Anybody back yet?

[dusty27]

I'm sure Doug is sleeping on the plane home today or tomorrow, but anyone else attend that can give a preliminary report? Should I plan a trip to G'burg to have Chris measure me for my Federal uniform?:wink_smil

[Iceman]

Re: Anybody back yet?

I do not have official numbers, but from what people were saying, the money raised for battlefield preservation this weekend at Mansfield, Louisiana - not Gettysburg, not Sharpsburg, or any other "hardcore" eastern event - raised more money for battlefield preservation than any other Civil War event ever! The rough numbers right now is somewhere in the ballpark of $25,000!

The event at Mansfield was also the largest garthering of both participants and spectators at any Louisiana historical site. The rough numbers were somwhere around 700 participants, with about 5,000 spectators. Mansfield can't compete with the mega events out East, but in comparison it's the largest event the State of Louisiana has ever had. Hats off to all those who came, even more so to Adam Cecile for his dedication to the push for authentic support for mainstream events in the Trans-Miss. There are already talks in the works for the next preservation march next year.

Nic Clark
Chasseurs de Chalmette

[Old Reb]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Let's say a very brief preliminary report because I am really tired, but the event was a great success. I believe Doug told me that nearly $8,000 dollars have been raised so far.The march was tough, but for a worthy cause. On our first rest break, we possed for a photo op with the moon scape of the lignite mine in the background. Danny, Doug, Frank, and the Mansfield park folks did well with this one, as well as others that helped put on this even and the generous nature of many excellent vendors. Dusty, I will let Doug post about whether you should plan that trip or not. Again, the 15 miles was tough. The nights were down right chilly and the days warm, but from my point of view, it was one of the best preservation events I have attended. The number of bitting and stinging critters was held down by the cool nights. . Maybe one thing that made it so good for me was the fact unlike those that came from the far reaches of this country, and Britain, I had only 35 miles to travel to get back home. Hope others post on this and I will go nurse my tired feet and weary legs.

I'm sure Doug is sleeping on the plane home today or tomorrow, but anyone else attend that can give a preliminary report? Should I plan a trip to G'burg to have Chris measure me for my Federal uniform?:wink_smil

[Cary Davisson]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Hello Pards,
Here are some pics I took Saturday! I hope everyone returned home safely. It was great to meet and see everyone there.
Cary A. Davisson

[high_private78]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Hello Pards,
Here are some pics I took Saturday! I hope everyone returned home safely. It was great to meet and see everyone there.
Cary A. Davisson

Just got back home in Bama about an hour ago.... and am still trying to take it all in... The 15th did an awsome job... there were very few dropouts... and every one that was left Sunday morning finished the march. I commend all the men that made the march and the CO's that led them.. It was great to meet and get to know authentics from all points of the globe.

Jason Reasor
Asst. Surgeon 15th TX
Gold Bond/ Moleskin Mess

[Blum]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Hi,

Happy you had great time in Louisiana and nice to look at pictures !!!

I was among the seven French reenactors who do the travel for the first Red River Campaign in 1994 and I am very disappointed it was impossible for me to go in the USA with you all !!!

Hope everybody is come back home safety and we can look at soon others pictures … :)

[Holy Joe]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Got back home around 7 last evening....excellent, excellent event.

Roughly 80 men attempted the march from Mansfield to Pleasant Hill, with nearly all making it with out any trouble. Word is that some $8,000 to $10,000 was raised by the fellows and the raffle. Combined with the Austin Civil War Roundtable's "twofer" matching contribution, we could see as much as $30,000 donated to the CWPT earmarked for Mansfield.

Gentlemen that participated, I was honored to be a part of this very moving and powerful experience. Your hard work has won you the praise of the Texas General Land Office, Representative Callegari, and the Governor of Texas. You have honored our fathers well...As your Commissary Sergeant, I give you a hearty pat on the back.

Three cheers for Texas, boys!

[Strawfoot]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Though I did not fall in with the 15th Texas, I did attend M/PH. I desperately wanted to join the march, but just could not put a solid enough CSA kit together in time.

Having said that, as a Federal I participated because I wished to catch them in action, and also wanted to do anything I could do to support the effort. Whether it was digging into the wallet, riding with the chase vehicle for awhile, or just doing my best Fed impression and giving them someone to shoot at. Some other c/p/h type Feds and I ended up falling in with the 9th Texas, which does a stand-up job galvanizing as zouaves of the 165th NY. Anyhow...

Seeing the 15th TX for the first time, storming across the field at the Mansfield battle, and flanking a fed battery was awe inspiring. Only disciplined re-enactors could've double-quicked into position that effectively. And in the PH scenario, their battalion front was littered with casualites. You could tell the 15th was over on the reb right flank by the crisp, sharp, volleys coming from that part of the field.

The battalion looked great, even from a distance. During the brief moments I did see the 15th TX function as a military organization (there were short lulls both after the Mansfield battle and before the PH scenario) I witnessed professionalism and soldierly qualities commensurate with what I've seen from groups like the WIG, and AoP. It was one of those cases where even the spectators could see they looked like what civil war soldiers would've really looked like.

I also want to add my admiration for the park employees at the Mansfield Battlefield Park, who are some very sharp types. Utterly professional, serious about their work. That was one beautiful field to re-enact on... Conversely, driving by the site of the lignite mining was a sobering
experience. It reminded me very much of the Kuwaiti desert.

As for the march itself, I briefly wondered why the battalion didn't try the entire distance in one straight shot. Marching 8 miles, then stopping for four hours, might give the cold and stiffness a chance to set in just in time for that last eight miles to be a freaking killer...

I saw more than one campaigner wobbly and weak-kneed Sunday at Pleasant Hill, and knew they were more than a little sore. If they had chosen to march through the night, they also would've been tremendously aided by a very bright and full moon that night.

But having not walked in their shoes, I tip my hat to them and their efforts. The last tally I heard was in excess of 20 grr. Outstanding.

Lastly, I did get a chance to meet Doug Cooper, and never remember seeing an individual looking so spent. As a whole, they really put a shoulder to the wheel. There's a whole lot of guys in that battalion I am proud to call friends.

By the way, I heard rumblings of a special sharpshooter battalion which was historically understrength possibly being raised to scale for Franklin later this year.

Well done friends.

Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX

[srmitchell]

Re: Anybody back yet?

All,
Arrived home about 11p.m. yesterday, and woke up to a loud ringing noise this morning that took me several seconds to identify as a telephone. :D
All I can say is . . . wow.
The event was excellent, the march was taxing but achievable, and even the weather chose to co-operate. I cannot say enough about this event.
Special thanks to Danny, Doug, and Frank for all thier efforts and the efforts of thier staff and support teams. This event was a great example of what a handful of dedicated people can do, and I hope it's effects are felt in that area of Louisiana for a long, long, time.
It was great to meet and march with men such as these.
Forward Trans-Mississippi!

[Iceman]

Re: Anybody back yet?

I just got off the phone with Doug Cooper, and the official grand total amount of money raised by strictly the living historians is $9,737.28.

Nic Clark

[Gallo de Cielo]

Re: Anybody back yet?

I have a feeling that this post will eventually span a lengthy number of virtual pages but I thought that I would take a few moments to share some reflections on the event.

To begin, it was an experience not to be forgotten. In the company that I had the honor to wear the first sergeant's stripes in we had men ranging from age 15 to 60. Some came from Louisiana, Texas, Utah, Idaho, Washington State, Oregon, Illinois, Arkansas, and even from the United Kingdom. Among that group were high schoolers, several PhDs, the attourney who saved Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans, businessmen, and several of the finest vendors in the hobby. To say the least it was a fantastic group of men.

The highlights, although too numerous to mention in full, would include Adjutant Wheeley reading the proclomations and letters of thanks from the State of Texas, the mail call Saturday morning, gathering with the full battalion shortly after the march had begun to look over a portion of the battlefield that has been forever and irreperably dismantled by the lignite mine, marching into the dark Saturday night, seeing so many men in the ranks again Sunday morning, and finally, those last fantastic few hundred yards as we marched into Pleasant Hill. I doubt I would be exagerating to say that we were all tired as hell. Many were sore, stiff, sunburned, or blistered but to see the ranks tighten up, to hear the steady tramp of the battalion marching to the step, and then moving into Pleasant Hill with spectators and other reenactors clapping, waving, and cheering was simply fantastic.

I've now acted as first sergeant at three fine events- Port Gibson, TAG, and most recently the Mansfield/Pleasant Hill march- and I can truthfully state that this was the best group to work with, bar none. My fellow NCO's were incredible, as were the men in the ranks. Everyone endured the privations without complaint and almost everyone saw the thing through to the end. Knowing that the men we represented fought in the midst of a savage battle and then covered the distance we split over two days in one has even more meaning now that we've attempted it to the degree we did.

Lastly, the amount of personal time, effort, and energy that so many folks from so many distant quarters contributed was humbling in the extreme. Danny McCoslin (who made the march in its intirety despite a nice line of staples in his scalp), Doug Cooper, Frank Aufmuth, Don Smith, and the countless others who saw this thing through from start to finish really should be commended. Dusty Lind, Jason Reasor, and Chris Rolling all expended significant amounts of time and particularly gasoline in shuttling folks and in making sure everyone was kept in good health. Others expended large amounts of their personal income toward travel and/or preservation efforts. Indeed, the cost of flying from the Pacific-Northwest and Great Britain alone was staggering in and of itself. Some declined to participate as they didn't wish to be a part of a preservation parade. A scant few who had signed up had the usual last-minute sorry excuses but in my mind, the wheat was separated from the chaff prior to the event, rather than during it. It's most likely that those souls weren't up to the challenge to begin with and opted out with the afore-mentioned excuses.

Clearly the amount of fund-raising and attention this event has garnered will set the standard. I'm proud to have been a part of it and I look forward to soldiering again with my new-found, and far-flung comrades from Company B, and indeed, from the battalion as a whole.

Kind regards,

Fred Baker

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Hi All,

A huge Thank You to all who came to help preserve Mansfield.

All of you did the extraordinary. Thank you for your dedication to preserving the history and land where the last major victory of the south was fought.

On behalf of the Interpretive Ranger Staff at Mansfield Battlefield.
Scott Dearman, Senior Ranger
Nic Clark, Ranger
Don Smith, Ranger

Thank you


Don Smith

[Michael Comer]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Fine, fine event. It gives me a greater appreciation for what the real fellows did day, after day, after day during campaigns. I was proud to be part of it and offer my little bit of service by being a member of the batallion. As we marched in to Pleasant Hill and then stood in our ranks for the last time after stacking arms, I must admit I got a bit choked up and misty eyed.

Despite the foot-soreness, the cold nights and hot days this will remain a great memory for me and I am indebted to all who organized it. If we have not set a new standard for fund raising for preservation we have at least raised the bar and I am grateful to have been a small part of it.

[Alamo Guard]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Pam and I took our time getting home. We enjoyed seeing natures wrath from all the rain that was dumped on Texas.
The event was in one word awesome. The event will remain engrained for several reasons, first and foremost is the dedication by many people in so many countless ways to make the event happen. Second was despite a few setbacks there was no bickering no complaining and we actually stayed in first person the whole weekend. I think though we need to send a special thank you to the makers of "Boudreaux's Butt Paste", but without the before and after photos.
I felt honoured to serve with such men such as yourselves. It was also great to finally put a name to a face.
I hope for those of you possums who ordered my wifes socks they held up as I told you they would?
After this march I really do remain "YOS".....Dusty Lind
Aloe Vera Mess

[Kris Ruffino]

Re: Anybody back yet?

Hello Everyone
Well I must agree with everyone this was an event to remember. I had so much fun getting to meet and talk to everyone involved in the march. I would like to thank the Lazy Jacks for coming all this way to help Mansfield. The march wouldn't have been the same without Tom in front beet red and sweating, but grinning and enjoying every step of the way. I would also like to than Danny McCoslin, Doug Cooper, The Ground Hornets, The Upstartmess, The Texas Rifles and everyone else that came out and put their bodies to the test to help the cause. In closing I would also like to thank everyone for making me feel welcomed and for being so nice to me. I have never meet a nicer bunch of guys. I was able to get a few pics in between getting water and finding the rest stops for the march. If anyone would like me to send the pictures to them just drop me a line.
Thank you all again
Kris Ruffino