Marmaduke's Raid AAR

[BenjaminLDavis]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

I bragged to my good comrades Dan Barker and Brian Brenner, who were complaining of
chigger infestations, that I had somehow miraculously escaped! Thought I had, but when
I got home I had at least 40 bites , , , they seem to have a taste for us Northern boys,
musta drained the taste outa you Missouri fellers years back!
I keep remembering things from this one: the true sign of a great event!! Frank, if you
can take the strain, have another, and I and my pards will be there!

[biddler165]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

No chiggers or ticks. A few small patches of poison ivy.

[Old Reb]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Rick,
I atttribute the lack of tick and chigger bites among the bushwhackers to the fact we drown them by the many times we waded up and down Goose Creek. Or, it could have been our blood alcohol level was too high. One of our fellows did go chasing a bobcat but lucky for the bobcat he didn't get caught. I feel real bad for those bitten by critters. Real bad.:cry_smile

[Abrams]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

No poison ivy, ticks or chiggers here, and I was amazed because I did do some trailblazing at times.

Like Mike said, maybe they were used to the taste of us, and wanted to try out some fresh blood and do a little traveling and sightseeing to new areas of the country on their new hosts, heh.

[Hank Trent]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

No chiggers or ticks or anything for Linda or me either.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Scott Gutzke]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

No ticks or poison ivy here. Only about a half-dozen chiggers on my ankles. That's nothing compared to the 90 or so I had a Vicksburg last year! I guess there are some small advantages to being on battalion staff and not really getting to leave the "comfort" of the fort to go on patrols. :D

Charles H. Huntley
Sgt. Major, 32nd Iowa

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

I guess I forgot my flea and tick collar at Marmy's...

-J-LLO:wink_smil

[AZReenactor]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

I had three ticks and a multitude of chigger bites. I suspect I picked them all up while a prisoner of the Mossbacks (or whatever they call themselves). I know if I were some sort of blood sucking vermin, I'd be looking for better company. ;-)

[Mcguire]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

No chiggers,ticks,lice,crabs,scabies, or cockroach infestations here!! My secret; 98% deet available at all finer outdoor stores and army surplus locations near you!!! Really, when the tick alert was sounded on the forum prior to the event I went and got some preventive medicine. When I came back from Fighting Withdrawal a couple of years ago my wife found a tick on my back that escaped unnoticed for over a week. My doctor had to dig out a portion of the little bugger and because it had a red ring around it he ran tests for lyme disease. It came up negative but boy was I nervous. Now I don't leave home without it.

[MO-Pard]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

WOW!

I know when I have been to a great event, because I cannot stop thinking about it
and the memories and period moments keep coming and coming. I waited after BGR
because of this to post any AAR and before I knew it 4 weeks had passed. So, I
guess I will share what I can and just amend it as more surfaces.

First, thank you everyone who made the effort to get there and made it the real
deal. I was one of the last to leave and I don't know of anyone who didn't
have a great experience and one of the best and unique events they attended. There
was concern about numbers early, but folks rallied to the cause, stepped up and
seems they were rewarded for it. Thank you all for making it a killer event.

I personally arrived on site on Wednesday which is something our mess prefers to
do to get used to the area and not look like you just put your impression on. I
apologize for the ruse I put most of my messmates through as to my status. I was
asked just after BGR by guerilla chieftain, Tom Yearby of the Ground Hornets to be part of the irregular
impression of Reeve's Scouts. This impression had been a dream for years so
I accepted before our mess even had a company. But the impression was kept quiet
from most and very few knew, which also made it more interesting when I encountered
some of you throughout the weekend. Reeve's Scouts, were a large irregular/guerilla
contingent, loosely organized and never at full strength in any one place. There main purpose was
to serve as a sort of pro-Southern police force keeping the Federals, most notably
Leeper and Wilson of the Misssouri Militia (Federal) in check. They also served
as scouts and rode with the likes of General Jo Shelby, Sam Hildebrand, etc during
Marmadukes and Price's campaigns. They later became the 15th Missouri Cavalry
CSA. Anyway, I arrived wednesday with the intent of scouting the valley, woods
and trails. After going a short distance Wednesday night, I bivouaced on the side
of a hill with such a slope I am still surprised I got to sleep, (which was no problem.)
I arose Thursday morning, prepared rations and terrible coffee and tracked down
the lakeshore over the rocks and boulders to the valley about a 'half mile.'
Looking down the valley from the lake was an incredible site. A deep rich green
valley surrounded on both site by very large, and dense green ridges.

I spent the day looking for trails and orienting myself to a map of the area, which
was necessary for my impression. I found some great areas to bivouac, a cool spring
and many trails which were on no maps. I had the distinct honor, of being asked
to portray Baily Smith for the weekend, who lived just across the Black river and
rode with Reeve's Scouts. Even more of an honor it was Frank's wife's,
great, great grandfather.......and even Sam thought that was pretty cool. After
spending the late morning and afternoon marching/exploring around the valley, I
needed to make plans to get back to the marina and escort in the rest of the Reeve's
boys. I did not want to go back, up those "knobs" in full marching order,
so I stashed my double barrell, haversack, bag of buckshot loads and my snapsack
in a small tree and covered with some brush. I forged my own path up a knob through
the briars and dense undergrowth and then back to the marina.

The rest of the boys arrived and we prepared to head out. Knowing how dark it was
the night before, I advised we really needed to get back to the valley before dark.
However the boys were working on their impression, swilling ale and whiskey, and
who was I to not take part. What would take place next would be one of the most
repeated words of the weekend and a nic-name I'll probably never live down.
When Tom asked me how far to the trail, I replied "a half mile or so."
The boys were up for the march in the darkness and low and behold a mile or so later,
we had marched past it. This road didn't have a street sign and when we went
past it it looked like a driveway with a big diesel truck sitting at the end. So,
the first nic name was 'Half Mile." We got turned around and entered a
trail on the east end of the valley. We literally "caterpillar walked"
in the total darkness at times holding arms, hands or the shoulder of the guy in
front of you...... and the sparks from the heel plates on the rocks in the blackness was a site I
will never, ever forget.

We spent Friday pretty incognito, just recon'ing and moving about the valley,
woods and hills. We spent Friday night maybe 200 yards or so from the Federal
fort. Friday night, Shawn Harla and I volunteered to fetch Fred from the rendezvous
point back on the Black river, so slid out within listening distance of the Federal
fort and pickets and returned around midnight. The next morning we cooked rations
in a ravine, just as the bushwhackers did. We were told to take our time, relax,
finish taking breakfast and enjoy a smoke one moment when Ox shot Cody Mobley by
accident which was quickly followed by, "Let's Move!" Cody recovered
as the round was spent on a light load, and to his credit never retaliated.

We moved out to observe, and heard the Confederate troops coming from far off and
Federals moving about. We later moved to support but the opportunity didn't
arrive. We moved up the valley and enountered the civilians. I had been close
friends with Silvana Keiser's departed husband and had attempted to keep tabs
on her and her neice, Anna's, welfare from a distance and word-of-mouth, but
didn't wish to endanger them prior, for the fear of them facing depredations
from the Federals in the area. To her credit in reality, and the impression, Silvana
didn't know either I was with Reeve's men; only 'fighting for the South.' When we met it was quite the
homecoming and one of the highlights for the weekend. She had a small bottle of whiskey
for me, which I immediately shared with each of the men in my band, (but walked
it to each one to see that no one got greedy or disappeared with it....) each getting
one turn, much to the chagrin of Tom. Cody drank the most. Shawn got the blame.
The other three ladies portrayed some good first person as well and were seated
in the shade to keep an eye on them. I did not know them as personally as I did the others
before the war and could not vouch for their sympathies exactly.......and if I was
wrong, suffer the consequences from my own. The ladies played it perfectly wanting
to help and feed us because of knowing me, but still not trusting the others
entirely. I was asked to read a verse of scripture in the camp from my bible, and
our Captain made sure all removed their hats and bonnets.....but he was a deacon
in his church you know. I chose a rather fitting verse for the occasion which also
happens to be my real favorite, (John 16:20-33) because it talked of us all being
scattered and the tribulations we would face, but to take heart for He has already
conquered. Having forded some creeks, some of us were drying our socks and shoes
by the fire when hit by a Federal scouting party. The boys, sans the sock boys,
were in the woods and up the hill in an instant. And anyone who walked into camp
was immediately surrounded and faced with revolvers and shotguns covered from all
angles. Shawn and I, now with socks, having missed the fight and being out of whisky were pitching
for a fight, so asked permission from the good deacon to go recon. We headed out,
and soon met up with a differnent independent group of guerillas, (TJ, Dave and
Paul.) The five of us climbed the knob, passed a couple civilian ladies who had
recently been robbed (by my boys) and around to get a look at the Federal forts
defenses. We heard shooting and decided to move toward the fire to help out Marmaduke's
men. TJ had spoke earlier about the how the best period moments at events seem to be those "Oh Sh$%" moments. We certainly had one here as in moving to overlook the fort, we had come down a large hill, and coming into view in front of us we found we were on the flank of a Federal company falling back to the fort. We all dropped down in place. My heart raced because in order to retreat we had to scale that very large knob and still circle back to the place the rest of our band were with the civilians. And we could easily be cut off. TJ fired the one loaded cylinder in his revolver and then we all unloaded and headed up the knob as quickly as possible. The moment continued, at least for me, because when we left our fellow guerillas back at the civilian camp, Shawn and I left in 'full marching order", should we be come separated and have to meet up later that night with them. Those who trained with me know I was in great shape for this event and the hills, but all that gear and the heat of the moment continued my heart racing. We rested at the top and reloaded. We then started back on down the hill to the civ camp when we came face to face with 3-4 Federals. I don't know which party was more surprised to see the other and shots were exchanged. One Federal, went down (nice touch! whoever you were...) and we took off like rabbits to the east, up and over more hills. We arrived in camp maybe 20 minutes later and found the rest of the Reeve's boys had 3 Federals captured. What transpired next was more period moments, as the fate of the Federals was deliberated and things grew more and more intense. Tom was the leader, but there was an underlying uneasiness between the men and many were losing patience. Many wanted to hang them. TJ and his independent band wanted to shoot them. Tom wasn't sure what to do. It grew more tense as the seconds passed, because all worried a Confederate officer may show or their may be a mutiny among the guerillas. The Confederates wanted all prisoners for interrogation, but when they didn't cooperate with the Confederates, they were returned to the guerillas, for "paroling." When Sgt Major Hicks showed up all the guerillas were even more frenzied. After receiving 'divine guidance', Tom turned the boys over to the CSA. Many of the boys were not happy with this and tempers flared. This is when the civilians took flight. By the end of the encounter, true to form, the civilians who initially welcomed the Reeve's boys
had grown irritated with and feared them. They asked me (Baily) if there was anything I could
do, but I told them "I was under orders and not if I wanted to sleep through
the night tonight." I did see them escape though, and spoke not a word. Preston, Boozie and Troy did an excellent job and significanly added to the experience. I am still surprised they were released especially after lying to Tom about having captured me and some of our boys.

We moved out with night falling and chose a new location to sleep beneath the stars. My clothes all they way down to my drawers were completely soaked, so I put on the rank, but dry shirt I had worn the first two days in the valley. I hung the wet shirt and sack coat over a rather leafless bush to dry. After all the boys shared laughs about the day, I curled up in my blanket to hear the sounds of coyotes close by. My initial reaction was concern as we were on a trail and near a stream, but my slumber soon overtook me.

The next day we were on the move before sunrise. The clothes I rested on the bush, now bowed the bush over and the clothes were even more drenched from the night dew. No time for filling canteens. We came across the Trents while crossing the creek. As Tom engaged them we slowly surrounded them should there be any trouble. Tom forced Hank to cut the telegraph line running up to the fort. We had orders to rendezvous with Marmaduke's men or the scene would have been different if time were allowed to tary. After going out of our way and scaling more knobs than planned, we heard the shots near the fort and were down one knob and scaling the hill of the fort quickly. The Federals had fled, and the famished Reeve's boys thoroughly enjoyed the bounty left behind. Beans, Pickled peppers, etc. The best food we had in days. Not to mention the officer's whiskey and rum. It was no wonder, (and historically correct) the Reeves boys didn't want to leave the fort and go fight.

I was also the previously discussed, "Shotgun Man." The civilians found my stashed items when we didn't make it back to the valley that night. I was rather distraught and mortified to see them gone. All my food, my defarbed shotgun and the 60 handrolled buckshot rounds I spent hours rolling and putting those 'string baskets' around the shot. I also had some period-correct spirits I had saved for years for just such an occasion. Thank you to those who found and took care of it. You saved the event for me.

This event is right up there with BGR for me. The distance wasn't as great, but the terrain more than made up for it. I too, went through a pair of brogans from fording creeks up to our knees and the rocky slopes. This event had something for everyone and the dynamics of the US, CS, civillians, mossbacks and guerillas all interacting and at times preying on each other was unlike anything you'll likely experience in any other event. It is events like this that recharge and get folks excited about the hobby again. If you are feeling burnout, certainly hit an event like this or Piney Woods.

My only regret or concerns were two. I worried maybe the civilians didn't have as good a time because maybe interaction wasn't as much as they expected. After reading this, I am pleased to see this wasn't the case as they liked what autonomy they had and didn't have to be 'military victims.' The other regret was that we didn't use but a tiny fraction of this valley and hills. It had so much potential and was a pristine paradise. Maybe more patrols, outposts or objectives. I do hope Frank offers a continuation of, or even the same event, in the future. I thought the numbers were great as the terrain wouldn't allow normal 2-rank tactics, but more "hardened CS Men" would have been a plus.

Anyway, one of the two best events I have ever been to. Thank you to everyone who made the effort and made it possible.

Best Regards

[Hank Trent]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Tom forced Hank to cut the telegraph line running up to the fort.

Inquiring minds want to know, was that the "telegraph line," or was there a real one?

When Linda and I first ran across it, we thought it was the telegraph line too. Then I looked closer, and saw fishhooks hanging off it. Hmm, new way of tapping into a telegraph line, I thought. Then I noticed that vines from last summer were growing on it, and in fact, it only continued a few dozen feet farther toward the fort before ending. Was the water that high earlier in the summer, that someone had a fishing line that far up in the trees?

The fishhooks were hanging just a little below face level, and Linda and I had almost run into them already. When we saw y'all, we guessed you were sneaking to flank the fort, so shooting us would have given away your position. When one of your group almost tripped over the line, I thought it would be a good time to emphasize that I was well armed for close-up combat, so if you tried to kill me silently one of you would be going with me. I pulled out my knife and cut the line for that reason, but also to drop those darn fishhooks someplace safer, since y'all were headed toward where they were.

But that wasn't the real telegraph line, was it? Where did the yanks run the real one? I was hoping it might run down the military road by the wagons, and was sorry to miss seeing it.

I was also the previously discussed, "Shotgun Man." The civilians found my stashed items when we didn't make it back to the valley that night. I was rather distraught and mortified to see them gone. All my food, my defarbed shotgun and the 60 handrolled buckshot rounds I spent hours rolling and putting those 'string baskets' around the shot. I also had some period-correct spirits I had saved for years for just such an occasion. Thank you to those who found and took care of it. You saved the event for me.

That provided quite a bit of entertainment for the civilians Thursday night. :D I was sorely tempted to keep that shotgun and ammunition, and the bottle and flask as well. But I wasn't sure what the rules were, for confiscating others' weapons, so I sent the shotgun off with Silvana and the other civilians and showed her how to use it for her "protection," figuring that any civilian who lost his weapon would eventually go to the civilian coordinator at the wagon location and thus be able to recover it. Didn't know at that time that you were part of a sorta-military force.

Linda said afterwards she was convinced that Ron Mueller and I had set the whole thing up just for some excitement Thursday night, and there really was no owner of the gun. :D

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[Charles Heath]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Jay,

That AAR was a wonderfully good read.

As for me, I do believe I was shorted my fair share of chiggers, ticks, and skeeter bites. Who do I thank?

[Huck]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

I think that would be Frank and the great state of Missouri for that. I just wish now all the scars and bite marks would go away, especially since my wife hasn't seen me since before I left for the raid.

[MO-Pard]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Hank-

Really? I certainly thought that was the telegraph, and it provided another period moment for me.....thinking these were pro-Union folks tipping off the Federals. I may have been the only one in that regard. You are also correct we probably would not have shot you, although on second thought it would have provided a diversion. The Irregulars in this area rarely shot their captives. If they couldn't strike a deal of honor and loyalty, it usually involved a noose of hemp, hickory bark or grape vines. But there were certainly many occasions, documented, where the irregulars behaved differently or passed up opportunities because they had to be somewhere else.

Anyway, I enjoyed the encounter with you all if only for a moment. There was real tension in the air.

I wouldn't have minded, I suppose, losing some of the rounds and food. But I can't fathom the hours I put into making the snapsack, and all the rounds from scratch. I suppose I could have bummed food, but with all the physical activity I was burning A LOT of calories and constantly eating small portions. I probably wouldn't have minded losing the flask, but again, the 'Spring Water' was something I had saved since getting it from a dear friend in Sturgis many years ago. Basically, everything you found was many weeks, hours and years of 'prep.' I wouldn't be so concerned losing stuff when captured, but this way really caused me concern and really took me out of the 'moment.' Thanks for taking care of it. By getting it back it provided several others many, many moments during the event as you can tell.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Marmaduke's Raid AAR

Hank & Jay,

The telegraph line ran but a short distance from the desk to the trees between the cookhouse and the fort wall out the back of the fort to roughly Clay Hunter's back yard near the little white shed/garage on his neighbor's property. This was a short run, and as we Iron Chefs predicted whilst watching the wire go up -- it was tall enough to clear a man on foot, but the mounted folks almost discovered this slight lack of clearance the hard way. Terry had a nice trick to complete the circuit, too. How nice it was to see and hear something we don't see and hear in the field all that often.

I almost hate to admit this, but I am old enough to remember when telegraphs (and ticker tape machines) were actively used as railroad communication. They've gone the way of rotary dial "mobile" phones in vehicles, too.