Retreat From Bentonville, June 5-7, 2009

[Jerry Ross]

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

Thanks Dan! I too had a great time .It was hard for this Tennessee boy to believe that a event of this quality could of happened so far up north. The ground was great with all of it's different types if terrain.

I really respect all of the people who live up north and make the drive south for events .It was a long way up there and so many come down south all the time .
I look forward to doing it again.

By the way ,I loved the drive and seeing America from TN to WI.

[c.irelan]

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

To My fellow Comrades

Here is my recollections of this event.

Catching up with my pards that I have not seen since last yearand picking right up from were we left off.

Volenteering to run point of the Federal Army and getting to be the first to enter unexplored land if I were to be choosen to do this agian it would more than likely be with a rope tied around me per regulations. (reason to follow)

Cooking up the spiced sausages that I froaged earlier and passing the plate for many to enjoy often hearing can I have another. (not all food needs to be salted or smoked)

First person: Leaning up aginst a tree shareing Noah's gum, shareing a bowl.

Seting up a shabang for the first time when it might of been actually needed and not useing it at all but those that did were far more desevering. (reason to follow)

Makeing TWO trips right down the middle of the company street past the Capt, Lt, and Orderly to remove my gear form camp talking some absured tail about cleaning my rife only to desert the Federal Army with DD. (Did I mention that I walked past them twice and yes this is the reason)

Making it down to the wagon's to change and finding my pard Bill Horn nurseing a hurt knee who volenteered to escort us to Confederate camp which would not of been that hard to find as it was with all the white smoke comming out of the tops of the trees.

DD and I getting cought by Dan changing.

Getting stopped at the edge of the stream by the Confederate picket and getting sucked up to my knee's in mud and looseing my shoes. After retriveing my shoes fording said large stream what a great new beginnig at the same event.

First person: Being greeted by our comrades who all had a look of WTF on there faces and couldn't seem to form any word's. Finally someone said Jasper, DD is that you and I said yes it is did you think we were dead? Well yes where have you been? and without thinking DD and I began to spin this tail of how we were seperated in the action of a few days ago and that we have been shadowing the Federal Army thinking that they would eventuly lead us back home. Captian asked the question with a little disbelife in his voice, how did you evade capture? and I said have you heard them there not the quietest bunch and everyone started knodding there heads and released an ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh in agreement.

Giving my foraged Federal rations to my poorly feed Confederate brothers.

Finding out that I had a new nickmane "white hat" it's not white feather but it will work (Semper Fi)

Standing picket at in the early morning to see the sky change.

Getting soaked by the morning rain.

Getting soaked by our only exit the large stream that had swelled even higher and almost took my feet out from under me during the crossing.

The jeers and threats from the Federals directed twords DD and myself (I wonder why?)

The engagement that almost didn't happen and Lt Skip saying you boys better come because there gonna kick your A** if you don't. Ended up being the most intense fighting of the weekend.

Getting soaked by the tall grass.

Getting guilt tripped by the Federal Orderly. (but I don't feel to bad about it)

Saying good bye.

wishing that we could of treated the civilians with some force atleast. (when Federal)

Leaving and forgetting that I had gear up on top of the hill.

Getting to be Jasper Massey of the 8th Arkansas Co. B in the 8th Arkansas Co B.

Wonderfull event great site hope I am allowed to return, see you all soon

Chris Irelan

Jasper Massey
Corn Fed Comrades
ONV
WIG

[Hairy Nation Boys]

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

Peg and I have fun shooting at you. Young White Hat!

Holler

[IowaYank]

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

A few pictures have been added to the ONV website from the Federal perspective of the event. Note,,,,,the stream you see the Federals crossing in the album is NOT the river that everyone talks about having forded. This is merely a small stream that dumps into the Pectatonica river,,,,,,much smaller!!! ;-)

http://oldnorthwestvols.org/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&gid=10&Itemid=100072

Pictures from the CS perspective will be forth coming.
The pictures give you a small taste of the vast terrain this site entails.

Dan

[rkg]

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

Some CS pics are up now, don't know if that is all of them. The river was as wide as it looks, and as you can see on Terry's shirt, the water was that deep. I had a great time Dan, can't wait for the next event up there. It's a fantastic site, and the guy hosting it did an outstanding job!!!

[IowaYank]

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

Thanks for the kind words Rob. I can't take all of the credit however. MANY people had a hand in making RFB a success. Couldn't have done it without the great support the ONV provides.