Anyone want to do 1850's?

[Annette Bethke]

Re: I need dates!

OK folks,

I have looked at some scheduels and am looking at last weekend in Sept. First two weekends in Oct. or first weekend in Nov.

FortMcKavettDragoon@yahoo.com

Please not the November 8 weekend as that is the first person event at Henkel Square that I'm hosting.

[MustangGray]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

Chris,

October is best for me but as always go with what works best for all invovled! I'm just a lowly 1840's fellow.

[FTrooper]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

OK, second weekend (first full weekend) in October is bad. And I have learned that the 3rd weekend in Sept. is as well (we are hosting the General Miles Marching and Chowder Society). I am really likeing first weekend in Oct., but 2nd weekend may be a bit cooler.

Chris Fischer
Fort McKavett
&
F-Troop

[MustangGray]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

Chris,

You've lived here long enough to know the second weekend in October won't be any cooler than the first unless there's some freak cold front that blows in. Face it, this'll probably be a good old fashioned sweat fest!:D

[Annette Bethke]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

Chris,

You've lived here long enough to know the second weekend in October won't be any cooler than the first unless there's some freak cold front that blows in. Face it, this'll probably be a good old fashioned sweat fest!:D

Yes, but better than August :).

[FTrooper]

Wind and the Weather

Your right Scott, I've spent my whole life in Texas and Oct is USUALLY a kicker till the 3rd weekend at best, I am just trying to be hopeful! ;) One reason I was looking at the first weekend of Nov. (and there MIGHT be left over food from the Star-Party the weekend before)! But this is a discussion! the biggest issue with the first weekend in Oct. is that there are other events that time of year and we will loose the 6pdr and crew that said they might come, they never miss the first weekend of hunting! I am thinking more along the lines of the maybe the 1st and 2nd of Nov as preferred and then first weekend in Oct. as my second choice. I will start working on the "authenticity guidelines" which are quite simple. If you got a period hat and overshirt, sky blue trousers and US leathers with a .69 you pretty much there!

Question to the moderators? is this still the best forum for the thread, or is there another, better place?

Chris Fischer
Fort McKavett

[MustangGray]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

Chris,

We've got two back to back events the second and third weekends of November but in all reality you probably won't loose anybody but me to those events. Like I said, I'll make it if I can, if not I won't!

[FTrooper]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

One reason I would like to avoid the later part of NOV. is that I know there seems to be alot more events and then people are trying to get ready for the Holidays! The only rerason I like the idea of the firsat weekend in Nov. is there will probably be alot of food left over from our "town meeting" the weekend before and then we could provide at least on or two meals free.

Chris Fischer
Fort Mckavett

[Annette Bethke]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

This is the hardest part of doing events in Texas; the most comfortable months have events that have been planned for months if not years.

By the first weekend I'm assuming you mean Nov. 1-2? Thiswill put 3 events in a row, one week free and then another; although these are not all events everyone would attend.

Do we have to do the event this soon? Could we consider putting if off until after the new year, say Feb. or March?

[FTrooper]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

The reasoning behind Fall is that Spring is ALOT more invovled. we start to conflict with Pea Ridge, Port Hudson, Red River Campaign, Shiloh, etc.! AND on top of it all the Frontier Forts in the area want to do their events in the Spring when the Indian Wars is a topic in school. Again THIS year is a feeler at best, if there IS an interest we can make a better plan for next year!

Chris Fischer
Fort McKavett

[MustangGray]

Chris,

This isn't something you don't already know BUT I've found you plan around established events as best you can and if folks can make it they do, if not then you've done your best to accomodate them. I've done all sorts of "new" events here and have tried planning around other folks gigs, sometimes it really works and other times it's a dismal failure. I know sometimes it's the event scenario itself but I think alot of it is dependent on how many events are going on at the same or almost the same time. And you are 100% right about spring here in Texas, EVERYBODY is doing something from late February through late May... spring time is hell for park rangers and interpreters!!!

Like I said, I'll try and make it if at all possible!

[rake]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

I was with our group when we were at McKavett in 2005. We decided on immediate postwar with the 35th Inf., which was before the consolidation of regiments and subsequent changes to trapdoor Springfields and such.

Problem is - and you see part of it in the inspection reports you have, is that the Army continued to issue Mexican War surplus until those supplies of uniforms and equipment war exhausted in the "Morman Campaign". So by the time troops have the 1851 sack coats and caps, they also have the 1855 muskets and accroutrements.

Thus, I think that doing any 1850's event regular army style limits the choice of weapons and uniform selection, which limits the number of participants. But is is about quality anyway, yes?

[FTrooper]

Re: Anyone want to do 1850's?

For this event, since it will be the first and an organizing event, quality will be a bit lax as will the time period. McKavett was open from 1852 until 1859. Basically we never got the M1855 series weapons, nor hardee hats, sack coats, nor 1858forage caps. Here is the basics:

1852-1854: (1853 Inspections) Five Companies 8th Infantry. Four in M1832 tail coatees with M1851 shako, one in sky blue fatigues and M1851 Shako. One mounted with M1841 rifles, on with M1840's converted to Nippes/Maynard Primers, the rest had smoothbore M1842's

1853-1855: 2d Dragoons. Recieved M1851 frock Coats just before arrival. Also we have found M1833 dragoon jacket buttons (they are with the rifle "R", the surplus "jackets" from the Mounted Rifles were issued to the 2d Dragoons in Texas).

1855-1859 1st Infantry: they may have had the M1851 Frocks when they arrived and either the M1854 or M1855 when they left as they are listed with new coats. They arrived with M1842 smoothbores, but left with M1842 rifled muskets.

REALITY: troops in Texas were often listed as wearing light colored civilian brimmed hats, civilian corduroy trousers, and flannel or hickory shirts (the 2d Dragoons in 1853 had a dark blue flannel overshirt cut down in front to open like a coat that they wore scouting and the IG suggested such a garment be issued Army wide...the first Sack Coats???)

Bascially what I would LIKE to see. M1839 Forage Cap, M1851, M1854 Shakos, or period correct 1850's civilian brimmed hats. M1832 jacket, M1851, 54, 55 frocks, or period overshirts. M1842 Muskets and rifled-Muskets, .69 percussion converted muskets, and M1841 rifles (I am willing to allow M1855's and if its the difference between a guy showing up or not M1861's, but I would like to avoid enfields). I would like all participants to have sky blue trousers and US leathers to give SOME sort on military apperance.

Alot of those interested have little or no knowledge of the uniforms and equipments of the era and that is one thing I plan to discuss during the weekend so that when we do it again in 2009 everyone will be up to strick period correct standards!

At least that is the vision currently.

Best,
Chris Fischer
Fort McKavett