Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

[IowaYank]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

You don't have to worry about Gobtop working on the sly! Gobtop is a hell of a guy!!! I'm sure he will let whoever the winner was know soon.

Dan

[lambrew]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Great event! Getting caught between the fire of the cs cav, and the fed reserve while on picket friday night was pretty scary. The constant skirmishing with the cav about wore me out but the dip in the river revived my sagging spirits. A sharp fight for the gap, then some rain to put me to sleep capped the weekend. I was ready to go at it again on sunday but oh well. Thanks to one and all for a great event.

[YMikels]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Yep, that's why I said, "Just fooling as I really think him a stand up guy". at the end of the post. From what I know of him he sounds about as honest as they come. Quite the opposite of myself, actually....

I am,

[ColdSteele]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Everyone,

I'm not sure if Mr. Gobtop will remember my name when he makes his report, so I will preempt it. I don't want anyone to think he jumped town!

I won the 50/50 raffle for a grand total of $25.50. the winning number was 0761118. (I can send a photo of the two tickets if you'd like.)

I will write more of my experience at Crampton's later, But for now - Bully job to the officers, NCO's and event planners. Driving up to the site, I couldn't believe how spectacular the ground was!

Excellent choice of land and leadership! Oh and by the way - Come on in, the water's fine! :tounge_sm

Best Regards,

[ajroscoe]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

All,
I had a great time at the event. I was happy to finally attend an event with the ONV, as I've been a member since after Piney Woods. I especially wanted to repay the favor of all the work Tom Klas in getting together a progressive company as an adjunct to the 24th Michigan living history at Gettysburg last year, which I couldn't be part of, as I was the Captain of the 24th. The event site was great, I really enjoyed the mix of fields, dense woods, clear woods, streams, a river, and hills to work with. I feel far too many campaigner events are bound into the woods for the entire event. Sometimes that's very appropriate, such as Piney Woods last year. I know many of the times it is not appropriate, it is because of having to make do with the sites we can get. This place was beautiful though, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I had the honor of serving as the 5th Sgt in the Federal company there and stayed very busy all weekend, as the commissary sgt for the company, as sgt of the guard, and in running the advance for the federal force for most of the weekend. I was foot sore when it ended, but glad for a lot of new experiences. I traveled out to the event from Detroit with my friends from the Sally Port Mess, Tom Steele, Sean Collicott, and Jeremy Bevard. We stopped Thursday night in Madison, WI and spent the next morning and early afternoon, visiting the Veteran's Museum, the State Museum, and walking State St. I saw some items that made my mouth water there, most particularly the Iron Brigade presentation flag made by Tiffany and Co. As a reenactor from a unit that does the Iron Brigade, it was very special to see that flag in person and in such beautiful condition. We got to the site about 3pm and enjoyed the mid afternoon greeting our comrades as they arrived. It was nice to meet new people, meet some people I'd only known through the forum, and see old friends. We got dressed around 6pm and started getting the company in order. After we formed the company and distributed supplies, my 1st section moved off as the advance in the dark night, following the cavalry with the guide. After a while, we were told to halt our advance because someone in the column had hurt his ankle, however, the cavalry continued to ride on and we lost track of them for a while. Once the column resumed the march, we shortly came to a fork, but there was no cavalry there, so we took our best guess as to which way to go. However, after a short time we realized our mistake and backtracked and took the other fork and found our cav again. We continued on the trail to the campsite and put out 1st section as pickets just before the confederate cav attacked us. It was very fortunate that our entire company was still under arms and formed, for we easily drove them off and for the rest of the night, watched them annoy us for a while before they got tired and went away.

Saturday, 1st section was again in the advance and tangled with the confederate horse on and off over several miles through woods and fields for the next two hours. We kept pushing them hard, and drove them back any time they showed themselves, but after 1.5-2 hours of this, I had to left Terry know that my men were beat, though it worked out that this was about the time that the reb cav fell back to the river, as we only saw them once more before getting there. Terry sent Hollar out with a section as the advance until we reached the river. Taking a bath in the river was a truly wonderful experience for many reasons. First of all, the water was wonderful. It was like taking a dip in Lake Superior, and I loved every minute of it. Today, while I was watching the Ken Burns civil war documentary, I saw the beginning of episode six start with a picture of a dozen men swimming in the river. It was a wonderful period moment, and it was great that everyone stayed in first person during it. Even the Wolverines shouting every time another man got in is the kind of kidding around and closeness you would expect from soldiers.

After the river, we set out and moved out across another creek, where we got left by our scout and had to find our way to the mountain. The rebs apparently weren't ready, though they felt that throwing large rocks at us was a safe and appropriate exercise. I especially loved the one that bounced down the hill and nearly took out my left leg. Since the rebs couldn't move the cannon up the hill in time, after we stormed up the gap, we found out that we had to go back down the mountain and do it again, which certainly led to a breaking of first person by some, most especially when we were at the watering hole and had rebs coming down and filling up there too. We went back to the creek and waited for the rebs to finally get set, then moved off around 4 for the assault. 1st section moved out again as the advance and pushed hard up the gap. I remember everyone moving like lapping waves up the hill, firing as they moved forward, hiding to load, and finding the best ground to move forward. Jeremy Bevard ended up next to me and we were one of the first right up among the reb gun crew. It was a blast getting to turn and fire the cannon. I didn't know until Fred Baker posted it here that some of the Union men had been trained specifically for this. I saw Scott Gutzke was the gunner (and I know he is/was in Battery B, 4th US), so I figured we were alright to jump on where ever. Ironically, I'm in the middle of reading French, Barry, and Hunt right now, so I jumped on the number 1 man position. We loaded and fired 2 rounds up the hill, which was an amazing experience. After the assault, I interviewed the prisoners for the captain and escorting Jason to get checked out at Mrs Crabb's and then joined my platoon out on the picket line before being relieved by Hollar and 2nd platoon. We set up camp down by Mrs. Crabb's, who had the most wonderful meat pie. I could have ordered another 2 pieces of that delicious pie, but sadly I could only get one piece before it ran out. I ended up bedding down for the night with Jeremy Bevard, with whom I tried my new mosquito netting, which worked wonderfully. I had a great period conversation with Terry Sorchy and another man, who I cannot now remember (my apologies) for over an hour before bedding down for the night. Unfortunately, the rains came, and after trying to make do with my shelter half curled up with Jeremy, we decided to head down to the tunnel that everyone else from the platoon, save Tom and Sean, had already gone to.

Sadly, in the morning many of the federals had already bugged out by first light, without so much as a word. I know that some of the men from my section (I think they were with Mess Number 1) didn't let me know before they left before dawn. Terry, Eric Fair, Hollar, and Jeremy all talked amongst themselves and decided to pull out the rest of the company, since we all thought the rebs had pulled out too in the night. The Hair Nation Boys, Sally Ports, Terry and I were the last Feds to make the way down the hill to Happy Barn. All things considered, it was a great event, though Saturday evening I heard some laxness in first person from some in the federal camp. Leaving early Sunday was a let down, especially since the rebs were still ready for us, but I did appreciate getting home earlier since I had to catch a flight back to NAS Pensacola the next day. I want to thank the Officers and other NCO's of the company for doing a great job, the fed cav for doing an excellent job with their limited numbers of scouting out the enemy and working with us on the advance, and the event organizers for finding and utilizing that great site.

[rkg]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Hey Guys, Thanks Thomas for responding.....; I made it to Sunday morning and walked out with the last of the Feds! The rain didn't bother me a bit, I slept through most of it after Scott Gutzke said something like "uh-oh if that netting gets wet it's gonna weigh a ton" so we took it down and I pulled my
gum blanket out from under me and tried to cover up my gear and myself as best I could. It's amazing how well a guy can sleep with his feet hanging out from under his gum blanket. I was so wet from water crossings and the human cooling system who's going to notice a little rain! Dan this was a great event!
I just wished the heat hadn't been so intense, I really believe it was harder on me than Vicksburg a couple of years ago. The swimming/bathing was a highlight, how many events have you been to where you can bathe period correct?
Since I'm always at the end of the line I have gotten to see many battle scenarios unfold as we enter the fray. This was one of the best, and happened so fast, the confederates were just overwhelmed by numbers (at least it appeared that way).
The cons to the event for me were small: My personal heat issues, I didn't drop out on the march but it was HOT!!! And my issue that got me off on the wrong foot; I couldn't find my two favorite pairs of wool socks (a pair made by Nancy Sorchy and one by Dave Gerow), and it didn't feel the same walking in the pairs I used!!!!! It was good seeing pards for far flung places, and meeting some new faces too. Thanks to Beth Crab for coming out too.
Lastly, Thomas Steel won the raffle, wish we could have raised more for preservation but so many folks had melted away by the time I left.

[Ian Hogg]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Dan, Jason as well as the Mr. Taylor, the land owner. Many thanks for organizing an outstanding event at a beautiful site. I had a great time and enjoyed the "warm" weather, horse meat, great thunderstorm show Saturday evening, moving a canon up and back down a hill (am I back in the Artillary again?). Thanks to Ezra Barnhouse suttlery, what a great scenario with the abandoned wagon and the citizen and family. Steve and I managed to gather several "dropped" ears of corn. Our company picked berries and had a nice breakfast (horse meat and all) on Saturday.

Great fight at the Gap, wow, the Fed's never stopped to catch their breath until the end. Great job Terry and others (Good to see my Hard Head pards).

Great pictures, thanks for sharing.

Great event - Thank You seems like a very simple comment, but I do appreciate the organization.

Todd
I Hogg

[buckeye bear]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Swimming in the cool water of the river was quite the reward for the hard marching on Saturday. It was something I had always wanted to do at an event. Quite the sight indeed. It was however one of the first person "there moments".

[IowaYank]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Since the rebs couldn't move the cannon up the hill in time, after we stormed up the gap, we found out that we had to go back down the mountain and do it again, which certainly led to a breaking of first person by some, most especially when we were at the watering hole and had rebs coming down and filling up there too. We went back to the creek and waited for the rebs to finally get set, then moved off around 4 for the assault.

This was the largest screw up during the event. As event organizor I will take the blame for this. We had thought that we would be able to surmount the hills with the full scale 12 pound field howitzer with the help of the CS infantry to pull the gun. This we found out was something under the conditions of the heat, etc, was unachievable. After consulting with the CS commanders we found it necessary to move the gun mechanically through a different route to the gap. We got the gun into place, and was going back for the limber, when the Federals reached the gap. I had desperately tried to get a message to Sorchy telling him to wait until he heard a cannon shot to advance against the gap, but he did not recieve my message in time. I apologize for making all of the Federals take the gap, then retire and retake the gap again. I am sure that seemed slightly corny to some. This, however, was our solution to fix the problem and get the event back on track. I was probably one of those CS troops that you saw at the water station, as I was consulting with Sorchy about what our solution to the problem was going to be. Again, I apologize for causing the break in first person. I am glad that after the Federals moved out again first person picked back up where it left off.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

It was disappointing not being able to get the gun up the gap. We put every ounce of sand and back we had into getting it there. The truth is we could have made it all the way, but it wouldn't have been until LATE Saturday at best. We considered the time frame we had, and the safety of the men moving the piece and concluded it wasn't going to happen per the original scenario. I appreciate everyone's understanding.

Even though we didn't make it the whole way, we made it about half way, and just experiencing that was a hell of a feeling.

[Eric Fair]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Gents,

I want to thank each and every one of you in Company B for your efforts this weekend. The weather conditions were difficult, to say the least, and yet your preserverance and dedication turned a group of disparate individuals into a smoothly functioning company. Even through the hiccups, you stayed with it. Thank you, thank you. I'd serve with you again anytime.

I'd like to especially thank the NCO's: Sgts Andy Roscoe, Jim Moffett, Mike Palada, and Scott Gutzke; Cpls Brad Argue, Fred Baker, John Wickett, Dave Gerow, Rob Gobtop. I can't tell what a great feeling it is knowing that if I needed something to be done, all I had to do was ask one of you, and it would happen. I tip my cap to you all - you did a fantastic job, and made my life much easier this weekend. Our officers, Capt. Terry Sorchy, Jeremy Bevard, and Nathan Hellwig ("Holler"), were simply outstanding and went above and beyond on many occasions. It's easy to do want you need to do when you get the clear and concise guidance from a great set of officers. Terry was also responsible for the lion's share of the ration issue, and it was his usual great job. Regarding first person, as noted above, I heard some lapses during the "reset" Saturday afternoon, and then a few lapses Saturday evening, but all-in-all, for a company that had only come together Friday night and was made up of individuals meeting for the first time in many instances (and trying first person for the first time), I thought things went fairly well.

Finally, a special thanks to Dan Chmelar and the event organizers. In the past year, Dan started his student teaching, graduated from college, and started his job search. Oh yeah, and in between all of that, planned this event. All of the routing, camp sites, water, timing, scenarios, research, registrations, invitations, etc., all of this has to be coordinated months in advance, and the hard work by Dan and the other organizers resulted in what you saw this weekend. Bringing in Beth Crabb and her store (which also had to be built) was an additional fantastic element. A great job by all.

Some numbers and information -

Co B, 4th New Jersey - we started off Saturday morning with:

3 officers
5 sergeants
4 corporals
27 privates

39 officers and men, total.

From my notes:

After gathering rations, we departing for our Friday evening campsite at about 9:15, arrived about 30 minutes later, and established the camp and our picket guard while harassed by elements of CS cavalry.

At 7:40AM Saturday we received a dispatch from Headquarters, 6th Corps, notifying us of the possibility of the enemy advancing in our rear, and so sent a patrol to make certain that was not the case.

We departed from our campsite at 8:30AM Saturday morning, and after some hard marching and skirmishing, captured the ford at the river at about 10:45AM. Shortly thereafter we again received a dispatch from Headquarters, 6th Corps, notifying us that the enemy was in our front.

We crossed the river at 1:30PM, and began our march toward the Gap. We ended our first foray on the mountain at 3:45PM, and resumed our final push for the Gap at 5:00PM. By 6:00PM the Gap was ours, and the artillery piece and the prisoners had been secured. By 6:30 our picket line was established and we began to wind down for the night.

Not a bad day's work.

The rains began to hit at about 1AM and the deluge opened up at 2. 2nd platoon pulled in their pickets and sought shelter under the limber, while most of first platoon retreated to the culvert down the trail.

As to Sunday morning: no one was more disappointed than me at the way things ended. I'm still struggling with it on a number of levels.

As I rested in the improvised shelter, I heard movement in the early morning, but thought it to be folks getting up and returning to the campsite. I was up by 5:30, and found even by that time that we had lost several individuals, especially from first platoon (which was the larger of the two), to the extent that to a large degree it no longer existed. In fact, when I returned to the culvert, I saw only one person remaining. Terry, Jeremy, and I talked, and we decided that for all intents and purposes, the company no longer existed, and didn't make much sense to continue. It was, as I said, disappointing.

I thought the CS forces looked great, and while I usually am not a fan of POW scenarios, I thought those we captured Saturday evening did an outstanding job, and were appropriately bitter and sullen.

Again, thank you all. I enjoyed myself, and I can only hope my efforts helped you enjoy the weekend. Any mistakes made by me were mine alone, and I take responsibility for them.

Cheers,

[Ken Cornett]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

Mess No.1 brought eight men to this event. We deeply studied for this event in regards to first person. We knew as much as possible about 1850's-1860's Trenton, New Jersey. We took names and created personas for each of us. We enjoyed the campaigning aspect as this is old hat for us. Not once did you hear one of our men complain about the heat, the mosquitos, the officers or the nco's, nor did we join in on knocking anyone about possible logistic problems the orgnaizers and staff may of been fielding. We heard plenty, but did not join in. We marched on and we had our fun. We stuck to first person throughout and were disappointed at times when others had no clue as to what we were talking about. But that is par for the course...been there before.

My Mess was divided between the two sections, so we were apart for the picket duty schedule. I have to say that Friday night's duty was some of the most confusing I've ever entailed, but it was probably the most authentic as well. I know I was tired on Saturday! We enjoyed being on the advance, crossing the streams, and finally running flank up the hill on the last attack to capture the confederates. That last part made the event worth while for me, and my Mess as well.

On Saturday evening, after fighting, we were taken to the reserve area near Ezra's and told to find a place for the night. We rushed Beth Crabb and Skye for meat pie, as we knew they would have it. Then half of my Mess went down the road and made camp just before the metal tunnels, and the other half had to go on picket duty. Though we were only 40 yards or so down the road, we never saw any leadership again except for Orderly Fair. He sat with us for an hour and we had good conversation under the stars. We were tired. We wondered how our messmates in second section were doing, not knowing picket had been cancelled. A couple of us made our way back towards the reserve area and found the yankee camp sprawled all over the place. We went back to camp and called it a night.

The next morning we woke early, packed up camp and made it back to the reserve to see hardly anyone around. Our section two messmates saw us and said picket had been cancelled. We were told by some that the event was over and many had left already and that we "were on our own hook". Andrew, we never saw you after we left the last fight, and I'm not sure you were really looking for us. Had we found someone with a clue, you would of had eight yankees standing there, dressed, and ready to go. So my Mess found its way to the wagon area, where other first section yankees were changing and many wagons already departed. We didn't know any different.

Aside from all this, we did enjoy ourselves very much. We had much fun with the first person, the terrain was awesome, and seeing friends we hadn't seen in a while is always great. Dan, you put on a good show. Welcome to the world of event organizing!

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

The men from Mess #1 that were in 2nd platoon were good soldiers and never complained. I pulled the pickets sometime around 12:00. We were informed (By Gobtop) that the rebels were played out and would most likely not be hitting us. I am sorry that I did not get to talk to the men in 1st platoon much during the weekend. I was to busy making sure 2nd platoon was doing well. Our rest spot at the swim hole was a great place. As far as complaining went I did not hear anything at all. If the men had a problem with me they did a good job keeping it quiet. Saturday night we all shared food and had a nice supper. I really feel that we came together as a platoon.

Four of us climbed under the limber and slept. I wish I would have seen the members of Mess 1 when you came down. Maybe I slept more than I thought.
I guess we can talk more at Wilson's.

Before we go pointing fingers lets focus on the positives. It was a great event and I really hope we do something there again.

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

When do we get to see the Fed pics?

[IowaYank]

Re: Fight For Crampton's Gap AAR

From the way it sounds there was lots of rumors going about the Federal camp early Sunday morning about the event being over. I would just like to make it official that I never called off the event early. We (CS troops) were ready and waiting on Sunday morning to continue on with the scenerio as planned. I guess in the future, at any of my events, unless I personally tell people that it is called off, you can just assume any rumors of it being called off early are false. The only circumstance that I could see myself calling an event off early in the future would be if continuing would put participants in REAL physical danger.

Mark, I will be getting the Federal pictures from Eric Isaacs this weekend and will post when I get back on Sunday.

Dan