Outpost III - AAR Thread

[AZReenactor]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

I'm home and trying to get caught up on the work I left behind but have to say I had a great time at Outpost. Even with fellows coming from across the country and falling into consolidated companies the cooperation and teamwork was readily apparent throughout the event. As we were stealthily marching along in the dark shifting from fours just a short time after rousing and forming up in the embarkation area in the middle of the night, I couldn't help but feel I was in amongst professionals who really knew what they were about. When just a short while later, we opened ranks, ground arms, and then stretched out for a few hours rest while basically still in formation, it was easy to forget that we had just stepped out of the modern world a few short hours before and set the tone for me during the rest of the event.

There were some lapses in first person, and some logistical and communication challenges but there were countless situations and circumstances that I'll long remember and relive with a smile on my face.

It was a genuine pleasure meeting so many people that I've only spoken to online before this event. I'm already looking forward to the next chance to head back east for another event.

[C.R. Henderson]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Joel,
I remember the words well as it was my back those muzzles were pointed at. Damn. That's the thought that went through my head. I debated whether or not to fire back but in the interest of self preservation I decided agin it.

[John Legg]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Chris and Joel,

I hope someone took a photo of that scene. You should of seen the smirk on my face. Joel i think i talked to you about it after the truce.

John

[coastaltrash]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

It's the event organizers job to get you to where you start, the other directions and sorting in are completely left up to the side commanders. It would have been great however if we could have told Sorchy just to wait in the parking lot for everyone to arrive, but in the end the movement of the participants after the step off time was out of the organizers hands.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed the 20th Tennessee rations, and was delighted to discover a half cup of that delicious parched corn in my haversack last night. The little green onion went into my breakfast eggs this morning. It was still good and tasty. I'm not sure what the rump side of the commissary operation was like, in terms of waste, but the rations appear to be right about on the money.

By the way, just what were we supposed to do with those blue, green, and grey-white oversized poker chips?

[BrianHicks]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

By the way, just what were we supposed to do with those blue, green, and grey-white oversized poker chips?

Charles,

Those 'pennicilin' crackers were issued for medicinal purposes, to help cleanse the men of the diseases they had acquired while visiting the many houses of ill repute in Nashville.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Charles and Brian,
The jokes reminded me of an unsung and unthanked person that was involved in Outpost. I at least wanted to thank Elizabeth Warnick for hand making every piece of Confederate Cornbread for the event. While some molded (partly because I left a step out in the directions for her) she made all 460 pieces in two days over her Fall Break from College. Hell of an effort.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Well, Pat, the ones without mold were really tasty. The ones with mold scared me in a certain sort of way, because they had more "hair" on them than I do on my head, and we were all concerned those moldy crackers could have a bad reaction with the double helping of sweet kim chee from the buffet in Murfreesboro, and, well, poor file closer Wick had a hard time in the backblast zone as it was. "Fierce" simply cannot describe the olfactory conditions to the rear of your company on Saturday morning.

Tell her thank you, and I'll include this as another one of those wonders I have seen. To quote another fellow, it was "pure Fontaineau."

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

I must say that this event was nothing like I thought but everything I enjoy. Thanks goes to the WIG and old Co.F for such a good time. I never felt so much of all of the civil war experience than that weekend. I will admit that the longing for it all to end was overwhelming. Not being able to sleep and fighting all the time and picket got the best of me and yes I deserted. I read many accounts of soilders leaving the ranks to go home if only for awhile. Plus the worn out feeling was to much to bare. I had some good first person with all the Federals I met. I was treated well and then paroled and tried to make it back but was captured by my own reb cav. Not to happy when I got back and all were not to happy with me but it was what I needed to do. I felt it and did and do not regret it. It is sad to lose this land, developement be damned. Well great event. Next time though say have it in September. Never fought so much and lived to tell about it, barley.

PS-whoever took that group pic of Co.F could you post it.

Thanks
Thomas Alleman

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Your recapture by the reb cav was the only entertainment for us pickets on an otherwise uneventful evening.

[Mcguire]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

I started my season with BGR and ended it with Outpost. These two events were my salvation from an otherwise dissapointing season. It's just tough getting to quality events from my neck of the woods. Thanks to the boys in Co. F for making it real and keeping me in a "moment" for the entire weekend. Captain Aufmuth was again stellar in his handling of our company as was 1st Sgt Comer. It was an honor to serve under these gentlemen. My only complaint was having to sleep on arms Saturday night. "Cap'n weez gettin powerful cold could we pull out our blankets?" Also, I tip my hat to the boys in the Tater Mess. I enjoy falling in with you guys.

Saturday night, as Corporal of the Guard, I was relieving my pickets when I discovered that post #6 had been abandoned. I reported the desertion to the 1st Sgt. and the Captain. The Captain asked if perhaps he had been taken. I replied that the other post was not more than 15 yard away and the soldier manning it reported that he had heard nothing. Approximately 10 minutes later a Corporal from Landrum's Co. entered our camp seeking Captain Aufmuth and stating that they had captured a spy who claimed he was in F Company. Before they brought him over we knew it was our missing picket. Not only had he been captured by his own Cavalry but he also had forgotten the countersign! The Captain, after much deliberation, decided to accept him back in the ranks. We should have had a firing squad for him the next morning. The next day as we deployed he told this soldiers file partner to keep an eye on him.

All in all it was a grat event, I just wish we could have ventured farther into the property. I was told that there was 625 acres. Being able to hear the traffic on 31 and the screams from the rugrats in the corn maze was a little dissapointing.

[Federal Bummer]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

The thing with the highway there is the farther you got from US31 the closer you got to the Saturn parkway. Sound travels real well on cold still nights. Even on the deepest part (Federal Camp Friday) you could still hear the highways faintly. Gotta love progress:(

[flattop32355]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Real life interferes. In a way, that's a tribute to those who came before. It's not always convenient to our wishes, and saving pieces of the past is a good thing, but I don't think it can be changed over the course of time.

[D F Smith Historic]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Good Morning All

Some of the sites here in the far west are in the same situation with a highway near by. After so many years at Ft Tejon doing events with the I-5 there next to it in the Tejon Pass. It becomes white noise to some degree and is ignored.

It felt that way at Outpost for me for sure . I noticed that most if not all of our side was able to get past the noise from the road with little difficuly.

Sometimes we have to put ourselves in the moment.


Some of the things I will never forget at Outpost:

Being razzed by our good QM Sgt. Mr. R. Miller about my "pre war experience" with Indians in the west. It made the event for me.

Seeing that poor captured fellow being hog tied to the tree & his equipment flung onto the eve of the roof by the Cav to prevent esscape.

Working with the councel of war & all the officers ploting movements on the maps.

Having a un hurried moment to enjoy a properly brewed cup of tea & good conversation with fellow staff officers, Skip Owens & Andrew Jerram

Eating oysters & pickels provided by Col Sorchy for the staff & company officers.

Most of all watching the movements planed on the maps come to life.

One of the best events I have attended in 20+ years in the hobby

All the best

Don S

Topo Eng to the late 89th Ill Inf

[Mtn.Guerilla]

Re: Outpost III - AAR Thread

Here are some of the pictures I promised. Thanks to all.

Joel Phillips


Hey Joel, good to see you again, hope your Florida pard made it home alright. You should send some of your photos over to Tripp, for the Armory Guards archives. I've seen several of our mugs in your pics, man I did look as rough as I felt.