AAR Bummers

[DBAR1918]

Re: AAR Bummers

Eric, et al:

I have two requests. As part of your Sponsor/Host AAR, could you give us a list of folks who gave up a goodly portion of their lives and sanity to plan, coordinate, and execute Bummers '09? Many of the folks we know through occasional mentions in threads or witnessing them as they passed us trailing burning hair, rushing about the event doing everything they could to make it happen for those of us who simply showed up. Please include those who volunteered to work as, say, Militia Battalion staff who divvied out rations, chopped bacon, and even took it upon themselves to stretch a few fowls by boiling them into broth and carrying them out to the lines.

Also, we owe a debt to the Camp Thunder board and staff for allowing us to do something this dangerous and bizarre on their land using their facilities. It was certainly a leap of faith on their part to allow us to do something that could only result in disastrous publicity for an event they could not publicize. I for one would like to write a letter to the camp commissioner and his staff thanking them for opening up to armed strangers the land for which they are the responsible stewards.

Dave Stieghan
Civilian participant, sort of
Well, the Governor did call me up for a few months to help out.....

[Tom Dodson]

Re: AAR Bummers

You should not need to ask that question. This is just my opinion but I think it is like someone not voting in an election. If you don't take the time to go to the poll and vote then you shouldn't complain about the outcome of the election.
Tom Dodson

[C.R. Henderson]

Re: AAR Bummers

At least he went, Chris.

[Jim of The SRR]

Re: AAR Bummers

Hello all,
I just looked at pictures from another event in November on the other forum . We should be very grateful that anone has the guts to put on a A.C. quality event. None of us are paid for our efforts in this hobby except maybe some sutlers . While no event will ever be perfect in everone's eyes . It was a good event .



We did not have to worry about

• ratios
• how far to sutlers
• how far to portapots
• how far to parking
• firewood
• how close the grass was/was not mowed
• gal troops
• very bad impressions
• dismounted cavalry

The part of War we can expericence is waiting, hunger, thirst, being tired, long marches, looking for the enemy,complaining about the higher ups. Ya'll gave us that for the weekend on both sides.

This event is about as good as it can get for us on a weekend and for $35 dollar admission fee.I don't know where I can find better people, places or ideas than the ones on the A.C. I hate golf,tennis and other sports bore me to sleep. Fishing is fun, but I really like this hobby.

Thanks to all who spent countless hours of vacation time, phone calls ,hours thinking about this at work when you should of been aaaa working, e-mailing and dreaming.

Jerry,

Very well said!

Jim Butler

[Huck]

Re: AAR Bummers

To paraphrase myself, if "Piney Woods" and "Bummers" had a baby.... ;)

Sounds like a question, would it be Burning of Columbia.

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: AAR Bummers

I think I already know the answer but beg to ask anyway.

Why were no federal horsemen allowed at the event despite the obvious need for them?

Dave Myrick

[Robert Saye]

Re: AAR Bummers

Herb, Eric, Kiev, Ken, Jordan, etc..

I had a great time at the event. It was definately an interesting experience that we don't normally get to do. I'd like to thank you guys for putting a ton of time into the planning and work days. I was part of the Militia Engineers that became Bushwackers/Prisoner guards/Commissary.

To the Fed Prisoners we guarded on the hill, from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning. Thanks for being good sports and making it interesting for us on Sunday. It was good meeting you Thad Gallagher and Johnny Lloyd. I would also like to thank the Fed Lt., that ran out between the lines on the hill Sunday to secure my Mississippi rifle for me. It was much appreciated friend, I owe you a beer.

To everyone that planned the event and everyone that attended the event, thanks for making it what it was. I had a blast.


regards,

[Coatsy]

Re: AAR Bummers

Dave,

The chief reason is because of the Camp Thunder/Lawhorn Scout staff. We had to really convince the staffers there that you horsemen in the authentic side of the hobby know what you are doing. When we discussed opposing horsemen they didn't like that. I am not going to air the Scout's business on this forum, but if you want a more info feel free to PM me.

Second the march route in for Los Federals from the River Road to the Ridge Road was not horse friendly thus making Federal Cav difficult. During work days and site walks/rides I know that some of the Cav guys (Guy, Pete, Mike V, Andy) were able to go down some of the smaller trails, but not all the way to the River Road. Even though I am just a foot slogger I didn't want to see anyone's horse get seriously hurt.

Third, the logistics seemed difficult at best for ONE force of cav at the event. Who knows if it would have worked with two forces? Now we all know the flooded road changed everything I really don't think horses would have been able to go up the "goat trail."

In the end none of the event staff has an issue with Federal Cavalry; I personally like quality horsemen being at good events. It just didn't work out that way at the Bummers.

[Matthew Young]

Re: AAR Bummers

Let me start out by thanking all the event organizers. I have put on events before and I can tell you it is no easy task!

I enlisted as a Private in Co. A (Poythress) of the 11th Georgia Militia. We were originally going to have 23 men and 2 officers. Instead, once we had all mustered up Friday evening, we had 11 men and 2 officers.

I have only done a few campaign style events before- Westville, Immortal 600, and Chickamauga, so it is still fairly new to me. I probably over packed a little bit. I had two haversacks (one for my modern medication and one for food), my knapsack which had a change of socks and long underwear, two groundcloths, and a blanket, my accoutrements, my canteen, and my 1842 musket. All in all, probably about 40 pounds.

Our designated 1st Sgt. could not come due to a family emergency, so Captain Poythress asked me to take over his duties. It didn't start well as I was having a little trouble remembering my Gilham's since I had used Hardee's the previous weekend and Scott's about three weekends before that.

At any rate we mustered up on a dark road, and the officers speechified while I handed out some small pieces of cornbread to the 11 enlisted men in Co. A. After a brief moment for torch lighting, we began our march up the hill and towards who knows what.

As I was now 1st Sergeant, and we were heading into unknown territory, the Captain placed me on point for the pickets that were on the road in front of the battalion which was marching in column behind us.

Let me say that that was a pretty steep hill. It was also pitch black which didn't make it much easier to see where we were going. I am only 31 years old and in fairly decent shape, but I had to stop to catch my breath a time or two. I found that it wasn't so much that I had trouble breathing, it was more like my legs began to feel like they were about 200 pounds each.

Being at the head of the column, it was an awe inspiring site to be able to get up to the top of the hill and look back down the road behind me and see the entire battalion behind me. All of them with knapsacks, bedrolls, and correct uniforms.

As we reached the top of the hill, we could see a campfire off in the distance. Not knowing whose it was, I was sent along with two soldiers to go down the road an explore. As we were walking down the road, it sounded like a heard of buffalo was on the loose. I didn't know if there were pickets around, if there were cavalry, or if there were Federals. My heart skipped a few beats until we ran into a picket post of two soldiers who reported that they were part of Reese's battery attached to Wheeler's Cavalry.

I reported back to my Captain, and then to the Battalion commander what we had found, and we were ordered to Bivouac near them. It was some of the worst ground around. I had a very hard time in the dark finding a decent spot to lay in. We were told no fires, but the other companies didn't seem to have received that order and little camp fires popped up all around the area.

I lay down on my patch of earth with a groundcloth below, and the blanket and other groundcloth above. It was a cold night with no fire, with a cold wind blowing across the barren hill, and rocks and sticks in my back and side all night. I MIGHT have gotten an hour of sleep all night. Finally, about 4:45am I got up and started gathering up my belongings and packing them. Reveille was at 5am and I conducted roll call. Finding all of us still there, I reported into the Adjutant and then issued rations to the men which had been drawn the previous evening. There was plenty of bacon to go around, though it didn't seem like we had a lot of time to cook it.

We moved out right at dawn and came to a crossroads where there was a broken down wagon. We were ordered to search the wagon but the officers told us not to go in the wagon itself for there was a woman in there who was still changing. I tried to keep a watchful eye on the militiamen as we rummaged through the items near the wagon. I was tempted to pocket a sweet potato or some corn but decided not too. Instead, the family offered us two hams!

One was issued to Company B, the other was kept by our company. Many of the men took turns holding this ham on our subsequent march. I think they grew quite attached to it!

We soon came across a cabin, but did not stay long. We continued moving and the company spread out as a skirmish line as we advanced. Finally, we came to a steep hill with fallen timber on the left and a cabin on the road in front of us that had several women around it.

Company A was ordered to guard the hill, which we did. We heard cavalry in the distance, but nothing else. It was only 8:30am when we were pulled off the hill and towards the commissary cabin where the women were cooking.

I tried to make polite conversation with one of the ladies, Brandy, who was traveling back to her home nearby. The Major ordered us to turn over our ham to the commissary...something the men were NOT happy about. The Ham had almost become the 12th enlisted man in our unit, and we were reluctant to turn him over. But, orders are orders and we did as we were told.

By 9:00am, we had our orders. We were to clear a path up the hill for the artillery piece, build two positions on the hill for the piece, and then dig about five or six rifle pits for the infantry to provide cover fire for the artillery piece.

We dug, and chopped, and moved branches and limbs until about 11:00. A group of four of us cut down a dead tree and used it as the base log for protecting the cannon. It was great to see the guys working on building actual rifle pits and gun emplacements.

By noon, we were moved to another side of the hill and were given chicken and broth. The chicken was rubbery and the broth was like drinking hot unflavored water, but it was food. It was now nap time for most of the unit since most of us had little to no sleep the night before. By 2:30pm our Captain wanted us to go on a patrol, which I was on.

As we moved down the road, heard some firing off to our right and low and behold, the cavalry had captured about a dozen Federal troops. It was the first blue we had seen all weekend. Further down the road, I saw a group of ladies and one man who were from Louisiana and trying to make their way towards Milledgeville. I asked Lt. Gangler if we could escort these civilians back to the commissary area, and he agreed. I had a good conversation with them and they seemed to appreciate the protection that we offered to them.

We moved back to our positions on the front of the hill about 4:00pm and saw a few Federals emerge from the wooded crossroads below. B company immediately opened fire as did our cannon and the Federals soon retired.

About half an hour later, were ordered to make as much noise as we could. We hammed on trees, beat branches into other branches, and talked loudly for about 20 minutes while the rest of the militia formed up and marched out to meet the Federals.

It seemed to me to be a sharp engagement, but it was soon over and the militia was back in camp by about sundown. It was then we received word to stand down for the evening while the event organizers sorted it all out and tried to track down lost units.

We bedded down for the night, had fires, and ate ham, peas, corn, and CHEESE! I had also brought a jar of strawberry preserves, and the Captain, the Lieutenant, and I shared the jar until it was empty. What a treat it was just to have some jam!

Saturday night was better then Friday, as I was able to get some sleep and stay mostly warm near a campfire. We had not lost a single man that day or that night, so we still had 11 enlisted and 2 officers for morning report.

We were soon moved back down the road that we had marched up on Saturday morning and were posted along with another company to defend it. We waited for about an hour, and the Federal columns came with a fury.

They were on our front, to our left in the ravine, and to our right on the hill. We were almost surrounded. We fell back to the commissary cabin, and all of a sudden, the Federals were behind us too! It was prisoners who had overpowered the militia guards. We got the order to about face and drive them off, which we did.

It was a sharp, but brief fight. We were ordered to fall back, and it seemed as if we didn't stop for a while. Finally we were ordered back forward again when the Federals were using militia prisoners as human shields. But we got the best of them when the order to lie down was shouted at our prisoners and we charged the Federal column.

That was the last fight we had before exiting near our initial muster area at about 10:00am.

As I have seen a few others post, it was the best two days I may never do again. I was hot and cold, tired, sore, hungry, thirsty, scared, and unsure about what was going on; all of which I am sure my ancestors when through.

Thanks again to the staff and to all my pards in Company A, the "Bakers Dirty Dozen"

Matt Young, 1st Sgt.
A Co., 11th Ga. Militia

[Coatsy]

Re: AAR Bummers

Hank, if your only complaints about the event is the corn, then I'll take that as a compliment! :wink_smil

[Ken Cornett]

Re: AAR Bummers

Dave,

the event staff AAR will be out Monday, but here is who's who:

Ken Cornett from Mess No.1- handled all of registration, moved people around, worked with folks to get them where they wanted to be, and handled all monies for the event. Also the lead guide for Saturday morning's march whom will take full responsibility for climbing the rocks. I was the guide for first division after the climb.

Eric Tipton from Mess No. 1 - handled all PR, our website where he received tons of list updates from yours truly. Worked our insurance situations and dealt with Camp Thunder officials exclusively. He was the guide for the third federal division.

Herb Coats from Armory Guards - handled a large part of the ground logistics, work days, even commanded a militia company, citizens, spent many phone hours with Eric and I.

Kiev Thomason from Armory Guards - torch maker, ground logisitics with Herb, work days, militia info, etc.

Jordan Roberts from Armory Guards - other torch maker, ground logistics, main Boy Scout contact, militia history, etc. Lots of hours.

Joe Liechty from Mess No. 1 - federal structure and history...had to cancel at last minute. Joe was replaced by Marvin Greer, who took Joe's guide position for the event.

And all of the other Armory Guards that helped in many ways especially including Robbie Mitchell, Tripp Corbin, and Robert Collette. And of course the Critters.

This is just a short synopsis. All of these men did way more than what I have listed. Again, our report will explain lots more.

[GMM64]

Re: AAR Bummers

Dave
The reasoning behind the no fed cav deciscion had a lot to do with the job that the cav was tasked to do with the event in its original form and that was to slow the yank columns so they would not just walk up from the river. please remember that the timing we wound up dealing with was not what it was supposed to be. Also we wanted to and nearly did replicate the 30 troopers that made up Shannon's scouts on the march to the sea! basicly as commander of the unit I take full responsibilty for that decision.
Guy M. Musgrove
Critter Co/Shannon's Scouts

[JimKindred]

Re: AAR Bummers

Kids,

The moderators have had one complaint too many about this thread. From the looks of things in this thread a number of you do not play well with others.