2010 Events

[Tom Craig]

Hey All,

I hope you all enjoyed a happy New Year. Tis now the season that most of us have our unit meetings and hammer out the schedule for next season. I know that for us cavalry types the event picking is getting slimmer and slimmer, so in the name of fostering cooperation etc, I figured it would be nifty it we all listed what we've got going on, or potentially going on for 2010.

Our unit is having our meeting this weekend, so I won't have a final schedule until that point, but I wanted to throw out an event for you all to consider.

The Skirmish at Unsion October 8-10
Website: http://www.mainecav.org/unison/
Most of you all in the cavalry have heard me preach about this event before. It will be another rendition of the best event for cavalry out there. This year we are looking to expand the Federal infantry portion a bit. So you are all aware, this will likely be the last time this event is held until the 150th anniversary of the battle.

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[ButtermilkRanger]

Re: 2010 Events

Does anyone know if they are allowing cavalry at "Before the Breakout" in September? That will determine part of our schedule at least.

[Outrider]

Re: 2010 Events

Hey Larry ,

The concensus from the organizers, and Tripp Corbin is one so I know they are trying, is that while there is enoguh ground at the event site, the owners have ALOT of fences. It seems that because of that ,the room for maneuvering cavalry would be very limited. For me, personally, that is really a downer since the event site is less than 30 minutes from my house and I know the area well and a good friend happens to be one of the adjacent land holders. Unless they can figure a way to pull it off it looks like no Cavalry at Before The Breakout. Looks like mighty slim pickins in 2010
other than possibly some drilling at the usaul mainstream things and I , for one, have no interest in any of that at all anymore. Anything happening on your side of Da Big Ribber?

[Mike Ventura]

Re: 2010 Events

The WIG has posted info about "Before the Breakout" and there is nothing included relating to anything mounted.

[Andrew German]

Re: 2010 Events

Greetings:

As a fellow 1st Mainer I may be suspect for seconding Tom's post, but I'd encourage anyone, North or South, who wants to ride and fight authentically across original ground to consider this event. Whether you choose to ride with Todd Kern's Valley Light Horse and the 1st Maryland, or with the 1st Maine on the federal side, this is THE cavalry campaigner event of the year in the east.

Hope to see you there,
Andrew German

[Jerry Ross]

Re: 2010 Events

Hello all,
After riding both sides of this event for two years in a row, I think it is the best Cavalry vs Cavalry event around. If you could only do 1 Cavalry event this year this would be the one do to. I know of several events others are hosting but would rather they give the information out.

[IowaYank]

Re: 2010 Events

I might as well put this one out there!
I am hosting "The Fight For Crampton's Gap" on July 16-18 which will be held on 800 acres of private property near Blanchardville, Wisconsin. This event will feature one Federal 50-60 man infantry company portraying the 4th New Jersey and two CS 12 man infantry companies portraying the 12th Virginia infantry. This event will recreate the Federal advance on it's way toward Crampton's Gap, the Battle for Crampton's Gap, and the action in Pleasant Valley that took place the following day,the 15th of September. The Battle at Crampton's gap was one of three fights which made up the Battle of South Mountain during Lee's first invasion of the north.

The Federal cavalry will be portraying the 6th U.S. cavalry. I anticipate a small Federal cavalry force of approximate 5-6. The Federal cavalry will be acting as scouts for the Federal column as it advances.

The main need for cavarly during the event will be to portray the 2nd Virginia Cavalry. The Confederate cavalry was fairly active harrassing the advancing Federal column, and finally fighting dismounted on the right flank of the Confederate infantry at the Gap. I will be leading the recreated 2nd Virginia cavalry. We will be very busy Friday night to Saturday mid afternoon harrassing the Federal Column.

For those traveling long distances approximately 4-5 loaner horses are avaliable.

This is an invitation only event. If anyone who I have not previously been in contact with would like to attend, please contact me at dan.chmelar(AT)wartburg.edu.

The website for the event is http://oldnorthwestvols.org/cramptons_gap/

[Jerry Ross]

Re: 2010 Events

Dan's event was good last year too. There is all kinds of terrain to ride upon to include small river/huge creek,wooded hills with trails all over the place and open fields. I plan to do it and Unison this year.

[ButtermilkRanger]

Re: 2010 Events

Hey Larry ,

The concensus from the organizers, and Tripp Corbin is one so I know they are trying, is that while there is enoguh ground at the event site, the owners have ALOT of fences. It seems that because of that ,the room for maneuvering cavalry would be very limited. For me, personally, that is really a downer since the event site is less than 30 minutes from my house and I know the area well and a good friend happens to be one of the adjacent land holders. Unless they can figure a way to pull it off it looks like no Cavalry at Before The Breakout. Looks like mighty slim pickins in 2010
other than possibly some drilling at the usaul mainstream things and I , for one, have no interest in any of that at all anymore. Anything happening on your side of Da Big Ribber?

Well, that's pretty depressing news. I was counting on another Outpost type event. Driving 10 hours to Georgia didn't seem so bad. I don't have a thing on the horizon over here or west of the river. Into the Pineywoods last spring was such an amazing event to do mounted that I said afterward that I may as well sell my stuff because my hobby was complete. I'd never be able to have a more authentic experience. I didn't know that I might have been right. Looks like it's time to do another period around here if I want to do it mounted. At least for 2010. Maybe things will pick up in 2011. At least I know I've got the Alamo event then.

Dan, the Wisconsin event sounds interesting. Sure would be a long haul for me pulling horses, though. Of course, from south Louisiana, EVERYWHERE is a long haul pulling horses.

[Mark Choate]

Re: 2010 Events

Gentlemen,

I will agree with you all that as far as good solid events, the pickin's are slim, indeed for 2010. However, after our meeting on Jan. 30 I will be able to announce the dates of several very good Living Histories. I know for a fact that we will be at Shiloh (camping right on the Hornet's Nest), Stone's River Battlefield, the Belle Meade Mansion (Nashville) and the Forrest Boyhood home in Chapel Hill, just to name a few. I can also announce our Camp of Instruction to once again be held at the Carnton Plantation in Franklin, TN. Last year it was a huge success with over 40 troopers from five states attending and this year it looks to be even larger.....and with a superb line-up of instructors and topics. Period of war and specifics will be announced later.

I know that for some, like Larry, it is a huge distance to travel for a LH or a COI, but we are also talking about some pretty hallowed ground. Anyway, more to come soon, so keep the faith.

thx,
Mark

[California Republic]

Re: 2010 Events

Please excuse the shameless plugging, but the site I work at, Bennett Place in Durham NC, is commemorating the 145th anniversary of the surrender on April 17-18 this year. We will be reenacting the meeting of Johnston and Sherman and need cavalry to act as the 9th and 13th Pennsylvania and the 5th South Carolina, historically the only soldiers who were actually at the site during the negotiations. This event will be a living history and the site is not very large if you are on a horse, but it will be a very interesting chance to recreate the initial meetings of Sherman and Johnston before the final surrender on April 26, 1865.

For any of you that might be interested, you can send me a message here or email me at jeremiah.degennaro@ncdcr.gov, or call (919) 383-4345.

http://www.nchistoricsites.org/bennett/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_Place

[Mike Nickerson]

Re: 2010 Events

Mark, is the 7th TENN's schedule going to be posted soon?

Mike Nickerson

[Jerry Ross]

Re: 2010 Events

Mike,
The 7th's meeting was postponed because of the winter storm that came through Tennessee last weekend. We received about 6-8 inches of snow and some places got ice with that. I have been out of school since Friday. We might go back tomorrow.

[Mark Choate]

Re: 2010 Events

Mike,

Thanks for asking and Jerry is correct in that our meeting was canceled due to weather. We tried to roll it to this next Sat. (2/6) and a conflict with the location in Bell Buckle prevented that. We are now officially on for 2/13. As soon as it is approved (the schedule that is) I will let you all know. One thing that I am especially excited about is the "semi-immersion" Camp of Instruction at the Carnton, Plantation in Franklin TN. Ken Knopp and I are working hard on putting it together and while I will not divulge any of the topics/activities at this time, I can tell you that it will be the weekend of March 27 - 28.

Again, thanks for your inquiry and sorry about the delay.

Mark

[Old-South]

Re: 2010 Events

Mark,
I think that was the biggest piece of news we have been waiting for. There were a few of us eyeing that date.
Hope to see you there.