Neshaminy

[Anders]

I had fun...what did you all think?

Pards,

[billwatson2]

I had fun with the Mifflin Guard. We formed square! :)

[Remise]

I was stuck at a fencing tournament in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, being struck about the head and body by deranged teenagers wielding steel swords. Can you, Chris, or someone else, post an AAR for those of us who were not there? I for one would enjoy reading it. Hopefully your experience was different from mine!

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penn.a Reserves

[billwatson2]

No AAR, but I can tell you I fell in with your unit. :) I had a private's eye view of all the battles -- it was just dust, bright sunlight, drifting clouds of pollen, spartina patens, sumac and noise.

[Julio C. Zangroniz]

...is under preparation by Supreme Scrivener Michael Schaffner.
I am working on a *photographic* report that will be published in my website (listed below), hopefully by the end of this week. Unfortunately I only brought two cameras with me to the event and had technical troubles with both of them, so I'm having to do a lot more "after the fact" correction work than I like.
Such is life, I guess.
Be patient, for there will be lots more about this blastedly hot, but fun, weekend in the next few days.
And as usual, the organizers raised a lot of $$$ for good purposes.
Julio

[Capt 14th]

I had fun...what did you all think?

Pards,

Had a great time.....you and the boys looked great in the red kepis ;)

[ejazzyjeff]

I had a great time, it was hot, but bearable. Fortunately there was always a breeze blowing.

[agrnbrt]

Great time. Hot as h*ll though. Sunday was better than Saturday as fas a temp and humidity. Not to mention the fun going on at the fence line. It looked great from where I was. Nothing like seeing yankees taken down hand to hand.

[MDConfederate]

OK, I'll post my AAR for the CVG at Neshaminy

Neshaminy – “Appomattox Campaign” –May 1-2, 2010

I arrived in the CVG camp and reported to headquarters around 9:00 pm Friday April 30. The CVG would be portraying the Savannah Volunteer Guard the next day and the men had do a good job trying to look the part with many red kepis, red hat cords, and red trim. The men had gone above and beyond as usually with their efforts to have a good impression.

Reveille was at 6:00 am. Our three companies were formed for roll call and morning reports were submitted. I can’t recall the exact number, but our battalion was around 65 officers and men - Co. A under Capt. Mason – Co. C under Capt. Stevenson – Co. E under Lt. Casella. The entire battalion was commanded by Major Anders with me serving as his second in command. Lt. McLaughlin, battalion adjutant, formed the battalion for morning parade and orders for the day were read. Rations of beef, soft bread, coffee, potatoes, and onions were issued to the men. As I was busy with meetings Pvt. Hepner agreed to cook my rations for which I was very grateful. At 9:00 am Major Anders and I reported to Col. Rodman’s headquarters to attend the meeting to go over the scenario and walk-through of the battlefield with our Federal opposition. Lt. McLaughlin saw that the companies worked on Company Drill. When Major Anders and I returned, I was ordered to run the men through some battalion drill. I realized that I was pretty rusty from not commanding a battalion in over 8 months. I believe the experience was just as good for me as it was for the men. Major Anders took over the second half of battalion drill focusing on closed column drill. This is an area of drill that I need special work on and intend to give it a try on my own at Shenandoah 62 next month.

In the early afternoon we assembled for the tactical battle. We knew our army consisted of about 250 men and the Federals were estimated at 500 or more. Our small battalion and a company of cavalry was to find the enemy and attempt to draw them in to the open in order to allow our two larger battalions to catch the enemy on the flank. Co. A was deployed as skirmishers along a road that ran perpendicular to the Neshaminy Creek. Our left was anchored on a trail that led two the Federal camp while the cavalry held a trail off to our right. Co. E and Co. C were held in reserve behind Co. A’s skirmish line. Co. A, and the cavalry could not cover the entire front, so there was a large gap in the center. Major Anders ordered me to take two scouts, Pvt. Mock and Pvt. Raymond, down the trail on our left, which ran at an angle across our front. I established an observation post that allowed them a clear view of any troops using the trails in our front. There was some firing from the cavalry on our right as our two scouts returned reporting a Federal battalion advancing in our direction. Three or four enemy scouts approached and fired on us, but we held our fire. The Federal battalion appeared, but did not deploy. They marched by the flank and came right at Co. A’s second platoon which held the left flank. Co. A open fired and would have inflicted several casualties. However, the Federals did not react to our firing and continued marching by the flank. They intended to rely on their superior numbers and ignored the reality that they would have at least lost some of their men. Co. A retreated and rallied on the reserve companies who were now firing on the Federals that still had not formed a line of battle. As their lead company went into line, Co. A fired a volley into them. Finally they started to return fire. Our battalion fell back to a new line of defense and continued firing as the Federals advanced. We continued our retreat toward our right rear as planned in order to draw them into Col. Abraham’s battalion. Pvt. Mock appeared all used up, so Lt. Fisher and I made sure he was out of the sun and in a cool comfortable spot. As we entered the woods to our rear, Col. Abraham’s battalion appeared on our right. However, were now up against at least 3 Federal battalions and at risk of being encircled, so we continued our fighting retreat. We attempted to reform our line once again and were suffering significant loses. Major Anders ordered us to hold the line, and I made every effort to prevent our men from running away. Col. Abraham’s battalion was also suffering significant casualties and could do no more. A bugle call to cease fire was ordered but not by any of the CVG officers as we were all dead, wounded, or captured and the battle ended. We later learned that the bugler played the call too soon as Col. Miller’s battalion was only just beginning to get into the fight, and had only fired one volley. Perhaps we should have made the effort to withdraw one more time. Many of us felt badly that Miller’s battalion had not had much of a chance to participate. Before moving to our assembly area for the spectator battalion, I went back to find Pvt. Mock. He was doing well and talking with a Yank that had stopped to make sure he was doing OK. The Yank said he was impressed with our battalion and that we had put up an excellent fight. Pvt. Mock was well rested and ready to return to the battalion. I insisted that he sling his jacket for the rest of the day and drink extra water.

Our battalion rested for a short time in whatever shade we could find. It was warmer than expected and there was not much of a breeze. I was glad when we received orders to begin the scripted battle. Anything was better than waiting around in the heat. On the way to the field we march past some Union artillery. They teased us for all of our red trim, but when we informed them that we were the Savannah Volunteer Guard and therefore artillery serving as infantry, they gave us many compliments. Our roll in the scenario went well. We were attacked in the open field and provided a stiff resistance. Our biggest problem was making sure the men did not fall in a patch of poison ivy when they took hits. We repulsed a Federal assault and attempted to pursue them which got us caught in the middle of the field. The Federals began to envelop us and our line curved into a crescent shape with our flag in the center. We suffered heavy losses and after our flag fell for the third time the Federals overran us and captured our flag with 15 surviving members of the battalion. I was wounded near the flag and observed the hand to hand fighting go very well. Col. Rodman later told me that our destruction went very well and must have looked fantastic for the spectators. When the battle ended we reformed our battalion and marched to the sutlers where we stacked arms and allowed everyone a chance to relax. At 5:00 pm we reformed for a period photo and eventually returned to camp. Major Anders had to leave and turned the battalion over to me for the remainder of the weekend.

On Sunday morning reveille was at 7:00 am and morning reports were submitted. At 8:00 am we held morning parade during which time we reminded the battalion make sure the camp was clean when we left for battle and that Co. A would be hosting bayonet drill around 10:00 am. Members of other companies were invited but not required to participate. I also reminded them that Shenandoah 62 would be our next battalion event and informed them of what to expect. At 9:00 am I attended the walk-through to go over the scripted battle with the other battalion commanders. I returned to camp around 10:00 am as the men were forming up for bayonet drill. Capt. Mason and 1st Sgt. Underwood provided the instruction and there was good attendance from all companies.

At 1:15 pm our battalion was formed and weapons were inspected. By 1:30 we were formed with the rest of the brigade and ready to take our position for the High Bridge scenario. We still formed three companies but each company was a few men smaller than the day before. We marched by the left in a column of companies onto the field and did a “battalion, left into line” which put us perfectly into position along our breast works. I ordered the battalion to form a single rank along the works and fortify their position. The men soon took their place kneeling and laying along the works. While the enemy deployed onto the far end of the field, I order my men to load and take careful aim. After a few battalion volleys and then firing by company, I took a hit and command when to Capt. Stevenson. The Yanks must have had it out for our commissioned officers because Capt. Mason was hit next. Lt. Novak assumed command as the Yanks charged our position. He waited until the last possible moment and delivered a solid battalion volley at close range which inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in front of our works. Pvt. Hepner, Pvt. Wright, and later Pvt. Kish scurried over the works to grab ammunition and food from the dead and wounded Federals, but there was some fight still left in some of them who had to be given their "final discharge." A new Federal regiment began to press our lines and Lt. Novak was wounded leaving Lt. Cassella in charge. Lt. Cassella continued to gallantly direct the men with great energy until the engagement was decide.

When the battle was over we reformed the battalion, cleared weapons, and dismissed the men from the field. I also checked with the Federals in our front to make sure everyone was OK. I was pleased with the battalion, but I was a little disappointed in myself as I was clearly out of practice when it came to commanding a battalion. However, I saw this event as good practice to remind me of what needs to be done at Shenandoah 62 which will be a much more challenging event. I thank all those who gave it their best this past weekend and look forward to getting back into the field soon.

Respectfully,
Major John A. Wyman
CVG

[sigman]

I had fun...what did you all think?

Pards,

Hey Chris, say you Saturday after the woods roust, and Sunday down by the Landing, tipped my hat to you, but I guess you had your "short" eyeballs and didn't see me.

Saw your battalion photo after it dried, nice pic! Gibson did one a few years ago at the PA Monument during the Mifflin Guard encampment. Those images sure look like the real thing.

Mifflin Guard made a round about march as commanded, got to the jump off for our seconf forray into the battle, but it ended as we arrived.

Good event, would of been better for the fellows with a few degrees of lower temperature.

Regards, Andy Siganuk, Mifflin Guard

[sigman]

I had fun with the Mifflin Guard. We formed square! :)

Hope you enjoyed the weekend with us Bill.

Andy Siganuk, Mifflin Guard

[Anders]

Found this video-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scoGy2BjBXA

About 6 minutes and thirty seocnds in you can see the charge of the CVG portraying the SVG....just look for the red kepis!

Pards,

[billwatson2]

"Hope you enjoyed the weekend with us Bill."

Absolutely. I had knee and blister problems that kept me down and out of the socializing, but I put away the suddenly suspect, overly mushy rations I'd brought with me and dug into the "official" dinner, and was a better man for it. I'm going to see if Gettysburg is doable for me. :)

[billwatson2]

Interesting video. Seems like all video filters down the "boom" of the muskets into something like a pop gun, huh?

[flattop32355]

I loved the Confederate with the New England accent firing, with the warning, "Ovaah!" ;)

[billwatson2]

"Ovah ya sholda! Comin ovah ya shoulda!"

[hiplainsyank]

Don't think any New Englanders were firing muskets for the Confederates. You must have misheard some other accent...

[billwatson2]

I personally was pretty sure it was Long Island.....

[TheQM]

Last Sunday, the temperature in Philadelphia was 92 degrees. This Sunday, the temperature was 52 degrees, with wind gusts of 40 mph. Last week we had people going down with heat exhaustion. If Neshaminy had been held this weekend, we'd have to be concerned about hypothermia cases!

Oh yeah, the weekend before the event it rained on both Saturday and Sunday!