Two Gettysburgs! I knowed it! I knowed it would happen!

[Remise]

...and I may, because it's too late to stop me:

If you begin any endeavor seeking perfection, you will seldom find satisfaction. I think BGA's events are the best I have ever attended, in 12 years in the hobby. But I will still be at the GAC event, because the last time I saw division-sized units on the field was in 2002. If you look for the things you like, you will find them in abundance -- and vice versa.

B.C. Milligan
13th Taoist V.I.

[RJSamp]

...and I may, because it's too late to stop me:

If you begin any endeavor seeking perfection, you will seldom find satisfaction. I think BGA's events are the best I have ever attended, in 12 years in the hobby. But I will still be at the GAC event, because the last time I saw division-sized units on the field was in 2002. If you look for the things you like, you will find them in abundance -- and vice versa.

B.C. Milligan
13th Taoist V.I.

Neither of us is prescient of course, but it appears you are assuming there will be Division sized units at GAC and there won't be Division sized units at BGA? Or am I misreading what you typed? I just witnessed a full scale regiment with mounted field grade officer's at BGA Shiloh....and wouldn't be surprised if we have some rather large units at BGA G150.....wouldn't be surprised at all if more reenactors attend BGA G150 as opposed to GAC G150......
the same units that are committing to BGA G150 are the same units that attended the non-GAC G135 extravaganza.

Just sayin' (and yes, talk is cheap).

[Spinster]

Gentlemen


Let's stay a bit more on focus.

A separate thread with cogent, experienced, well informed, well written posts on the subject of artillery standards and safety at large events-------would be a very good idea.

[Provost-ADC]

Friends,

This thread was losing its broad focus on the subject of multiple Gettysburg events, and getting in to issues specific to a branch of service. I've deleted those posts from this thread, and moved them here:

http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/sh...r-150th-events

Carry On---in the thread that is appropriate to your concerns.

[Eaglescout]

Two Gettysburg events is just greed and ego. The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee has put on this event for many years coinciding with events at the National Park and Battlefield. I have longed to come to Gettysburg and experience the excitement of a large contingent of soldiers, artillery, and civilians. With two events, we will become divided and will not have the strong force that one event would welcome. Many in our unit tell stories of the 145th, with excitement of rows and rows of both confederate and union soldiers reenacting full scale attacks. For those of us who have not had a chance to attend a large scale event, two Gettysburg events will just do nothing but scale down both events and discourage those already in reenacting that want all of us to join forces to put on the largest event that we could possibly have. It has been said that the BAG want to be more authentic in their scenarios. If they feel that the GAC isn't authentic enough, then why not come together and teach each other the proper way of putting on a large scale event properly. I am coming from Florida and have been planning this trip since 2011, a trip of a lifetime for me, and was hoping it was bigger than anything I have ever witnessed.

I experienced first hand the disappointments at Antietam with two events one weekend after another. Units were divided, Battalions were divided. Hmmm maybe we are putting on an event that is period correct, in that we are again divided like our ancestors.

[reddiamond]

Folks,
The hobby is less than half the size it was during the 135ths.
There were lust under 2,000 Federal infantry at MMM. There was half that many at the 150th Antietam. Throw in another 1,000 Federals coming in from out west and beyond, that is 4,000 Federals.
The number of Federal organizations who have committed to the B-G Alliance event and the GAC event represent 3 to 1. Thus, 3,000 Federals at one and 1,000 at the other.

The B-G Alliance event WILL BE the larger. If it is big you are looking for there you go!
If you want to go to the GAC event out of hope that the advertisers will deliver the numbers, think again. There are simply not enough numbers to have the troops we saw 15 years ago. At best we can have a small division of Federals.

Scot Buffington
farbalicious!

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Two Gettysburg events is just greed and ego. The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee has put on this event for many years coinciding with events at the National Park and Battlefield. I have longed to come to Gettysburg and experience the excitement of a large contingent of soldiers, artillery, and civilians. With two events, we will become divided and will not have the strong force that one event would welcome. Many in our unit tell stories of the 145th, with excitement of rows and rows of both confederate and union soldiers reenacting full scale attacks. For those of us who have not had a chance to attend a large scale event, two Gettysburg events will just do nothing but scale down both events and discourage those already in reenacting that want all of us to join forces to put on the largest event that we could possibly have. It has been said that the BAG want to be more authentic in their scenarios. If they feel that the GAC isn't authentic enough, then why not come together and teach each other the proper way of putting on a large scale event properly. I am coming from Florida and have been planning this trip since 2011, a trip of a lifetime for me, and was hoping it was bigger than anything I have ever witnessed.

I experienced first hand the disappointments at Antietam with two events one weekend after another. Units were divided, Battalions were divided. Hmmm maybe we are putting on an event that is period correct, in that we are again divided like our ancestors.

Two events does not necessarily mean one would have been a lot bigger. I, like many in the progessive end of things, had no intention of going to Gettysburg until the BGA event came along. The circuses encountered at the 135 and 140 was enough for me to say never again, so I truly don't believe that the "watering down" of numbers with two events is as big as some will say it is - many weren't drinking the Kool Aid for the GAC event

[Pvt Schnapps]

Folks,
The hobby is less than half the size it was during the 135ths.
There were lust under 2,000 Federal infantry at MMM. There was half that many at the 150th Antietam. Throw in another 1,000 Federals coming in from out west and beyond, that is 4,000 Federals.
The number of Federal organizations who have committed to the B-G Alliance event and the GAC event represent 3 to 1. Thus, 3,000 Federals at one and 1,000 at the other.

The B-G Alliance event WILL BE the larger. If it is big you are looking for there you go!
If you want to go to the GAC event out of hope that the advertisers will deliver the numbers, think again. There are simply not enough numbers to have the troops we saw 15 years ago. At best we can have a small division of Federals.

Scot Buffington
farbalicious!

This deserves all the underscoring and emphasis it can get. The ONLY argument advanced in favor of the GAC event ten years ago, the only argument five years ago, and the only argument today consists of the claim of "numbers." I think last year's Bull Run raised the question of "numbers of what?" This year's Antietam showed that GAC can no longer even produce the numbers, which combined with its commercialism and total inability or unwillingness to script a scenario make it a loser for everyone who attends, except perhaps fringe impressions and funnel cake vendors.

BGA Shiloh had numbers, scenario control, and campaigner adjuncts -- something for everyone. So did "Maryland, My Maryland." BGA Gettysburg might or might not be perfect, but the MMM team is supporting it, as are the majority of reenactor organizations. It's the only event out there for someone who wants BOTH numbers and quality.

I base these statements on personal experience, having attended the BGA Shiloh earlier this year and both Antietams earlier this month.

The model of reenactments staged by reenactors has trumped the old school. The only attendees at next year's GAC will be those folks who just aren't paying attention. Even if you can't get to the BGA event, you will have vastly superior choices in the form of NPS or other living histories the weekend of GAC.

In the contest between BGA and GAC, BGA is the "uniter" not the "divider." That's no longer opinion but an observable fact.

[flattop32355]

If they feel that the GAC isn't authentic enough, then why not come together and teach each other the proper way of putting on a large scale event properly.

You might want to take another look at Spinster's post, which addresses this very issue: It was tried, and to say that GAC was not interested would be a gross understatement.
That was the reason the second event took shape.

Personally, I wasn't disappointed at all about the two Antietam's. I went to the one I wanted to go to, was quite satisfied with the results, and wasn't bothered by what did or didn't occur at the other one.

[Julio C. Zangroniz]

About those TWO Gettysburgs...
As a working member of the News Correspondents Club (something that really doesn't "officially" exist, but it does in real life), I would like to ask the members of this electronic community:
Do you think that the TWO different --probably VERY different-- Gettysburg living history programs in 2013 will HELP or HINDER the development of the hobby?
Further, I would like to ask how many of you who are "subscribers" here plan to attend one, or the other, or BOTH programs?
I have to be at both, and I will photograph both, so you will not find me taking sides. And somehow, more than likely, I will FIND A WAY to have a good time and, hopefully, capture lots of good images at both.
After all, from my particular perspective, it's not all black and white.
For there are lots and lots of wonderful, beautiful shades in between the two extremes... at least for me!
Julio
Julio