Event at Pickett's Mill 2008

[trippcor]

When: May 30 - June 1, 2008
Where: Pickett's Mill Battlefield, Dallas, Georgia
Who: John Cleaveland, Coley Adair, Tripp Corbin
What: Details still being worked out.

[JimConley]

Hell yeah, Tripp!

I was actually about to ask y'all if something was in the works within the next couple years. 2004 was easily one of the best events I've ever been to and I'm pumped for 2008 now!

[coastaltrash]

Hot damn! LITERALLY!

[toptimlrd]

OUTSTANDING!!!!!!! I'm there.

[C.R. Henderson]

If there was a registration form yet, you would have mine in hand- yesterday.

[Federal Bummer]

Tripp,

I think I might write my own form and send it in.

ONE MORE HILL!!!

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Will machetes be issued to the Federal vanguard for the approach march? :D

[GWHall]

I wonder if someone will find the Mittons.

[trippcor]

Just so everyone knows we are specially ordering extra Scorpions for the event along with planting a extra large crop of poison ivy. We felt folks were disappointed the lack of both of these last time. :eek:

[Eric Tipton]

I wonder if someone will find the Mittons.

Andy:

That was my favorite humorous event moment until the notorious Donelson Pie Theft of 2006. We still make fun of Liechty for running up and down the line at PM in '04 yelling for the Mintons. Has anyone seen the Mintons?

Pickett's Mill? Again? Red Georgia clay, scorpions, hills, humidity, heat.

HELL YEAH. SOUNDS GREAT.

[crabby]

That was my favorite humorous event moment until the notorious Donelson Pie Theft of 2006. We still make fun of Liechty for running up and down the line at PM in '04 yelling for the Mintons. Has anyone seen the Mintons?




And they were napping on the picket line!!

You should have seen Dom's face when I came up to him and said I couldn't find my Minton's. :cry_smile

The man who lost his Mintons,
Crabby

[Pritchett Ball]

Oh you bet I'll be putting it on my calendar...can this Texan portray a "Texan" at this event?

Also, can you throw in a Southern Copperhead...I already had one of them thar scorpions on my bedroll in the 04 event:eek:
Thanks for the heads up!

Kevin Dally

[Joe Walker]

If I am alive I will be there. Have been visiting that place since 1964.

Joe Walker

[Kevin O'Beirne]

we are specially ordering extra Scorpions for the event along with planting a extra large crop of poison ivy.

Tripp,

Are those Columbus or Tuscaloosa Depot scorpions and poison ivy? C'mon, man, document it!

[James the Haggard Ranger]

Ya'll don't know the half of it. We are currently training the red bugs (chiggers for anyone not from south Georgia) to savor reenactor flesh and the ticks on how to better chase a man in wool. Of course, the naughty deers are getting very excited about the prospect of so many men in the field, so if you hear thundering hoofs it may not be the cavalry. We hope to have the wild turkeys properly trained to deliver a special night air drop that I am sure everyone will find amusing. All the ghosts are eagerly waiting for 2008 because they look forward to another big laugh as all those hot, winded reenactors march by through the posion ivy.

Start getting into marching shape.

James Wooten, Interpretive Ranger
Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historic Site

[John Legg]

Tripp,

Ill be there. I might be moved down to georgia before the event. Ill let you know.
Cheers,

John

[trippcor]

Kevin,
Our research shows the scorpions actually came from the Augusta arsenal as part the CS weapons of mass destruction research program. We are still researching the exact source for the poison ivy. Though surviving examples all to be grown from the same pattern.

[Justin Runyon]

Tripp,

That reminds me, we never finished that conversation we started a few weeks ago, I tried to call back but you had left work. We can pick up where we left off sometime, like this weekend.

Oh, since everyone else is doing it, I'm in.

[boozie]

Andy:

That was my favorite humorous event moment until the notorious Donelson Pie Theft of 2006. We still make fun of Liechty for running up and down the line at PM in '04 yelling for the Mintons. Has anyone seen the Mintons?

Pickett's Mill? Again? Red Georgia clay, scorpions, hills, humidity, heat.

HELL YEAH. SOUNDS GREAT.

Whats the inside joke about this Donelson pie deal? I must have missed something there.

Put me down for Picketts Mill, whats the chance of doing the 15th O.V.I.? I know a Hoosier wanting to be a Buckeye, what is the world coming to!

[Charles Heath]

Whats the inside joke about this Donelson pie deal? I must have missed something there.



The Feast of the Pie Brigade
Apple, Lard Turnover

Half a pie, half a pie
Half a pie onward,
All in the valley of Dessert,
Rode the half hundred.
"Forward, the Pie Brigade!
"Charge for the sideboard!" he said:
Into the valley of Pie
Rode the half hundred.

"Forward, the Pie Brigade!"
Was there a man dismay'd?
Not tho' the soldier knew
Someone had blunder'd:
Their's not to make a pie,
Their's not to reason why,
Their's but to eat the pie:
Into the valley of Pie
Rode the half hundred.

Canoli to right of them,
Crullers to left of them,
Cobblers in front of them
Fill'd and glaz'd;
Storm'd at with fork and finger,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the depths of fruit filling,
Into the mouth of Hoosiers
Rode the half hundred.

Flash'd all their utensils bare,
Flash'd as they turn'd in air,
Spooning the center there,
Charging a groaning board while
All the world wonder'd:
Plunged in the peach filling,
Right thro' the crust they broke;
Apple and Berry,
Reel'd from the spoon's stroke
Shatter'd and sunder'd.
Then they rode back, but not
Not the half hundred.

Canoli to right of them,
Cobbler to left of them,
Cobbler behind them
Fill'd and glaz'd;
Storm'd at with fork and spoon,
While cup and napkin fell,
They that had eaten so well
Came thro' the depths of Pie,
Back from the mouth of Hoosiers
All that was left of them,
Left of half hundred.

When can their tummy settle?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the feast they made,
Honor the Pie Brigade,
Noble half hundred.

[ley74]

I need to visit my fence rail.

[BenjaminLDavis]

Hey all,

2004 was possibly the best event I have attended my entire time in the hobby. I will have
to start getting ready for the hills NOW! Tripp, how are them scorpions packed? Arsenal
packs, or just loose in yer haver?
I can hear Capt. Acker still - - C'mon, boys, there's shaved ice and lemonaide just over this
hill, and this is the last one, I mean it this time. (And when we got really tired, he would
add whores to the list!)
God willing, I am there for 08. To charge up that last hill!

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Tripp,

Thanks for clearing that up--documentation is saving the hobby... :)


About James's post, I think the CS WMD program did indeed include chiggers. I had my first run-in with those nasty beasts at Rich Mountian--got eaten alive, I did. Then in my very next event, Second Bull Run 2006, I got eaten even worse by chiggers, plus my first tick (after 13 years of reenacting). Those events were in WVa and Va. I suspect that chiggers in Georgia are about an inch long, clapping jaws, and sometimes ride scorpions.

No wonder why the Yanks of 1864 called it "The Hell Hole". I used to think it was because of the Rebs, but now I believe it was because of the flora and fauna around Dallas, Ga.

[LWhite64]

Heh, Chiggers, if you want Chiggers go out to Wilson's Creek, we went out there for the 140th Anv at the Battlefield back in 01, and were eaten alive by those things, I have lived in Georgia my whole life and never had anything happen like it did out there, I think I counted over 200 bites from my knees to feet. I dont think I have ever gotten more than 10 at the Mill.

Lee

[TKlas]

Hey all,

2004 was possibly the best event I have attended my entire time in the hobby. I will have
to start getting ready for the hills NOW!

Hi Jim,

Yes I am looking forward to going back as well. If you need help with those hills, we can always plan another kettle moriane march in early May like we did for Rich Mountain. :)

Thanks for the information Tripp. The 2004 event rates as one of the best living history experiences I have had. Would love to attend in 2008!

Hope to see some of you at Shiloh next weekend.

Thanks,

[Coatsy]

In Jeoorgia they actually let some of the chiggers aka red bugs have drivers licenses. I do know for a fact that former comrades of mine have been lost to the man eating poison ivy around the Mill. Scotty McKay and Jeff Grantham. I think I saw them last near Keys' Battery.

And take note of the people talking the hills around the park. It is all true. They are challenging (understatement).

[Alamo Guard]

The redbugs and chiggers cannot be bigger than the ones here in Texas :) . Therefore since you must have dwarf variety, count me in for the event.

[NewHopeChurch]

Count me in for this.

As a frequent visitor to the site, I'll also vouch for the terrain difficulties. Never tried them in brogans though!

[BenjaminLDavis]

Count me in for this.

As a frequent visitor to the site, I'll also vouch for the terrain difficulties. Never tried them in brogans though!

Brogans, boots, bare feet - everybody has tired and aching feet after the hills (although
that last would be very painful, what with the rocks and the scorpions!) The thing to avoid
is streams: though the water is cool and comforting, we soon found that after fording any
stream, you are at the very lowest point the terrain has to offer, and you then have to climb
back up out of there!
I remember reading a period observation on the hills: the officer had scouted the area, and
it was his conclusion that it was not feasible for large groups to march or fight here. It will be
memorable, to put it mildly.

[Bill Cross]

Certainly one of the top events in my experience (2001 version).

It's good to see this team organizing things again, though I seem to remember Coley telling me "John said if he ever volunteers to put on another event to hit him upside the head.":p

[Texyank]

Have been in exile for the past three years but am working my way back. Am unaffiliated at the moment but hope to remedy that ASAP. Bill, nice to see you are still around, really enjoyed the WOTJ a few years back. I sure hope to be able to make this event.

Jason Hamby

In memory of Thomas Jefferson Humberson, Private, Wall's Texas Legion

[GreencoatCross]

Pickett's Mill 2004 was easily the sweatiest, hilliest, hungriest, scorpionest event I've ever attended and I loved every minute of it! In 10 years of this reenacting stuff Pickett's Mill was the first event to give me the fabled "magic moment." Then this thing called Payne's Farm came around and I was in the magic place again during the heavy marching order 1+ mile non-stop skirmish by the bugle (thank you Mr. O'Beirne!).

I will not miss Pickett's Mill 2008 for anything. If Mark Mason attends I hope to see him with a hatful of those little scorpions again!

Brian White
Wambaugh, White, & Co.

[tarwater_mess]

Definitely count me in! HEY! my avatar was taken at Picketts Mill!

[NewHopeChurch]

Haha, so I guess I should mention my arachnophobia now?

[Strawfoot]

Tripp,

Thanks for clearing that up--documentation is saving the hobby... :)


About James's post, I think the CS WMD program did indeed include chiggers. I had my first run-in with those nasty beasts at Rich Mountian--got eaten alive, I did. Then in my very next event, Second Bull Run 2006, I got eaten even worse by chiggers, plus my first tick (after 13 years of reenacting). Those events were in WVa and Va. I suspect that chiggers in Georgia are about an inch long, clapping jaws, and sometimes ride scorpions.

No wonder why the Yanks of 1864 called it "The Hell Hole". I used to think it was because of the Rebs, but now I believe it was because of the flora and fauna around Dallas, Ga.


Oh yes, there's nothing like the sight of an entire Federal battalion floundering in the brush... And during the 'battle' I never had sweat dripping off my head so quickly and in such large amounts. No matter how much water you drank, it didn't make a difference.

Many of us were just too simply worn out to enjoy the moment, which I later realized, WAS the moment. And they had to endure it for real.


Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX

[Dale Beasley]

What the heck, as long as we are marching....count me in.

[IowaYank]

Are there plans for cavalry involvment in the event next year??? Would enjoy coming to Pickets Mill mounted. Thanks

[DougCooper]

Weather and bugs - absent anything else we populate the threads for great events with these two subjects. We can't do anything about the heat and humidity, but bugs are another matter.

Spray your uniform with a product like Repel that contains the compound Permethrin and you have no worries. It is odorless, colorless, can be sprayed on cuffs and collars and sleeves or wherever, not used on the skin. Since using it at Rich Mountain, I have not had a single bite or even a visit of any kind at any event - including summer, fall and spring events in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, West Virginia and Virginia. No tics, chiggers, mosquitos, etc. You spray it on before you go into the field and it lasts the whole event...and will not damage or discolor that new garment.

It is fun however to watch the bugs moving away toward a softer target not so protected :eek:

[AndrewMartin]

June 1st is my birthday...Now I know what I'll ask my wife for at least once!:tounge_sm

Honey, please let me sweat my arse off, also to get every imaginable biting bug/animal there is to crawl across me at night. And while were at it...might as well throw some hills as well!

I don't know about you gents....but it has all the ingredients for my best birthday bash yet! I'm in.

[trippcor]

With Coley Adair and John Cleaveland helping to head this up, you can bet there will be Cavalry involved at the event. Oh and for anyone that wants to come and get a chance to enjoy the park one year early and take a guided tour, the Armory Guards are hosting a living history program on June 1-3. This will be a fairly low key event at least compared to what we are doing next year. The impression if western Confederate during the Atlanta Campaign. Herb Coats has posted infromation at http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10392

[Bob Minton]

Just to be sure, you can count on at least one Minton to be there.....the other one just finished his Plebe Year at West Point, so not sure what his schedule will be.

I think I still owe a certain Sgt. Major a twelve pack for his efforts in locating us, even though we weren't lost!

I'll be there with bells on (if I don't get lost on the way)
Bob Minton

[GWagner]

Tripp,

Don't forget to spike the water!

[prestontoprail]

Yeah can we fill our canteens from the "dasani" or "Aquafina" rivers this time? I was one of the victims of an authentic "dysentary" weekend in 2002. It was amusing running into the woods straight from pickett duty , while slinging off every trap and uniform piece before the unholy innevitable came roarin' out! Thanks guys, but I now have a "been there done that" kind of feeling on the whole idea. I thought it might have come from me dipping my hardtack in the bacon greese, but the water you say? Hmmm, now the culprit is identified.

[FarbNoMore]

The noise your stomach made has stuck with me ever since... I never thought I'd ever hear that again... then, I ate the local Iraqi food... I never thought I'd have a flashback about a CW event

[Charles Heath]

I see the legendary flyblown beef vs unchlorinated water debate continues to this day, and 722 miles away at another event featuring a good number of the same participants only a few cringe at the thought of maggoty ham. Hey, they were very small maggots.

[coastaltrash]

"I was one of the victims of an authentic "dysentary" weekend in 2002."

Preston,
The weekend of the Quick trot was 2001, and I too fell victim.

[Jim of The SRR]

I enjoyed the fly blown beef! I was so hungry I had already eaten a good chunk of it before I was told. I was at least happy I didn't get some of the Rebs water supply. Our tank was on par with pool water. Still it was an unforgetable event and the fact we still talk about today proves it so. See y'all at the next one in 2008. Plus I only have to drive 15 miles!

Jim Butler

[theknapsack]

I'll be there no matter what.

[prestontoprail]

"I was one of the victims of an authentic "dysentary" weekend in 2002."

Preston,
The weekend of the Quick trot was 2001, and I too fell victim.


Ah yes, there were soo many cool events going on from 2000-2003 I tend to get them jumbled from time to time. Man, this is such cool terrain to march around. It literally sucks you right into the period. I hope I don't develop a hard case of shell shock like I got last time, I nearly made you rebs feel bad for shooting me down. Good times in 2001!

[westernprivate]

I do not reply but every now and then... but as a person that was there for the last few years...count me in.

[CSARebel54]

I have been out of the hobby for a good 3 - 4 yrs and I am looking into getting back into it. Sounds like a fun event so count me in. Looking forward to it!

[RJSamp]

Weather and bugs - absent anything else we populate the threads for great events with these two subjects. We can't do anything about the heat and humidity, but bugs are another matter.

Spray your uniform with a product like Repel that contains the compound Permethrin and you have no worries. It is odorless, colorless, can be sprayed on cuffs and collars and sleeves or wherever, not used on the skin. Since using it at Rich Mountain, I have not had a single bite or even a visit of any kind at any event - including summer, fall and spring events in Pennsylvania, Louisiana, West Virginia and Virginia. No tics, chiggers, mosquitos, etc. You spray it on before you go into the field and it lasts the whole event...and will not damage or discolor that new garment.

It is fun however to watch the bugs moving away toward a softer target not so protected :eek:

Interesting that National Geographic had an article on one of the world's great killers a few months ago: Malaria. Mentioned was the relative ineffectiveness/over reliance on Permethrin in getting rid of mosquitos specifically. DEET, DDT, and Permanone/Permethrin are still your best defenses.....throw in a few garlic tablets and a tablespoonful of vinegar per day for a week and you just might ward them off.....

Don't red ants eat chiggers? (Oops, that's adding another evil to the equation).

Permanone:
Repels and kills ticks which may carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Made with Permithrin and should only be applied to clothing. Active ingredients bond with fabric and will last a minimum of two weeks, formula also holds up to repeated washing. Effective against ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers and mites.

Poison Ivy is a personal bugaboo......starting with the time I made love on it.....
IvyBlock™Lotion
Protects against poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac rash when applied before contact. IvyBlock™ lotion provides an active barrier on the skin with a special formula that helps block skin using the oil in the plants which triggers the rash. IvyBlock™ lotion should be applied to skin at least 15 minutes before possible contact with the plants and re-applied every 4 hours for continued protection. May be removed with soap and water.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Does "Repel" keep the scorpions away? There's scorpions at Pickett's Mill.

[RJSamp]

Does "Repel" keep the scorpions away? There's scorpions at Pickett's Mill.

NO!

"Chemicals do not really repel scorpions. What they do is kill other bugs that the scorpions feed on, driving the scorpions to better hunting grounds. Your best bet is to get yourself a portable blacklight and hunt for them at night. Keep a glass jar handy and some tweezers. Grab the scorpion gently by the tail nearest the stinger and place it in the jar (they cant climb glass). Most people kill them, but I suggest relocating them outside other places, they eat bugs that you dont want around (ie black widows, cockroaches, etc)."

"I bought some Tokay Geckos. The Geckos just "hang-out" on your walls. They seemed to like the little pests. You cannot touch the Geckos; the bite is like a little razor sharp pit-bull. They won't let go. The Geckos were around $20.00. The Geckos also like other pests like spiders and mosquitos. "

"I use diamateous earth sprinkled around the perimeter of your home will keep the insects out. It is available at a pool supply store. Pour a fairly good line about 4-6 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick around the area you want protected. This works very very well... "

DE is the Key???

" Bring Adolph´s meat tenderizer. The papain enzyme neutralizes the protein in any bite, sting, etc and when you make a paste and apply it, the venom is lessened. Actually, it is an allegeric reaction that causes the adverse symptoms and many people here eat scorpions to build up their antibodies"

So collect them in glass and bring them over to your foe's outposts?!!!

[James the Haggard Ranger]

Update at Pickett's Mill

I figured everyone would like to know that the The Wild Turkeys are taking to their midnight drop training and should be ready by May 2008. All the bugs were responding to the smell of wool before going into hibernation, and the snakes really like lying underneath ground clothes.
It looks like everything should be ready for the event.

Thanks,

James Wooten,
Interpretive Ranger

[Mad Hatter]

Bugs and Poison Ivy....I agree with the garlic idea for the bugs. It does wonders and since we will smell like something fiece, it should not be a problem. For the poison ivy, y'all need to look up Jewel Weed. It's sap is a similar consistancy to aloe. It works better than any off the shelf product at reducing the swelling/bumps. I do not know if it is native to Northern Georgia, but it is found in Southern KY. Be nice if the sutlers bottled some of this.

Also, what is the word on registration or did I botch up not seeing it?

[trippcor]

Registration opened on Jan 1st. All the information is on the event website at www.armoryguards.org/pmill2008/

[Steve Acker]

I am proud to annuonce that Tom Klas has agreed to act as sergeant major for the federal battalion. He will do a capital job for us.

More great news to come

Steve Acker
The guy with the sword for this event

[Coon Dawg]

A friend of mine just gave me a book published in 1913 called “A brief narrative of the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry Regiment, Wheeler’s Corps, AOT, by George Guild”.

Here is a passage regarding New Hope. What I find most interesting are the staggering Federals.

About Allatoona we had some fighting, participated in by detachments of the army. From here General Wheeler was sent back across the river to protect and drive off a force that was destroying some large manufacturing establishments. In the fight that ensued he killed and wounded quite a number of the enemy and destroyed some two hundred wagons. We had some more heavy skirmishing with the enemy at Alltoona; then we hastened to New Hope Church, some distance to the right to meet the enemy. On arriving there, the Fourth Tennessee, in conjunction with a brigade of A.P. Stewart’s infantry, had a hard fight, but finally drove the enemy back. The regiment quite a number killed and wounded. That evening General Stewart built some temporary breastworks. At night (about 10 o’clock, I suppose) a large force of the enemy attacked Stewart’s works, but were repulses with heavy loss. It is stated that seven hundred and fifty soldiers were found dead in front of General Grandberry’s line, and that many of the Federal attacking column were in an intoxicated condition and actually staggered over the works when they were captured.

[Abrams]

....For the poison ivy, y'all need to look up Jewel Weed. It's sap is a similar consistancy to aloe. It works better than any off the shelf product at reducing the swelling/bumps. I do not know if it is native to Northern Georgia, but it is found in Southern KY. Be nice if the sutlers bottled some of this.

I agree with the Jewelweed remedy. It will not prevent poison ivy, but it is an effective treatment for it. I have used it myself. It grows in areas poison ivy likes, so thats handy too.

Sutlers will not sell the juice/extract I wager, because it rapidly loses its effectiveness. Ewell Gibbons tried storing jewelweed, by freezing it, making tinctures and extracts, and such, and said he had no luck, and that the preserved jewelweed extracts and cubes did not work as well as fresh, and after relatively short periods of time, seemed to lose all effectiveness.