7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

[Ken Knopp]

In the interest of communication and on behalf of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry I am posting their 2009 schedule so that other interested parties may be aware and plan accordingly.
Most of you are also aware that the 7th Tennessee is one of the oldest and largest authentic mounted cavalry in "the west". They routinely field 15-25 men (NEVER any chicks) at most events they attend. I am not in any way recruiting for them but it might be that some of you that frequent this forum would be interested in riding with them somewhere/sometime this year.
For details contact Mark Choate at choatecav@aol.com I am confident they would be thrilled to have you.


March 20-22: CAMP OF INSTRUCTION. Carnton Plantation, Franklin Battlefield, Franklin Tennessee. Maximum Effort.

April 4-5: SHILOH NAT'L MILITARY PARK LIVING HISTORY. Maximum Effort.

June 12-14: BATTLE OF BRICE'S CROSS ROADS, MISSISSIPPI. On original Battlefield. Maximum Effort.

June 20: N.B. FORREST'S BOYHOOD HOME LIVING HISTORY, Chapel Hill Tennessee (one day only).

Sept 4-6: BATTLE OF ATLANTA, Nash Farms, Ga. (west of Atlanta). Site of Battle of Lovejoy station during Kilpatricks Raid.

Sept. 24-26: BATTLE OF CORINTH, Corinth Miss. Maximum Effort.

Oct. 24-25: STONES RIVER NAT'L BATTLEFIELD LIVING HISTORY, Murfreesboro, Tenn.


*** As an additional note to further communication I invite other authentic units to also post their schedules.

Ken R Knopp
Forum Moderator

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

Ken,
Looking at their schedule, it seems like they are taking their one trip to GA two months early:tounge_sm

Their web site (http://pages.prodigy.net/rebel7tn/) has a fairly good improving your impression section, ending with:
” It is important to start the novice off right, because once he becomes a veteran he will be more set in his ways. The best procedure with those in other units is to just set a good example with your own.”

In contrast, they have this invaluable info posted for getting started in their unit:
"Felt hats can be purchased at many department stores in the fall. By adding a silk hatband and dark trim tape to the brim, and a little reshaping, you can make a decent slouch hat that will be less expensive than a sutler usually will be. ( Make sure it is a dark color).

You can get by with one pistol and a saber for a while. Though the original 7th Cavalry used mostly Colts, a Model 1858 Remington is sturdier. Extra cylinders are easy to replace on horseback and cheaper than buying another pistol. Sporting goods catalogues such as Cabellas or Bass Pro Shops usually run sales on cap-and-ball revolvers.

....Buy the best canteen you can afford. A wool covered stainless steel one will give you good service and won't rust."


My point being, are you comfortable using the “authentic mounted cavalry" label in the context of the what this site (A/C) is all about? I have no firsthand experience with the 7th Tenn., if I'm off-base and they are indeed an additional "authentic Cav unit" I was not aware of, please excuse my ignorance.

Mike Nickerson

[Ken Knopp]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

Gentlemen,

The purpose of this thread, as in this forum, is to share information, communicate and organize. While the points raised are very good ones my understanding is that most of that web site was built many years ago with much of the content rarely if ever updated. Nevertheless, the 7th has problems (lots of them! Internal and external.) just like “every” unit does (depending upon “who” and “how” one does the measuring) but, gentlemen, lets not waste our valuable energy, time, resources and good will falling into the trap of “who’s better than who”. I think we all agree that the state of authenticity in the cavalry end of this hobby is generally abysmal. The real question is “how are we going to improve? If we are ever going to then we must do so from within starting with individual influence and work our way forward. Is it not up to each one of us for the betterment of all of us?
This forum is for sharing cavalry information, communication, and organizing. Whenever we wander from those goals I will most certainly close this or any other thread. Thank you!


Ken R Knopp

[Tom Craig]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

Ken,

I certainly agree that we need not waste our time bashing anyone. We have enough to do without wasting time on negativity.

That said, I think that Mike raises a fair point. Due to the geographically spread out nature of our groups, we don't all get to see each other and so we don't have a good handle on who has a good impression. While I want to encourage anyone with a good impression, or who is working toward a good impression, I also don't want to give a free pass to a marginal unit, or one that needs work. Our business should be to encourage improvement by positive example and gentle persuasion where we can.

Take care,
Tom Craig

[csabugler]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

Ken I thought your PM said they had voted to do Bummers. Possible oversite on the list? I might go to some of the drills and such, if it's permissible.
Mike does make some good points, and I don't think he intended any finger pointing.I know Mike, when he speaks up it's usually to the point. Maybe a little website up date might be in order, it's not my place to say. I mean damn, if I could figure out how to do a site for Bummers cav it must not be too hard...:o
I know, the Critter website is ancient. When we elect a leader sometime soon he needs to address that issue.

[john duffer]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

On a couple of sidenotes -

I had an ancestor, Robert A. Duffer, with Co. "A" of the 7th that was a bugler at Shiloh.

"NEVER any chicks" How is that a good thing ?

[csabugler]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

I hope they mean in the ranks.....

[Ken Knopp]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

Tom,

Yes sir! I agree, You and Mike make good and fair points that should always be and have been considered in this case. I hope I am a “fair judge” in the matter of authenticity so reassure you no one is getting a “free pass” here. These guys are fine. The individual issues Mike noted is more with their outdated web site than reality.
I concur with your excellent point for the hobby in general, “Our business should be to encourage improvement by positive example and gentle persuasion where we can.” In this effort we all agree that we have a lot of work to do.
I thank you both for your input. It is very constructive and appreciated.


Patrick,

Hmmm, I am so confused. Bummer’s was NOT noted because I was working under the impression than Bummer’s was “supposed” to be on the “QT” (hence the PM private message to you).
I cannot speak for them but feel sure you could ride with the 7th at their drills, events, etc. Contact Mark Choate..........
.............You might also suggest as I will, that he update the website.


John,

“Never any chicks”....yes, I see your point. I meant in the ranks. To the best of my knowledge they all “like girls” (everywhere.... “except” in camp and in the ranks)....Having known these guys for some time I am personally, in agreement and very thankful.

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[Mark B]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

Gentlemen,

Yes, the website does need to be updated and I received the files and passwords on Saturday evening to do just that. The "Improving your impression" section was written quite some time ago and I would ask that you not condemn an entire unit or group of people because of a few sentences written by someone no longer in the hobby.

Mark Bridges

[AZReenactor]

Just because folks say an emporor is well clothed, don't make it so...

Mike,
Thank you for the service you provided in speaking up and pointing out that the emperor was parading about with his junk hanging out.

From what I've seen most cavalry across the country is in a pretty abysmal state, and outdated advice and standards that continue to be propagated is indeed a very big part of the problem. I don't believe I've encountered this unit but from just the face I see on their website, the advice to stay away seems more than sound. Even if it was just old information that no one bothered to purge from their website, I'd be more than a little suspicious of any unit that would be so disorganized as to tolerate such bad advice on their site after they had realized the errors and moved beyond them.

While cavalry may well be in a sad state of affairs, making excuses for mediocrity and backwardness (even if the result of carelessness) is not the solution, improving the standards and showing what authentic cavalry can and should be is.

I look forward to seeing the new standards and guidelines this unit promotes on their site and, much more important, in the field.

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: 7th Tennessee Cavalry 2009 Schedule

Gentlemen,

Yes, the website does need to be updated and I received the files and passwords on Saturday evening to do just that. The "Improving your impression" section was written quite some time ago and I would ask that you not condemn an entire unit or group of people because of a few sentences written by someone no longer in the hobby.

Mark Bridges

Mark, that's the section I thought was the newest and best written! If it were me, I would start with the "Getting Started" section first. After reading the "Improving" page, I thought if these guys live by what's written here, they are going to be A-OK. Then I saw what was I guess "the old stuff" and thought, wait maybe there is a problem.

Anyway, I'm glad I was wrong and don't forget (this is stolen from Coley) that attitude is more important than the gear.

Mike