Vote For the November Cover

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

Eric,

I am good! I know what I have done in the past and what I will do in the future. '08 has been one of the worst years of my re-enacting life. 19 years and one year is not all that bad. I gained some weight this year, and that is true. Thanks to sitting on my arse because of back surgery.

I hope Bummers goes great and wish I could be there.

I only went to the candy shop once. I mainly ate apples that weekend. I had the green apple trots Sunday night!

Take care boys,

[nhobbins]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

My vote went for Number 3. Mark Powell has spent the last 10 years doing the research for this image. Like Drew said all material culture that is present is original.

Neil Hobbins
The Stockton Guards
13th New Jersey

[csabugler]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

I voted for #1, based on the expression of the fella seated on our left, apparently looking apprehensively at the muzzle in his ribs!!!

[csabugler]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

And regarding the "weighty" issue, I keep this photo handy.

[2nd Lt. Samuel Teague]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

That chunky fellow in the back of the road construction image is in other images...who is he? I wish I could remember where I have seen him, but I know that I have.

~Matt Wood

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

Photo No. 2 taken by Terry Whittington in State Farm, Va. during filming for the Vicksburg National Battlefield in May 2009. (left to right) Dave "Coffee" Palmer, Grant Kirkwood, James Thompson, and Tyler McHone

We portrayed elements of the 16th Texas Cavalry (dismounted) and the 17th Texas Infantry during the climatic Battle of Milliken's Bend, fought on June 7, 1863 (part of the Vicksburg Campaign). These units fought against predominantly African American regiments of the U.S. 9th and 11th Louisiana Infantry. Federal gunboats halted the Confederates final advance.

The sitters.. er, standers... are wearing primarily militia and civilian garb and are equipped with pistols, shotguns, and carbines. Most notably, the presence of the black flag with skull and crossbones which was reportedly carried by one Texas regiment. Lt. Col. Cyrus Sears of the 11th Louisiana Infantry later wrote, that the Texans:

"...fought us under the skull, coffin and cross bones (black) flag" (Lowe 97).

However, while other accounts do recall the yelling of "No quarters," some suggest that this order was not actually carried out.

A report by Col. Hermann Lieb of the 9th Louisiana Regiment of African Descent, claims that the Confederates,

"...came madly on with cries of 'No quarter for white officers, kill the damned Abolitionists, but spare the ******s &c.'" (Lowe 97).

Private B. G. Goodrich of the 16th Texas Infantry scoffed,

"With their usual disregard of truth, the Yankees accused us of shouting 'No quarter,' but the Sixteenth Infantry captured an entire company of negroes" (Lowe 98).

• Lowe, Richard. Walker's Texas Division, C.S.A.: Greyhounds of the Trans-Mississippi. Louisiana State University Press, 2006.

Despite the inaccuracy of the historical evidence, we recreated this hand-to-hand battle sequence with much sensitivity and attention to our African American actors.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

I voted for 2. A vote for Jimmy Thompson, is a vote for America.

[pvtbordonaro]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

Eric,
Tough call, but I'm going with Image #3. It really looks like an image that was taken back in the day.
-Joe Bordonaro

[Arthur Stone]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

Gents,
A very interesting image and it looks very authentic! I voted for # 3 also.

[Remember1864]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

Yeah, I expected the backlash. One always should when "panning" an image. I'll be the first to say that I am WAY OVERWEIGHT right now and my impression sucks because of it. It's why I'm NOT doing events at present. (Don't wanna fingerprint anyone's "historical window".) And yeah, I know there were "big guys" back then. And yes...I heard the color bearer for the 1st MN at Antietam was 300lbs and 6'4".
BUT...I'm going with the larger percentage here. MOST period images, regardless of early or late war..."seem" to be fellows much smaller in stature than "we". This is not a personal attack on anyone. Just my thoughts. And yeah, I'm "wrong" just as much as I'm "right". Just an "opinion" ya'll!

[pvtbordonaro]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

John,
Looks like you hit a sore spot :) Don't sweat it, it was clear from the beginning that you weren't taking a shot at anyone.
-Joe Bordonaro

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

There was some pretty good competition this time around! As a chemist, I thought #3 was very interesting! None of us is perfect and I took John M's observations in the spirit intended. Getting a really convincing image is pretty tough to do and honest assessments only help us in the long run.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

Yep, no one is perfect. No hard feelings. At 189 pounds I could lose a few...

[Eric Tipton]

Re: Vote For the November Cover

Congratulations to Jason Spellman for his winning image for November. It was a close vote and some really good ones this month. Thanks, as always to those who submitted and to all who participated in the process. We will next ask for images on November 20th.

This poll is officially closed.