Marmaduke's Raid AAR

[AZFarrier]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Thanks to every one who put this event together. I think it was worth driving from Arizona. The weather was agreeable and the rock beds realligned my back. For not doing infantry in years the Co" A" Boys treated me well and kept the snickering and laghing down to a minimum.

Thanks Holler, Skip, Boozie, Sgt's Arnold & Todd, and all the Cpl's that kept me moving. Let me tell you I needed the exercise.

In short this event reafirms my opinion that Cavalry is the way to go:wink_smil!

Thank you all again for the experience.

[IowaYank]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Andy, I agree with that statement. Sorry we couldnt get a mount lined up for you. Would have been great to have you ride with us.

Dan

[knitter1861]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Thank you to all the individuals that made Marmaduke's Raid a success. I'd like to share my story:

My sister and I had decided that we had had enough and should we have torun off again we would be prepared. As we prepared to gather our belongings, a bug flew into my hair. As I swiped at it, it stung me. I had been stung by a large brown hornet and my hand was very painful for a time. Knowing that we were in danger, we continued to prepare incase we ad to flew. Rumor had it that confederate soldiers were in the area and taking food from any one in their path. We realized that we were going to be in that path so we fled. A neighbor said we would be fine to go down the hill and so we did. Because it was close to dusk, we chose to only go into the wooded area for a short distant and camp for the night.

At daybreak, we gathered our bedding and once again loaded our cart and made coffee. We did have a chuckle/concern and hoped that not being able to get the matches we had to stay lit for making a fire for a pot of coffee was not an omen. Little did we know what we were infor. Because of the matches and the damp deadfall wood, it was nearly two hours before we had a pot of hot coffee. It kind of didn't matter because we did not really have a distination. We talked about going to the other side of Clear Lake but then thought maybe not because sister Sara's husband wouldn't know where we would be should he return home. We continued down the same hill to find the terrain increasingly steep. The road was routted and rocky and trees were fallen onto the road. It was necessary for us to work around the deadfall and then as the road got steeper, the cart pushed me as I approached a large tree trunk across the road. Before I could tell Sara to stop pushing, the front leg of the cart hit the tree and seriously cracked the leg. We were able to unload and lift the cart over the tree trunk and we continued. At this point, we began to think that the neighbor might have had some devilish intent. He seemed nice and helpful! Why would he send us down this path? We went a little further and watched the trail continue to get steeper and rockier and we stopped because we realized that we were a long way down and had to go a long way further but we would never be able to go back up again especially with the front leg of the cart in serious condition. We decided to stop the cart and pack the rest of the way down the hill. We had understood that other individuals from Patterson would be in the area and we wanted to see how everyone was fairing and if there was any news.

We packed the rest of the way down and realized that we were in trouble. The terrain was much more than either of us could manage or want to manage. There were additional tree trunks on the road which meant that we couldn't take the cart to the bottom of the hill and we also new that we didn't have the strenth to get the cart up to the top of the hill. It was a horrible feeling. We had just lost our belongs to confederate soldiers at the homestead and now we had the potential for loosing all our possessions in the cart. We did talk with Miss Sara Belle and she told us that there was no drinking water and she tried to tell us what she knew about where soldiers were possibly located. Miss Sara and I walked toward the direction that Miss Sarra Belle pointed to as to the possible location of the federal fort, but when we saw a very large snake skin, we decided that it was time to return to the cart and take our chances. The trip up the hill was worse than the trip down the hill. We ended up unloading our things that we packed down and taking some for a short distance and then going back to retrieve the next load. It was tiring and we drank most of the water in our canteens by the time we got back to the cart.

For the rest of Friday, we stayed with the cart and pondered over what to do. We listened and heard nothing till evening after dark. It was voices and a faint bugle call that we could hear but they were far off. The trees made a canopy over us so we didn't see many stars. We were cozy on our feather tick and with wool blankets we fared well.

Saturday morning, we were up with the sun. Because we didn't have a water source, we chose to not make coffee. We also thought it might not be a good idea to make a fire because it would have had to be in the road. Mid morning we were concern to find men approaching us. They seemed nice enough. They told us they would not hurt us. I was uneasy and decided not to talk to them unless I had to. Miss Sarah was very upset with me for making her do the talking. Afterall, I am the oldest. But I said she didn't have to talk with them and tell them what she did say. I am not from these parts having come to Patterson only eight years ago because my deceased husband was mining in Pilot Knob. He died 18 months ago and I chose to go with with sister and her husband in Patterson. We decided that once the soldiers were out of sight, we needed to keep our things packed and food things needed to be in various bags or pouches so that if they came back and took more from us, they wouldn't take all. I had discovered hazel nuts on the ground and began busying myself with collecting them to add to a quick bread I wanted to make as soon as we get home, if that happens.

With a nap behind us in the afternoon, another group of soldiers came along. This time it was federals and I was much relieved. They asked us a few questions and went on their way and so I continued to think about collecting more nuts. Confederate soldiers also came along in pursuit of the federals. They didn't go far and then returned to ask us a bunch of questions. They were much more agitated and didn't like us much. They didn't like my silence and then started to go through our belongings in the cart. As they looked for a gun, we told them we had none, our bedding was turned over and the canvas canopy taken down. Then they accused us of being northerners because of the newspapers we had and a can of peaches with a Massachusttes label on it. I tried to explain that my grown boys live in Wisconsin and yes I was from Galena, Illinois. I didn't want them to hurt my sister or her things and thought it would help us it I just confessed. They were mad and threaten to burn our things and leave us stranded. Then, the leader said if we were not gone by morning, he would come and burn everything. As they left, I had a smile on my face. Though they took the peaches and our apples and some carrots, they didn't look very well because they missed the candy mints and dried strawberries. I was relieved that they also didn't see the ten pound bag of sugar with a federal quartermaster label on it. We managed to keep most of our things though we had just decided to have potatoe biscuts, peaches, apples and sausage for dinner. Oh well, the peaches and apples would have been good but at least we were not taken as prisoners and we had the opportunity to get out in the morning. That night we busied ourselves playing games we hadn't played since we were little girls. In the back ground through the day and part of the night, we heard cannon fire and gun fire. We were in a relatively safe place for the time being. Tomorrow was an other story.

Sunday we awoke knowing that we had to leave the cart and run on foot with what we could carry. As we walked up, I continued to gather hazel nuts and could almost smell the bread that will be made. It was the bright spot in the otherwise dark time. We lost the cart and most of our belongings, but we had our life and hopefully the confederates had not burn the house down so we had a home to go to once they leave.

Respectfully submitted,
Nancy Sorchy
Citizens of the Old Northwest

[the other nathan]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

The event site said no cameras because they would have someone taking pictures.

Does anyone know if this happened?
Are there pictures to be had?


Respectfuly Yours,

[boozie]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Yea Herb, I was told that little gem on the way home. I was even more hurt you didn't come and see me when I was moved to your camp!;) It was a grand time.

Oh, I have a confession Mr. Hicks, I did have my orderly book and roster with me. I guess I hid it well sine it was not found on the pat down.

Boozie,

You'll find this amusing to add to your "situation" on Saturday. Two of my guys, still half naked, went on a canteen run to the camp where your company attacked the Independent Scouts. Jordan and Eric P saw what was happening and pitched into the fight yelling "Third company, deploy on me". Both of my guys said your company began to retreat shortly afterwards.

Hey at least you got to keep your shoes.

Also to add to Mr. Comer's comments I had 4 gents not able to make it to the event because of real life. I can't fault them and it is just a hobby after all. But I'll tell the tales of Marmy's Raid for some time to come. This, plus Winter of 64 have been the two best events that I've attended so far this year.

Thanks again to all who attended, and to all that planned this event.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Well...

After being proverbially 'zonked' for the past 2 days in regard to missing quality sleep for 5 days of the past 7, I'm now semi-recovered.

First up, let it be known that I did survive over 22-ish hours travel time to Missourah with Marse Heef in tow... a world record perhaps? LOL :sarcastic:wink_smil

I had loads of fun at Marmy's. Perfectly honest... ANY day I spend out of the office and at a quality event with my reenactment buddies is a wonderful day. I'll travel another 2500+ miles round-trip for that. :D

So the overall story for my company goes: Mr. Murray's/Moffatt's company on the blue side was rear guard in the fort for the whole weekend save for one patrol to the right flank of the federal encampment. Really, not a bad proposition... close to the food/sleeping area, and away from those devillish rebels. Had I been the commander for the Federal forces, I probably would have done the same thing- due to the small size of our company, it was better used as such... So I perfectly understand.

My only regret (and literally only one) was that we didn't get to interract with the civilians very much. Oh, I saw Mr. Abrams and the Prospector within the Yankee camp, as well as little Xavier (aka Spot/Pip from Charles Dickens novels) the guide, and this was quite fun. It would, however, have been neat to have experienced a bit more the main draw for me to this event- civilian interraction and the unpredictability of such.

After a great meal at a Bob Evans, Chawls Heef, myself, Tommy Gingras, and Billy Birney had a great AAR conversation of the event. Tommy and I advocated the use of O/Cs (Observer/Controller) for this event in the future (and others like it) like we had in real US Army field excercises. This person would be a period-dressed kabuki/referee that would know the locations of encampments and how to direct units into/around certain scenarios in order to 'spread the full experience' around to all that attend the event. The OCs could function as the point-of-contact for emergencies and to have a cell phone handy.

Also, as a referee these individuals could tap participants on their shoulders and judge them as temporarily killed, wounded, or captured in a way such as to make it more interesting/challenging for all. By using this method, we could enforce 'dead platoon' rules too finally (...remember Steve Ewing's lack of a platoon due to this non-enforcement at Pickett's Mill? I think I remember hearing Steve talking about such there. Good idea... but a darn shame it didn't materialize fully.).

All calls would be final and this would be agreed to in the registration form.

In events where there are few civilians, two opposing sides usually call their own rules, but when the full experience of an event relies on encounters and certain events to occur, an OC would be ideal. (Hint, hint... suggestion for Bummers '09???)

Other than that one small thought, I think all went darn well and I'm glad I got to come along for the ride. :D

Thanks to the great men, leadership and fellowship of the Federal forces this past weekend too... it was fun and you are all very competent/caring as leaders of men. (Messrs. Sorchy, Gutzke, Leichty, Moffatt, Murray, Tipton, Goff, et al.)

All the best, and I'll see ya'll at Freddysburg in Va-gini-ah in November!

Huzzah... I love this stuff... ain't this a great hobby...

Your friend always- Johnny Lloyd

[Marcus_Whelan]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Despite being bruised, chiggered, and exhausted, I had a great time.

My brogans are in pieces, and my feet aren't far behind. But then, I needed a new pair of boots anyways. It all works out in the end I suppose.

This being my first "immersion" event, I wasn't sure what to expect. I found it really gave me a great perspective on how rough it was for the boys back in the '60s.

Thanks to everyone who organized the event and especially to Dave and Tom for inviting me down. They gave me some great kit advice and even lent me a few items for the weekend.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

It would, however, have been neat to have experienced a bit more the main draw for me to this event- civilian interraction and the unpredictability of such.

......

Tommy and I advocated the use of O/Cs (Observer/Controller) for this event in the future (and others like it) like we had in real US Army field excercises. This person would be a period-dressed kabuki/referee that would know the locations of encampments and how to direct units into/around certain scenarios in order to 'spread the full experience' around to all that attend the event. The OCs could function as the point-of-contact for emergencies and to have a cell phone handy.

......

In events where there are few civilians, two opposing sides usually call their own rules, but when the full experience of an event relies on encounters and certain events to occur, an OC would be ideal. (Hint, hint... suggestion for Bummers '09???)

If you mean the OCs would facilitate the military encountering the civilians, then speaking only from the civilian side, for me that would have changed the event dramatically into something I wouldn't have enjoyed nearly as much. It would take away the whole tactical potential from the civilians' point of view, because if we're all required to camp where the OCs know how to direct the armies to us, it would change our experience into a scripted one.

Many of the civilians were camping in ones, twos or threes, moving when and where they wanted, however they thought best, just like real life. As a civilian, I think there are an overabundance of events where you're there only for the purpose of being bullied by soldiers without any realistic chance of avoiding it. An alternative like Marmaduke's Raid, for civilians who want to have their own open-ended tactical challenge, is really nice. October 62 was the same way, and there, the civilians harboring a deserter were captured at the very end, but it was completely open-ended--if we'd been a little smarter or luckier we might have got away.

If an event is set up so the inevitable purpose of being a civilian is to be bullied, threatened and robbed, okay fine, just like some events are set up for the US or CS to make a blunder and be slaughtered (Pickett's Mill and that US charge up the hill, for example). The participants know that from the start and it's a historical re-creation rather than a tactical.

But it was a breath of fresh air to attend an event like Marmaduke's Raid where civilians could actually use their wits on a big playing field, instead of waiting in what common sense tells you is the wrong spot, to get hit once again.

Maybe, at most, have OCs know the location of a certain civilian location, like the stranded civilian wagon, but allow other civilians to do what they wish, so those who want to meet the military could stay there and those who wanted the tactical experience could choose where to go? But I thought both sides of the military did know where the wagon would be.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[BrianHicks]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Yea Herb, I was told that little gem on the way home. I was even more hurt you didn't come and see me when I was moved to your camp!;) It was a grand time.

Oh, I have a confession Mr. Hicks, I did have my orderly book and roster with me. I guess I hid it well sine it was not found on the pat down.

The 'Pat-Down' was rather cursory.. at best. My asking was more of a requirement than a real desire to have your papers. Afterall... we had the Federals right were we wanted them.... hemmed in on the hill top, inside their works on the business end of our artillery piece. :)

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

If you mean the OCs would facilitate the military encountering the civilians, then speaking only from the civilian side, for me that would have changed the event dramatically into something I wouldn't have enjoyed nearly as much. It would take away the whole tactical potential from the civilians' point of view, because if we're all required to camp where the OCs know how to direct the armies to us, it would change our experience into a scripted one.

Many of the civilians were camping in ones, twos or threes, moving when and where they wanted, however they thought best, just like real life. As a civilian, I think there are an overabundance of events where you're there only for the purpose of being bullied by soldiers without any realistic chance of avoiding it. An alternative like Marmaduke's Raid, for civilians who want to have their own open-ended tactical challenge, is really nice. October 62 was the same way, and there, the civilians harboring a deserter were captured at the very end, but it was completely open-ended--if we'd been a little smarter or luckier we might have got away.

If an event is set up so the inevitable purpose of being a civilian is to be bullied, threatened and robbed, okay fine, just like some events are set up for the US or CS to make a blunder and be slaughtered (Pickett's Mill and that US charge up the hill, for example). The participants know that from the start and it's a historical re-creation rather than a tactical.

But it was a breath of fresh air to attend an event like Marmaduke's Raid where civilians could actually use their wits on a big playing field, instead of waiting in what common sense tells you is the wrong spot, to get hit once again.

Maybe, at most, have OCs know the location of a certain civilian location, like the stranded civilian wagon, but allow other civilians to do what they wish, so those who want to meet the military could stay there and those who wanted the tactical experience could choose where to go? But I thought both sides of the military did know where the wagon would be.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Hank-

There can be a compromise here between the civilians' needs and the military needs, I feel. Perhaps there need only be OCs for the military boys since our freedom of movement/freedom of decision is limited to what our units's leaders will do?

The OCs for the military boys would know the general location/objectives of civilians in the area as well as the opposing force, but might or might not choose to tell the leaders of the military units information.

The OCs for the civilians might just observe and interject only if something goes way wrong. Other than that, the civilians would be at their own pleasure to move about like you said you had so much fun doing. That is, IF there is a need for a civilian OC. There might not be.

Company D of the Federals got rear guard all weekend save for one small patrol. This was fine with me, I'll happily do what is needed of the team, but the draw for me to come to this event was the unpredictability of potential civilian interraction while trekking through the terrain. (Perhaps in this case, we were the victim of unforseen circumstance.)

NO civilians that I know of, save for the pro-Union Mr. Abrams or the prospector, even bothered to head toward the Union fort. I expected refugees, Jayhawkers, anti-Unionists, etc. to be trying to run our lines 24/7. Perhaps having an OC to make the suggestion to some of the civilians to head toward the Union lines would have lead into more interesting scenarios for civilians/military participants at the Union fort? We could have a whole group taking the Oath of Allegiance, seeking protection from Confederates, attritting our manpower/attention due to having to post a guard on them 24/7, stealing supplies from us, spying on us... etc. This just didn't seem to happen.

Hank, I think you would have enjoyed spying on us as a civilian... right? :D

Heck, forget OCs... how about a 'mission card' that would tell the civilians the general idea of what their objectives might be? It would then be up to the civilians to fulfill the mission/scenario as they see fit? That sounds like great fun.

Anyway... it's just a suggestion for future events that are dependent upon some help from outside sources to make the magic happen.

I still had a blast. So did the chiggers on my legs...

My 2 cents... Johnny Lloyd :wink_smil

[Silvana Siddali]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Yet I believe at least two civilian men did volunteer at the federal fort. One allowed himself to be captured and the other went willingly.

But really, why would respectable civilian women "bother" to go toward a federal installation? In Missouri, the only women who ventured near federal forts like Ft. Davidson in Pilot Knob were pro-Union refugees. If you read the event guidelines you would have noticed that the civilians in the Patterson/Piedmont area were former Virginians & Kentuckians who would have been anxious to stay as far away from any U.S. Army installation as possible. Moreover, we civis started on Thursday and stayed at the event longer than any armed force, but in that entire time we only encountered one scouting party of federals (two mounted men) and three federal pris0ners.

We organized the civilians in such a way as to maximize the possibilities of interactions, but the fact that they did not actually enter the federal fort has more to do with an effort at historical accuracy than anything else. I must say, I would have resisted any effort to "choreograph" our activities strenuously. I would absolutely not have enjoyed being directed by someone in a tree house. Some of my most memorable and interesting experiences at the event came about purely by accident, as when Miss Anna spotted not only an escape route but also a thirty-second window of opportunity to sneak away from the ruffians who detained us.

If you talk with any of the civilians (especially the women) or read their AARs you'll see that we had plenty of interesting, dare I say exciting, interactions.

Johnny's point is well taken to the degree that military-civilian interactions are the best part of an event (at least to our way of thinking :o) and I think he raises a valuable point for discussion. Not in this thread, of course, but maybe somewhere else. It would be great to think of civilians as a vital & integral part of an event and not to think of them as "toys" (or, as Miss Anna calls it, as a "side dish") for the military. I would have serious hesitations about attending an event where I could expect to be directed by an observer.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

There can be a compromise here between the civilians' needs and the military needs, I feel.

First, let me say that I think your original idea is fine. I'd just hate to see it done all the time, leaving no events like Marmaduke's Raid left. And, also, many civilians prefer guaranteed military harrassment, so for some civilians, their needs would be different, and they'd want to be found just as much as the military would want to find them. That actually was an option at Marmaduke's Raid as well, if one stayed with the "stranded" wagon.

My only objection is against "improving" civilian events like Marmaduke's Raid out of existence, because I don't see it as an improvement, just something different.

The OCs for the military boys would know the general location/objectives of civilians in the area as well as the opposing force, but might or might not choose to tell the leaders of the military units information.

It's my understanding that this was the case for some of the military leaders at MR, who knew the location of the "stranded" wagon. However, I believe it would be impossible for anyone to know the general location of individual civilians in an area 2-1/2 miles long, unless the civilians reported their plans ahead of time or were restricted in their movements, which would take away the whole beauty and perfection of the way Silvana and everyone planned the civilian part of the event.

The OCs for the civilians might just observe and interject only if something goes way wrong. Other than that, the civilians would be at their own pleasure to move about like you said you had so much fun doing. That is, IF there is a need for a civilian OC. There might not be.

You understand that civilians were allowed to maneuver in groups as small as one individual, and could mix and match as they chose, right? Unless there was one O/C for each civilian, or civilians were restricted to staying in certain groups, I think it would be difficult to have civilian OCs. It would be like being hovered over by the cameramen on Survivor, unless the event was split into two options, with civilians who chose to pre-script some of their plans and stay with an OC, and others who could do what they wished. As I understand it, that was sorta the original plan, with an optional fixed civilian camp in a location known to the military, but all the civilians who wanted to do that dropped out, leaving everyone mobile.

NO civilians that I know of, save for the pro-Union Mr. Abrams or the prospector, even bothered to head toward the Union fort. I expected refugees, Jayhawkers, anti-Unionists, etc. to be trying to run our lines 24/7. Perhaps having an OC to make the suggestion to some of the civilians to head toward the Union lines would have lead into more interesting scenarios for civilians/military participants at the Union fort?

This is confusing, because there were two prospectors, Amos and me, but in this case you're referring to Amos. :)

I'm sorry, but the wonderful, magnificent, perfect part of Marmaduke's Raid was not having an OC tell me I needed to do something stupid and illogical, based on the man I was portraying and the circumstances I was in. At another event, I might portray a different person, aim for a different outcome, pre-plan a specific activity, but I wouldn't see it as an improved event, just a different kind of event.

I have no idea what the military was promised at Marmaduke, so can't comment on whether promises were made and not fulfilled, but have to say that from my viewpoint, the civilian end was promised and delivered perfectly.

Hank, I think you would have enjoyed spying on us as a civilian... right? :D

No, at this particular event, I would have felt as stupid and farby doing that, as artillerymen doing a suicide charge with pistols at a mainstream event. If an OC had "suggested" it, I would have told him where he could stick his suggestion.

Gil Anderson (me) promised to take Mrs. Tope to safety, and despite his rough edges, he was a man of his word. He never would have been the type to go off on some personal or patriotic mission that would put himself at risk until he'd completed what he promised. The "fun" part for me at this particular event was being allowed to try to do what he would have done and trying to succeed at it.

Heck, forget OCs... how about a 'mission card' that would tell the civilians the general idea of what their objectives might be? It would then be up to the civilians to fulfill the mission/scenario as they see fit? That sounds like great fun.

Um, in general, I don't think civilians at this kind of event need an artificial mission given to them. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems that most had a very clear idea of how they'd react and what they wanted or feared, based on who they were portraying, and an ongoing sense of whether they were achieving or failing in their characters' plans.

Anyway... it's just a suggestion for future events that are dependent upon some help from outside sources to make the magic happen.

I realize I sound negative, so I want to emphasize that it's an excellent suggestion, but in my opinion, it would make for a different kind of event, not a better one. I'd like to be able to attend both kinds, and not lose the beauty of the Marmaduke's Raid experience.

A good example was at W64, when the army marched out to confiscate rations at that plantation house. The civilians there knew exactly what would happen, how to get it back on track if the military made the wrong choice, etc. But the civilians themselves where following a tight script, with a known outcome, and while I enjoyed it thoroughly and would do it again, I also would never want to lose the freedom and autonomy granted by the Marmaduke's organizers, at other events.

Um, have I complimented the organizers of Marmaduke's Raid enough yet? In case I haven't, I just want to say, I think they did an excellent job. :D

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Abrams]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

I could see a mission card as a neat idea for an event. I also absolutely enjoyed the freedom of having no scripted mission.

I will add as a civilian, I had planned to spend a night or two alone, and then work my way to the fort, as I wanted to both see and work on the fort. Well, my plans did not work out as I had foreseen. This added a nice "I am no longer at the helm, but am being carried away by events" and even I did not know how it was going to pan out. When I was discovered early on Thursday by the ladies, and asked to assist them, how could I refuse? Suddenly, I am no longer sure if I will spend any time alone dodging patrols as I had anticipated. It was a neat feeling to be carried away by events I had not anticipated.

After Hank, Linda and myself split off from the ladies, I found their company too fun to go slinking off by myself, and decided to hang with the Trents. We had a fine hiding area, with good water, shade and firewood, and I felt it a normal reaction to refugees like ourselves to just try and wait-out the conflict brewing nearby before moving through the area.

Finally, by Saturday, I did want to see the fort, and feared the event ending before I could. I had to come up with a good reason to leave the Trents, but has having trouble coming up with anything good. We had remained in first person the whole time, and while I wanted to explain to them that I truly enjoyed their company, I did want to experience some time working on the fort, and needed to take my leave of them. I was talking with Hank, and started to say that I hate it, but I was going to drop my first person for a moment to explain my actions, and he just spoke simply, "then don't." I cannot put into words how that affected me, but I was impressed. Suddenly, my brain kicked in and I came up with a good reason to leave them, and I remained in character. Thanks Hank. Next time I'll try harder before I resort to leaving first person.

Thus began my lonely trek to find the fort. I wanted to swing wide of the rebs, and climbed what I thought was the hill adjacent to the action judging by the rifle and cannon fire. The hill was steep. The ravine between me and the fort was formidable. I had to work my way around, and cover much more steep terrain than I had anticipated. Several times I laid down to die and let the good Lord take me. But each time, He returned my breath, and I had to keep walking, heh.

I loved the open ended feel of it. I loved the unanticipated encounters I had. I would change nothing about this event, from my standpoint.

But I could see the value of an event with a mission card, and an attempt to steer the event to promote more encounters. That sounds like fun.

I'd love to try that out too.

[Beth Crabb]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

My only regret (and literally only one) was that we didn't get to interact with the civilians very much. Oh, I saw Mr. Abrams and the Prospector within the Yankee camp, as well as little Xavier (aka Spot/Pip from Charles Dickens novels) the guide, and this was quite fun. It would, however, have been neat to have experienced a bit more the main draw for me to this event- civilian interaction and the unpredictability of such.

So I guess John & I only dreamed we drove over 500 miles, used a cart to haul stuff into the fort, feed the officers and slept on the rockiest ground ever seen??? :(

Well if it was a dream, it was a VERY good one!

Mr. Lloyd one thing to keep in mind regarding civilians, many of the best interactions are very subtle. It is more than "trying to run our lines, stealing supplies from us, spying on us etc."

[Old Reb]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Subtle is good. We had a very brief interaction with the two civilians near the mouth of Goose Creek Sunday morning as we were on our flank march toward the Federal Fort. It was brief, but seeing them there when we did not expect them there was good and I am sure my exchange, however brief, with the man that if he told any one he saw us I would hunt him down and the icy iron glare from the woman was as good as any long winded exchange.