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The Regular The Official Newsletter of Sykes Regulars August Regular |
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| Brigade Schedule | Bugle Call | Reports from the Field Meade's Headquarters | From the Desk of the First Sergeant |
Field Commander’s Report Report by the Editor
The Captain was bringing his report to the Headquarters tent when a passing wagon splashed mud all over
the Captain’s trousers. It also covered his report. Cursing a blue streak, he moved on a few more yards
where a dust devil enveloped him and succeeded in scattering portions of his report over the camp. Several
enlisted chased down most of the pages and returned them to the still cursing commander.
Moving along a few more steps, the beleaguered Captain was waylaid by a camp mongrel that proceeded to
latch onto the cuff of the Captain’s pants. Having nothing else in his possession, the Captain proceeded to
beat the miscreant canine with.......his report.
Having detached the beast, he examines his report and finds that it is now nothing more than mashed pulp
with what once looked like writing on it.
Undeterred, he brushes himself off and proceeds to the Headquarters and with as much dignity as he can
muster in his somewhat disheveled state, he hands the Major his report and states, “Sir, the Rebels tried to
capture this report, but I fought off the whole lot. There must have been a dozen of them. Here’s what’s
left.”
So in case you haven’t guessed yet, the Captain’s computer is down. Hopefully it’ll be back up soon
because I’m running out of excuse stories.
Brigade Schedule
August-September 1999
Scheduled as: Primary Brigade event
Date: August 28-29
Place: Near Winchester,
Event: 3rd Winchester (NR)
Info: For information about this event check this site:3rd Winchester.
Uniform: Late war sack coats, kersey trousers, clean weapons, leathers, full canteen, forage caps, and dog tents.
Directions: The APCWS site is located less than a mile from Exit #317 off of I-81.
FROM THE SOUTH, take Interstate I-81 to Winchester and Exit #317, a sign will say Winchester -
Stephenson. Take Exit #317, and proceed on the ramp to the traffic light. Make a right-hand turn at the
light onto Route #11 (north) and proceed for approximately 100 feet. Turn right onto County Road #661,
(Red Bud Road). Go exactly 8/10 (.8) of a mile to a "large" paved entrance on the right. Turn into this
entrance, the APCWS sign will be visible from the road.
FROM THE NORTH, proceed south on Interstate I-81 toward Winchester. Leave I-81 at Exit #317,
where a sign will say Winchester - Stephenson. Proceed down the ramp to the stop sign. Make a
left-hand turn onto Route #11 (north). Go 1/10 tenth (.1) of a mile through the first traffic light. Go 100
feet past the light. Turn right onto County Road #661,(Red Bud Road). Go exactly 8/10 (.8) of a mile to a
"large" paved entrance on the right. Turn into this entrance, and a APCWS sign will be visible from the
road.
FROM THE EAST, take I-66 to I-81. Get on I-81 north to Exit 319. Take US Route 11 north.
Immediately after you make the turn, there will be Redbud Road (right off of Route 11). Go down Redbud
Road approximately two miles to the entranceway to the APCWS property (there are two stone dogs on
top of the old gateposts for Hackwood Manor, the entrance is just past the dogs and on the right).
Scheduled as: Secondary Brigade Event
Date: September 18, 19
Place: Antietam Battlefield
Event: Pry House and Torchlight Tour
Info: General McClellan’s staff is at it once again at the Pry House.
Staff officers report with officer’s kits and enlisted are also needed for scenarios and guard posts. All
Regulars are encouraged to attend to help explain the Battle of Antietam to the public. We also need folks
for our scene in the Torchlight tour. The mysterious story of the ‘lost order’ and the corporal who wishes
he had those cigars back.
Uniform: Officers kits for those who have them or if you’d like to be one check with wardrobe director Hutchison to see if he’ll let you borrow. We will be staying overnight at the Pry house so bring bedding.
Directions: Antietam battlefield. Pry House is on Route 34 about a mile above town. Look for a very small sign on a
road between two houses. Report around 9:00 Saturday morning.
Happy Birthday
The members of Sykes’ Regulars would like to congratulate Stephanie and Teddy Brennan on the birth of
their daughter Erin Victoria Brennan. (Even though Victoria sounds somewhat British the name stands for
Erin Victorious) The wee lass weighed 7 lbs. 15 ounces and was born on the 15th of July.
All the best wishes go to the proud parents for a healthy and happy baby.
Welcome New Regular
The Regulars welcome new members Al Derosier and Michael Peffer. Welcome aboard Regulars.
A Trip over the Pond?
Our counterpart in England, Mr. Mark Hunt Co. C, 2nd US in the UK has informed us of a large CW event
coming in 2001. This reporter has been to CW event put on by the Queen and must say that it was a really
grand time. If anyone is interested in making the trip over start letting us know now so we can make
arrangements. If you’ve never seen a bunch of Czechoslovakians try to sing Dixie this is the place for you. They love having actual American accents giving orders. (Contact Steve Hanson or Jim Wassel)
Revised Regs
Mark Vlahos (our Regular in the Western Theatre of Operations) would like to relay the existence of a
high-quality copy of "Revised Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1861". Reprinted in 1990 just
like the original.
For $25 plus $3.50 shipping, this is a a bargain-something all officers and NCOs should have. For
information on this publication write or contact:
History in Print
902 Calumet Ave.
Valparaiso, IN 46383
(800)816-3571
Regulars by God
Sykes’ Regulars shirts are ready for order.
The company shirts are finally ready. Supplies are limited.
When people ask about what your shirt is, RECRUIT ‘EM! There is great pride in being a Regular. (At least for some........judging by the following article)
The Court Martials of Regulars
Regular weren't goody two shoes
Recently there has been an unearthing of court martial records in the National Archives. Some of the
cases make for interesting reading. (As the D. Davidson case by Mr. Coyer) The following are a few more
such cases from T. Lowry’s book “Don’t Shoot That Boy”. (Of which the Editor is on the cover. I know,
shameless plug) These cases involve Regular Army officers.
In 1864, First Lt. Robert Porter, 14th US Inf. did not report for duty as ordered and lied on a report. The
court dismissed him and stated that the evidence clearly justified dismissal, but recommended clemency
because brother officers had defended Porter’s “integrity.” Brig. General Romeyn Ayres, who ordered the
court martial, endorsed the recommendation. Gen. Meade suggested commutation or forfeiture of six
months pay. JAG (Judge Advocate Gen.) Holt, however, would have none of this clemency notion and
stated, “The petition of the court clearly stated that the evidence adduced fully justifies the conclusion of
criminal intent. [Holt’s emphasis.] It is for the President to decide whether the interest of the service
permits such officers to be retained in the army, when without a shadow of an excuse they have disgraced
their position and dishonored themselves.” It would seem that Lincoln had a higher tolerance for moral
lepers than did Holt, since her wrote, “ Recom. of Gen. Meade approved and ordered. April 27th, 1864. A.
Lincoln.
(Page 61)
First Lt. James Semple of the 15th US Inf. was a man who should have avoided alcohol. While drunk at
Chattanooga, the Lt. went to the office of the Adj. General and created such a scene an was so belligerent
that the had to be carried to jail, where he was confined until sober. After his conviction of “ conduct
prejudicial,” he was suspended from rank and pay for two years and removed from the promotion list for
the same period. US Senator from Ohio, John Sherman (WT Sherman’s brother) wrote in support of
remission. Holt strongly recommended the opposite. The President made his own decision, perhaps based
upon Semple’s good service at Shiloh, Corinth, Murfreesboro, Bowling Green, and Perryville: “But one act
of intoxication appearing, and in view of his general good behavior and valuable services, the sentence of
Lt. Semple is remitted. A. Lincoln July 9, 1864.”
Report from the Field
Meade’s Headquarters
July 24, 25 Gettysburg, PA
The Regular staff reported for duty at the Leister House on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Also in attendance
was the worst heat wave of the century. Record high temperatures were not enough to keep the officers of
General Generic’s staff from revealing what the officers of the that time might have had to deal with after
the Battle of Gettysburg: wounded, dead and pestilence in the wake of a victorious army in pursuit of it’s
prey. A tall order with sweat smeared maps and communiqués.
The high casualty reports were given with proper austerity by Field Marshal Rivera. (All ranks are random
as the rank structure of Gen. Generic’s staff is superfluous and I don’t remember what they were) As the
staff listened to the high numbers, wincing expressions of remorse crossed the faces of all who heard. How
long could the Army of the Potomac go on losing so many men?
The next report was from Rear Admiral Hanson on the success of Surgeon Letterman’s system of removing
wounded from the field. From his report the system worked well and most if not all wounded were cleared
from the battlefield within days. The system of ambulance and provision had been much improved with the
experience of war.
The report on the Corp hospitals was given by Surgeon General Kohls (also doubling as Brain Surgeon
Kohls and affectionately know as ‘That Butcher’. After revealing the locations of the Corp hospitals on a
map, SG Kohls reported that wounded were being transported to general hospitals in Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Harrisburg and possibly York but not to Washington as the beds were full due to the battle of
Chancellorsville. Transportation was slow as the roads were still being clogged by the army supplies
following the pursuing Army of the Potomac. A railhead was still being organized and the process was a
slow one. The General was interested in who was taking charge of the head medical rank as Surgeon
Letterman was joining the army. Shoulders were shrugged and the catch phrase much used in staff
meetings throughout time was invoked: “I’ll have that information for you at the next meeting......sir.”
Next in line for the cold stare of the General were two lowly dust covered lieutenants in the shape of 1st
Lt. Gopher McConnell and 2nd Lt. Federal Express Wassel. Their mission: tour all Corp hospitals what
seemed like every ten minutes and report on status. Each time they reported much the same thing. The
hospitals are low on everything except for wounded. The surgeons were babbling and passing out and the
wounded were lying in the open either expiring from exposure or allegedly drowning in rising creek beds.
The dead were piling up and the pestilence and stench was mounting. Medication, shelter and water were
the priority supplies and the situation was growing desperate.
The General glared and then............. spying about set his gaze upon his scapegoats, Corporal Captain Phil
of the Quartermaster Corp and Admiral Cartmen of the Engineers. These two fine personages were drafted
from the 1st PA Reserves who were also in attendance over the weekend and found themselves cameo
whipping boys. We hope to establish this as policy by bringing in fresh scapegoats for the General as to
illicit a more frightened and vexed expressions when the General pounces on them for explanations.
Corp.Cap. Phil gave a fine account of himself as he’s a lawyer in real life giving more than adequate
information and almost confounding the General. Conversely, Admir. Bill delighted the staff with his
babbling and totally inadequate response. He was observed with a slight twitch or tick in his left eye the rest
of the day.
The day ended with wool sweat and a new mission. Find a place that was cooler than the battlefield. Our
quest of course led us to Buckley’s Public House and there with the exception of the Isle of Brooks, dined
on Filet Mingnon and variety of ales, stouts and lagers. What more does a soldier need? No need to answer
that. The lads then repaired to the new digs of none other than General Generic himself, Will Hutchison.
His fabulous playroom in the basement played host to a fine evening of manliness with Scottish war
movies (where everyone kept talking but this reporter who was trying to hear the dialogue), fake spitting at
every mention of the name Campbell (to the general disgust of our hostess, Rosemary) and drink (not lite
beer as one may have expected) in addition to other assorted childish manly dislplays. A roguishly good
time was had by all who attended.
The next day, the only change to the staff meeting was the installation of new officers in the scapegoat
roles. Commodore Brooks of the floating Engineers Corp and Leftenant Hall of the Quartermasters,
having experienced the ire of the General before, both officers gave rock solid reports without emotion and
were not much fun for the staff to observe.
Having run the gamut of officers the General flustered about and then gave his officers their assignments
demanding better reports and knowing full well that he wasn’t going to get them. That’s what happens
when you’re given an assignment that is beyond the scope of human imagination.
Mail the Editor with Submissions for the Regular or if you have a good picture you'd like to see on this site.