to **** and back?

[johnerys]

I was hjust wondering the other day with one of my reenacting pards and we were discussing officer and their varying quality, which is much talked about here also, which leads to my question - would you follow your captain, colonel, or even sgt into actual combat if you found yourself "back in time" , or to put it another way, would you trust them to lead you?

[3rd_PA_Artillery]

Yes, in such a situation, I would trust my officers to lead me. For example, Andre Wagner, the CO of the 147th PVI Co. G, to name one. I'd follow him and the 147th to the ends of the earth. Some officers of other units, I may not entirely trust, but for the most part, I trust most of my commanders.

[Micah Trent]

LOL...this question has the potential to make or brake units or groups.

[Jubilo]

Dear Sir,
Armies do not require trust. Soldiers are disciplined to follow orders and cannot decide which officer's orders will be obeyed. In most armies the penalty for indiscipline in war time is death. In reenacting there is no discipline; consider tacticals and "broken" scenarios.
all for the old flag,
David Corbett

[Poor Private]

The captain( to be kind) that I was under at the last event of the year. I would not follow him in a grocery store for a bottle of soda pop. Horrible on giving orders didn't know the commands got mixed up easily under pressure. If it would have been a real life situation he would have been fragged by me or one of the other 30 guys under him.
There has been 1 notable col. who I have served under when doing tacticals when the pressure hits he just throws up his hands and walks away, he seemed/seems to not be able to handle changing situations on the field. It gives the troops the idea that he quit, instead of trying to rectifiing the situation. Sometimes even though the situation is lost or not correct trying to solve the situation gives the troops under your command more trust in your leadership than walking away.
Now There are a couple who I have taken the field under who, would be a good captain or higher officer to follow into combat. Kept thier heads under pressure, knew which orders and command to give, didn't unneccessarily subject his troops to dangerous situations, and knew when to leave when under too much presssure. Could handle changing situations when the oppisite commander tosses him a curve ball during even staged battles.

["Doc" Nelson]

Well . . given my impression, I would have to follow myself . This is one of the "luxuries" of being a Surgeon (recreated . . not real).

No, really . . the Colonel of our "Battalion" I would follow to h*ll and back. Heck, I would proudly carry our flag, if asked to do so.

[flattop32355]

I believe it was at Franklin a few years ago. Our Lieutenant (now our Captain) was behind us as we moved up the hill on Sunday. Driven back twice, I looked to my left and right, and discovered that I was about the only man left standing in our company. I glanced back, saw the LT, and was about to ask him, "What now?" when the order to charge came down the line.

I saw the look in his eyes, the sword came up and pointed to the crest of the hill, and he screamed, "CHARGE!" Next thing I knew, I was at the top of the hill staring at the entire rebel army. If he'd told me to, I have charged right into the middle of them.

Yeah, I follow him, gladly.

[indguard]

There have been several folks I've met over the years whom I feel I would follow into real combat.

But, not having been in combat, I cannot say for sure how I would handle it... no one does until they are faced with such a situation, I suppose. So, yes, there are men I've met in the hobby that I'd follow into combat if put in that situation.

Warner Todd Huston

[yerbyray]

Last year at Gettysburg I met a profound officer from the 26th NC who I think I would follow without question. We both were "wounded" during the evening tactical and limped off the field together. I was immediately impressed that an officer took a hit.

He was a retired fire chief from a medium sized city here in NC and in conversation he discovered I was a firefighter. That bond may have strengthened my decision on this question for firefighting is akin to combat. In a five minute conversation I made the decision that I respected him, and would have followed him at great length.

Most reenacting units I have witnessed it has been more a popularity contest in electing officers instead of being based on the merits of courage, practical intelligence, and wisdom.

I shun any unit that has a leader who wants to be an officer. In my opinion, the best officers are reluctant to assume the role. The Chest Beaters, the thumbs in their suspender types, and the power hungry who leap at the chance to lead would not encourage me to go and get a bucket of water let alone fight.

In my Rev War heyday our unit have three active special forces folks from Fort Bragg. One was a highly commissioned officer. None of them would take an officer role in reenacting.

I would have followed them as well.

Beware of the eager.

This leads me to an interesting thought regarding the election of Confederate officers.....I wonder if there were second thoughts, poor choices based on popularity, etc. I don't recall reading anything except grumblings from men who did not like some officers.

[Jim Mayo]

My unit has had three officers since 1982. The first had little military experience and didn't last long as commander. The next one was a Korean War combat wounded enlisted vet. The present is a retired Marine Capt. who served in VN. There would not be any problem following either of the latter two except where to stop for coffee.