Announcement

**Paul L Muller** · 01-05-2012, 07:58 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

I have been talking to Dan Chmeler and Ken Knopp and they recommended this event to me . I would like to know a few more details like are rations issued for horse and rider or are we to supply that? More detailed directions to the site ? What ever you can suggest , this will be only my 2nd authentic event and am unsure what is expected. Thank you plm

***Jerry Ross*** · 01-06-2012, 08:26 AM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

Paul,
Please e-mail me or call me I will be glad to fill you in. I will send you a PM. Glad to have you. I wish your mentor Dan Chemlar could come also.

Rations will be covered for both man and beast. Directions I will need to get the street address for Fort Donelson. That is where everyone will check in and then you will be dropped off at the starting point.The ending point is Fort Donelson NP

**IowaYank** · 01-06-2012, 07:47 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

I wish I could be there as well. Looks like a great authentic event in the sea of never ending "authentic adjuncts" to mega fests that seems to be the schedule. Wish I could support you guys considering the number of times you've come up to my events in Wisconsin, Jerry. Too bad OCS will have me pretty well occupied at that time! ;)

***Jerry Ross*** · 01-07-2012, 08:43 AM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

Dan,
Your going to go play with Uncle Sam not Uncle Jerry .... I guess I will have to share for a few years. You know I am proud of you anyway.

***Jerry Ross*** · 01-09-2012, 08:38 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

Hello all ,
I am not sure if I gave the address for Fort DonelsonThis was copied from the Fort Donelson website

Using a GPS? You can use the following addresses:

Visitor Center: 120 Fort Donelson Road, Dover, TN, 37058

Fort Donelson National Cemetery/ Park headquarters: 174 National Cemetery Road, Dover, TN 37058
Dover Hotel: 101 Petty Street, Dover, TN, 37058

PlaneThe area is served by airports in Nashville and Jackson, Tennessee or Paducah, Kentucky. Car rental services are available.

CarThe park is located in Dover, Tennessee, northwest of Nashville. From Nashville, take I-24W to Clarksville (Exit 4). Take a left on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, until you reach 101st Airborne Division Pkwy/Hwy 374. Take a right at this intersection. Follow Hwy 374, until you reach Hwy 79. Turn right on Hwy. 79 South. Follow signs to Dover (approximately 30 miles). The visitor center is one mile west of the town.
From Paducah, KY: Take Interstate 24 East to exit 31, and go south on Hwy 453 to Land Between the Lakes (LBL). Follow this road through LBL to US Hwy 79. Take a left on US Hwy 79; the park visitor center is approximately 1.3 miles.
From Murray, KY: Take 641S to Hwy 121. Drive approximately 30 miles on Hwy 121, until you reach Hwy 79 at Paris Landing. Take a left on Hwy 79, and follow signs to the park (approximately 13 miles).

***Jerry Ross*** · 01-13-2012, 11:23 AM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

Fellas,
We are a month out from the event . Two days ago it was at 50+ degree mark and this morning the wind chill factor was 15. This weather pattern was accurate for the battle and might happen again. Come prepared for the weather change.

**fortdonelsonrelics** · 01-28-2012, 12:24 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

To all those sitting on the fence - we still have spots available for this event and I would recommend getting your registrations in soon. We are in the process of purchasing rations and supplies based on the number we have so far, which is getting close to 80 right now.

This will be a great event -

John Walsh

**Ken Knopp** · 01-28-2012, 12:58 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

John's right! For you guys wanting to get in a great winter event (warm that it is too), on a Nat'l Park as NEVER before and, have a great chance to prep for Shiloh DON'T MISS THIS!! I understand the Cav contingent is significant, literally growing daily with even more expected to late register in the next few days.
I am ashamed to say I have never been to Ft Donelson despite having lived close by in Nashville for about eight years in the 1980's. So, I cannot wait to get there. Thanks for putting this together John!, Jerry, Ethan!

Ken R Knopp

**TexCavly** · 01-29-2012, 09:49 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

Sure would if I could.

**ethan harrington** · 02-02-2012, 06:42 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

All,
If any one else is interested in comming and needs help with a kit if this is holding you back contact me and we can work it out weather has been in the 50's here and today I didn't wear a coat and opened doors at the shop. Get on board if you are still on the fence and let us know.

Thx
Ethan Harrington

**Ken Knopp** · 02-12-2012, 09:04 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

For the cav....I posted this elsewhere but wanted to make sure all the cav guys had a chance to see this. We can appreciate more than non-horseman what this event was all about and the real special treat it was on so many levels. Thanks to all that made it happen!

Great event!! On top of the terrain and 150th commemoration, the harsh weather conditions alone made it a wonderfully realistic, authentic experience. Highlight for me was two occasions....

First, with the wagon Friday morning..... we snapped the wagon tongue as we came down the road late morning Friday which broke us down for several hours. Teamster Ronnie Tucker (literally, one of the very few in this country today with real mule/teamster skill sets) and Cam Stinnet immediately grabbed an axe and went into the woods and cut another one. Now this may sound quite simple and even easy but, let me tell you- it was not just any tree but a hard wood “selected” to approximate the proper size and tapering width of the wagon tongue. Then, using the broad ax Tucker shaped the ends and the places where we drilled and re-attached the iron trace chain hardware and bolts from the old tongue onto the new one. After a few hours and a little help from the NPS (they torched off the rusted bolts on the old hardware) we had it and the mules back on the wagon and in motion. Gent’s, that’s as real as it gets! Later the next morning we took the wrong road and had to travel a ways before we found a place to turn around and not without having to chop another tree down in order to make the mules turn in the woods. All in all, an incredibly realistic experience of the trials and tribulations of a CW wagon train with a traveling army!!

Second: The wagon & the cavalry arriving into camp at dark and having to establish camp on a hillside, unload the rations, un-hitch, unsaddle, stretch picket lines, feed & care for the horses & mules, build fires, eat and finally lay down (with NO tents!)- all in the dark under sleeting rain, snow, cold conditions. Then, arising early the next morning doing it all again in reverse and marching out in the bitter 16 degree cold. Some of you infantry boys just have no idea.......

IMHO,....Special Recognition to....

The Cavalry: For bringing two complete impressions (Federal and Confederate) including saddles, bridles, weapons, clothing, accoutrements, etc. and making the changes back and forth from CS to US on Friday morning then back to CS Friday night. All the while making sure the two sets of tack, equipment and uniforms made it from one camp to the next. Big effort!

Ronnie Tucker for his amazing mule skinner talents. Folks, most of us today have no idea what a treat this was or how rare and unique this display was to behold. Not only did Ronnie show us a taste of the lost art of mule skinning but he did it using the “correct” CW method by sitting on the wheel team and using a jerk line to control the team. I am not exaggerating this ... “no- one” in reenacting today does wagon teams this way! Most do it the “Hollywood way” using reins “in hand” from the wagon box but that is not the way most CW quartermaster wagon trains operated. Course, I must say that his authentic “cursing” the mules and everyone around him throughout the event only added to the authentic ambiance and his mule skinner mystic (ha!!)

Cameron Stinnet: For use of his wagon and his strong back, patience and incredibly hard work. For our combined benefit, Cam loaded and unloaded that wagon no less than a dozen times from my observation. Rations, baggage, all of it! He also ran along side the wagon (literally) on hills working the brake, cut trees and helped issue rations. He did a lot of heavy lifting and rarely took a rest. Most of you missed it but everyone owes him a huge thanks!

And finally,.......John Walsh & Jerry Ross: For putting all of this together. Very hard work, lots or pre-event effort and real time organization. Jerry worked like a beaver most of the day and night Thursday night loading and unloading rations, cooking rations etc. Thank you John and Jerry for your planning and hard work to make this an incredibly real experience while commemorating this often overlooked campaign.

A fine, very authentic event for those that attended and a real lost opportunity for those of you that missed it. Me, I would not have missed it for nothin!

Ken R Knopp
"Apprentice" Mule Skinner working under the tutelage of "Master Mule Skinner" Ronnie Tucker

***Jerry Ross*** · 02-12-2012, 09:47 PM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

This is a short note about the weekend.

I was allowed the <style> </style>privilege of leading the men who can keep the high standards of the Authentic Campaigner. They did not just talk about doing it. They did it !

There were many who came that took their role serious from privates,mule driver,cavalry, infantry,captains, <style> </style>lieutenants,sergeants and a wagon master.The weather was tough, terrain was rough, but the men were tougher.

It was an honor to lead you. <style> **</style>

Now I need to take some more aspirin to help me walk.

***Pvt_Sullivan*** · 02-13-2012, 09:23 AM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

Originally posted by Ken Knopp View Post

For the cav....I posted this elsewhere but wanted to make sure all the cav guys had a chance to see this. We can appreciate more than non-horseman what this event was all about and the real special treat it was on so many levels. Thanks to all that made it happen!

Ken, just to be clear... I thought the event was about recreating and remembering the actions of the orginal participants 150 years. Including those poor souls who walked every step of the way.

My view as one of the non-horsemen at the event was that the Cavalry and Wagoneers were top notch. The engagements by the Cavalry during the retreat on Friday afternoon were well executed. From the brief AAR snippets I received we gave back as good as we got and it was a great experience from my view. Since I've lead a wagon train in conditions on the other end of the weather spectrum, I can fully appreciate and was very grateful for the efforts put in by the wagon team in bringing along for us the extra blankets, tent canvas and cooking gear that made it possible for use foot sloggers to survive through the weather conditions. The work on the replacement of the wagon tounge alone was an incredible task and many of us came over to view the work and appreciate it directly. Also since there hasn't been any negative comment about it yet, I'm glad our efforts to make sure that the 48th Tennessee Company's gear was ready and staged before the wagons needed it each morning and our willingness and eagerness to help load and unload the wagon was helpful.

In events of this type, it's the team that succeeds. It takes all of us and those who get it do appreciate the effort put in by all involved. A job well done by all hands.

**Mark Choate** · 02-13-2012, 11:05 AM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

Peter,

I think that Ken was wanting to post information regarding the event on the cav site as many of them stay pretty close to that portion of the forum and might miss it.

As part of the cavalry contingent, I can tell you that it was quite a grueling event. While I have covered much longer distances, the extremes of weather, etc. made it draining for all and as cavalry, we were asked to bring both impressions. To do this correctly, we each had to have two sets of uniforms, weaponry, saddles, tack, blanket and just about everything short of drawers to properly make the transformation. This was not a group who would just don a blue jacket and be done with it. The standards and expectations were high. Also, we had to portray full CS cav on Thursday at the arrival, through the night and into the next morning when we scouted out the route to Ft. Henry. Then, we had to switch to full Fed, (before any infantry could suspect it) and do the Illinois troopers justice through the day. Finally, when returning on Friday evening about dark (in the rain) we had to make the transference back to CS. This was about as challenging in the logistics catetory as you can imagine. The cost, however was that all of that stuff had to be transported from point A to B, to C but could not be in the Wagon with the infantry stuff lest the "element of surprise" be lost.

Now, all of that said, it is not a complaint as it pushed us and made us stronger and I am glad and proud for that portion. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, ha.

That aside, I want to say here on the cavalry forum how impressive you infantry boys were with your multi-tier defensive tactics. Very well laid out and exectuted. I am always impressed with Brian Hicks and his leadership and strategy in the field. Also, you "foot-cavalry" really set a new standard in my eyes for pure speed. I was astounded at how quickly you moved over that challenging terrain. Really gave us all an addred respect for your abilities.

Finally, I want to thank Jerry Ross and John Walsh for unbelievably hard work and tireless efforts to bring this event about and while the elements dealt us all a blow, it actually added to the authenticity of the event and made it even more memorable.

Hats off to all who participated!!

regards,
Mark

**fortdonelsonrelics** · 02-13-2012, 11:22 AM

Re: Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

I do hope all of the Cavalry enjoyed themselves and I want to send my gratitude for you all pulling 'double' duty this past weekend. The event would not have been the same without you all there and I have gotten several emails about how you, as Federals, added to the experience.

I wasn't as familiar with some of the Cav guys prior to the event and now glad to have spent some time with all of you.

Mine and Jerry's running joke is as a kid I grew up around horses and rode them for many years (forcibly) until around 15, so Jerry gets me on a horse every now and again to make sure I don't forget. I apologize to some of the cav guys who had to endure my mediocre horsemanship, but I'm sure my Grandpa was smiling from above. But without digressing to much, having hauled horses and preping them, etc, I do appreciate the effort in bringing the horses and the extra gear.

Your presence added to the event at all levels and you all are a credit to the hobby and I am happy to have made your acquantence this past weekend,

John Walsh

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Withdrawing to Fort Donelson-Feb 9-12, 2012 - Cavalry

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