Red River experiences

[Colonel Dave]

Anyone else want to chip in with their experiences at either of the Red River events or Into the Piney Woods event?

[MD_Independent26]

Last March, I slept with four Frenchmen and a Belgian in a water-logged shebang, shivering from a fever, but still game for the next morning. Can't wait to do it again.

[PMB1861]

I watched my Comrade attempt to sway the heathen French and one dirty bedraggled scarecrow from Cecille County Maryland to the path of righteousness that can be found in taking the Temperance Pledge and denouncing rebellion. He did this even in their own tounge.

Later, I don't know if my Russian/Irish bulk or his Italian fire kept us from freezing to death but it somehow worked one long, cold and wet night.

When the next one comes along don't miss out. Words do not do it justice.

[Mint Julep]

I wore my knapsack at Red River 2.

[Mint Julep]

When the next one comes along don't miss out. Words do not do it justice.

Pete, I know you already know this, but ...

In the Van. August 1 - 7, 2010.

Participants can portray a company of CS infantry escorting part of the wagon train following Kirby Smith into Kentucky in the late summer of 1862 as the invasion begins. The event starts on a Sunday and ends the following Saturday. For one week, we will march, guard against Unionists guerillas, push or pull wagons as necessary and, most importantly, live in the field as soldiers.

Several folks here are involved in the planning and participating.

Impression guidelines will be enforced, but are fairly easily met. There is plenty of time to acquire what is not already possessed to meet the guidelines.

If you want to go, let me know.

[Coatsy]

I was not at the RR events and school kept me from the first Tom and Fred a-palooza. I finally got to play at Piney Woods. I wore a knapsack all week, ate bacon and hard crackers for my fine dining, cooked said bacon in the dark, got water from streams, stood picket duty as Corporal of the Guard in the early AM fighting sleepy time, kept my outpost from blasting our adjutant because he forgot the countersign, was a part of a well led company, saw a battalion work as it historically should in adverse conditions, pooled my gear with my two mess mates to survive bizzaro weather changes, thanked my stars and garters for my blankey and a rubber blankey, helped push an army wagon up a few hills, loved my dried apples and “Irish Coffee” reward from the commissary officer for pushing said army wagon up the hills, fought with unbridled zeal to save our Soup ala Clucky against General Taylor's Legions of Seceshers, implemented the plan to keep the company fire going in a sideways downpour, didn’t care if I fired my musket at all, wanted to go home to my wife and family, saw Loo-Z-Anna one pine tree at a time, and finally sacrificed my pocket knife to the Bayou Yeti as a offering of thanks for letting me survive Commissary Banks ineptitude (recreated of course) unharmed.

Piney Woods was an experience that I won’t forget and it is the closest to being “on campaign” that I’ve experienced at events.

I got stuck marching next to that Pouge Mahone guy because I was the tallest corporal and he was the orderly sergeant. If you can survive that at an event you can survive anything at events.

I highly encourage folks to attend a week long campaign event when one is on the calendar if they have not done so. (or if they are crazy enough to do it again) I don’t know if I can take that type of time off again from the real world again. If I can’t go again at least I had that one outing and in some masochistic manner I am glad I went.

And Jeebus Wept…..

[old reb46]

I hate being cold and wet and I hate being hot. I hate sleeping on the ground. I hate off-sirs and I hate bad food. I hate the soldiering life. I hate marching. Did I mention I hate the soldiering life?

[Ground Hornet]

I have seen this "Old Reb" fellow at events. He was at Banks' Grand Retreat and Into the Piney Woods. One just had to look off into the distant treeline to catch occasional sight of him. Sort of a specter or a haint from the old times. He kept us all honest and despite his said hatred for soldiering, he is one of the truest and best at such.

[Spinster]

Yes he is.

And for women and children, who know nothing of the real parts of soldiering, but do know different hardships, the knowledge that he was out there, in front of us, behind us, was a comfort and a help.

And is one still.

[old reb46]

I prefer referring to him in the third person. He is simply an ornery old cuss, too stupid not to keep repeating the same mistakes, too old to do so, and too impolite and uncouth for proper society. Thus, he will no doubt pop up from time to time with his shotgun to gun someone down from the backside before returning to his rocker. But he prefers sleeping in a warm, dry house with Mexican women to attend him than sleeping on the cold wet ground. German women folks are accepted if no Mexican women can be found.