Prisoners on the Mohican, Loudonville, OH- July 24-26

[jurgitemvaletem]

The following is concerning the event being put on just outside of Loudonville, OH on July 24-26 . The ground is good, I now have all the camp and battle sites picked out. Our confederate guards are being put together by the 5th KY and their friends under the command of the able Jeff Steiner.

For this we will be doing something a bit different. Instead of your normal seperate military camps our main camp will be portraying a section of the Andersonville prison camp. The confederates will be stationed in a circular camp forming a perimeter around the imprisoned federals. We ask that while in camp all federal reenactors attempt to conceal weapons and musket accoutrements from site as these are not items they would have been permited to keep while imprisoned. There will be periodic checks to ensure that this is adhered to and if a violation is found, the offedner will be reminded of the request. Our hope is to simulate the camp life of a section of the Andersonville Prison as accurately as possible.

In addition to the living history opportunities associated with the camp style we will also be recreating a hanging that occured inside of the prison. A period correct gallows is being constructed and the proceedings will be fulfilled with all military formality. It should end up being pretty cool.

Being that this is a prison camp style event we are limiting the amount of rank on the federal side. All other ranks above that of corporal must be approved beforehand. Anyone not in compliance and not willing to concied will be asked to not participate. All confederate rank over that of corporal must likewise be aproved. Aproval for confederate rank must go through Jeff Steiner and aproval for federal rank can go through Patrick Skeese. Also, while both federal and confederate artillerists are more than welcome to attend, the amount of cannon will be limited to 4 total. The confederates are invited to bring a maximum of 2 cannon, aproval for which can go through Patrick Skeese, beyond that none will be permitted. The same is true, a maximum of 2 aproved cannon, for the federal side which are to be manned only during the tactical scenarios. While not actively manned all cannon will be placed around the perimeter of the camp to function as guard pieces. I am truly sorry if this inconveniences anyone, the fact of the matter is that the scenario simply can not support it. Federal artillerists are indeed encouraged to attend, it will be a rare opportunity at living history telling the story of how you battery was over run and your crew taken prisoner. As of now there are no cannon officialy aproved so it is free game.

Ofcourse with all the land we have to play on those of us organizing the event have deemed it necassary to use it. Alongside the living history that we will be able to give the spectators we will also be holding scripted and judged tacticals on both days. What we are going to do is have our tacticals start a bit off in the distance inside a densely forrested area with hills and flat areas and work our way towards the road directly across from our camp to a hill top where breastworks will have been constructed. Like I said, the tacticals will be judged but they will also be scripted in that the respective army commanders know their goals and what needs to be accomplished. this is something we can have a lot of fun with and I am looking forward to it.

There is no registration fee for this event. However, for those who would like to parcipate we will be doing a full weekend ration issue consisting of 2 lbs. Pork, 1 lb. Rice, potatoes, onion, coffee, and sugar at a price of $7 per person. A $2 donation will also be accepted to helpw ith the costs of the event. All proceeds, if any, will go towards the preservation of the Andersonville prison camp. If soemone would like to be in on the ration issue the fee needs to be in by July 13th, anything after that will not be counted. Checks for the ration or the $2 donation can be made and sent to

Patrick Skeese
74 Ramona Ave.
Newark, OH 43055

If you are interested in coming and joining us for the weekend please feel free to contact me for further information. Directions to the site are as follows. If you need further clarification please do not hesitate to get in touch with me and I will do everything I can to help you get there. The general location is the extreme NE corner of Knox County in Ohio.


From the North: Take I-71 south to Ashland exit SR 250 west. Turn onto SR 42 south, to SR 60 south. Follow SR 60 18 miles to Loudonville. Turn onto SR 3 south, then left onto Wally Rd (CR 3175). We will be on the left, after the farm house.


From the South: Route 62 from New Albany to Danville. Take 514 to Greer.Turn left on Wally Road for 2.5 miles. We will be on the right.




My contact info is

phone- (740) 281-9506 and can be called any time
email- pat30ovi@yahoo.com
address- 74 Ramona Avenue
Newark, OH 43055

thanks,
Patrick Skeese

[Green Minnesota SS]

This event is going to be great one everybody! I say if you have nothing going on during this event weekend, I think you should come down and have some fun. It will be a different experince for all who attend as well as a little eye opener to some of being taking as prisoner (if you're a yankee)

This is going to be a great start for this event as we can create most scenarios of the war of the groud provided, for future years.

Like I said if you can attend, why not give it a shot and lend a helping hand.

[Pvt Schnapps]

I respectfully suggest that you present your camp not as Andersonville, but as a temporary holding area for prisoners about to be exchanged (while the cartel was in effect) or shipped further south (later in the war, when the cartel had been suspended).

This more general scenario would allow you to do a living history appropriate for well clad and nourished soldiers with adequate shelter.

Based on contemporary accounts, there seems no way the setting you have in mind can do any justice to Andersonville.

All reenactments involve some leaps of faith, but this case I think would stretch the bounds of credulity and decency.

For background reading I suggest:

http://books.google.com/books?id=KsF...TYPES#PPA13,M1

http://books.google.com/books?id=dsr...as_pt=ALLTYPES

and many others.

Thank you.

[GaWildcat]

I would also suggest, though it may be a drive, you investigate participating in the LH held AT the prison site in March.

While it too requires a leap of faith due to the well fed nature of event attendees, it does put things in perspective. The whole thing starts with a short march to the reconstructed North Gate, and when the doors shut behind you in the sallyport before they open the gates into the bullpen, you really end up with a fluttering stomach. And the walk across the orginial stockade ground to the reconstructed north corner of the final expansion is really amazing for the range of emotions you go through.

I have attended this event twice, the last one being this year, each time as a Federal prisoner. Event scenarios include ration issue both days and Raider attacks, as well as punishment for escape attempts and searches for tunnels. It is hosted by the NPS and by the 21st Ohio out of Atlanta. It's a great event, and very sobering.

For our unit, it was a very somber event, since our membership includes two descendants of Camp Sumter/Castle Reed prisoners Pvt George Waymire, Co I, 4th Indiana Cavalry (died at Camp Sumter) & Captain William Hanlon, 125th New York Infantry, survived Castle Reed, Andersonville, GA.

[flattop32355]

There's a bit more involved here than meets the eye:

The 90-something yr. old fellow who controls/owns (not sure which) the land has offered it for use for future CW reenactments. His one condition is that, at the first one, it be Andersonville. Ain't no way to get around that if the ground is to become available for future years.

Central Ohio has a sad lack of places to play, and this offers the best chance to get good ground with some other advantages attached to it. It is, indeed, a compromise this time around to meet the stated requirement, particularly on fairly short notice.

In effect, this one's for him. After that, he's open to anything.

"Some men are born to run great scenarios....Others have scenarios thrust upon them."
Or, something like that.

[GaWildcat]

Well, that puts a different light on it..

[Artyman]

Even Andersonville started out as a normal (relative to other camps) camp. It just got real badder as time went by and the South starved.

So, we'll just need to pretend an earlier Andersonville.

Patrick, I'm still waiting for an eMail from you!

Harry

[Pvt Schnapps]

Originally Posted by flattop32355

There's a bit more involved here than meets the eye:

The 90-something yr. old fellow who controls/owns (not sure which) the land has offered it for use for future CW reenactments. His one condition is that, at the first one, it be Andersonville. Ain't no way to get around that if the ground is to become available for future years.

Central Ohio has a sad lack of places to play, and this offers the best chance to get good ground with some other advantages attached to it. It is, indeed, a compromise this time around to meet the stated requirement, particularly on fairly short notice.

In effect, this one's for him. After that, he's open to anything.

"Some men are born to run great scenarios....Others have scenarios thrust upon them."
Or, something like that.

Andersonville with scripted tacticals? Is there going to be a dance for the POWs too?

[Artyman]

That would be considered torture, wouldn't it?!

Harry

[Pvt Schnapps]

Originally Posted by Artyman

That would be considered torture, wouldn't it?!

Harry

I guess it depends on whether they're using bones in the percussion section...