Special Thanks to Will McDonald!...OH, and hey eastern cavalrymen...you out there?

[Ken Knopp]

Hey! A BIG thanks to Will McDonald for the wonderful unit-specific ordnance and issue reports he's published here!! You know, this is some really outstanding source information being shared through the heavy lifting efforts and benevolence of Will McDonald. Any authentic (or even Mainstreamer) group or person that portray, have an ancestor or just a keen appreciation for eastern, western & TM cavalry regiments should be absolutely thrilled, no, ecstatic to see this kind of detailed information surface. I am personally thankful (as are others here I know of) to see the western cavalry regiments being highlighted but I have a question....are they any eastern “authentic” Confederate cavalry units or individuals out there that frequent this forum? Other than Rob Bruno? Rob, are there any/many?
My question stems from the fact I see a lot of western guys on this forum but very few easterners...even Federals (notwithstanding excellent contributions by the likes of Dave Myrick and Tom Craig (I know I am missing some others- so forgive me).
So, are there any serious minded easterner type cavalryman? Can we hear from you? Some of the western guys are planning to go east more over the next few years to some of the 150ths. It would be nice to get to know more of you and we would luv to get more of you involved posting here.

Ken R Knopp

https://www.confederatesaddles.com

[rbruno]

Re: Special Thanks to Will McDonald!...OH, and hey eastern cavalrymen...you out there?

Ken,
I think you know, as most everyone does, the usual suspects from the Eastern theater that have been on this board. I am not sure how many still monitor it or read the post. Will has been doing a great job of posting a lot of information. I feel like the numbers in the East for mounted authentic reenactors on the CS side has dropped off in recent years and I think it is showing a little on the boards. Tom Craig and I have talked about this many times. It shows up very clearly at the Unison event that has been held for several years in the fall. In the last several years, Tom and the Federals have out number us on the CS side by a huge landslide. The reasons are many and varied and probably are better left off the boards. But, I am certainly interested to hear from people in the East because this coming Fall is going to be the 150th Unison and I think everyone involved, from the town of Unison, Tom and all the Federals, and all of us on the CS side would like to see a larger event then we have been able to have in the past while maintaining the high standards of the event. But, that will all depend on the support for the event. So, I would like to see more Eastern Cav people chime in on many different topics and maybe come out to a few events next year.

[Ken Doyon]

Re: Special Thanks to Will McDonald!...OH, and hey eastern cavalrymen...you out there?

Ken,
You will find that most, if not all of the Eastern Authentic Cavalrymen that are on this form are either members of or loosely associated with the 1st Maine. (Tom Craig. Jerry Todd, Dave Myrick etc.). That being said we have in the past been able to field a respectable account of ourselves in the field with out loosing any authenticity. I mention to several people down south that here up in the North, especially in New England there is not one Federal mounted unit other than the 1st Maine. Our members are not exclusive to just that area too. Most of the “Yankees” we have come in contact with do Confederate, and at that poorly. I personally would love to see more Eastern Federal cavalry. But again it’s the same old story which has been beat to death like a “dead horse”. They don’t want to put in the time or effort to do “authentic” cavalry. We are hoping that the up coming Unison will bring out more and even entice some of the “streamers” to come over see what it was really like other than living in your “A” tent all weekend. The standards will remain the same as always. That’s why we all do Unison in the first place. I have done this event since 2006 and can tell you every year I look forward to it like Christmas! It was the first event I ever did mounted!!


Ken Doyon
Bugler 1st Maine Cavarly

[VaTrooper]

Re: Special Thanks to Will McDonald!...OH, and hey eastern cavalrymen...you out there?

This is the first time Ive been on in a couple months. Most of the Valley Light Horse have Facebook pages and use it to talk and share info.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Special Thanks to Will McDonald!...OH, and hey eastern cavalrymen...you out there?

I am so sorry. That’s too bad.....just a casual glance at the topics covered over the last few months here in this folder alone including unpublished photographs of Confederate and Federal artifacts, discussions of upcoming events and the absolutely incredible cavalry unit specific research of ordnance records by Will McDonald shows how much great research and information you and they have missed. Welcome back to the hobby! Take a few moments to catch up then facebook your friends and tell them what they're missing. Thanks William!!

Ken R Knopp

[VaTrooper]

Re: Special Thanks to Will McDonald!...OH, and hey eastern cavalrymen...you out there?

Yep I sent a couple people some links. CS Cav isnt dead in the the east we've just been keeping to ourselves the last couple months. Picked up a couple good recruits this year too.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Special Thanks to Will McDonald!...OH, and hey eastern cavalrymen...you out there?

Thank you William. We appreciate your posts. Ken R Knopp