Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

[IowaYank]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

1) I would like all Federals to bring one item of a foraged food item that is appropriate for March in North Carolina.

2. NO CAMERAS ALLOWED. Each side has one person who has volunteered to discreetly take pictures, so there will be images from the event.

3) Everyone should arrive with 60 rounds of packaged ammunition. 40 in your box and 20 in your pack.

4)Contrary to what some may think, Wisconsin isn't ALWAYS a frozen tundra :D !! Wisconsin in June can be very warm. Remember to hydrate thoroughly before the event.

5) Remember that this is an immersion event. Most everyone here knows what that means. If you have to talk out of first person, please move away from everyone else and speak quietly. We will be in a pristine area free from 21st Century items for nearly the entire event, why ruin that with modern talk??

6) We have just under two weeks before registration is closed. Keep those Federal registrations coming in!!

Thanks!
Dan

[IowaYank]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Hello All, Officially registration has been closed for Retreat From Bentonville. We still do have some room however in our Federal Infantry Company portraying the 21st Wisconsin. If you are interested in attending this immersion event, please send me an email at dan.chmelar(AT)wartburg.edu ASAP!! Rations are being put together and finishing touches are being put into place. I really like the plans in place right now and think you all will as well.

Directions to will be sent to all registered individuals shortly.

Dan Chmelar

[Dan Wambaugh]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Thanks for the great time Dan! Never thought I would walk through foot deep mud and ford a rain-swollen, waist-deep river at an event just so I would have a natural barrier between myself and the enemy!

I'll be cleaning Wisconsin mud from my uniform for weeks to come, good thing Holler bought my jacket, now it's his problem!

[Anna Allen]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Thank you, Dan for a wonderful event! I decided to come last minute and am so glad I did. Had an awesome weekend! I almost don't even care about the rain and cold wet feet and wet muddy dress I had to constantly deal with. I think last night I even had a dream about sleeping on a real live pillow. ;) But honestly, I love this kind of an event. The area you picked is gorgeous! I hear tell you guys are already thinking of another event for next year? Count me in! Reminded me of Marmy's. It was also great seeing some old pals I haven't seen in ages and also met new friends. I was very impressed, Dan. You done well! :)

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

I gotta say, I loved this event. I haven't been let down by coming out to Wisconsin yet!

Some of the highlights for me personally:

-Covering my tall black hat in dirt and dust so advancing Federal scouts wouldn't see me laying in a field, but finding out it was probably too late to help.

- Being the second to ford the river after Sorchy, and doing it with my pants on.

- Having only a shoddy blanket and other shelter forced me to improvise in the rain and cold.

- Three guard duty shifts and an hour-long patrol with John Wickett. I absolutely love this aspect of events and period army life.

- The rations....I got a quarter cup of rice, quarter cup of coarse chickory, five fragile and dusty corn crackers, a plug of tobacco, and the most inedible salt pork I've ever had. It was all gone by Saturday afternoon!

- The Sunday morning skirmish in the rain and water-soaked fields...trying to draw a ramrod with hands slick with gun power, only to find that my gun stock has swelled the rammer in place. Being dropped by three Federal skirmishers when I was brash enough to stand up to take a shot. Then within three minutes opening my eyes only to see a field mouse an inch from my face (which sadly surprised me a year into the future).

- Spending the weekend with my friends and customers, meeting new people, and getting to know faces from this forum. Everyone's dedication truly makes this worthwhile!

- The site...very, very sparse modern intrusions, hills, slopes, open fields, heavy wood lots, small rivers, creeks, tall grass, etc. And I don't know exactly how large the property was but it seemed huge!

Big thanks to Dan, the ONV and participants, and the property owners for a fantastic weekend. I came out a drenched filthy mess but for me it was better than three days on a Florida beach!

[BenjaminLDavis]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

I gotta say, I loved this event. I haven't been let down by coming out to Wisconsin yet!

Some of the highlights for me personally

- Being the second to ford the river after Sorchy, and doing it with my pants on.

- Having only a shoddy blanket and other shelter forced me to improvise in the rain and cold.

- The rations....I got a quarter cup of rice, quarter cup of coarse chickory, five fragile and dusty corn crackers, a plug of tobacco, and the most inedible salt pork I've ever had. It was all gone by Saturday afternoon!

- The Sunday morning skirmish in the rain and water-soaked fields...trying to draw a ramrod with hands slick with gun power, only to find that my gun stock has swelled the rammer in place. Being dropped by three Federal skirmishers when I was brash enough to stand up to take a shot. Then within three minutes opening my eyes only to see a field mouse an inch from my face (which sadly surprised me a year into the future).

- The site...very, very sparse modern intrusions, hills, slopes, open fields, heavy wood lots, small rivers, creeks, tall grass, etc. And I don't know exactly how large the property was but it seemed huge!

Big thanks to Dan, the ONV and participants, and the property owners for a fantastic weekend. I came out a drenched filthy mess but for me it was better than three days on a Florida beach!

I would heartily concur here, everything I had was either soaking or moist, and most of
it filthy ~ a sure sign of really great memories, and a truly fine event!
I understand that many of the Johnnies forded Pear Crossing with little or nothing on ~
I sincerely hope there are NO pictures of this! Some of us Federals made the same
crossing Sunday, that water was COLD! And I was glad I was tall!

The size of the site: Saturday our column was complaining that we were trying to
emulate the Confederate rides round the Union forces earlier in the War by marching
round Johnston; alternate complaint, we had marched right round all of North Carolina's
borderlands, and come back to our start! We were tired when we got fires going!

Food: we had bacon (some), ham shanks (smoked, most eaten raw with gusto), coffee,
sugar, some furina with salt (a mistake!), hard crackers (some VERY hard, tooth dullers
indeed), and what small things came with us from the previous marches. And some
very fine dried apples Sunday morn!

There are parts of Sunday's battle I will never forget ~ topping the small hill of long,
soaked grass full of angry Johnnies was a moment. Kicking Rob's foot to make sure
he was really dead, and his glassy open eyes never moved a centimeter. Double-D's
taunt and misfire ~ a good laugh in a desperate fight!

And the opportunity to portray Noah McCorkle, who died at the battle of Bentonville while
fighting in Co K of the 21st Wis.; I hope I did him pround!

[26th NC]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

To all of the ONV members, GREAT EVENT. I am so glad I went, even more so to be invited. This was done well. Big hats off to Dan Chmelar, even though I did not actually meet him, saw him numerous times and stepped in some of his cavalry's road apples, oh well! Great site. All made me feel welcome.

Pvt.McCorkle, great time, great comradeship. I'll bring you some night vision goggles next time. You know what i mean!!

Terry, nearly stepped on you as you lay there doing the moan and bloat in the field. Sorry I did not see you after the event to say hello. Got a cool set of suspenders from Dan Wambaugh to go with teh coat for Galena.

Scott Gutzke: Count me in as a regular of the ONV if you guys will have me. i'll pull point anytime, and under any conditions. And patrols too.

LT (I'm terrible with names) great talking with you, I'll see you at Galena or Ft. Snelling. i'll bring the Custer staff ride book.

Weather not withstanding, this was what infantrymen did, experienced and still do. move quick, little down time (well almost) and just doing what had to be done. And having been an infantryman in the US Army for 30 years, I can attest to that. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Did i say to the ONV members what a great bunch of guys you were?

Layton Pennington

[David Dalton]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Dan,
I must say best event i've been to in a couple of years. Even thou most hated me for deserting my unit I had a grand time. I think most like that part from what I hear.
I will gladly join you anytime at one of your events...

Best moment was watching the jonnies on the other side of the field where we could see little heads pop up and down...

I think that being a corpral for this event was a great way to learn new things. I think who ever was in my section did a great job and we worked together each chance we got. We were always throwing food together and always helping each other out. You know who you are.. thanks for putting up for me. I' am really not that much of a pain... I just wanted to get home and figured maybe runnin away was a good chance to get there... I read a book before I left...that there wer 6 guys who left there platoon with out no one knowing for a full day. I dont know how long it took for you guys to figure it out but it was a first person moment I will never forget...Truely sorry for any trouble I caused.

Last but no least was WAtching some one that young put on a great event...
Great JOB DAN

I'll be there any time you need help with anything.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Congratulations on what sounds like a worthwhile experience. Anything related to Bentonville or Goldsboro certainly gets my attention, respect…and critique.

Not being a reenactor of any period or platform, I didn’t feel qualified to comment on this prior the event.

There are thousands of acres of undeveloped game lands and woodlands adjacent to the original battlefield. The unbroken series of tracts straddles the Wayne and Johnson County lines to the east and extends almost the entire distance northwest along the Neuse River to I-95, just south of Smithfield. It encompasses a great deal of the ground that this event was based upon as well as Sherman’s initial progress towards Goldsboro.

Other than the periphery, there are few dwellings from any period and most of the interior can be covered without seeing a modern road. None of this land has ever been used for an event of any kind. There are river bends, vernal ponds, dense thickets, old-growth timber, fordable creeks, impassable swamps, high-grounds, low-grounds, open fields and dry savanna. Most of the native flora & fauna is there too. In short, a perfect place to tackle in the future.

With that in mind, perhaps someday Bentonville can return to Bentonville.
______________________________________________

Google map Newton Grove or Bentonville NC, hit satellite, zoom in or out as needed, and look for the immense green blob east of 701.

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Private Enoch Jones Co. B Arkansas 8th Infantry

We joined the rest of our Company after dark on Friday. We recognized some of our pards and some of the boys through the glimmer of the fires. We exchanged pleasentries and asked about any news they had from home. Like us they had not recieived any correspondences as of late. We were promptly told by the Sgt. to bivouac along the road. We were also told to lie on arms (No stacks). My pard William and I found spots and began to prepare to bed down. Soon after we assembled the company and were given three days rations, consisting of 5 corn pones, a scoop of rice, a sweet tater, a piece of salt pork, a twist of tobacco and some chicory mixed with something else I am pretty sure that was sweet tater too. Knowing that our section was to start pocket duty at 4am we commenced with slumber.

We took our positions for pickett along a winding road near camp. Plenty of critters active in the woods while standing sentry, but no sign off the union oppressor. While in the reserve I was awakened by a shot not far in the distance. Soon the captain ordered us to assemble. We met up with the yanks along that road in a small skirmish. None hurt in the scrape, we had to run like rabbits through some branches and brambles. I ripped my coat on a branch. Down the hill then our officers moved us in a hurry to another spot and then another worked our way out into an open field. We then spread out the first platoon in skirmish order fixing for a fight. Horn even started to dig in. We waited there for what seemed like an eternity. Corporal Ackert and some of the others had real heavy eyelids. Finally the yanks appeared before us. I was hoping that I wouldn’t get gobbled up by the boys in blue because out of necessity I procured coat from a fallen union soldier. I told one of our company that I wanted to die an honorable death if the Good Lord called me but that I did not want to be hung as a traitor. We fired on the federals a few rounds then moved on again up another hill. The yanks seemed tired of chasing and the boys were tired of running. On the command, “Rest” the company took their ease. Later in the afternoon we were marching again. Without cavalry to provide information our officers were working in the dark and struggled to find that paths that they wanted to be on . We soon came upon a ford in a stream. Pvt. Smith volunteered to cross first. He stripped down even his drawers and put his gear on his shoulder and walked across. Some others followed his lead. I and some others just waded through. It was not the first time I had done that and would probably not be the last. We then moved into a road with a big ditch on either side and we were told to get some fires started. We did our best to dry off and established a bivouc along the road. We set out pickets and commence on preparing some supper. My messmates and I combined our rice together and added some molasses. We added some salt pork that we had boiled out the salt and added some sweet tater. It was a satisfying supper all and all. Our section was to serve picket from 7pm-1am. I was thankful for an early guard it was getting chilly out in the open field. After my shift I returned to the reserve where I spent time in Bible reading and prayer by the candles light.

Morning came quickly on the Sabbath. No time given for religious instruction. We were on the move again. We forded back across the stream and the hit the yanks again. The hit back with vengeance. A good number of our boys fell or were wounded that day. And we continue to move away from the federals.


I enjoyed the event.
Thanks to Dan Jason and Dave for planning .

Thanks to The officers and NCO's of Co. B

Thanks to all my pards in the Cornfed Comrades who shined with their impressions .

Thanks to all my ONV pards for a good event that requried less than 4 hours of travel :)

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

8th Arkansas was eating high on the hog with 5 pones, sweet potatos, and salt pork....

[Jim Moffet]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Glad to have a chance to serve with Capt. Gerow's Co. D, 21st Wisconsin.

The Minnesotians all had a fine time, and got about what we expected! The only depletion to Comp. D's aggregate, despite the weather (light rain and drizzle most of Saturday and a nice steady rain with thunder and lightning Sunday) was the deserters! Personally, I've never been a fan of the blisters that seem unavoidable after fording a stream in boots, but somehow it wasn't so disagreeable when already soaked to the skin from the waist down from humping through over a mile of wet waist-deep grass and mud that tried with all its might to suck the bootees off my feet!

Double D, Sergt. Willar informed me that he suspected your treachery within about 15 minutes of your treachery.

Leighton, I too enjoyed the discussions and look forward to continuing our freindship.

And I for one had a great time talking to Weed! The patrols took him way back, like to the jungles of Southeast Asia - said the only differences were that it wasn't 140 degress and he wasn't scared #$%&-less! (The officers flipping the map around and wondering where the heck the company was during rests was quite realistic, he assured me!)

Our company was well run, overall. Soldiers soldiered. NCOs did what needed to be done. Site was supurb! Tactics were well done, realistic, and 'believable.' Our skirmishers skirmished in all sorts of wet environs, from boggy bottomland to a grass field that was literally shoulder deep. The kabuki was quite well done, water stops timely and well placed. Federal rations were beyond abundent - what with the ham we confiscated from the civilians or dug up in the 'grave,' my bacon ration is now at home awaiting some fried eggs! The china tea cup we dug up is still in the front pocket of my sack coat. FirPer lasted longer than normal, but could be an area in which we can improve.

Thanks for inviting us, Dan (and Terry), a fine job! We'll spread the good word here in the north and redouble efforts to get more men to the next ONV event. I look forward to serving with Capt. Gerow again.

Wonder if my house has stopped reeking of wet wool....(not likely).... it's finally stopped raining here near Fort Snelling so I may be able to get it all out of the living room!

Jim Moffet
Lieut., Co. D, 21st Wisconsin Volunteers

No stickforts were erected in the creation of this post, nor at this event!

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

I too had a good time. First time ever going reb. When I started in 1991 I never thought I would cross the lines. Only wish I could write one of those " my grand pappy rolling in his grave" editorials to Camp Chase.

Dan, you did agreat job! I left a message with you today. Lets plan for next year!

I had many good moments:
Peg and I sneaking down to the federal camp and taking a couple of shots at "white hat".
Throwing up and feeling better.
Crossing the ford and stripping down. (I always wanted to do that)
Falling asleep in reserve and waking up two hours later to relieve Jake and Moses. Thanks for understanding! :wink_smil
Experiencing the war from a different perspective. It was very hard for me to say a bad thing about Sherman but I did.
Buying Spotted Cow at Casey's on the way home!

Not having to drive 12 hours to a event. Being able to tell my wife and kids that I will leave Friday evening and be home Sunday afternoon. Proof once again that we CAN do authentic events in the mid-west.
Thanks to all that made it a great weekend.

[Anna Allen]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

Holler, you are right. Spotted cow is an excellent ale. And I'm not a huge beer drinker. :)

Ditto to having authentic events in the midwest!

[ScottCross]

Re: Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

And I for one had a great time talking to Weed! The patrols took him way back, like to the jungles of Southeast Asia - said the only differences were that it wasn't 140 degress and he wasn't scared #$%&-less! (The officers flipping the map around and wondering where the heck the company was during rests was quite realistic, he assured me!)

What! Wedeward wasn't in Vietnam! He missed the draft by several years! He went from high school straight into "Stoughton Trailers" and then on to college! He was at the University of Wisconsin in 1972! What did you guys put in your canteens?