I had this passed down through the chain of command: The dates are June 20-22. Registration is $6 per person and the number of 700 reenactors is supposedly going to be strictly enforced. Those who have been to the village would probably agree that 700 is about the maximum it can hold, maybe even less. Be that as it may, it's a pretty fair mainstream event, despite the fact that Wild Bill Hickock usually shows up to stroll around (Don't ask, I have no idea....)

we will be there... never been there before though.

Dulcie:

You and family should have a good time. Besides the camp and battles, the Village offers a "tavern" which offers some pretty good sandwiches, and an ice cream shop which usually does a pretty brisk business that week-end.

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MStuart wrote :it's a pretty fair mainstream event, despite the fact that Wild Bill Hickock usually shows up to stroll around (Don't ask, I have no idea....)

Isn't Old Bedford Village in Pennsylvania?  I'd love to have someone ask Wild Bill why he's not out in Kansas or Missouri scouting for the Union army?  

I remember being at Deadwood and watching the recreation of the murder of Wild Bill, and the trial of Jack McCall, but that was many, many, many moons ago.

Linda.  

--Last edited by Linda Trent on 2007-12-09 16:44:46 --

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Linda Trent wrote :  Isn't Old Bedford Village in Pennsylvania?

Linda,

Old Bedford Village is a neat place. They moved a lot of old log and other historic buildings from Bedford County to one location outside the town of Bedford, PA. Chris Anders usually holds his annual Officer's School there.

It's just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike, about 75 miles east of Pittsburg. If you are in the area, it would be worth a stop.

 

Quote :

Linda Trent wrote :  I'd love to have someone ask Wild Bill why he's not out in Kansas or Missouri scouting for the Union army? Linda.

Linda:  He may have taken a wrong turn at Dayton. At least he stays within the village confines and doesn't partake in the battles.  

The village itself is quite interesting if you're into 18th century things. Lot's of "old" things and houses from that period there.  

--Last edited by mstuart on 2007-12-11 13:05:53 --

My unit's only June event is At High Tide.  I'm unable to attend so I'm seriously considering this one as it coincides with my vacation.

Anthony:

If you'd like to try an event as a CS cavalry skirmisher, we'd be happy to give you a home for the week-end. With that said, there's also plenty of blue there that I'm sure would put you up for an event. It's a nice little event.

Thanks for the offer Mark.  That would would probably be a fun thing to try out.  

I might be riding with Bob Penix, who's in the 51st with me and also serves as adjutant for Birney's Division.  He usually places me with someone when I show up to these things solo.

However I'm not afriad of trying new things.  Of course I have absolutley no CS gear, and I'm a pretty farby camper (city boy!) but I keep modern stuff out of sight.

I got time to figure it out.  If nothing else I'll have to come find you and say hi.

Our unit will have a few there also. We hide our cooler also

It's confirmed!  I will be at Bedford Village for the weekend.  Maybe I'll get a chance to meet some of you there.  I'll be camped with Lt. Col. Smith and Capt. Penix, as I'm carpooling with them.  Probably be falling in with another Ohio unit.  I read there's going to be some pyrotechnics and fortifications put up.  That sounds exciting.  It'll be a nice change form the usual thing of two battalions facing each other and trading shots.  

--Last edited by TheBaldYankee on 2008-06-11 07:37:19 --

We'll be with the CS Cavalry, so feel free to stop by if the mood strikes you. I actually have a chance to ride that week-end and I'm really looking forward to it. I'll be the guy with the horse and he'll be the brains of the duo.

Since I had the privilege to be mounted at this event, my After Action Report of the event battles shall take the form of a letter home. There would be no need for a mounted private to write an AAR.
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My Dearest Wife:

We moved north of the Potomac river three days ago. Our regiment was to accompany and screen the infantry of Gen'l xxxxxx. No one told us where we were going, but it was evident from constantly riding north that we were going into Pennsylvania.  The rumor in the unit is that the rest of the army would follow us directly, but we were the first in line this time.  Going into that state, we were told to be constantly on the alert and no straggling was allowed, for fear that local militia would set upon us.

We stayed tightly together and when we were ordered out to forage for food, supplies, and horses, we never took less than twenty men.  The country here is untouched by the war, so unlike it is back home. The Dutch farmers here have abundant food and full smokehouses. Forage for horses is plentifull also as Hank hasn't eaten so well in weeks. We have all that we want here, too. My messmates are Barry and Martin and we all take turns being the cook for a day. We even have fresh vegetables once a day while here.  When we go to the farms to collect supplies, the farmers all raise a ruckas and tell us they have no food or forage, even though we offer to pay them for it. It seems they have no use for Confederate scrïpt up here. If they don't take our money, we write them a receipt and tell them they can redeem it in Richmond at the end of the war. This doesn't make them any happier and some times we have to resort to mild threats to get our requisitions.

Cousin Sam is here with us and is doing well.  His duties while here have him very busy and I only get to see him for any length of time early in the morning, as we both are early risers.

On Friday, we made a turn to the west and came to a town called Bedford. It is a quaint little village and was occupied by some Yankee infantry and cavalry.  We thought they may have been local militia or state troops, as when our commander called us into line preperatory to charging into the town, they all skedaddled for the mountains! They left tents, leathers of all types, muskets, even some horses. The Commander and his staff took over a house for headquarters, as did some of the other officers from the infantry when they came in. The rest of us got capital tents filled with all kinds of Yankee belongings. I got a nice wool blanket, two shirts, and a brand new Navy pistol. My old pistol I traded with an infantry officer for a nice watch. I had 5 yards of nice calico fabric that I was going to send home to you but the officers made me put it back because there were strict rules governing private property.

Saturday morning seven of us went out on a scout and discovered some Yankee's not far away.  We got very close and found some of them behind a large redoubt that had logs sharpened and sticking out of it. We went back to camp and reported our find.  Not long after, we lead three battalions of infantry to the Yankee's and some of the artillery had at the redoubt. Not much damage was done but it stirred up a hornet's nest of Yanks. Some of their cavalry dismounted and approached, only to be pushed back by some of our dismounted sharpshooters.  Not long after, a squad of their mounted men showed up and we met them in a charge with sabers. We mixed it up with them several times with the saber and pistol, but they seemed to keep coming at us and weren't willing to give much ground. Our infantry attacked the redoubt only to be repelled no matter what we came at them with. With their position strongly held, the only thing we could do was withdraw from the field in good order. The Yank cavalry pursued us for a short distance, but as we got within our lines, they turned back.

Sunday we found that the Yankees had moved from their position during the night, so our artillery and infantry took over the redoubt.  We were off on a flank scouting the position when we heard firing in the direction of the infantry picketts. Union cavalry soon showed up and our commander called us into line for a saber charge and then with pistols.  I lost my saber in one of the attacks, but Cousin Sam lent me his and I was able to do good work with it. The Yank horsemen found us too strong and decided to withdraw from the field when we attacked with our dismounted men.  Having driven them off, we went to our left flank to make sure it was okay and captured four of their mounted men before they knew what happened.  We left them without horses and weapons and went back toward the battlefield to report.  Our infantry was making great progress against the blue infantry and soon had them cornered near a creek. Before they were captured or killed, their commanders attempted to escape, but our squadron was too fast for them and we captured two Yankee generals!  We turned them over to the provost guard and were congratulated on good work by our officers. It's not every day one helps to capture a Yankee general! Our horses being pretty much spent from the two days of riding and fighting, not to mention the march up here, we headed back to camp and gave them, and us, some much needed rest.  Rumor has it we'll be heading out of here soon so I will close as my candle is getting short. I will write at my first chance but I don't know when that will be. Please send as many letters as you can. You can use the address I gave you before I left. I hope the mail is quick to get to us because there is nothing like getting a letter from home for a soldier.

I will keep you in my heart and prayers every day, my dear wife. As soon as the paymaster catches up with us, I will send money home for as I know you must be running short. Please keep me in your heart,

Your loving husband

Mark
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O.B.V. is not a bad little mainstream event. The weather during the days cooperated. In central Pa. in June, heat is not something one should compain about. It's been like that for eons.
Crowds seemed to enjoy the experience, and the usual ammenities for reenactors were available. The battles, at least from my perspective, went okay. Other's may or may not agree, but, what do I know? I was too busy enjoying being on a horse.  

--Last edited by mstuart on 2008-07-23 10:50:37 --