Wow, is it that freekin hard to get you guys to throw me a bone?????-- I have been e-mailing different brigades, posting on the AC and Franklin web site, and have gotten a total of 3 replies concerning a unit to fall in with as a fifer and my son as a drummer for the Franklin event. One pointed me to a Confederate group, but we are Federal, and another gave me some info that pointed me to a group that allows women in the ranks and the last just wanted to tell me how great he is next to JC and a lot of jiberish. I am going to try again.
I am 42 years old and have been re-enacting since the mud march of 82 at Gettysburg. I have been a member of the Mudsills, Holmes brigade, 23rd NY,7th Kentucky and now currently with the 1st Colorado Infantry. I have dug trenches, cut trees for breastworks and helped the artillary tug their freekin pieces up slopes at Ft.Benjamin Harrison. 20 mile marches in Kansas accross the plains, and a number of other memorable events when I could get away in Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Mossouri, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska. I did my time on "Gettysburg" and "The blue and the Grey"(if anyone remembers that movie). I made my own uniforms before a lot of you were born when people use to give me the cold shoulder because I didn't look like Jarnigan.
No I am not trying to give anyone a resume but I don't know if any of you easterners realize how difficult it can be to do this hobby when even a trip to Kansas City is a 12 hour drive.(I'm in Coloado so that would be heading east)Last I remember when we drove to Stones River it was about 26 hours strait.(And yes I have heard about airplanes) My point is that I can't go around the corner and hook up with three different units like some of you can so co-operation is essential.
I have served as a rifleman up until now even though I have been playing fife for years. The only fife and drum corp I know of near here (10 hours) has women in the ranks and that is a no-no. So I asked and have been asking for 4 months to find a unit that would work with us long distance to get ready for Franklin. DOES ANYONE HAVE A CONTACT THAT THEY COULD THROW MY WAY BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT??????????????. Even you boys that are brain dead and didn't even realize their was such a thing as field music or what its purpose is probably have some kind of contacts to throw my way. Being a good musician takes a little more preparation than shoulder arms, right shoulder shift and order arms.(no I'm not trying to make light of Battalion drill) Come on give me some credit. I am even trying to stay positive after having to encounter the pre- dawn cornfield scenerio at Antienam 2 years ago when battalions of Federals and Confederates blazed away for 20 minutes with no casualties 20 yards from each other with muskets "at the balistic."Come to think of it, maybe that is why I don't want to be a rifleman anymore. Or could it be the guy that was complaining that the guy in front of him had a non period marking on his musket and how wrong that was but failed to notice that he himself is 200 lbs over and 20 years older than the average CW soldier he is so proudly trying to portray. Did I mention he was complaining about these markings on the musket to a lady in the ranks? Go figure. On second thought what is the use. Forget it I think I have had my fill.
Jay Hollenbeck
I am 42 years old and have been re-enacting since the mud march of 82 at Gettysburg. I have been a member of the Mudsills, Holmes brigade, 23rd NY,7th Kentucky and now currently with the 1st Colorado Infantry. I have dug trenches, cut trees for breastworks and helped the artillary tug their freekin pieces up slopes at Ft.Benjamin Harrison. 20 mile marches in Kansas accross the plains, and a number of other memorable events when I could get away in Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Mossouri, New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska. I did my time on "Gettysburg" and "The blue and the Grey"(if anyone remembers that movie). I made my own uniforms before a lot of you were born when people use to give me the cold shoulder because I didn't look like Jarnigan.
No I am not trying to give anyone a resume but I don't know if any of you easterners realize how difficult it can be to do this hobby when even a trip to Kansas City is a 12 hour drive.(I'm in Coloado so that would be heading east)Last I remember when we drove to Stones River it was about 26 hours strait.(And yes I have heard about airplanes) My point is that I can't go around the corner and hook up with three different units like some of you can so co-operation is essential.
I have served as a rifleman up until now even though I have been playing fife for years. The only fife and drum corp I know of near here (10 hours) has women in the ranks and that is a no-no. So I asked and have been asking for 4 months to find a unit that would work with us long distance to get ready for Franklin. DOES ANYONE HAVE A CONTACT THAT THEY COULD THROW MY WAY BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT??????????????. Even you boys that are brain dead and didn't even realize their was such a thing as field music or what its purpose is probably have some kind of contacts to throw my way. Being a good musician takes a little more preparation than shoulder arms, right shoulder shift and order arms.(no I'm not trying to make light of Battalion drill) Come on give me some credit. I am even trying to stay positive after having to encounter the pre- dawn cornfield scenerio at Antienam 2 years ago when battalions of Federals and Confederates blazed away for 20 minutes with no casualties 20 yards from each other with muskets "at the balistic."Come to think of it, maybe that is why I don't want to be a rifleman anymore. Or could it be the guy that was complaining that the guy in front of him had a non period marking on his musket and how wrong that was but failed to notice that he himself is 200 lbs over and 20 years older than the average CW soldier he is so proudly trying to portray. Did I mention he was complaining about these markings on the musket to a lady in the ranks? Go figure. On second thought what is the use. Forget it I think I have had my fill.
Jay Hollenbeck
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