University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

[Huck]

Re: University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

My understanding is a get together (meet and greet) and do some drill or something. But I will pass you info on.

[idlewild]

Re: University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

Janet,
I will keep you and everyone else posted! At the moment we have nothing more than an idea on this. Anything you could bring to make the event more colorful would be great! The idea was also posed to do some reenactments of battles from the eastern/western theaters. There isn't that much in Colorado to reenact aside from Sand Creek and we will not do that for obvious reasons....

Huck,
Keep me posted on if you decide to do anything. Those of us here on the front range might be able to come. Would be nice to meet everyone.

Emily

[Huck]

Re: University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

I sure will.

[AZReenactor]

Re: University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

Emily,
We've run up against the same sorts of thinking here in Arizona as well. Once you can get people paste the notions that you need blue vs. gray or even battles of any kind to reenact Civil War era history, you'll likely discover a whole slew of reenacting opportunities and scenarios directly from the experiences of the soldiers and citizens on the frontier.

On the military side, we've had some good luck on restructuring our immersion events so that they become much more of a leadership reaction course for fellows. The physical challenges of nature and wide areas of undeveloped wilderness make for their own set of unique challenges. One soldier in the Southwest described his service as a lot of chasing Indians but not catching any. Lots of patrols, courier duty, lonely small posts, and questions about loyalty among citizens and refugees from a wide variety of original locations. A single solitary unexpected gunshot during a routine patrol can change the whole tone of an event and put everyone on edge. An unexpected encounter with desperate, destitute, or suspicious civilians can present its own unique challenges. Even simple garrison duty on a post can present a number of opportunities to glimpse history.

History happened on the frontier during the civil war era and once one starts exploring that often overlooked history, they'll find many stories worth telling end exploring right in their own back yard.

The idea was also posed to do some reenactments of battles from the eastern/western theaters. There isn't that much in Colorado to reenact aside from Sand Creek and we will not do that for obvious reasons....

[Emma Bilgewater]

Re: University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

History happened on the frontier during the civil war era and once one starts exploring that often overlooked history, they'll find many stories worth telling end exploring right in their own back yard.

Exactly!! There was so much going on out here that is interesting and fun to portray. Finding folks who want to do it is a bit harder. Our low population adds to that. On the other hand, with so few of us, we can create our own events and do what we want......then again, there's those long miles to traverse to get there. The price we pay for fun!

One soldier in the Southwest described his service as a lot of chasing Indians but not catching any.

A great book to read with the same type of complaints is Tending the Talking Wire, edited by William Unrau. It's the letters of Hervey Johnson from 1863 - 1866. He was posted at various outposts here in Wyoming. Very cool stuff.

Emily - Ft. Collins is soooo close. We should definitely get something going. Ft. Laramie literally lets me do what I want when I want, so it would be easy to put something together and it's spitting distance for both of us. :) They're getting a new wagon and have given me permission to use it. They also have a great laundress quarters set up with a full garden. Sigh - I love that place!!

Warm regards,
Janet Wragge

[Lone Guard]

Re: University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

Exactly!! There was so much going on out here that is interesting and fun to portray. Finding folks who want to do it is a bit harder. Our low population adds to that. On the other hand, with so few of us, we can create our own events and do what we want......then again, there's those long miles to traverse to get there. The price we pay for fun!

Warm regards,
Janet Wragge

Don't let the small numbers stop you. Our events don't pack the numbers, but they are still a great time. The thing about these Western states is the lack of modern intrusions, often you can be on the actual ground without running into another soul for days. The low numbers DO let you do your own thing and experiment without having to worry about someone whine because they didn't get their way. Once you get settled in a style, it's all yours.

And remember, "if you build it, they will come". A couple good events and word of mouth will start reeling in the reenactors.

Best of luck!

[colorado infantry]

Re: University of Colorado Buffalo Mess

Hey Aaron,
Glad I'm not the only member of the Old First Colorado Company D. on here. Tell the old pards I said hello. Good luck getting something together out there, I really hope it works out. I'll let you know next time I'm out CO way and I'll fall in for whatever's up.

Prvt. Salland

(see what happens they give you a couple of stripes and I have to put Private in my closing)