How Do You Feel

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: How Do You Feel

Hallo!

The tide is high but I'm holding on.
I'm gonna be your number one.

IMHO, it is amazing how Pop Culture has infiltrated and permeated our Civil War Culture... ;) :)

Curt

[WestTN_reb]

Re: How Do You Feel

My favorite moment was at Franklin in 2004. It was only a moment, alas I haven't figured out how to sustain that moment. It was during the Sat. morning tactical. We had been going all morning with no water, and the Colonel orders us to take the Federal works. We charge across the field, me right on my Captain's heels. As we surge over the works, the men on either side of me go down, and as I look to my left, an enemy soldier is cowering in the bottom of the trench. As we go over the works, Federal officers start pulling their men out of line in desperation to stop us...

then, this Federal Major walks over with drawn sword and curses our Major for breaking scenario (this is a tactical, mind you), and tries to order him to take us back across the works. That spoiled it for me.

[Old Reb]

Re: How Do You Feel

Pat,
Well, if we are going to speak of such in public, I will say this. I had the choice to support your event at Vicksburg, or be with a comrade who was shipping out to Iraq. I chose the friend going to Iraq. So it goes.

[whitewashedreb]

Re: How Do You Feel

It is only for a few of seconds of time for me. It is really when I am not interacting with others. It is the hatred of pulling Guard duty. It is getting tired on a march and hating my gear. It is getting upset about something that is really make believe. I don't have to do it. I choose to do it. The realistic feeling is there.
I also had a very good experience at a very bad event. The 125th of Shiloh was pretty lame. We marched on the field. Fired 2 volleys and marched back behind a fence. They started the simulated Artillery. That stuff was loud. It hurt my ears. I really-really wanted it to stop. That was real to me.

Martin

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: How Do You Feel

A moderately successful artist named Jack Huddle did "It's a Wonderful Feeling" in 1957, with Buddy Holly backing on guitar. Swell little number.

Oh, yeah...picket post staring into darkness, listening for cav, etc., etc.

[Fatback and Beans]

Re: How Do You Feel

You guys keep talking about REO Speedwagon, Boston, & Jack Huddle w/Buddy Holly and all I can say is that I can't get this insipid Morris Albert tune out of my head.

I have yet to experience a magic moment in the field. I'm in California, after all.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: How Do You Feel

Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED, roll up for the mystery tour.
Roll up SATISFACTION GUARANTEED, roll up for the mystery tour.
The magical mystery tour is hoping to take you away,
Hoping to take you away.

I can only think of two times that I thought it was close...and it was after the third mile of the Port Gibson Death March 2003 and pulling picket duty at TAG 1.

[BrianHicks]

Re: How Do You Feel

At Pickett's Mills, as the Federal Assault slowed, and was halted amongst the small ledges of rock, sparse shattered corn stalks and behind a split rail fence, with the smoke clinging close to the ground and about all you could see of the Confederates, was the intermittent flashes from their muzzles in the white mist that shrouded almost everything. As Orderly Sgt. I started to call roll, trying to ascertain how many men were left in our Company, working to get a round count and perhaps try to redistribute what cartridges were left over. As names were called, and there were so many instances of silent responses. As you looked back down the hill towards where we had begun our advance from, you could see twisted dark shapes laying on the smoke covered ground. Some were by themselves, but several were in small groups where they had fallen from mass volleys as the ranks advanced. Muffled moans and an occasional lone cry for help could be heard rising up form a few of them.

That small episode which lasted perhaps 10-15 minutes, has so far given me the most intense 'Magical Moment' to date.

[yipper]

Re: How Do You Feel: Pickett's Mill

Gents,

I was on the other side of that split-rail fence, as part of a thin line of Confederates, firing into the advancing Federal troops. Using my ramrod for the first time in an event, comprehending that, with our rate of fire against the numbers arrayed before us, we would be overrun in a matter of moments. Fight, flee or surrender? These were not rational considerations, but an epiphany born of desperation at some elemental level despite the contrived circumstances which elicited them. Corporal Carlson sounded our retreat, and the feeling ended, but the impression formed has remained.

geoffrey lehmann

[MO-Pard]

Re: How Do You Feel

Without a doubt, Hands-Down, and without reservation.......BGR. I think pretty much anyone who was there would say the same thing.

I am still processing the moments from that one. And still haven't been able to write my AAR. (I did recently find my notes though and hope to in the future.) This event 'raised the bar' as far as quality and in my, and many opinions, will be the standard by which future events are compared.

I don't know if we can ever convince Tom, Fred and the Ground Hornets to put together another one, but if they do you'll kick yourself if you miss it. And as far as future events along that line go, Marmaduke's Raid, next year just on the west side of the Mississippi will be another Trans-Miss event in the flavor and feel of BGR. So if you liked BGR, check that one out as well.

Best Regards

[BrianHicks]

Re: How Do You Feel

BGR had it's moments for me. For the sustained duration, it is unsurpassed, yet I didn't feel the intensity that I encountered for those few minutes at Picketts Mills.

[coastaltrash]

Re: How Do You Feel

Tom,
You took a joke the wrong way.

[tenfed1861]

Re: How Do You Feel

I feel like a sandwich.