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SCAR to Host Three Events in 2010-11

Wednesday, 17 February 2010 13:51 | Written by Brian McGarrahan |

SCAR will be hosting three, c/p/h events in in 2010-11. Over five months the volunteers from the SCAR groups will work together to organize and execute three events! Quite an undertaking! We truly hope that everyone will attend and have an enjoyable and historic experience! Volunteers are still needed! Thanks for your patience and support.

SCAR and WIG are co-hosting "Before the Breakout" recreates the life of a man in the 8th Kansas Infantry (Co. A) just after the devastating battle of Chickamauga. Although withdrawing in good order, the 8th suffered 50% casualties at Chickamauga. They retreated to Chattanooga and building heavy defenses around the city. The Confederates would soon arrive and begin building their own works as well. Before Orchard Knob men of the 45th Alabama and the 8th Kansas are assigned to Guard Mount. Their picket posts are a mere 40 yards apart in places. Men weary of battle and the soldiers life call unofficial truces with their enemy. Fraternization begins between the lines. Trading, gambling, drinking, and exchanging stories were the norm. Sutlers and other civilians appear to sell their wares. Officers weary for war and ready to give up their commissions turn a blind eye to the odd socializations. Even the officers visit the sutlers and meet with opposing officers as well.

Ken Giddens commands the SCAR company A at BTB. Please register asap at the event website:
DATE: Sept 10-12, 2010 (be on site by 6-7 pm)
Location: Rome, GA (see website for details)
Event website: http://www.westernindependentgrays.org/beforebreakout/index.htm
Please review all the Dress Guidelines.
Orchard_Knob ToddHarringtonSCARgroup

"Struggles of Secession": It is October, 1863 in a small, rural, working-class town in the Lower Chattahoochee Valley of Georgia. The days of hearts beating to the sounds of war drums is gone. Gone are the lavish suppers and barbeques. Forgotten are the long winded speeches advocating secession from the Union. The call to duty to defend home and hearth is quickly replaced by the cries of the Yeoman dying on the fields of Virginia and Pennsylvania and the pleas of their dear ones at home. Vacant as the call to arms to defend Southern Rights are the vacant bellies of the soldier’s loved ones on their own homestead. Too greedy and craven to fight for their own peculiar institutions, the wealthy, Planter class sends their poor brethren to do their bidding. While some men sit home with exemptions seemingly only procured by those of means, the poor Yeoman must join or be conscripted. Even more overwhelming is the fact that the desire for cotton profits replaces the rational and obvious urgency to grow produce for the people and soldiers protecting the South and her industries.

SCAR groups are encouraged to volunteer with SCAR to be on Staff for the event.
DATE: Oct 20-24, 2010 (you can arrive up till 5 pm on the 22nd Fri)
Location: Westville Historic Village - Lumpkin, GA (Stewart Cty)
Event Website: http://www.strugglesofsecession.com/
Event Trailer: http://www.strugglesofsecession.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=15&Itemid=21

photos from the 2008 event "Sparks of Secession" at http://www.strugglesofsecession.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=15&Itemid=21

"To Prevent the Effusion of Blood": The flash point of the American Civil War is accepted to be Charleston Harbor with the events of December 1860 and January 1861 providing an impetus on the part of the new Confederacy to organize their forces for combat and providing the Federal Government a breathing space until the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln.
Major Robert Anderson had been sent to Fort Moultrie to take command by the Buchannan Administration in the hope that a Southern Gentlemen would be congizant and respectful of Southern Sensibilities. Major Anderson decided his duty lay with executing his vague orders from the Federal Government. He was mindful of the moves the State of South Carolina made to arm itself and the situation of his command. In his own words, Major Anderson decided to move the Fort Moultrie Garrison to Fort Sumter on the night of 26-27 December 1860 "To prevent the effusion of blood.

The Tramp Brigade is the host unit for this event. Please contact them for detailed questions.
DATE: Jan. 7-9, 2011
Location: Fort Moultrie/Fort Sumter, SC
Event website: http://topreventtheeffusionofblood.com/

Maj_robert_anderson

Last Updated (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:10)

SCAR Bad Arses of Backwater

Tuesday, 12 January 2010 11:03 | Written by Brian McGarrahan |

A brave group of SCAR men formed a company in the 57th GA at Backwater. A handful
members also went Federal. The SCAR Badd-Arse Reenactors of shared incredible
experiences and test of will at the recent "Backwaters" event. SCAR company was
under the able command of Sean Cooper of the Mossy Creek Mess. With rain and near
freezing temperatures, these bad-arses of the SCAR and other groups were put to the
test. With several pounds of mud and a few ounces of sleep they plodded on thru the
woods of "North Carolina" (albeit it was not as sandy as NC!). All SCAR members except
one (whose shoes blew out) finished the entire march and overcame the challenges of
"Backwater" by LEADING BY EXAMPLE! Hats off to the bad-arses of SCAR!
Backwater1

Last Updated (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:28)

The Civil War Campaigner Magazine

Tuesday, 01 December 2009 07:15 | Written by Brian McGarrahan |

Many of us enjoyed the Civil War Historian Magazine during its brief tenure. A new on-line
magazine, "The Civil War Camapaigner" made its appearance last month. It appears to be
similair in style to the CW Historia and still engages in unit reviews, research articles, military
drill and gear articles, civilian articles and more.

A six issue, one year subscription is $14.95. I think this is well worth the price and also
important to support products that review and challenge our particular hobby. For info
go to their webpage at:

http://www.civilwarcampaigner.com/

CWCampaignerMag

Last Updated (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:21)

The Caudells to Appear at Westville

Saturday, 24 October 2009 21:52 | Written by Brian McGarrahan |

The Caudells will be appearing at the "Struggles of Secession - Westville, GA 1863" event
on Oct 21-22, 2010. The Caudell's will headline at a "Night at the Theater" hosted by the
Ladies Aid Society of Westville. They will be performing on Friday and Saturday evening at
9-10 pm. An amateur hour will precede the Caudell's at 8-9 pm. Volunteers are needed to
do 5-10 min performances for the period amateur hour. Please contact Jim Butler at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you wish to perform. Tableuxs, period music, skits, dramatic
readings are all encouraged to take part.

Visit the Caudells webpage at:
http://caudellmusic.tripod.com/

Last Updated (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:22)

145th Fort McAllister

Sunday, 13 December 2009 09:41 | Written by Brian McGarrahan |

The SCAR braved rain and cold to participate in the 145th Fort McAllister event. Fort McAllister
was then end of the "March to the Sea" and was the key to capturing Savannah a few days later.
The campaign ended almost one month after the men of "Sherman's Bummers" left Atlanta and
their supply trains behind. The SCAR fell in as the 70th Ohio to participate in the assault upon the
breastworks of the fort. During the morning and early afternoon the SCAR made much noise for
the men in the fort and caused great distress by making movements in their direction. The actual
assault took place around 5 PM. We thank the many who made this event possible such as the
GA State Parks, Joe Blunt, and Clint Stanley. Please click the "read more" button to see the event
images.

prev Set 1/6 next

Last Updated (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:24)

Bummers 09

Monday, 30 November 2009 17:42 | Written by Jim Butler |

AAR for the 48th IN - Nov 15th, 1864 - Sunday (account of Butler's Bastards)

After marching all Saturday, and not encountering nary a soul to find forage, the men lay down
to a night of sleep fit with twitches in their bellies. With best hopes of the day to come. Georgia
brought us some nice weather to begin our trek on this fine Sabbath morning down the ridge road
to complete our mission. Passing a fine wagon and some civilians who had nothing to plunder, we
moved down the trail again towards a small, cracker, homestead. Being an officer of a foraging
dash and fell upon the cabin with great intent to sack it. It was like time had spun about and
seemed as dreamlike as a whirlwind of activity stirred about me, which was unlike the military order
we were used to within the battalion. The men tore into the cabin with great élan as their
inhabitants were torn from their home. The men folk were gathered, patted down and put under
guard. The ladies cried out to  their Secesh gods as their possessions were emptied upon the
thoroughfare. To my right I spy some chickens as well as another private, we fire our pistols at
them and one is soon destined for a cook pot. To my left the men find a ham and begin to tear
into it like a pack of dogs. I then seek any newly turned ground in their yard for hiiden treasures.
My plunder includes two jars of jam and ham. I drank coffee from the Southrons cups and ate beans
from the traitors pots this fine day. In the distance I catch a glimpse of a large Secesh fella sitting
under a tree and arguing with some of Uncle Billys Boys, but can not hear what they say. I spot
one of the civilian men not sitting with the other men and I burst upon him with the full anger that
has built upon me fueled also by my hunger of the previous day. I see this poor Secesh man  as the
cause of all my woes in this war. I draw my pistol and ordered him to sit back down as he was ordered
or I will shoot him down. Then as I pass the other civilian men grouped near a tree I tell the Guard to
keep them there, an old man calls to me, “Hey There!...Were you in Mexico?”. I am startled and the
chaos about is unnoticed and I say to the man, “Yes, I was in Mexico, but I was a much younger lad
then.” This poor Secesh man turned out to be Sgt Bruce who I served under in the War with Mexico
many years ago. I told the guard to treat him well as he was once a US Hero, but was now led astray.
He told me he was now a  surgeon and supported neither side. Soon, we were on our way and wished
to depart before the smoke and sounds would bring a patrol our way.

Last Updated (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:26)

Salt River Rifles to Celebrate 10 Years!

Wednesday, 30 September 2009 20:45 | Written by Jim Butler |

The Salt River Rifles will be celebrating their 10 year anniversary in March of 2010. In 1998,
a group of about seven mainstream reenactors decided to form an authentic mess within the
125th OVI in Georgia. We were known as the Huckleberry Mess. We improved, learned from
other campaigners, and grew past our mainstream roots and wanted more. We left the 125th in
2000 and did our first event as The new Salt River Rifles at Bentonville in March of 2000 with
the AOP Battalion. Since then we have proudly supported many c/p/h events in the SouthEast
and East over the past 10 years. We have always been a core that c/p/h groups could count on
in the SE, authentic community. Of our founding members, only two are still active, Bruce McDonald
and Jim Butler. Many members broke off and formed their own messes (the Mossy Creeks, the
Plug Uglies), who now are part of the umbrella group SCAR (SE Coalition of Authentic Reenactors).
Active members who have been with us at least 5 years are Gary Bergstrom, Ed Henry,
Andy Shogren, Sean Cooper, Randy Hix, Todd Miller, Chuck Temm and Jan White. We also welcome
our newer members, Gary Hurst, Burt Page, Pete Paolillo, Chris Ruff, Marvin Greer, Jonathan Scott
and Shane Pinson.

In March of 2010 we plan to have a dinner in Atlanta to celebrate our 10 years. All members and
SCAR members are invited. We have worked with and known the other SCAr messes over the years
and consider them brothers. A date will be announced soon!

As the SRR approaches our 10th year, our beloved geocities, which has had our site for 10 years
will go black in 2009. But, we will have a new and up-to-date and more versitle website at
www.saltriverrifles.com Watch for the updates soon!

I am very proud of the SRR and all the comraderie we have shared over the years has made every
reenactment top shelf!

Thanks,

Jim Butler

Last Updated (Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:27)