Southeast Coalition of Authentic Reenactors

The Salt River Rifles has successfully hosted/co-hosted three major c/p/h events in the past five months.  

"Before the Breakout" recreated the life of a man in the 8th Kansas Infantry (Co. A) just after the devastating battle of Chickamauga.  Although withdrwaing 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.

"MANY thanks to everyone who helped out with the event. Tripp Corbin, Lewis Robison, Sean Cooper, Herb Coats, Patrick MacAllister, Patrick Peterson, Linda Nyland, Jim Bruce, Bruce McDonald, Todd Miller and many others for helping with this event.
Here is my pros and cons from the Federal side...

Pros:
- Tripp, Herb, Sean, Pete and Lewis (help from Paddy Mac, Pete, Bruce and Doc) were VERY kind, easy, hard-working and flexible to work with (as well as good friends).
- I believe we accomplished the goals we set out...That was experiecing what life was on an Outpost during this window in time.
- The men who accepted the minimum amount of military discipline that was expected (which was far less than most events).
- The men who dealt with the terrain and obstacles and dove right into creating trails, imrpoving works, clearing out support area further and di what actual sdoleires would have done.
- Those men that took the opportunity to explore between the lines and create opportunities to fratenize or swim or trade and interact as this event allowed.
- Despite the gripes, I think the food situation was successful (not pefect, by successful). Why? We issued basically a 1/2 ration, then we supplemented it with boxes from home and the slaughterhouse meats. The sutler also had pies and bread (canned and fresh) and other foods. Sadly, the ants ate half of the sutlers pies before he got there. Frankly, fat reenactors in the heat really need to eat less anyways (me included in that).
- Got some new progressive mainstream guys to come out and try our style of events. I know the terrain, food, heat may have been too much on some of them, but at least we got some guys to try it. Our hobby will be for some and some will never come back (but at least they tried it). As a result I think we made some new friends, brought in some new blood and even have some new alliances.
- I loved seeing how well many reenactors in our hobby can adapt and not only extend their fieldcrafts skills, but also exercise more imaginative first person and scearios on their own within the confines of the event framework.

Cons:
- The heat. I stated to the Federal Staff that "This would be entirely different event if the temps wer just 5-10 degrees cooler". Why? Because men are inclined to interact and move about and exert more when not so zapped by the heat. Men naturally do as little as possible when it is that hot.
- Terrain. Thru two work days prior to the event and last minute walk-thrus on friday, we did the VERY best with what we had to deal with. The stretch from the Reserve to the posts was tricky, especially in the drak, I arranged to have ropes and white markers to help us down from the Reserve. Frankly, the real men had to deal with terrain issues and so did we.
- Water. I know the flatbed was on the road. But, it was out of sight from the reserve and a short walk thru the woods. If the water had been put further down the road, then men would have bitched that the water was too far away. Keep in mind that men from the supports had to make their way up to the Reserve and then to the road for a water detail. Making that disatnce further would have been tough on them in the heat.
- ACTING in reenacting. Reenactors need to understand that in any event (even in mainstream events), the officers and NCOs have a responibility to for not only logistical issues (water, safety, etc), but also have a duty to ACT out the role of that military leader as well. Do you really want an event where the Sgt never gets mad about (or at least ACTS like he is mad)? If your feelings are hurt because you Frack up in military first person and then the Sgt yells at you in first person, maybe you are in the wrong hobby? If we did not ACT out our parts as leaders, then someone would bitch that we ruined their experience by NOT acting out our parts properly. I believe we owe it to the reenactors who attend to bring them the military experience that was promised and that means that we all need to play our parts for the event (i.e. Sgts acting as Sgts). As reenactors we need to understand that sometimes our first person role is to play the hard-ass, but that does not mean that the person is really a hard ass in real life.
- Ants. Forget the Yankee invasion, this site was invaded with ants (luckily not fire ants). These ants got into everything!

THANKS to everyone who attended and I hope you had an authentic and enjoyable experience!

Jim Butler
SCAR www.scarreenactors.com

"Struggles of Secession - Westville, GA 1863" was the second installment of th Westville event trilogy. This was the follow-up of the successful, Sparks of Secession - Westville, 1861 that occured in Oct of 2008. Alot of research and historical effort, as well as organizatiional details go into an effort such as this. Many thanks to Linda Nyland, Beverly Simpson, Pete Berezeuk, Sean Cooper, Greg Deese, Andy Shogren, Ed Henry and so many others put into the organizing of this effort. Here are some quotes reviewing the event. Detailed event AARs can be foung at http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?30070-Westville-AAR
and on Facebook under the Westville group. 

"Wasn't it Grand?!!" - Ken Knopp

"Been a lot of places and did a great many interesting things in twenty-five years but this was certainly one of the most unique and best events I have ever been to. I was honored and blessed to be there. Met some great people too. Relived some childhood whims and several times over my three days I really was back in 1863. A hearty thanks to the folks at SCAR, Westville and of course Jim and Victoria for their obvious hard work and detail. "  Ken R. Knopp

Words can do no justice. Missus Bodaciousness-ness-ness will be indelibly etched in my brain. The ladies of the Singer House who cooked will be forever remembered by me. We ate the best of all.
Thanks to everyone who allowed me to play in their playground. It is a memory of a lifetine.
Thanks Mr. Harrington for my ferrotype.
Thank Mr. Yarbrough for the tavern."
Richmond Richardson - Robert Orrand

"Andrew Jay, your most estemed and honourable tax collector/impressment
agent, would like to thank all you property tax suckers... er, I mean, good
townsfolk for your generous contributions to the "Georgia relief fund" otherwise
truly known as the "Gentlemen's Room beer fund" and "Andrew Jay cigar fund" (I
use the term 'gentlemen' --extremely-- loosely in the former reference)." - Johnny Lloyd

I got pretty tired of politicking - I mean physically tired. I covered a lot of ground going around town trying to convince folks to support my candidate and sometimes surreptiously giving them a small 'gift' for their voting consideration. I don't think I would want to run for modern office if two days of campaigning wore me out that much."

"It was a very enjoyable time and I had some wonderful first person conversations about period politics. I was very impressed by how well prepared many folks were and how aware they were of the political and economic situations that existed in the Confederacy at the time. Most enjoyable indeed. I'll be back for '65."  Michael Comer - pro Davis Candidate

"I cannot fathom the amount of planning, research, and pre-event hard work that went into this event. Thank you for everything as you have enriched my life. The words that come to my mind to describe Westville are: stunning, magical, top notch, A+, and really it was said best by Bob Orrand above, "Words can do no justice...a memory of a lifetime." If you are reading this and weren't there, you must be asking, "Why was this so great? How did this come together?" - Matt Woodburn

"Much gunfire heard through the town from agents looking for deserters. Much
noise in the evening eminating from the area of Nuckoll's tavern. I have never
stepped foot in this establishment but have procured an occasional glass of
apple cider from the base of the front stoop. I normally would rail against all
those squandering their limited funds on hard drink, but in these trying times I
am trying to maintain my Christian sense of charity and simply pray they come to
the realization of the error of their ways." - Robert Collett

"As my very first entirely 1st person event, I must say Westville exceeded all expectations. I came into this event somewhat close-minded. I didn't know what to expect, and even though I've been reenacting for a while, I've had no former exposure to any event like Westville. However, getting into character and living the life of Mary McDonald was so much easier than I thought! It was almost natural! Of course, everyone around me certainly helped to the 1000th degree." - Sarah Renee Woodall

"The casting operation produced over 1,000 lead bullets from buckshot from gang molds, to musket balls, to Pritchett Enfield balls, all from original molds. These were trimmed after cooling and carried into the cartridge laboratory to be rolled into paper cartridges. Four ladies learned the mysteries of rolling, tying, and filling over 500 “Minie’” and Buck and Ball cartridges at the rolling table. They were tyrants. When they began to run out of cut rolling papers or a type of bullet, they made sure we dropped what we were doing and cast or cut what they needed. Even the assigned Home Guards set down their shot guns and pitched in to cut paper. Families and school groups particularly enjoyed seeing the melted lead cast into bullets." - David Stieghan

"It was a blast and I am signing up for the next one.
Hopefully next time I wont get hit over the head with a bottle." Joe Beedle

"To Prevent the Effusion of Blood":  The TrampBrigade successfully hosted the first 150th Annivesary event at Mort Moultrie and Fort Sumter in January of 2011. Reproducing Major Anderson's sudden evacuation of Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter, the men of SCAR and other groups faced the cold and stiff breezes of Charleston Harbor.  Many thanks to Pete Berezuk and Greg Deese for oulling this wonderful event together. It was so amazing to see everyone in their full, pre-war dress uniforms.
Here are some thouhts regarding the event from its participants:

I had a great time. Yes, the hauling of gear and horrible winds, were taxing....it was all part of the experience. I want to thank all of the men who served in Co "H". Many went above and beyond what most would have expected. Getting a chance to do the heavy artillery talks was great (another thanks to my crew for that). Part of me wishes that it could have only lasted a bit longer...but then I remember the wind whipping thru the casemates and finding the small openings in my blanket cocoon.
Getting my baseball and rulebook signed by Doubleday was AWESOME.
Another emotional experience was forming up Co. H for the last time at Sumter to march out to the boat followed by Lt. Snyder (Pete B.).
I raise a mug to all who organized and participated in the event. I thought it was a great start to the 150s.
Thank you all."
Joe Blunt
formerly 1st Sgt. J. Renehan Co H 1st US Artillery

 "The Federals (mostly that dastardly Doubleday and Sgt. "Little Napoleon" Hamner) ordered us around like pack mules to take baggage for the Federal garrison's arrival. This was obviously outside the contract bounds and my men would not do such activity. We just wanted our pay and our way off the island that could become our tombs if we weren't careful. I went around and got a consensus of what me were on our side and who was pro-unionist or just wanted to stay to get paid. I tried to rally as many men to our cause and to make the Federal leadership realize that what they did was suicidal and detrimental to the country. After the blowhard Doubleday finally left us alone a bit, CPT Foster was charitable as he could be regarding our feelings. We were promised a boat in the morning would take us back to Baltimore." - Johnny Lloyd

I had a great time, it was everything I expected and more. I had never been so cold in call my life, but after getting back home to Florida and getting under an electric blanket I think I'm finally defrosted. I have to say I was very impressed at how uniform the garrison was, even with the unique standards of the event those that wanted to participate stepped up and did what they had to do and cut no corners." - Brandon Hand

"It really felt like we were making reenacting history and it was ahonor to be part of the official start of the 150th anniversary commemoration. This wasn't the well known Firing on Fort Sumter in April of 1861, but it was a the true start of hostitilities and the 'Gulf of Tonkin' for the Civil War." - Jim Butler formerly Lt. Thomas Talbot - 1st US Artillery.