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