Bummers Rules of Engagement

[PogueMahone]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Will,

If you don't want to roll the rounds, don't roll them. If you have them, but don't want to carry them, don't carry them. Whining about it is pointless. The rules aren't going to change just for you.

[North_State_Rambler]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Joe,
Everyone seems to be working pretty hard to make this event as historically accurate as possible, going to great pains to acquire the proper items of clothing and equipment, doing the background readings, and attempting to grasp the first-person perspective of the original parties involved. It thus seems odd to me that with all the hard work both event organizers and attendees have put in, a last-minute directive would come down expanding the militia's ammo supply beyond the amount carried by regulars in most campaigns. I am thus curious to know what this means vis-a-vis the actual history and experience of the contemporaries. Of course, if one is just a cantankerous old bully (I've missed your personal attacks-- their absence has made me feel unloved), then I suppose this does look like so much whining. I have nothing against the organizers and have been looking forward to this event for several months. The 11th hour change to an operational plan that has been in the public domain for so long has flabbergasted me, though last minute changes do seem to characterize military planning across time. Actually, that is a telling point. The background reading for the event did show that the Georgia Militia received similar last-minute modifications to their missions on a regular basis, so I am guilty of looking at the problem from too myopic of a perspective. Obviously I've been looking at this situation the wrong way, and apologize for any upset my queries may have caused. Thank you for your help in helping me to see this issue in a whole new light, Joe, through your enlightened scholarly discourse. Can't wait to see everyone in Georgia!

[PogueMahone]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Nothing personal or scholarly about it, Will. But the point is the event has updated its information for the participant and has chosen not to disclose the reasons for the change on the forum and you hammering at it won't make the nail go deeper, it just dents the wood. As a past event organizer, I know it is frustrating to have every fart emitting from my ass examined by participants trying to read between the lines and second guess the event's plan. You have trusted them thus far, trust them a little further.

[hpotter]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Just wondering, Eric or someone from the militia command staff. Will extra rounds be carried on our person or in a ammo box? I don't see anything inaccurate either way about 80 rounds. If the extra rounds are in a box then great. If they were carried on their person because of the panick of seeing Georgia dying, then great. Who's to say that the militia could never have been given 80 rounds. For goodness sakes Gov. Brown mustered in convicts. Panick tends to replace routine and regulations with survival. Let's trust the event staff and just roll with it.

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Okay, so the weapon is tagged ... now what? Captor unit is moving with prisoners in tow? Who is responsible for carrying the weapon, captor or prisoner? What if there are a large number of prisoners taken, say a whole forage party?

I ask because prisoner scenarios are so typically flubbed over the modern issue of personal property retention vs. the original situation of "government weapon dropped and never seen again". I don't expect a miracle solution here, but as long as everyone is on the same page pre-event it will make the experience at least smoother during the event.

Joe:

The honest answer is that we don't know exactly how this will play out. Just as we don't know what the effect of sending 300 Federals into the woods in small foraging parties will be. What you said in your follow-up post is correct. Only we as the event staff have the overall knowledge of how things are put together. We have planned according to what we know. I could talk for ten pages about our rationale for doing this and doing that, but if we did that at this point, we might as well just hold the event on the forum here and skip the long trip for everyone.

The true novelty of this event is and has always been for us, the fact that we don't know of another event - on the authentic side of the hobby, where there were eighteen foraging parties, representing eighteen different regiments in a loosely-organized structure in the field. We have planned and re-planned how things might go, but to be honest, we are looking as forward to how this plays out as the rest of you.

All I can say is that we have discussed contingency after contingency and if everyone plays along with the outline we have provided, we feel it is the best chance for the success of the event. The most important aspect of that is to be in character and be in the moment. If people do not abide by those two things, it will be at the loss of the participants regardless of how many rounds they are carrying or what role they are portraying.

[csabugler]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

I don't have a dog in this race but:

You have trusted them thus far, trust them a little further.
__________________
Joe Smotherman

Is some really good advice.

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

The 11th hour change to an operational plan that has been in the public domain for so long has flabbergasted me, though last minute changes do seem to characterize military planning across time.

I just went back and read this. Will, in all honesty, the only change we have made is the number of rounds for the Militia. The rest of the "operational plan" has been in the can for quite some time, but we didn't want to discuss any specifics until we were two weeks out from the event... which is where we are.

I don't begrudge anyone for asking questions. That's precisely why we opened this thread. I do however take a little exception to characterizing a change in ammunition to "changes in the operational plan", which we have never released and won't release until after the event.

No hard feelings here. This is why we opened the thread. Better to get this out of the way now rather than have questions linger into the event.

[Half Rations]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

War of the Rebellion

Maj. Gen. HOWELL COBB, Macon:
I report here with 200 men. Send me 10,000 rounds of ammunition, .69 caliber, and a medical officer.
II. C. WAYNE, Major- General.

Noted this is in addition to the 40 rounds issued previously. This force had not yet engaged Shermans forces.

[North_State_Rambler]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Has provision been made for CS prisoners who may wish to take the Oath of Loyalty to the Union?

Thanks for posting the extra docs in this thread and the other one, Jordan!

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Has provision been made for CS prisoners who may wish to take the Oath of Loyalty to the Union?

Will, the answer is "yes".

[flattop32355]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Absolute and Mere Speculation:

It wouldn't surprise me if militia had a tendency to shoot on sight of a single Yank, in ragged volleys to boot. I'd expect the ammunition discipline to be better (though not great) for the Federals, even given all the reports of men using bullets to dispatch livestock instead of using bayonets, etc. in the early going of the march.

There's probably a number of things that the planners have cussed and discussed to the point of nausea, believing in their hearts that they've covered every possible variant, which we in the field (without even trying to) will screw up from the word "GO!" It is as it should, and ever shall, be. In an event this unique, I'd be surprised if it didn't.

I'm driving a long way to enjoy with my son an event without precedent. I've been told to study what I can, and wing the rest, and be prepared for most anything. That last part kinda covers it all.

Hot, dry, cold, wet, ragged out, pissed off, spent to the point of death, I intend to enjoy this damned event for all it's worth, while adding my own small contribution to everyone else's experience.

[Auld Pelty]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

Has provision been made for CS prisoners who may wish to take the Oath of Loyalty to the Union?

Thanks for posting the extra docs in this thread and the other one, Jordan!

The provision is that if these traitors are captured by the Militia, they will be summarily executed. So will all the other house burning prisoners, I suppose, unless there is going to be a prisoner exchange.

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

There are some common themes that are coming up that are geared toward traditonal battalion-on-battalion events that need to be wiped clean from everyone's minds. How will Bummers be different?

Bummers will be different. It will be different because we are running on an entirely unique command structure. It will be different because in most events, you have a set timeline according to how the battle went and when you plan the event, you simply try to follow the outline (Rich Mountain). For Bummers, there were hundreds of encounters all over Georgia and later South Carolina. It will be different, because there is no central commander. There are three separate columns led by a mere captain (no offense to the fine rank of captain). It will be different because on the Federal side, we are portraying eighteen different regiments - many represented by guys from those areas. It will be different because the boys in Georgia have told me that this particular militia impression rarely gets done, let alone to defend Georgia against the Yankee hoardes of Sherman's army. It will be different because at some recent, excellent events, working towns were created. We are taking those citizens out of those towns where they don't know who will come around the next corner. Bummers will be different, because we have a very large number of people from all over the country portraying something that hasn't been done on this scale in our side of the hobby. It will be different, because based on the scenario, we are encouraging guys to move out on their own, free of typical company structure.

Lastly, and MOST importantly, getting back to the continuing theme of the event potentially becoming a "Shoot-Em-Up". I have talked to many people over the last few days and what I have said is this: We must clear our minds of anyone "winning" and "losing". That is not the basis for the event. This is not a tactical, in the sense that we are judging the results based on any winning strategy. There are very simple goals for this event that override all others:

For the Federals, your primary objective is to find food. PERIOD. A distant second is defending yourselves because of the hostile terrain you travel in.

For the Militia, your simple goal is to harrass (not defeat!) the Federals. Capture as many as you can but no heroic charges, no massed assaults.

For Citizens - Hide your food and stay alive.

For Wheeler's Cavalry, see Militia Goals.

We have long feared the shoot-em-up, so to make sure that everything is followed, the Armory Guards are embedded and commanding the Militia and there are three of us embedded with the Federal columns. We can't fully-prevent people from getting out of control, but we are certainly trying to be upfront about our intent and will be right in the middle of things if anything gets out-of-hand.

And lastly, please we beg some of you... they are "Foraging Parties", not "Companies". ;)

[SGulley]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

you simply try to follow the outline (Rich Mountain).

If I have to part with my knapsack Eric...I'm not coming :wink_smil:tounge_sm

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Bummers Rules of Engagement

If I have to part with my knapsack Eric...I'm not coming :wink_smil:tounge_sm

Scott, we can guarantee that your knapsacks will be safe and sound in their rightful place - on your back . That being said, travel light!