Federal Commander

[trippcor]

I am excited to annouce that Steve Acker has agreed to be the Federal Commander at next years Battle of New Hope Church at Pickett's Mill. Steve brings a wealth of exprience and ability to this event and we are very lucky he has agreed to do this. Steve will be selecting his company commanders and they will be announced soon. Please keep checking the event website and forum for more information and updates.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Steve was a company commander at Pickett's Mill 2004 and I served as his subaltern. I was impressed by his demanor and ability, and I don't say that about many folks in the hobby. He's a good choice for this.

[Dale Beasley]

Sounds like a good choice...I am planning on being there. We will need a Commander that has the ability to lead and select his Command and Staff with the ability as well, especially in the heat that we will be under.

[coastaltrash]

Steve will no doubt do a great job as he has done in the past.

[TKlas]

Steve will do a great job and is a great choice. For those whom served under him at LBL, you know what kind of leader his is.

Really looking forward to coming back since 2004 was a very good event.

Tom

[Eric Tipton]

Excellent. I love Steve's enthusiasm. So, do we get to storm any bridges at 4 AM again? :D

[Coatsy]

ET and all Federal's involved. If you read up on bridges at New Hope, there was less storming and more feugo ole........ I'm just say'n :wink_smil

I'm glad our comrades in Blue are excited about the event. I wish we could have it on the original gorund, but the folks in their nice suburbian homes and the employees of the local Kroger might get freaked out....... :eek:

[OldKingCrow]

Man....this seems like it is going to be a great event....another great event that is.

You guys do some really amazing stuff...I look forward with great anticipation to the photos and AARs

Some research...

Atlanta
--Letters from the press reporter on the field say that the operations of yesterday were confined to skirmishing and the enemy feeling for our positions.--Our right rests on the road from Acworth to Dallas, about three miles northeast from New Hope Church, and extends from the latter point nearly west.

The movements of the enemy continue to extend towards our right, indicating a disposition to get near Etowah river and bridge. Firing was heard early this morning, but died away soon.

Atlanta Intellegence

A heavy engagement occurred at or near Dallas yesterday (Wednesday) evening. Artillery firing heard quite distinctly from various points of the city all day since this morning.


A private note dispatched from one of the Relief Committees at at noon to day, announces heavy fighting near Dallas Wednesday. The writer states: "We drove the enemy with great slaughter; one hundred of the wounded of brigade have reached this place"

The artillery firing heard to-day in the direction of Dallas and Powder Springs was rapid and heavy all day.

From B Gen. Reynolds who was wounded in the act on, and who reached here this evening, we learn that the fight on Wednesday was exceedingly spirited from 5 o'clock P M until dark, The musketry firing was fierce and rapid, and as Gen Reynolds states, the heaviest he has ever heard.

On our side Hindman's, Stewart's, and a part of Stevenson's divisions were engaged against Booker's corps of the enemy. The fight took place at New Hope Church, about four miles this side of Dallas, and between the latter point and Powder Springs.

Gen Reynolds states that the enemy were repeatedly repulsed and were driven back with heavy loss, until night put an end to the pursuit. It is his impression the as had enough of it, and will try a little by way of relief.

All accounts represent our troops in the highest feather, and the amendment administrated to the enemy as severe extreme. Our loss was comparatively slight and a few of the wounded have reached this point, and others are being cared for at Marietta

From all the intelligence we have been able together, a general engagement is not looked for just yet. Wheeter's operations in the rear and the stunning repulse of Wednesday night will have a tendency to make the enemy more and less careless about coming up to the mark.

During Wednesday evening's fight, while Gen Joppa Johnston and Gen Hood were standing near each other in conversation, a shall burst near the group which, a prominent officer present assures us, came near killing both. We could not well afford to lose another Johnston in that way at such a moment as the present.

The Atlanta Appeal, commenting on Sherman's present position says:

It Sherman shall ever succeed in making his way back to the Ohio without the rout and annihilation of his army, it will prove an anomaly in warfare. In the move he is now making he as no doubt been emboldened by his successful advance to, and retreat from Meridian, and is acting upon the impression that a compact body of one hundred thousand men can march and counter march as it pleases through the Confederacy; but in this he will be most sadly disappointed. He now has a large army confronting him, white the long line of his rear is expressed at hundreds of points, whereby his retreat may be successfully and entirely cut off.

He is undoubtedly a hold mover, but we think in the present instance he has missed the mark in suffering himself to be led so far into the interior of a hostile country where a single reverse to his arms would prove disastrous to his whole army, and make easy pray to his adversary. The intention or accidental destruction of his depot of supplies, either at Nashville or Chattanooga would be fatal to him, and for some such result as this we confidently look it be true, as is generally believed, that Gen Potris, with a large force is now in his rear and giving his attention to this work.--there are thousands of men in Siddle Tennessee and Kentucky who will rush to Forrest's standard and swell his little army to formidable proportions, and sender the exit of Sherman through these States extremely hazardous if not impossible. They will be to him what the were to the army of Napoleon on its and ill-fated retreat from Moscow, and he will have cause to thank his fortune if his exit from the Confederacy is attended with no lass fatal results than those which belief the grand army of France in its exit from Russia.

To prevent such a disaster as would attend a retreat to the Ohio Sherman is compelled to defeat the army of Gen Johnston, which no one believes he ever can or will do. For the future he will find a forward movement even more hazardous than an advance backward, and unless we are greatly mistaken, the time is not distant — probably not more than two or three days--when he will be forced to determine which he will first occupy, Atlanta or Louisville. His flanking manÅuvres are to use a vulgar phrase, about "played out," and if he should persist in his original purpose of taking violent possession of Atlanta, he will now have to march over and not around Gen Johnston's army. He will find this really a hard road to travel, even harder than that through Snake reck Gap or around the Alleona bills, and there is a probability that its roughness may put him upon the "study of his lines of retreat." In such an event Louisville will become to him a point of much more attractive interest than Atlanta, and then it is that the funny part of the campaign will begin.

[john duffer]

"So, do we get to storm any bridges at 4 AM again?"

NO !

Having been on the receiving end of Mr. Steve smash-em-up Acker's attentions I can vouch for his audacity and ability. An excellent choice for any post.

[Rmhisteach]

Steve is a great choice and he cleans up nice too.

RM

[Old Reb]

Hey, I's left out on that bridge to hear all them yankees crunching down the road. I think Corbin was sleeping and I know Colonel Adair had done gone to his quarters to sleep for the night. Mighty lonely out on that bridge, but I must admit, Sergeant Landrum came a running to our support but a bit slow in the gait to suit me.

[Steve Acker]

The pressure is on:
Cross a bridge
Clean up nice


Thanks guys,

Steve "Need to work twice as hard now" Acker

[GWHall]

Steve,

Sometimes, the bridge isn't the best alternative, so look for the ford. That will cover both expectations; you'll be across the river, and you'll be cleaned up.

In all seriousness, I know you'll do a good job. Not sure if I can be there, but I know you'll fill the role well.

[DougCooper]

Steve,

Sometimes, the bridge isn't the best alternative, so look for the ford. That will cover both expectations; you'll be across the river, and you'll be cleaned up.

In all seriousness, I know you'll do a good job. Not sure if I can be there, but I know you'll fill the role well.

Andy, you gotta go comrade. Won't be the same without ya. I need help keeping Sorchy straight.