Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

[AzTrooper]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Please accept my apologies for placing the first post. Honestly, I dont know how the first post got posted in the first place, I obviously hit a wrong button and posted it when I intended to preview it instead, You would not believe how many typos I get !!!! I cant imagine how many more mistakes I would make if I actually used more that three fingers when I type hahaha.
My Apologies,
John Rogers

Howdy everyone,
I have to say that in the events that I have been to, I have noticed that very few folks take hits from artillery,I dont mean from guns a thousand yards off, Im talking about at closer range where one would expect canister to be in use.I unfortuneately only get to do one or two events a year, and they are local ones for the most part. I keep an eye on whats going on around us, if I notice that a field piece is loaded and aimed in our direction,I try to get between 6 and 8 of us to drop when the piece fires. I have been told more than once by artillery guys that they noticed us taking the hit when their gun was fired.Even if the hit goes unnoticed,the important thing to me is that if that piece HAD been loaded for real, would we have been left standing? I dont know how many accounts I have read that mention the devastating effect that canister had on troops, such as huge gaps opening in lines from a single shot , yet I rarely ever see anyone fall when a field piece goes off... much less 6 to 8 people.
As I said earlier, I have not been to a whole lot of events, so all I can comment on is the ones that I have been to.In the not too distant future I plan on moving from Arizona to either Virginia or Pennsylvania.I am honestly looking forward joining a group that portrays mounted cavalry and being able to attend events like the ones I hear everyone on this forum talk about,I have never been to a immersion event, or any like what I have heard called a history heavy event,I am really looking forward to one day being able to join you all at events such as this.
Respectfully and sincerely,
John Rogers

[RN_PAC]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Hello everyone-

I recently became active in the hobby again after a 10 year hiatus during which time both the hobby and myself have matured considerably (I am now 30). It was interesting to me how my appreciation of certain aspects of the hobby have both increased and decreased, probably as a function of my personal growth. At my first large "battle" in many years I was amazed at how, well, hokey it seemed, whereas back when I was 17 I would have been thrilled by the experience. At that age, during the 125th, living history events seemed like something to do to kill the time between mega-battles; now, my attitiude has completely reoriented itself to the opposite.

I am convinced that the vast majority of reenacted battles have zero resemblence to real CW combat (I know many of you are saying "no kidding"...). I don't think it is anyone's fault; some of this is probably subject to the effort to generate reasonably decent senarios that can be reproduced. However, I reckon nothing can duplicate real human behavior when being shot at...I have to assume this, because I never have been fired upon for real. However, I think I can assume that the behavior of our modern incarnation of ACW officers, men, and units would be vastly different if there really was a hail of lead in the air, whistling around, clipping through the tall grass, splintering fence rails, etc.

I was snooping around an English Civil War website on one occasion, and came across some thought provoking ideas. Apparently, ECW reenactors, when engaging their enemy tend to be very aggressive, with their pike-men eagerly advancing to the charge and invariably meeting in a prolonged push-of-pike. This swashbuckling behavior seems to be analagous to our "powder-burning". At any rate, in reality this probably rarely occured since one side or the other would usually give way before push-of-pike was to be reached. The idea proposed was that reenacted ECW battles look nothing like the real thing; an observer would have a much more realistic picture if any reenactor struck with a pike would be subject to a fine of, say, a couple thousand dollars in lieu of actual bodily harm and pain. Then, who would be so eager to clash? Perhaps the motivation of the men from sectionalism, fear of discipline, personal reputation, etc. could be reproduced with a smaller reward of say, five hundered dollars for each "enemy" struck down. Now, I am certainly not saying that the implimentation of such a system should be attempted; it is simply a mental exercise that makes you stop and think: how many ACW reenactors would be rushing up to fearlessly stand and face a charge of hopeless odds when they would be facing a huge hit to their savings acct.? Or the forfiture of their kit? You would probably see some more realistic behavior under those circumstances!

Anyway, when I first read that it seemed to make some sense to me...

Best regards,
Tom Scoufalos

[pvtben]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Hey,

Great deal i am definitly a hit taker and i am so much into the drama i have not been to a single event where i have not taken a hit in the first 5 - 10 minutes on the field. ussally i make a big production out of it. I have no problem with it it adds to the event.

Pvt. Benjamin N. Jenkins
19th LA Vol. Infantry
vance guards

[gameface75]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was in a super farb group for my first 2 years. But it became standard practice for me to take a hit early on in the battle, so I wasn't 10 feet from the enemy shooting straight up in the air. I actually had to refuse the officers orders to get back up and continue. So after that I would take a hit and hobble back to camp. It was probably then that the actual battles became my least favorite part of events.

Matthew, when you applied for membership with this forum, you agreed to have read our forum Rules & Regulations, one of the main rules being that ALL postings be signed with members' FULL NAMES.

Your agreement to have read those rules was your First warning, this is your Second.

Should you need refreshing, I suggest you go to this link:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1034

Scott McKay, moderator
Authentic Campaigner Forums

[hiplainsyank]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

At the first reenactment I attended, a small regional one, for one of the battles they followed a procedure similar to the chit idea, except with a little more detail. If a soldier was a casualty on the piece of paper they drew, it was specified to occur after so many shots had been fired, and also, I believe, specified the severity of the wound--so one could estimate to be lying on the field (dead or unconcious), or among the walking wounded. There would be some mobile wounded in any battle, as well as the fellows who would take the opportunity to "help" their pards.

I think specifying the number of shots to be taken before getting hit is particularly important at a small event, so that there actually is something of a force left by the end. Still, this might work for larger battle reenactments, too.

Obviously, it is something that has to be a group decision.

I agree that there it's a good idea to have casualties reflect an accurate percentage.

Interesting discussion.

Joanna Norris Grimshaw

[Billy Hiatt]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

When I started reenacting a few years ago, I always thought is was funny that the casualties always occured in areas of shade, especially during the summer months. Must be those darned light sensitive Reb rounds.
Billy Hiatt

[ooticamitica]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

HAHA That was hilarious! I couldnt stop laughing. Sadly im a lemming :-( on occasion i am a hit taker.
-Tim Harrold

[Pvt_Jack_Bauer]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Great article! I fall into the powder burner...love making the booms!! To go along with this article A few friends of mine wondered if a group got to gether and simulated a battle with paint ball guns and determine an actual hit ratio from that. Actually using proper battle techniques and marching but just replace the ole muskets with paint ball guns. Now of course it would be up to the users to not just blast away with the semi-autos but I bet the results would be interesting.


Pvt. Brian Domitrovich
Erie,PA

[paulcalloway]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Great article! I fall into the powder burner...love making the booms!! To go along with this article A few friends of mine wondered if a group got to gether and simulated a battle with paint ball guns and determine an actual hit ratio from that. Actually using proper battle techniques and marching but just replace the ole muskets with paint ball guns. Now of course it would be up to the users to not just blast away with the semi-autos but I bet the results would be interesting.


Pvt. Brian Domitrovich
Erie,PA

Brian -
This article was meant to give a good laugh, but please don't bring up paint ball battles on this forum. That discussion will never get entertained here... not even on our worst day.

Cheerio -

[Rebel Yell1863]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Pards,
I am a hit taker. I used to take a hit and fall dead, but now I mix it up and get wounded too. Don't get me wrong, it's not about the drama or anything. Most of the time I'll go down out of the view of the people attending an event. Scores of men died and were wounded, I look at it as honoring their sacrifice. I can't imagine their pain, but if they were able to I'm sure they thought of home and loved ones. I do the same when I take a hit.

[Arthur Cavaliere]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Maybe we should'nt think of taking a hit as something bad.Take a hit---
go down with your nose in the dirt, take this as an opportunity to capture the
smell of the grass, the dirt,the burnt powder,even your own sweat ;LISTEN !
listen to the sounds of battle---the cries of the men,the sharp orders of the officers,the thunder of all weapons.FEEL!feel its effects on the ground,feel the heat or cold of the day,men walking over or on you.
Use your arms to frame specific scenes of the battle,besides occupying your time
this focuses your attention on looking for good visuals.
Combine all of the above--- STORE IT IN YOUR LONGTERM MEMORY!
Bring it home with you--no need to share your experience .This is for you.
Now! now when you are digesting a riveting battle account,reg't history or diary
you will bring all this out along with the written word before you, editing as needed.
Just another way of creating a "being there" experience.
Art Cavaliere
3rd NJVI

[8thmocav]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Haha...a great article. Gave me some much needed laughs! I'm still pretty new to the hobby. I bought a bunch of powder this year, so I definitely try to burn it when I can. Plus I bought that nice Enfield and I figure it needs to be fired! But it is fun to be a hit taker too. I think I'll definitely work on being a hit taker...if my trigger finger gets too tired!

Great fun and I enjoyed many of the comments, pards.

[Parault]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Great article Mr.Calloway I have fell (pun intended)in each of those catagories at least once or twice,ok maybe more. Down here in the South if you decide to take a hit,we have a small problem that doesn't matter up North. I am talking about fire ants. If you decide to take a hit,whether it is a wound,or a fatal hit,you must first inspect the ground. You could have a sudden resurrection of massive proportions.
All of that jumping and hollerin does bring attention to you from the spectators.

[Rob]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

http://images.ucomics.com/comics/ch/2007/ch070802.gif

:D

[Secesh]

Re: Taking it Like a Man: by Paul Calloway

Funny, but many of my Pards, myself included, actually fall asleep on the battlefield after taking a hit. I really do think that a reeanctment battlefield, no matter how hard you close your eyes, will never even come close to approximating the actual horrors of the field of battle.