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I am the one that loves reenactments. [but] Hubby... was upset there are no more for us this yr!  If families didnt stay together, then we wouldnt go.

I'm directing this toward Dulcie because of her previous post, but the invitation is to anyone who would like to be a part of Hank and my family group at October 62, and who gets approved by the civilian coordinator Laura Anders.  We still have time to work with people and get them ready, but we don't have long.

Dulcie, did you see Hank's invitation to come to the October 62 event in Middleburg, VA, the weekend of October 5-7.  The website for the event is http://www.wmhf.org/cvg/october1862.html  

I dunno if you could get away, or if hubby would also be interested in attending as a civilian or not.  I put this in a distance finder and it looks like you're only 162 miles, we're 245!   The civilian portion of the event will be p/h and we'll also go live Friday night instead of Saturday morning.  It'll be a refugee kind of event, pack light, carry in everything, hiding out from the soldiers kind of thing.

If you, or anyone, is interested, please get ahold of us ASAP.  Registration is limited for these kind of events.  

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Our unit leader is also turning more towards hardcore. He knows I prefer the hardcore myself, and is having me lead the civilians towards it.

It's cool that your unit commander is allowing you to lead the civilians in that direction.  I've never had that and have always had to do things alone.  But the best way to lead is by attending some of the more hardcore style events, and this is one that is really close for you.  Well, close as hardcore style events are concerned.  We generally have to drive 5-8 hours to get to an event.

Linda Trent
lindatrent@zoomnet.net  

--Last edited by Linda Trent on 2007-08-31 22:42:11 --

Dulcie,

I strongly suggest you take Linda up on her generous offer. She and Hank are great folks to talk to and work with on the civilian side.

Dulcie, I do not know the Trents personally, but some of my reenactment friends and acquaintances have worked with them in the past.  These people’s comments have all been highly commendable.

Dulcie, if there's a problem with your husband not having civilian clothes, I just came up with a pretty cool idea that would allow him to wear a union uniform.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net  

--Last edited by hanktrent on 2007-09-01 08:25:41 --

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hanktrent wrote : I just came up with a pretty cool idea that would allow him to wear a union uniform.

And remember that ANYONE (male or female, young or old) who's interested in doing this is more than welcome to come be a part of our group.  However, as I said before I'm NOT the civilian organizer and you'll have to get permission from Laura Anders if you'd like to come, but I'm pretty sure we can work that out.

Laura also organized War on the James, and it was probably one of the best "hiding in the woods events" that I've ever attended.  One cool thing is our groups are from different areas and we know nothing about each other.  We don't know loyalties or where they're from, what they're doing out in the woods, etc.  It really keeps us on our toes because not only do we not want to run into the military, and we have to be suspicious of the other civilians if we run into them. It's as much a tactical for us as it is for the military.

Linda Trent
lindatrent@zoomnet.net

wow thanks for the invite linda. i do really wish i could go, but unfortunately that weekend we have football games on saturday and sunday. if we only had them on sunday then i would go. it does sound like an awesome event! im trying to figure out how to make it, but it looks like ill be leaving the family the weekend before due to some training for work.

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chatrbug wrote : im trying to figure out how to make it, but it looks like ill be leaving the family the weekend before due to some training for work.

Yeah, I realize that it's late notice; but if you can get away I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the difference.  If you suddenly find yourself freed up to come by the 15th, drop me a line.

Same goes for anyone else who's interested.

Linda.

Linda - hope you guys had fun.....

Thoughts for next year?

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hanktrent wrote : Dulcie, if there's a problem with your husband not having civilian clothes, I just came up with a pretty cool idea that would allow him to wear a union uniform.

Yup, at October 62 Hank portrayed a Union deserter, and your husband could have fallen in as a deserter, himself.  The engineer group that Hank's fictional character was a part of had several desertions following the announcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. We couldn't talk about this before the event, or everyone on the forum would know Hank's portrayal.

We also had a lady, Rachel Shifflett added to our group.  Her husband suggested she come, and she got added to our group without any preparation at all.  No mentors, no event prep, no nothing!  We had about 15 minutes to introduce her to first person, and our scenario, and then we went live.  Rachel did great!  I was really impressed with her.  

The main thing I felt sorry about was that she didn't have any additional preparation so she just portrayed a rather shy young lady, but it worked well.  I never saw an incorrect item, and she never spoke out of character.  I was also sorry that this wasn't a more active in the sense of a lot of things to do.  Basically this was a find a secure nitch and remain there until the armies move on. So there was a lot of historically correct boredom lying in wait for the armies to leave so we could move on.  

Rachel, Noah and I did try to find a farm pond a few times, but we were unsuccessful in our attempts.  When we finally did come out there was a lot of running, climbing over horse jumps, and that sort of thing.  We did manage to escape capture though we did have a few run-ins with the CS infantry.  Late in the day Saturday, we were surrounded by Confederate Cavalry and infantry, and I guess, from what I've heard, the CS cavalry left early and Rachel left with her husband.  So Noah, Hank and I went off by ourselves and camped out Saturday unmolested.  

Sunday we thought we were behind CS lines, only to see some US men coming out of the woods in front of us.  We bee-lined it over a hill and into the woods, and over a stone horse jump into another field.  We ran along there scurrying over or through several other standards before exiting through a gate.  

We then thought we were in the clear to get to the ford because the armies were fighting in the other direction.  We had concocted a story that if we were stopped by the Union we'd all agree that we were on our way to the Johnson farm, to check on the family.  So as we were moving through the field I turned to Hank's character and said something about "I hope the Johnson's are alright." And his reply was "There are no Johnsons."  I looked at him and shushed him and said "What if there's a Union picket in those woods?"  Just then we heard, "HALT!"  

Dang, we'd gone the whole event avoiding the Union, and here when we could almost see that ford we were stopped by a picket. After a while it was decided that we should be turned over to the Provost and we were escorted to the end of the event.

This was the BEST hide in the woods kind of event I've ever been to.  The civilians all did SUPERBLY including Rachel.  I'd be more than happy to include her in any event that we do in the future.  I was about burned out of the hobby, but after this -- I'm back in as strong as ever.  

Thoughts for next year?  Yeah, do it again!  Course, you probably figured we'd say that.

The resident horses in the fields all added to the reality of it too.  Saturday morning the horses were playing "unmounted cavalry" as their curiousity got the better of them and they came over and surrounded us demanding we be searched until apples were found.  Once an apple or two appeared, it was all over for us, we had a herd of horses follow us everywhere.  A few times we dodged hooves and teeth as the horses tried to determine which one got to stand where.

It was great and I'd do it again in a heart-beat, or at least as soon as I catch my breath again, which may take another six months to a year.

Linda
(who thinks all the civilians deserve a fox tail for going over the jumps)

im sorry i missed it! i was trying to figure out how to come, but it just wasnt working. ill put it on my calender for next yr (though im sure the boys will be playing football sigh)

Uh, there's no "next year." These are not annual events like mainstream events. They rarely repeat, and if something similar is planned, the civilian roles and goals and experience would be designed differently.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net