McDowell AAR

[Anders]

I had fun...how about you?



Pards,

[Gary E.]

I had a great time! Sunday's fight was just incredible!!

[Anders]

It was the best ever on the original ground!

[mike44thva]

Definately had a great time. I'm now trying to figure out what kind of softbread we got in our rations in Fed. Camp or where it came from so I can get some more.

[Rough and Ready Boy]

I had an awesome time even in the rain. We portrayed the 12th Georgia. It was my first McDowell event. What a neat little town. Thanks to the citizens that put us up for the night in their barn Saturday night. Sunday's battle was great! I was one of the pickets that saw the yanks coming up the road in that fog. At that moment I was transferred back in time. Just awesome! God I wish I had some more of those donuts.

Doug Davis
26th NC

[Anders]

The bread I picked up from Burkholder's Baked Goods in Sharpsburg MD....

Pards,

Chris

[DamYankee25]

This was my first McDowell and I had a blast. We were wet but we had fun. Sunday was outstanding to say the least, we were the 3rd VA Loyal as we came up the road all I saw was smoke/fog and and we double quicked and all I could hear was the Rebel Yell coming from an unknown location followed by gunfire presumably directed at us. This was one of the most realistic feelings I've had in 20 years of this hobby. Thanks to the rebs not doing the "yee haw" sillyness but closer to that of the rebel yell recordings. I can understand all those first hand accounts of hearing that yell and feeling it in every part of your being. It literally sent chills up my spine and gave me goosebumps. We don't get that kind of feeling often in this hobby. I had fun arresting those town boys on Saturday too. They played the part and they played it well, hats off to you fellas.

[BanjoPicker]

I agree Sundays battle was great.This was my first reenactment and I must say I'm now hooked. I was with the 10th Va. We gave the Yanks **** on the left flank.

Kevin Legg
10th Va

[2nd Georgia]

After a 10 hour drive I was really looking forward to this event and while Saturdays battle was a bit of a disappointment the hike through the mountans was a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Sunday on the other hand was a totally different matter, one of the best re-enactment days I have had in a long time. Sundays battle made the 20 hour drive worth the effort. I'll second the comment on the bread rations, it tasted just like mom makes. My thanks to everyone involved.

Craig Wolfe

[Bob Minton]

Brandon I agree with you about the Rebel yell. As Federal commander I had talked to our advance guard and we thought we had hit just the Reb picket line. We could see that our water supply was just beyond them. So, orders were given to drive the pickets back so we could water up before the main fight. Well, needless to say after the first few shots when that Rebel yell started coming from the hills above us it was clear we had run into a whole lotta Johnnies! It was an awesome moment to say the least. Was disappointed the rain caused us to miss the Sat. camp along the river which was always a high point. We had new camps picked out for this year to add to the experience. Sigh! We had bread left after the Sat. morning ration issue. Once the word went out we had a steady supply of guys coming for more of it!

Craig, agreed on the Sat. battle. Not a lot you can do with it given the field and need to put on a show for the locals in exchange for letting us take over their town. The ridge used at least gives a sense of trying to take the heights but it pales in comparison to the real thing. I enjoyed the chance to mingle with the Confederates on top of the hill on Sunday after the fight. Enjoyed the mutual respect shown by both sides, smiles and laughs as we swapped our take of what had just happened. The hobby needs more of that.

Regards,
Bob Minton
Army of the Ohio