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Despite being on the Brandy Station battlefield, Into the Wilderness was not a cavalry fight. But for us portraying a detachment of the 8th PA Cavalry it was a definate challenge in every way.
Our crew was made up of folks that were new to some, and even all aspects of mounted cavalry operation in an event with the scope of Recon. New riders, new reenactors, ex-infantry, former dismounted, and even I was performing for the first time as anything above an NCO. Off the bat and months before, we called for high standards, and that's what I feel we got. Despite a great lack of experience, the group kniited tightly and performed as a team. I cannot say I have ever been prouder of a group of boys in 30 years of reenacting. That includes 3 dismounted men that served HQ and as mule skinners through-out the event.
4 of the 11 mounted men were on site by mid-day Thursday, which was spent looking around and basically aclimating. By mid-afternoon Friday the balance of the group was on hand, and after posing for Mr Szabo's camera, headed back into the field.
Our first task was to scout the Wilderness itself, but with rations to procure and darkness approaching this was done with only half the detachment. We covered the woods pretty extensively looking for approach routes, obvious positions, and a connection to the Brock Road. This detachment was divided again to scout two trails off the main central one. When the one I was with returned to the main trail, we nearly walked right into CS cavalry. Spotting a horse's blaze through the trees, we 3 carefully slunk back the way we had come and moved through the wood, cross-country to avoid them.
Emerging from the North side of the wood, we scouted along the Western edge of the bordering field and returned to our temporary base where the 1st Sgt and his man had returned when they could not find us and had galloped the length and width of the woods in search of us..
At 2030 I reported our findings to HQ and Colonel Culbertson. Since I did not feel we have confirmed a connection to the Brock Road the troop rose early Saturday with that task. We conformed that right off and sent back a guide for the infantry. In the meantime we scouted the woods again, even more towards the Orange Plank Road to the East.
When the Mainers arrived we were place on the left and spent our time patrolling the fields, road, and woods on that side. One such patrol took us to the far side of the wood where we could seen enemy infantry and cavalry operating in thier rear, but our small numbers, and our extended and unsupported position made it more sensible to back away. (we technically were "out-of-bounds" and it would have been very unsporting to attack from that position.)
We retired to HQ to water the animals and ourselves and were told to check on the civilians encamped nearby. We investigated their camp, searched them, and confiscated a secsesh banner they had hanging nearby. One man found bawdy images and the 1st Sgt took possesion of them.
We then crossed the creek towards the infantry's position to find a detachment of Georgia cavalry had debauched from the wood and rifled through the hospital wagon. We handed over the confiscated banner and images, which turned out to belong to the wagon's hospital steward who was concerned about the other belongings and equipment left near the civilians encampment. He secured permission to return there and see to them and, as we were to learn later, sealed his doom.
We then went after the secesh cavalry mistakenly figuring they were returning to their lines. They instead had turned North and happened upon the civilians, just in time to meet the hospital steward. The civilians had become found of the steward as he had been kind to them and were quite upset with the Georgians when they proceeded to kill thier "pet yankee." The poor boy, shot down in cold blood, was mourned over by that band of women as if he had been a son or brother.
Failing to find the trail of our quarry, we turned back to where the hospital wagon was and spotted our prey emerging from the ford below the civillian camp. As they made their way down the west side of the field back towards their lines, we formed and steered to intercept.
As they passed our front we halted and fired a volley. They immediately turned and charged. A fast and furious swirly fight ensued and broke up as fast as it had started - had you blinked you'de have missed it. The Coinfederates retired to the Brock road and cover where they dismounted and waited for us to persue. We reformed and demonstrated in front of them while two files were sent to their flank to engage them on foot. Both sides, reluctant to fully engaged in the entaglements of the woods, mutually separated.
We returned to the left flank to guard and patrol until it began to rain and the woods became lousey with Confederate infantry - almost as if they sprouted due to the rain.
We retired and actually made ourselves guest of division HQ by occupying the shed they were camped beside. Here we spent the "9 hour shower" in relative comfort - if you don't mind picking ticks every 10 minutes.
Sunday we reported to the 7th Maine's adjudent and I was briefed on the battle of Cowpens during our war of independance. A company of the 7th was places at the creek crossing, with the balance of the battalion in the rear. We were placed behind cover on the right with order to attack whatever unfriendly force emerged into our view.
We waited and listened as the battle developed. The forward company retired past us and the Confederates moved up the hill, halting just before they came into our view. With their customary yell they began to advance again and as they exposed their flank we charged.
(now had this been for "keeps" we would have drawn sabre and run down their forward line - front and rear - slashing it open from end to end and with the element of surprise in our favor, would have likely done very effective work. But this was a reenactment, so we passed the front of the line at a "safe distance" and popped our revolvers for the benefit of the OCs. Except for temporarily and physically halting the CS advance, I do not know what effect was attributed to our charge. Maybe if the OCs were informed prior somehow that what we were going to do was a safe version of what were we "portraying" we may have gotten to run the leading line off the field - oh well, woulda, coulda, shoulda I guess)
Rallying and falling back, we charged a small company on the CS left which cost us 3 men (2 lost in the first charge) but halted their advance for a time, and shortly after the Confederate assault fell back not caused by us, but maybe helped a bit by us.
The battle ended thus, with 5 wounded among our 11 man detachment, myself included.
Overall, I was very pleased with Recon 3. Our part in it was challenging and rewarding. We learned a great deal and as our debute event in many ways, got us off to a real kick-ass start. The opportunity to face Mr Adair and Mr Peterman and to experience their professionalism was worth the trip all byitself. They cannot imagine the great amount I personally learned from our single brief encounter - and I thank them for it.
To all of you that have been lavishing us with compliments and accolades, I thank you most sincerly on behalf of the men of the recreated 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Your kind words and comments have boosted the confidence of my people as much as the experience itself and have helped solidify a rock solid foundation for authentic Federal cavalry in the mid-Atlantic.
Our crew was made up of folks that were new to some, and even all aspects of mounted cavalry operation in an event with the scope of Recon. New riders, new reenactors, ex-infantry, former dismounted, and even I was performing for the first time as anything above an NCO. Off the bat and months before, we called for high standards, and that's what I feel we got. Despite a great lack of experience, the group kniited tightly and performed as a team. I cannot say I have ever been prouder of a group of boys in 30 years of reenacting. That includes 3 dismounted men that served HQ and as mule skinners through-out the event.
4 of the 11 mounted men were on site by mid-day Thursday, which was spent looking around and basically aclimating. By mid-afternoon Friday the balance of the group was on hand, and after posing for Mr Szabo's camera, headed back into the field.
Our first task was to scout the Wilderness itself, but with rations to procure and darkness approaching this was done with only half the detachment. We covered the woods pretty extensively looking for approach routes, obvious positions, and a connection to the Brock Road. This detachment was divided again to scout two trails off the main central one. When the one I was with returned to the main trail, we nearly walked right into CS cavalry. Spotting a horse's blaze through the trees, we 3 carefully slunk back the way we had come and moved through the wood, cross-country to avoid them.
Emerging from the North side of the wood, we scouted along the Western edge of the bordering field and returned to our temporary base where the 1st Sgt and his man had returned when they could not find us and had galloped the length and width of the woods in search of us..
At 2030 I reported our findings to HQ and Colonel Culbertson. Since I did not feel we have confirmed a connection to the Brock Road the troop rose early Saturday with that task. We conformed that right off and sent back a guide for the infantry. In the meantime we scouted the woods again, even more towards the Orange Plank Road to the East.
When the Mainers arrived we were place on the left and spent our time patrolling the fields, road, and woods on that side. One such patrol took us to the far side of the wood where we could seen enemy infantry and cavalry operating in thier rear, but our small numbers, and our extended and unsupported position made it more sensible to back away. (we technically were "out-of-bounds" and it would have been very unsporting to attack from that position.)
We retired to HQ to water the animals and ourselves and were told to check on the civilians encamped nearby. We investigated their camp, searched them, and confiscated a secsesh banner they had hanging nearby. One man found bawdy images and the 1st Sgt took possesion of them.
We then crossed the creek towards the infantry's position to find a detachment of Georgia cavalry had debauched from the wood and rifled through the hospital wagon. We handed over the confiscated banner and images, which turned out to belong to the wagon's hospital steward who was concerned about the other belongings and equipment left near the civilians encampment. He secured permission to return there and see to them and, as we were to learn later, sealed his doom.
We then went after the secesh cavalry mistakenly figuring they were returning to their lines. They instead had turned North and happened upon the civilians, just in time to meet the hospital steward. The civilians had become found of the steward as he had been kind to them and were quite upset with the Georgians when they proceeded to kill thier "pet yankee." The poor boy, shot down in cold blood, was mourned over by that band of women as if he had been a son or brother.
Failing to find the trail of our quarry, we turned back to where the hospital wagon was and spotted our prey emerging from the ford below the civillian camp. As they made their way down the west side of the field back towards their lines, we formed and steered to intercept.
As they passed our front we halted and fired a volley. They immediately turned and charged. A fast and furious swirly fight ensued and broke up as fast as it had started - had you blinked you'de have missed it. The Coinfederates retired to the Brock road and cover where they dismounted and waited for us to persue. We reformed and demonstrated in front of them while two files were sent to their flank to engage them on foot. Both sides, reluctant to fully engaged in the entaglements of the woods, mutually separated.
We returned to the left flank to guard and patrol until it began to rain and the woods became lousey with Confederate infantry - almost as if they sprouted due to the rain.
We retired and actually made ourselves guest of division HQ by occupying the shed they were camped beside. Here we spent the "9 hour shower" in relative comfort - if you don't mind picking ticks every 10 minutes.
Sunday we reported to the 7th Maine's adjudent and I was briefed on the battle of Cowpens during our war of independance. A company of the 7th was places at the creek crossing, with the balance of the battalion in the rear. We were placed behind cover on the right with order to attack whatever unfriendly force emerged into our view.
We waited and listened as the battle developed. The forward company retired past us and the Confederates moved up the hill, halting just before they came into our view. With their customary yell they began to advance again and as they exposed their flank we charged.
(now had this been for "keeps" we would have drawn sabre and run down their forward line - front and rear - slashing it open from end to end and with the element of surprise in our favor, would have likely done very effective work. But this was a reenactment, so we passed the front of the line at a "safe distance" and popped our revolvers for the benefit of the OCs. Except for temporarily and physically halting the CS advance, I do not know what effect was attributed to our charge. Maybe if the OCs were informed prior somehow that what we were going to do was a safe version of what were we "portraying" we may have gotten to run the leading line off the field - oh well, woulda, coulda, shoulda I guess)
Rallying and falling back, we charged a small company on the CS left which cost us 3 men (2 lost in the first charge) but halted their advance for a time, and shortly after the Confederate assault fell back not caused by us, but maybe helped a bit by us.
The battle ended thus, with 5 wounded among our 11 man detachment, myself included.
Overall, I was very pleased with Recon 3. Our part in it was challenging and rewarding. We learned a great deal and as our debute event in many ways, got us off to a real kick-ass start. The opportunity to face Mr Adair and Mr Peterman and to experience their professionalism was worth the trip all byitself. They cannot imagine the great amount I personally learned from our single brief encounter - and I thank them for it.
To all of you that have been lavishing us with compliments and accolades, I thank you most sincerly on behalf of the men of the recreated 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Your kind words and comments have boosted the confidence of my people as much as the experience itself and have helped solidify a rock solid foundation for authentic Federal cavalry in the mid-Atlantic.
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