Folks,

This is a portion of an E-mail I received from Chris Anders. I felt it merited a thread on the forum.


"People motivated by politics, personal gain and greed have started many false rumors about At High Tide and I want to dispel those right here and now.  Folks are stating that we have not filed our application for permits for the event, and that is not true, as it was done August 27, 2007, and all is in good order and set for the upcoming event.  Next folks are saying no one is coming to the event, well, that is hard to swallow when we have over 1,000 troops registered to date and more coming in every day.  I thought it best if I give you the basics of the event, so you can see for you self the work that has been done, the direction we are headed, and the truth about At High Tide.


Created by Reenactors for Reenactors, the Western Maryland Heritage Foundation is proud to present At High Tide, Gettysburg 1863. For over 10 years WMHF has been working with REENACTORS to create the type of events you want.  There is no profit in doing so, but rather instead, over $500,000 has been donated to the preservation of our history by WMHF.  The Foundation is a volunteer non profit group that works for you. True historians have been brought to our team to assist in giving the public an education in our history. To further help folks out we have decided to allow participants who wish to attend the GAC event to camp on our site till Wednesday morning, thus saving them money in hotels or campgrounds, and considered our site is within 1 mile of the actual Battlefield, it will be a great base for a few days of touring the area.  By the way, the site is the same site we used in the original filming of “Gettysburg” and the 130th Anniversary event, plus about 85 more acres.


At High Tide is honored to have the support of the The Land Conservancy of Adams County, who have worked long and hard to preserve open space in the County.  Over 47% of the total event budget is set to be donated to the LCAC on behalf of the participants of AHT.  No one will make money off of you, nor the attending public, for personal profit or gain.



Here are the points we are stressing with At High Tide

--Historic Progressive Scenarios, with unit specific researched scenarios, historical force ratios, good combat distance, and background information so each unit can properly research their role in the event

--Fun. Bringing back the fun of the hobby. We will have good battles, plenty of living history and reenactor education programs, good camping areas for both campaign and garrison troops,

--Event rule enforcement. Most events have rules, but no one enforces them, causing the actions of a few to mar the weekend of the many. This will not happen at this event.  I owe it to you that the actions of a few do not detract from the experience of the many.

--Treating reenactors with respect.


Folks have been asking me about whether or not there will be a static camp for those who wish to camp with their civilians, and the answer is yes. You cannot argue that such actually was present in Gettysburg in 1863, but WMHF understands that to allow for the attendance required to put on AHT, a Camp of Convenience was required.  The CoC will be organized by Colonel Bill Rodman, and will have its own logistics crew, and will be placed in a great location that not only will hide the tents from the “battlefield” but also have shade trees as we realize that Gettysburg in late June can be a bit warm.  All posted event rules and regulations will be enforced in this camp, and each day at 9:00 military participants are required to march to the military camp to join the “armies” as we will be moving out early each day. The military camps of both sides are located in the woods, as they will be mostly all “Campaign” camps, as were the armies in 1863.


Finally I encourage you to go to www.wmhf.org and look over the details of the event."


I have been talking to Chris concerning the rumors that are floating around. They are baseless and the event is good to go. One correction. I'll be Mr. Rodman, not Colonel Rodman during the event. Since I'll be wandering around between the Federal and Confederate camps, that makes more sense.

I had not heard the rumors you speak of but glad that you have pointed out the facts as they stand.  I, along with a good number of my pards signed on back in January at our company meeting and I am really excited about the event which should be the largest I will have attended since my enlistment in January 2007.

Bill

I hadn't heard any of these rumors either.. but then again unless I get a message from the event organizers themselves saying it is cancelled, I plan on being there.

So will you be in a civilian impression to move between the camps.

I believe Bill will be in his Colonel-General's uniform, with the six rows of ribbons and medals, 12 inch brass shoulder boards and enough chicken guts on his sleeves to stretch from Maine to Florida and back again.  The only place he won't dare venture is into the dedicated women's portajohn.  

Quote :

flattop32355 wrote :  The only place he won't dare venture is into the dedicated women's portajohn.

Bernie,

One place I'll be visiting on a regular basis is the lady's facilities. Trust me, if Momma ain't happy with the condition of the porta-potties, ain't nobody happy!  

Greg,

Yeah, I'm adding civilian to my selection of ranks!  

Folks,

The sad part is the amount of misinformation being printed in the local newspaper, as in the form of the wondermus Gettysburg Times.  Some of the text is beyond belief, and having been on the other side of the window for a fair number of Byzantine permitting processes in local, region, state, and federal dysfunctional fiefdoms, I can relate to what a great big flaming pain in the tuckus this must be.

For example, only last night did I learn just how important Bill's job is going to be in light of some lingering post-event effects from the 130th anniversary event held on that site. Geez. This is something that ought to be mentioned in July long after the trumpets fade, and [insert colorful language here] maybe the same thing happened at some other sites where that organization did its thing years ago.

That reminds me I need to get registered with AHT for my cameo appearance, too.  

(Dang it! I seemed to have developed a bad case of Random Apostrophe Disorder this morning.)  

Happy Easter!  

--Last edited by Charles Heath on 2008-03-23 04:32:02 --

Well, given that statement, I guess I better get off my checkbook and commit.  We've been whining about the size of the registration fee  (coupled with the fact that its gonna take us easily $300 in fuel to make the trip).

But if Bill is promising clean ladies portas, that explains the price differential.  

Quote :

Spinster wrote : Its gonna take us easily $300 in fuel to make the trip). But if Bill is promising clean ladies portas, that explains the price differential.

Mrs. Lawson,

I'm afraid the price of fuel is going to be an issue at a lot of events this year.

In regard to the Porta-potties. I'm even planning on evening lighting in the facilities.  

Quote :

Bill wrote :  I'm even planning on evening lighting in the facilities.

Bill,

A little Chem-Lite goes a long way. I'm assuming you don't really want Portajohn shadow shows!

Some of the externalities such as fuel costs, and "rent" on NPS land may be the sort of things that drive this hobby back together in ways we couldn't even imagine just a year ago. It's a whole new world out there in living history land.

Quote :

Charles Heath wrote :  A little Chem-Lite goes a long way. I'm assuming you don't really want Portajohn shadow shows!

Charles,

After reading about what goes on at reenactments, in that thread over on Szabo's Forum, I may go with a generator and 100 watt bulbs!  

In actual fact, I was planning to steal your idea and put Chem-Lites in the Porta-Potties. My first experiment will be at the upcoming Neshaminy event.  

Bill,

Perhaps you could suspend one of those chem-lites adjacent to, but underneath, the seat.  That should lead to some intriguing speculation about the last occupant’s deposit.

Bill,

They'll work fine. Some are brighter than others, too.  

Just remember to pick up a package of electrical wire ties small enough to fit into the hang hole of the Chem-Lite, yet long enough to secure it to a window vent screen, spring, or door stop wire to keep the little glowing sticks from ending up you-know-where.  

Oh, yes. Think about it.

- Glow In The Dark Mess -

Charles,

I was thinking about hanging the Lite-Sticks someplace close to the urinals. It seems guys can't shoot straight in the dark.  

Curtis,

I'm not real squeamish and I like a good joke. But, I do draw the line at hanging anything on the inside of a Porta-Potty tank. Call me a wimp if you want!  

--Last edited by Bill on 2008-03-24 17:47:40 --

Bill,

At Ft. Gaines, on Dauphin Island, AL, (south of Mobile, AL) there is ten-holer toilet that was flushed by tidal action.  It was a neat concept.  One night prior to a candle light tour our lads had taken a seat and had put green and red chem-lites inside the toilets.  There is somewhat of a screen between those seated and the standing candle light tour spectators.  I was leading the candle light tour.  We wandered through the fort and I was steadily rattling away at those people.  It came time for them to venture into the outhouse, which is actually one of the casemates.  When I poked my head around that screen and  saw the light emanating from underneath the seated performers that was a sight that I’m not certain I’m over yet.

Quote :

Bill wrote : I was thinking about hanging the Lite-Sticks someplace close to the urinals. It seems guys can't shoot straight in the dark.   [/img]

Bill, you would be surprised at how many women actually believe that plastic device is a convenient purse holder. I am not kidding.

The built-in and stand alone hand washers are a nice touch, but can add to the rental cost, and they are something else that need to be maintained during the event.

You mean it's not a mint dispenser?  

Portajohns are unnatural and an unhealthy way of performing a normal biological function.  Avoid them whenever possible.  When there is no reasonable alterative, never use the one standing by itself in high traffic areas.  

Didn't see any at Rich Mountain.  Didn't see any during Banks Grand Retreat.  Ditto for the Chickamauga LH.  Don't think I'd want to see the ones at GAC 145th.  Think of the site of row after row after row of recepticles.  Think of the constant noise caused by those heroes who do their best to vacume them for your benefit.  Think of the aroma from those unnatural things used to disguise the natural things.  Portajohns are a regular assault of the senses, and I'm not even talking about using them.  

The Pacific Nor'west name for them is "honey bucket."  Ain't nothing sweet about 'em.

I'm suddenly reminded of Smotherman's famed Ode to the Blue Sauna.

Philadelphia Eagles game, just before it's time to go into the stadium. Nothing worse than the little blue and poo colored houses. By that time, they have each and every one, begun to overflow into great rivers of blue and poo. That's as foul as it gets.

Dang Grump,

we even have bathrooms at Paul Brown Stadium!  Must be a Philly thing.

Quote :

GrumpyDave wrote : Philadelphia Eagles game, just before it's time to go into the stadium. Nothing worse than the little blue and poo colored houses. By that time, they have each and every one, begun to overflow into great rivers of blue and poo. That's as foul as it gets.

Still going to the wrong games??  

NO, NO, NO. In the parking lot, before the game silly. Ohio sports teams? So, do they have pro sports teams in Ohio? Besides bowling I mean. So, how many super bowls have the Ohio teams won? About as many as the Eagles or, 5 less then the Stillers I recon.