Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

[Tom Craig]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

Eric,

I want to put in a good word for maintaining postings for adjuncts at the company level, if not in the events folder, then at least in the COI as you suggest.

Being up here in New England the numbers on all ends of the hobby spectrum are very small, and the campaigner end of things is even smaller. There are a growing number of "us" in the region, but certainly not enough to field anywhere near a battalion. There has been little success thus far in organizing stand alone history heavy EBUFU events, so if we are to do something in the area, it has to be at a company level.

This forum is an excellent resource for communication and some advertising for small efforts in my region and beyond. We have a Yahoo listserv, but there are plenty of people who aren't on it, but who check out this forum. By being able to post efforts on here, even if they are diminutive, it is an opportunity to gather local steam to the point where we can host our own gigs. I am sure that reenacting in New England isn't the only place where this is true.

Take care,
Tom Craig

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

I have just one question: What constitutes a "battalion"? And I'm not asking to be a smart ass. I'm asking because technically you could have 4 10-man companies and call it a battalion. And that may be historically accurate for an 1865 CS infantry regiment marching toward Bentonville. But not for Manassas or the Red River Campaign or Chickamauga.

When was the last time an EBUFU event fielded a "battalion" of substantial strength? Probably that Perryville 105th Ohio impression you mentioned above. I think we had 8 companies of roughly 30 men each in our battalion.

So, is an adjunct going to produce an EBUFU battalion or something less? I'm betting something less.

So, again, I ask, what constitutes a "battalion" for the purposes of non-EBUFU adjuncts?

Joe:

That is a valid question that I thought about it after I made my post. The other side of the issue here is that the AOP as we knew it is no longer, but I would say that the WIG had a "battalion" at Resaca. I think we had a "battalion" at Corinth and Franklin - 2004-05. I guess my personal definition of a "battalion" would be at least four "full-sized" companies as you have said. If someone puts up an event and is not able to meet the "history" test of a battalion size, then it would be subject to removal from the folder.

So, to keep this train of thought moving, let's throw the question out to people. "Would it make more sense to go "back" to the "old" model of adjuncts in which a battalion is required?" and further, "What would you say constitutes a battalion?"

[boreguard]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

Tom, in many ways the "same dog bit us" down here.If a C/P/H/ event is not feasible schedule wise, we look in the adjunct folder for a second option. Many of our members are students, both high school and college level. We like to attend with as many of our mates as possible, and because these students are subject to school demands and travel time that becomes a great factor in what we decide to do. Not to mention some of us who aren't students actually work and have the challenges of our career to work around. We wanted to attend Ressaca in a bad way and was flattered that the W.I.G. invited us, but it was on graduation weekend for several unit members and fathers of students, in effect half of our core group was obligated that weekend.

Because we didn't have another option in May for something to attend, we made the dastardly decision to attend Brice's Crossroads. The younger members in our unit did't want to have to wait through the whole Summer before they could attend another event. And that's simply what led us to the decision to attend B.C. and post in the adjunct folder, and as a result we'll enjoy the company of some good fellow community members. And might even have a good experience.

I bore you with all that because I have to think your situation and ours might mirror one another, just maybe not in the same part of the country.

Yes the adjuncts are worth mentioning.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

Gentlemen,

I mean no disrespect to any of you. I attempted to quote Bob Dylan in an earlier post but unlike post number 4 who also quoted Dylan, mine got deleted.

Long before we were instructed that Banks Retreat is now the Meca if you will of Campaign Events to which all shall be measured, we were doing "Our Thing" in the 16th Louisiana Infantry, and that was, doing events that we vote on as a Unit. Which included our charity events, our neighbors Mainstream Event, and also a Campaign Event.

Our Charity Event has done alot of good and has raised thousands of dollars for Camp Moore. Our Mainstream Event brings us together with many of our friends in our own back yard. We also like to attend a Campaign Event every year, this past year we were able to do two.

Bottom Line: We will continiue to do what we do.

Also let me add:
-No one is pointing a gun at your head, if you don't want to read certain post don't, stop your whinning!
-Unless some folks have really started some Physical Trainning, I doubt that they are the campaigners they say they are.

[PogueMahone]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

Joe:

That is a valid question that I thought about it after I made my post. The other side of the issue here is that the AOP as we knew it is no longer, but I would say that the WIG had a "battalion" at Resaca. I think we had a "battalion" at Corinth and Franklin - 2004-05. I guess my personal definition of a "battalion" would be at least four "full-sized" companies as you have said. If someone puts up an event and is not able to meet the "history" test of a battalion size, then it would be subject to removal from the folder.

So, to keep this train of thought moving, let's throw the question out to people. "Would it make more sense to go "back" to the "old" model of adjuncts in which a battalion is required?" and further, "What would you say constitutes a battalion?"

Battalion size is going to be one of those pesky "context" questions, isn't it? Whatever history demonstrates, we should have a scaled version.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

This may be completely irrevelant but as a new reenactor/historian to the civil war living historian hobby Jan 09..I have to say something. If Campaigners did not attend mainstream or even farby events, I probably would not be heading down the path of C/P/H. I probably would have done a few of those other events and would have grown tired of the foolishness and total disregard for history and then left the hobby. I would have never known about a core group of guys and gals who truly do all they can to preserve, protect and honor history the way it should be. I am thankful that when I first started in this hobby a short time ago, I was introduced to some quality reenactors who have helped lead me in the right direction. Mainstreamers and Farbs are possible future recruits into this side of the hobby and I am thankful that I am going in the right direction and that some great individuals have helped me along the way. Yes, I have asked the dumb questions on these boards, have not used the search function properly, ruffled feathers, etc. etc...I am guilty of some of those meaningless posts as mentioned earlier. I have used this board as entertainmet, but I knew this board was for the authentic reenactor and I wanted to be a part of it. I want to learn from the best in the business. I have primarily used this board as part of my education. The most important thing that I have learned is that for every piece of authentic gear I have bought I have also purchased 2 or 3 books and have tried to absorb and learn as much as possible. I know I have to earn my stripes and attend the C/P/H events before I can ever say that I am a Campaigner, Authentic or Hardcore or whatever label is out there....With all of that rambling done my final point is this. If Campaigners stop doing what they do, educate and enlist future campaigners, then this hobby will surely perish. I look at Adjuncts , mainstream and even flat out farb events as tools to educate, enlighten and enlist people who want something different. I know I did. But one final note. As a campaigner you are obligated to your brethren first. Do the C/P/H events first!!! Make those shine!!

[MD_Independent]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

Gentlemen, I have nothing against a well-run adjunct that has some semblance of a quality event. A march tacked on is a major bonus that automatically draws my attention. I've done two adjuncts in my 'enacting career'.

One was at a local 'streamer event. No real research. No march. Rations were issued, but we stayed in the woods practically all day doing nothing but laughing at 'streamers. That was back in 2000 or so, and the experience positively sickened me.

The second was last year at "At High Tide". As far as I'm concerned, the Western Brigade did an excellent job. There was a decent march, rations, and good like-minded comrades. My companions didn't laugh at the occassional 'farb' because we were far too busy doing what soldiers would have done.

It looks like I'll be doing another adjunct next year. I'm watching developments carefully in the hopes that it will be more like the WB at AHT than my first adjunct experience. Again, useless chatter, to which I contributed, buried some vital information to which I should have paid more attention a few evenings ago.

My concern is with the useless AIM-like conversations that take place not only on the adjuncts section but even on some of the EBUFU threads. Mindless dribble which adds nothing to event preparation or gives no useful information buries useful information pretty quickly, particularly with the 'one thread' limit for adjuncts and secondary EBUFU. If I lived in closer proximity to the Brice's Crossroads event and had a desire to attend, I would have to wade through how many posts that are totally irrelevant? And even living where I do, and if my weekend was not already tied up, if there was more pre-event information readily available and there was something to offer someone making a fourteen hour drive, I would probably try it. I've gone further for some EBUFU that didn't meet my expectations, so the travelling wouldn't have been a major problem for something worthwhile.

I still hold that limiting the posts in the adjunct section would be benefitial for those who want facts about the event in question while shielding the thread from unnecessary sparring that also buries useful information.

On a side note, a friend that I respect a great deal recently told me that "there had to be a healthy and vibrant mainstream in order for "Our" side of the hoby to function and flourish.". He's right, but I digress. And my last word: Adjuncts are fine when they don't conflict with something better, or if they are organized by people who attend better events.

Bill Birney
CRs

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Personality vs. Purpose: Event Criteria

Hallo!

So...

If I am gleaning wheat from the straw of personalities, personality differences and unit-promotion correctly...

There IS a small concensus:

1. That there is value to the posting in the Adjunct Folder because of the announcement, but

2. But the self-declared "company sized C/P/H element" limits potential because:

a. it is self-declared
b. there is no qualification, certification, or verification of what a "company" OR a "batallion" might actually entail in terms of "boots on the ground?
c. it allows for a "presence" of an undeined or unquantified "company (or batallion) sized C/P/H element" being no more than physically "present" without Mainstream integration/joint partnership/participation, without a command structure, schedule of activities, goal, mission, or desired objectives to be achieved or how?

???

Curt