
Originally Posted by
captdougofky
To All
I'm waiting to hear from someone on this forum how it went. Diesel in Kentucky is 4.54 a gallon. I'm going to Gettysburg in July, has the state of fuel had an effect on the hobby yet. What were the numbers, one can only guess. To anyone who went let us know. Good, Bad, or whatever?
Always
Doug Thomas
Lyons Battery CS
Shepherdsville Ky.
it's now officially called Stand of Ticks.
Campaigners had a great time....plenty of ground, cover, fresh water, firewood (the deadfall plus supplied split wood was plentiful to say the least), ration issue was excellent.
I thought the organizers and event liaison did superb work....enthusiastic, supportive, details covered, etc. couldn't ask for a better group. From the check in at the old Sutherland's Lumber, the meal at Jess & Jim's (still one of my favorite steak houses in the US, last prior visit Nov 1982) was Superb, the Security (uniformed and armed On Duty Police, the event head of security was the retired/former chief of police from South KCMO) top notch, signage and directions spot on. In Camp parking superb.....but off site parking was a hike (at least they abandoned the Bannister Mall bussing system!). Cars and trailers were OUT OF CAMP. YEA!
The picket line action was aggressive and furious, mounted patrols were ambushed, our grand rounds officer staff nearly annihlated (the thought of Generals and Colonels riding at a DEAD run over hill and dale and around cedars is stirring). Firing sprang out at all hourse, and the men had to be on their toes.
Artillery was OK, about 4-5 pieces per side. one mountain howitzer on the US side, of course ALL of us are aware of the Mountain Howitzer at the Mockbee Farm Battle October 22, 1864? For the unaware, the event was at about 137th and Holmes, and the Mockbee Farm battle was at 78th and Holmes (Tower Park today).....one artillery piece present, a mountain howitzer in the lane. The horse drawn CSA piece was a wonderful site....but was dismayed to see them bring the piece out into the battle field to the infantry firing line, less than 200 yards from our infantry and under 600 yards from our artillery. I don't know who's zoomin' whom, but they would have been cut to shreds in a few volleys, even before they could fire 1 round. Hang out a few more minutes and it would have been curtains.
Cavalry was well represented, as well it should be for a campaign of primarily cavalry battles (or dismounted cavalry vs infantry), with nearly 100 horses on site. Saw some decent dismounted cavalry action.
Infantry was a winner....long set off distances between firing lines. Limited skirmisher deployment (this could have been done in greater numbers and frequency) and no battalion breaks on the US side (22 yards was the 'reg', but ZERO was not the norm). We used Bugles to move infantry by battalion....this worked well.
We ran the encampments by the bugle and had guard mount, school call, sick call, etc. some great singing at Tula's..... school kids had some great vignettes to stimulate their minds.
Repel and Deep Woods were the tonic/elixir of the day......
Weather was PERFECT.
I had fun, how about you?
RJ Samp
Horniste! Blas das Signal zum Angriffe!
"But in the end, it's the history, stupid. If you can't document it, forget about it. And no amount of 'tomfoolery' can explain away conduct that in the end makes history (and living historians) look stupid and wrong. "
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