burn out than to fade away, as Mr. Young says. As a four day event, it will probably alleviate the prime complaint about previous renditions, which is "not enough downtime."  Folks who are interested in attending this event are strongly encouraged to seek out and read bounty of information on the Winter 1864 listserver.  This is my pick to the be the event of the year, and it is sad when the best event is so early in the season.

With three events in four years, we have worn out the LH aspects of Chancellorsville-Wilderness to some degree. I'll probably go and enjoy it, as I have a fondness for Rice C. Bull, and the scenario built around his writings. As an aside, not far from that hospital site, such that is was, a visitor can enjoy several interpretive markers paid for with Neshaminy funds.  I'd rather see the effort going into this go into Glendale's narrow window of opportunity, but that isn't my call.

I highly recommend Pickett's Mill for anyone who hasn't been there and enjoyed a very nice state owned battlefield site. The outcome for Hazen's men was sad, to say the least. It's a moving experience to stand in that ravine and read of the brains splattered on the trees. Since we have had two opportunities to attend this event, my guess is it will end up as an individual effort, with some of the members in the Old Dominion making the trek.

Other than the cav folks in the organization, the Brandy Station effort is probably a throw away event on that list.

Placing Glendale is tough. The annivesary date is the same weekend as Andersburg, and the fellows want to go back to one of those after a five year hiatus. Slapping it on top of Chancellorsville in May or Pickett's Mill in late May isn't good, either. August is not a great idea due to the weather, and folks can't quite get into a cooler weather timeframe. We'll see what a few more phone calls yield. If this effort happens, it is my #2 pick for the year.

A real departure for us will be heading to Andersburg, as Rob Murray termed it. Yet another company came out of the woodwork today, and although the Potomac Legion hasn't voted on it, both times this event has been discussed by the usual suspects, it has received good play. We'll lower our expectations, put on the blinders, and have a good time seeing some numbers. That's a game plan that has worked before, and will work again. It's only 45 minutes for me to get to Pumping Station Road, but this event is a road trip for a lot of folks, and it will blow most of the summer kitchen passes for a number of fellows. I think everyone will have a good time, and that includes the fellows coming from the Trans-Miss region.

July is fairly open, so maybe Mumford will be an option, although the 2007 AARs were dismal. I wouldn't mind making a third trip to Athens. I like the Des Moines River for some odd reason. Maybe it is that lovely black soil.

The Death March is always good. In 2008 it moves to Penna., but within earshot of Elmira. Without a doubt, this is one of the best events held in New York, but it is also the best kept secret. This event tends to scare off a lot of folks by the name and the history of clever innovations. This is my #3 pick.

The Antietam vs Picket Post vs Ag Day event quandry remains to be seen. We did Antietam about as well as it will ever be done in 2003, and the members with a civilian interest have been wanting a civilian training day for years. The latter two events popped up within 48 hours of each other. Sigh.

The Bristoe Station event dropped out of the sky at 2nd Kernstown. It's a suburban site, but it is actual ground that hasn't beenw worn out by reenactors. It will be good, and like Kernstown and Fredericksburg, getting past the little blips of the viewshed will require some suspended disbelief.

The LHG's Gettysburg Memorial March will be good, as always, and it is a sharp contrast to the circus in town. Klingons, Star Wars Stormtroopers, WW2 GIs, and Waffen SS need not apply.

Visiting with DP and doing a little work around the White Oak Museum is fun, and a great way to end the year. Roasting a bushel of oysters may be a good treat in 2007, so I don't know what we'll come up with for 2008. We've already done a bake oven.

As the next few months roll on, the ATM, WIG, ONV, MOOCOWS, SCAR, CHAPs, TGH, SWB, and the other usual suspects will be plugging events into the calendar, and so forth.

The upcoming trainwreck for 2009 appears to be Champion Hill vs Spotsylvania, and if the N/SA chooses Pea Ridge 2009, I wouldn't mind that as a road trip. Meanwhile, I need to figure out if I can squeeze in Mill Springs 2007, or actually get to wear gray (okay, blue gray kersey) for Chickamauga 2007.)

Bill, that's too much info, but there you have it. Scheduling is pretty much tossed salad with scrambled eggs right now.