Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

[Iceman]

Just wondering if our community is going to try and support as many 150th events as we can, or if it's going to be the same as always with the Trans-Miss. being neglected? This year is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Prairie Grove, AR. Prairie Grove was a one day fight, but although the numbers engaged were not the same as those out east, the fighting was very bloody. Prairie Grove is now an Arkansas State Park and the event is held on the actual battlefield the first weekend in December. It would be great if our community could show some love and support for all theaters of the war, not just ANV / AOT sites. How many times have those of you from Virginia, Maryland, the Carolinas, etc., made the trek out west of the Mississippi? Except for the Red River Campaign of 1864 and Price's Missouri Raid of the same year, Prairie Grove could be the end of all major engagements west of the Miss. River. It would be great if we could get some authentic adjunct Fed and Confederate battalions to come out and support the Trans-Miss.

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

Amen! Bunch of us planning on Shiloh, Chickamauga, and even other events further east, it would be great to see authentics out here in the west in greater numbers!

[Michael Comer]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

I'm thinking of putting an adjuct battalion together for Pilot Knob in 2014. This would be CS. If that event needs anything, it needs some good Confederate impressions instead of Missouri Brigade flags and CD jackets. It would be nice for the public to see an impression of Price's men the way they really looked. That will be in Sept. on the 150th anniversary dates of the battle.

[Mcguire]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

I for one have attended Banks Grand Retreat and Marmadukes Raid which from Michigan is not a short ride, (alright I flew to BGR). I'd be willing to consider a Trans Miss. event. What have you got planned Nick?

[Michael Comer]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

We will be doing Son of Marmaduke's Raid in 2013 Dave.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

Son of Marmaduke! HA!

Other than the Vicksburg Living History, I am going to wait and see what some groups toss out. From middle TN, everything is either 3 hours from my house or the other theaters take at least 7 to reach, so I'm game. I'm also sick of the Trans Mississippi is the forgotten theater stuff. SUPPORT THE ARMY OF THE GULF!

In all seriousness, I expect to head to the Trans Miss, had even thought about putting something together for Port Hudson. But we'll see.

[Iceman]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

I would like to see a full, collective effort by those larger eastern organizations (whom I will not mention by name, but whom we all know) agree to come west. Not just a few guys who want to go, but the whole mess of 'em. How many times have we in the west driven all night, 12+ hours, to go to an event in Virginia, Maryland, or Georgia? The only reason I make mention of Prairie Grove is because it's this year, and as I mentioned already, after that campaign in Dec. of 1862 and the loss by the Confederates at Prairie Grove, it all but put the final nail in the coffin for the Confederacy west of the Miss. River. Besides Price's Raid of 1864 and the Red River Campaign of the same year, all major campaigns in the Trans-Miss. were over with. I'd like to see an adjunct, collective effort from all those east of the Appalachian mountains and the organizations that they belong to, to come to Prairie Grove, Arkansas the first weekend in December. That, or create our own Authentic event around the Battle of Arkansas Post in January of 2013 for the 150th of that battle, or create a slice of the Camden Expedition (a part of the Red River Campaign in Arkansas) in 2014, etc. And yes, Pat, I'm 100% in support of more events in the Gulf States region. Not taking into account major / principle battles, but every battle large and small, Louisiana had over 90 engagments from April '62 - surrender. Why not start to create a 150th Battle of Irish Bend? The battlefield then and now is cane fields, and the plantation where the Feds camped the night before the battle is still there and in private hands. The point is, we're here during the 150ths, and there will never be another 150th of the Civil War, so how about you eastern folks support all efforts to commemorate the war, and not just those engagements that took place within an hour drive of your house.

[tenfed1861]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

I'd be willing to do some Trans-Miss events.Red River would look like a good time to be had,and the terrain looks not too rough.I say start getting info together and let's do it.

[Elliott'sSprout]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

I totally agree with you.

[Coatsy]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

2013 and 2014 are coming up SOON, it would be great to see some solid dates so that the dreaded "event confliction" does not rear its ugly head on quality efforts out beyond the Mississippi River. I've been unable to head west the past three years for various reasons, but hopefully next year will work.

If you are lucky, I'll bring Landrum with me.

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

If nothing else events in the Trans-Mississippi have more of a chance being to scale then the bigger eastern battles where they are a fraction of the real deal.

[Iceman]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

Events that are already planned: Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Held on the first weekend in December of this year. Event takes place on the actual battlefield of Prairie Grove, but there are modernisms all around, such as a modern highway next to the park, power lines, visitor center, etc. However(!), it is on the actual battlefield, which is an AR State Park; Mike Comer said that in 2014 (?) there's going to be a Marmaduke's Raid, part duex.

Event ideas for Trans-Miss 150th's that are not planned: Arkansas Post, which would be January of 2013. Arkansas Post is in the middle of nowhere, and part of it is also a National Park; Irish Bend, Louisiana, which would be in April of 2013. The battlefield was in a canefield, and the battlefield today is still a cane field; Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas, which was part of the Camden Expedition of the Red River Campaign of 1864. Jenkins Ferry is also an Arkansas State Park and in the middle of no where. It would be a pristine environment, and like the previous Red River Campaign events, a week long campaign could be planned to climax with the battle of Jenkins Ferry. We've covered the Red River Campaign in Louisiana, so how about focus on the Arkansas aspects of the campaign?; Battle of Helena, Arkansas, which took place on July 4, 1863. Rather than a Vicksburg event, we could create an event around the fight for Helena (which, if you don't know, is on the Miss. River and was in a way a part of the greater Vicksburg campaign); the Battle of Monett's Ferry, LA, which was during the Red River Campaign. The original battlefield was a cotton field then, and it's a cotton field now. However, natural gas comapnies are gobbling up the land all around this battlefield and soon - no doubt - the battlefield of Monett's Ferry could become a oil and gas drilling site. We could host an authentic event for the Battle of Monett's Ferry in an attempt to raise awareness of the battlefield and try to help save it? If all would have gone according to plan, the entire Union Army of the Gulf would have been destroyed and/or captured at Monett's Ferry.

These are just some quick ideas, but ones I feel are worthy of the support of our side of the hobby.

[Rammstein142]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

I know our unit here would love for some more authentic events or even for more of the authentic crews to show up. We are based out of NWA and have been trying to make it to as many events as we can. But it seems like everything we do is a good 8+ hrs away, while there is several battles that took place near that lack numbers or don't event have anything going for them! Again we are planning on doing Prairie Grove at the end of the year along with some events in Tennessee,Missouri and Mississippi. And then looking at events further out East for next year! Just agree with Iceman that it would be awesome to see more authentic units out at Prairie Grove!! Also if you are in the area out here there is also Lone Jack 150th in August. And i know they are trying to make the event an authentic one and have even mentioned a lot of the mainstream units boycotting them due to their guidelines. So i know they are looking for authentic units to fill in their Confederate numbers.

Please remember to sign your full name on your posts. Thanks.

[BShajari]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

The 150th of the Battle of Sabine Pass, TX is also approaching. There were two separate battles, one in 1862 and another in 1863...sadly this important battle is always overlooked. I would love for some authentics to come out and support the 2013 event if it's possible.

Brian

[Marine Mike]

Re: Support for Trans-Miss. events during 150th

Sabine Pass will require small number of Confederates for victors and large number of Federals (Marines and Sailors) to be captured.