How did your mess get its name?

[Johnny Lloyd]

All-

So... a fellow comrade and I got to talking at an event this past weekend. Besides a proven historical name, there must be some interesting way your mess got its name...

Thanks- Johnny Lloyd

[BishopLynch]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Although Its sort of a joke mess name...
At the CVG Militia drill weekend this April, Tom Scoufalos, Jason Spellman, Randy Allen and I were supposed to be doing first person in the guard house and keeping the conversation to the events recently occurring at Harpers Ferry with John Brown. Everything we said had some reference to John Brown and his treason....for instance, while playing cards Tom lost a hand and said, "looks like my lucks run out......kind of like John Brown's." A woman came in with a dog and Jason said ,"John Brown will hang like a dog!" You get the idea.

Earlier on Tom had told us about a website called gizoogle.com which translates webpages into gansta speak. The funniest example was Brian Pohanka being translated to Brian Pohizzle. So after the event , someone typed in John Brown's name and it came out John Brizzay.....and thats how the John Brizzay Mess got started.

Try translating webpages at gizoogle.com especially the AC. Youll die laughing.

[AZReenactor]

Carleton's Cannibals

Not much of a story behind ours. Carleton's Cannibals comes from the name of our commander and following quote combined with the fact that many of our historic recruits came from the area where the Donner party settled in California.

"When our advanced guard and cavalry first reached the Rio Grande they [the Texans] got up and left in such a hurry that they left all their sick behind at Franklin who were agreably surprized [sic] at the treatment they received at our hands, for they were laboring under the false impression which their leaders had imbued them with, that the California troops were but little better than Cannibals who would torture if not eat their prisoners"

- -Eli W. Hazen, 1st Infatry California Volunteers (Diary August 31, 1862)

[lukegilly13]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Mine mess was formed with the intent of doing living histories using the most accurate soldier portrayal possible. We did not want to be the "typical" reenactors doing a presentation at schools and parks. My specialty area (i did it once, people liked it, no one seemed to get offended, and therefore I'm stuck) is slavery. I often stress that the slave population in my area was very low and most of our ancestors didn't own slaves. I feel that my family and those around them were fighting for the right to do what they want on their land and their property. It developed a "fighting for my land" phrase. My family is heavily weighted with irish descent so I chose words from the old country "Millin' Muck"----technically fighting dirt...but you get the idea.

[gilham]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

The mess I belong to was formed at an event here in Ca. in October of 07. We didn't have an official name until Jan. of 08. From 10/07 we were know as the Snuff mess do to the fact that all of our members are known for using copious amounts of snuff. We also refereed to our selves in a joking manner as The TexMoSipp Society, An elite subdivision of the First Texas Infantry. And not to mention The Chocolate Peoples mess.
It was at Camp Roberts in January of this year that we adopted our official mess name. Before the for event we had a mess meeting just to decide on a name that we felt be a historical representation of an actual mess. Several names were kicked around and nothing could be settled on. It wasn't until Saturday evening that a name was found. While sitting around and cooking rations we were named by our company commander. Apparently we are know for always have some sort of conversation going on. And our C.O. walked by and said something to the effect of us being like a bunch of d@mn Jaybirds because we never shut up. That was it we all liked the sound of the Jaybirds so we decided on that.
Shortly after the event we found a town in the 1860 census of our area and added the name of that town to our mess name so we could all have a common back story as to why we were a mess.

So was born The Steelvile Jaybird Mess.

The members of our Mess include the following.

First Sgt. Bill Treadway
Second Sgt. Dan Biggs
Pvt. Andy Mouradian
Pvt. Justin Novack
And your Humble Narrator
Pvt. Russ Stanley.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Hairy Nation was a derogatory name given to more rural/"backwoods" counties in Iowa. To be more exact Davis county in Iowa. In the 1850's at the Old Capital (Iowa City) a member of the State Legislature(from a larger Iowa city) at the end of one of his speeches made the statement "I defer to the gentelmen from the Hairy Nation." This was intended as an insult to rural Iowans. I could go on and on but I won't.

Late 1991 into 1992 when members of two organizations here in Iowa decided to become one the name was chosen. So, the Hairy Nation Boys was born in 1992. Many people think we get our names from the fact that most of us have beards. We like to tell them the real story.

[Tyler Gibson]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Bad choice of wiping paper... :D

[Andy Ackeret]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

3 was as high as any of us could count.

[joey12thga]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Well people around my area are called Flatlander's since the land is....well Flat. Being as our members live here, we took up that name.

[BillO'Dea]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Syracuse NY was one of the foremost sites for Salt production.

Salt boilers was a derogatory name given to given to one regiment (149th NY) raised in Onondaga county by the 137th NY who in turn were known as "The Ambulance chasers"

Bill O'Dea
Salt boilers mess / 122nd NY

Ft. Drum Time Line June 13 14 15, for the families of the 10th Mt. Division

[JimConley]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Besides a proven historical name, there must be some interesting way your mess got its name...

Why are you all explaining the meaning behind your mess names? Part of the pride and exclusivity of being in a mess or group of the period was that only the members were normally privy to the meaning or origin of the name.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's cool to hear where you fellows got the ideas for your mess names, but I sure ain't tellin'.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

We have never held our name as a secret. If people wanted to know the origins we told them.


Come to Kennesaw and you can meet more of the HAIRY NATION!

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Hallo!

Elitist, Exclusionist, Snobby, Mean, Nasty, Hardcore Mess, I think was given to some of us... ;) :)

Oh......
My last mess was the "Shadetree Mess," after a proclivity for being found reclining under.... shade trees.

Curt
Man of a Thousand Messes, mostly the fall-out and remnants of the 1st Golden Era of the Great Mess Names Era of a few years ago Mess...

[Mudslinger]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

The "Mudslinger" mess I belong to derived their name from an event where we portrayed an Ohio militia unit. While being held captive, our arms and pikes taken from us, we started throwing mudpies at the Confederates, hence the name "Mudslinger Mess". Also, our unit
(33rd O.V.I., Company F) adopted the nickname the "Acorn Boys" after the nickname of the
14th Corps, which the 33rd was originally assigned as 1st Brigade, 1st Division.


Nick Miller
33rd O.V.I.
Mudslinger Mess
Acorn Boys


"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
-Thomas Jefferson

[tenfed1861]

Re: How did your mess get its name?

Waco Mess simply came from the fact that it was formed in Waco,KY.We are not from Waco,TX.Get it right people.