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Dismounted for reenacting?

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  • #1

    Dismounted for reenacting?

    Hello all.

    Anyone out there using a dismounted skirmish line along with the mounted reenactors?

    Just curious. Where I am the horses go prancing by 50 or so yards in front of two ranks of infantry, where the troopers would in all probability get blown out of the saddle. I was wondering if anyone tries to be a bit more realistic (like spotting the enemy from the saddle, then dismounting for combat) or do most event hosts ask you to stay mounted and charge around the battlefield. Clearly, thats what the crowd likes.
    James Rice
    Co. H, 2nd Florida
    [i]"Tell General Hancock that I have done him and you all an injury which I shall regret as long as I live."~ Brig.Gen. Lewis Armistead, CSA[/i]
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Dismounted for reenacting?

    Hallo!

    Moderator hat on....

    Just a quick request to please keep this thread in a historical light rather than a modern "Mainstream" reenactment or "us versus them" and "what the crowd likes" vein.

    Danke.

    Curt
    Curt Schmidt
    In gleichem Schritt und Tritt, Curt Schmidt

    -Hard and sharp as flint...secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster.
    -Haplogroup R1b M343 (Subclade R1b1a2 M269)
    -Pointless Folksy Wisdom Mess, Oblio Lodge #1
    -Vastly Ignorant
    -Often incorrect, technically, historically, factually.

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    • #3
      Re: Dismounted for reenacting?

      Well then go ahead and delete it. Sorry bout that.

      Regards,
      James Rice
      Co. H, 2nd Florida
      [i]"Tell General Hancock that I have done him and you all an injury which I shall regret as long as I live."~ Brig.Gen. Lewis Armistead, CSA[/i]

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      • #4
        Re: Dismounted for reenacting?

        James
        At main stream events absolutly, but for what we try to portray we do some times dismount and go in on foot depending on the situation. Where you infantry count off by 2's we cav count off by 4's. Every 4th man will stay mounted and hold the horses. each halter will have a link strap which we link up to another horse. Please not that the origional link straps linked horses bits together not to the halter. Since many horses at reenactments arn't stable mates then it's kinda hard to link 3 horses together with out some one getting hurt. We don't link bits because of that very reason, a horse will freak and will cause mounth trauma and or sever his tongue. I have only done this a hand full of times, and each time it was well rehersed before hand. We also allowed enough room to maneuver in case a horse gets over excited.

        Here in tha past couple of years I have stayed mounted and performed flanking maneuvers or was just a mounted courrier. I personally enjoy that more then just falling into line and fire on command (have done that to). In reality out west here there was not allot of formation charges or saber clashes, there was though the only reported Lance charge during the civil war (Battle of Val Verde, NM).
        Andy Miller
        1st CAL Cav
        [U]Andy Miller[/U]
        1st CAlifornia Cavalry Company A
        [I]"Lying down behind the body of my dying animal, I opened fire with my carbine swaring to kill at least one apache" [U]John Teal 1862[/U][/I]

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        • #5
          Re: Dismounted for reenacting?

          James, at authentic campaign events - we fight correct (dismounted) tatics at every single event! Without knowing you personally, we have ridden at some of the same FL events and I know exactly what you are saying (so very true).

          Yes, a horse/rider presents a huge target at 100 and less yards. When riding with the Critters, most of the scouting/recon work is done at 200 to 1000 yards in open areas and from behind cover in tight woods.

          You should give a "type 1" event a try sometime, you would probably love it. I travel to some of the top events 2 or 3 times a year, you should catch a ride sometime. E-mail me if you get the calling: wfmsa@hotmail.com

          Mike Nickerson

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          • #6
            Re: Dismounted for reenacting?

            I wanted to add my two cents in on this. I have been in this hobby for going on thirteen years now. My unit is considered a "main stream" unit we have always dismounted to fight. Even if that means firing four or five shots remounting and riding to opposite end of the field. We dislike the "indians" who ride round n round'.
            Cpl. Joseph Lambert
            7th TN Co.D

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            • #7
              Re: Dismounted for reenacting?

              Well the main problem is safty.
              If we allowed the Cavalry to do a proper charge they would not be doing a drive by shootong but would be on line and running over the Infantry like they did in the war.
              Charles Felthousen
              CPT CAVALRY
              A CO 7th NY CAVALRY
              COMMANDING
              ARMY OF THE JAMES
              DEPT OF VA

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              • #8
                Re: Dismounted for reenacting?

                All,

                Joe (Forrestcav) is correct when he says the 7th Tenn Cavalry (CSA) dismounts to fight. And I can add that my horse gets taller and taller each time I remount. However, we will charge infantry upon request. Mill Springs last year comes to mind. We thought we were riding to death like the 600 but the infatry were unaware of our charge until we nearly rode them over.

                I'll have to admit that riding down infatry like dogs is a tad more fun than dismounting...but I am just a private soldier following orders.

                Mark Bridges
                Mark Bridges
                Culleoka, Tennessee

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