Thanks to all!!

[trippcor]

I justed wanted to once again thank all those that attended the Battle of New Hope Church event this past weekend. From the post I have seen so far and the phone calls I have had everyone enjoyed themselves. I hope everyone was able to taken something special way from the event.

We will be posting the final preservation donation information in a couple of weeks once we work out all the expenses and such.

[Johnny Lloyd]

Awesome event yet once more! Well worth flying in again for!

Thanks to all that did the hard work to make it happen!

:D

Great to see everyone too.

-Johnny Lloyd

[Dale Beasley]

Hey Tripp,

Thanks for the memories!!

[C.R. Henderson]

Tripp,
I think everyone is thinking it so I'm gonna say it.... we're going to be talking about this one, with reverence and all, for quite a long time. Thanks Tripp, Coley, John and the park and all the "behind the scenes" guys.

[toptimlrd]

What can I say? Awesome I think summs it up rather well.

[CSARebel54]

Tripp,
That was a great event! Definitely had a blast in th 14th LA Co. A! The wow moment I would say was when we made the suprise charge on the federals after the cannon blast saturday evening. The looks on their faces (expecially the picketts) was totally priceless! Looking forward to more events in the future!

[Micah Trent]

Tripp,
That was a great event! Definitely had a blast in th 14th LA Co. A! The wow moment I would say was when we made the suprise charge on the federals after the cannon blast saturday evening. The looks on their faces (expecially the picketts) was totally priceless! Looking forward to more events in the future!

I was one of the pickets in the center. I was looking before hand and everything seemed normal. No sign of anything different. Went to take a drink from the canteen when the cannon went off. Next thing you know, all hell broke loose and seen several johnnies running at me and yelling. Didn't even have time take a shot. Just grabbed my stuff and ran for the works! It was my "Oh sh*t" moment of the event. Was glad to be part of that!!! Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Acker]

I too need to say thank you to a number of people.

First the staff of Jim Butler, Tom Klas and Buddy Jowers (Pete in spirit) for the effort this weekend. You guys were everywhere doing whatever had to be done. Great job.


To the battalion soldiers, holy crap you guys were amazing. Up hill, through brush or into the mouth of cannon you were quick to react and intense in every action.I consider myself lucky to have carried the sword for this one. Special thanks go out to Steve Ewing, Paul Jerram, Ken Giddens and Terry Sorchy for leadership, enthusiasm and ability. Great people make great events.


Lastly thanks Tripp, Coley and Robbie for trusting me to work on the federal side of New Hope Church. In the 20 years in the hobby this one is hard to beat.

A last thougth for our imaginations. How impregnable would our Saturday night works been, in two three days, with pioneers like we had?

Steve Acker

[Vintage Image Studios]

I'd like to thank all for allowing me to attend, this year. I managed to get quite a few great images. The "Ladies of the Hood" were charming hosts, as well. I had a wonderful time and looked forward to the next one.

Wendell Decker of Vintage Image Studios

[Mtn.Guerilla]

I was one of the pickets in the center. I was looking before hand and everything seemed normal. No sign of anything different. Went to take a drink from the canteen when the cannon went off. Next thing you know, all hell broke loose and seen several johnnies running at me and yelling. Didn't even have time take a shot. Just grabbed my stuff and ran for the works! It was my "Oh sh*t" moment of the event. Was glad to be part of that!!! Thanks guys!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe myself and a few other "AG" boys were the first on the line for that suprise, that was a very cool "period moment". It kind of felt good too because our " OH SH*T " moment was being pushed back earlier that day towards that death trap of a bridge, on top of the ridge. I was trying to pull back a fallen comrade and quickly found myself almost surrounded by you boys. Pulling out thru the privets, narrowly escaping, unfortuatly leaving our dead behind. Great job by everyman that attended!! It's all still kind of blur at the moment.

[Resaca]

Had a great time in Co. A, 14th LA. We seemed to be in the thick of it several times. Made a lot of good memories. Thanks to all the folks behind the scenes that helped put this together.

Tony Patton
Blue Ridge Mess
Armory Guards

[Johnny Lloyd]

Talk about "Oh sh*t" moments...

I was the first picket out when we entrenched on Saturday... I was also the farthest forward of our line behing a tree...

Remember that first faux attack??? Well, the grey line kept getting closer, the rebel yells kept getting louder, the muskets kept creeping- in and the cannon was going-off doubletime...

At that moment, no matter what I did as an individual, I couldn't stop them on my own.

I turned back to my messmate/fellow picket in 2nd plt/E Co. , Mr. Barnard, and told him to "run like hell" with me back to the works...

Most of you know me as a happy-go-lucky type, but I'm NOT joking when I say I TRULY haven't felt a moment like that since I was in Iraq.

Realism crept-in pretty quickly, at that moment.

-Johnny

[blackhattertuck]

I was with Mr. Lloyd and Mr. Trent on the picket line for the suprise attack... I had taken off my blanket roll, haversack, and canteen, and was happily munching my dinner of hard crackers and pork. I heard the cannon, looked up and saw the oncoming wave. I said to myself: "Oh Crap" and hurredly grabbed my things, absquatculated and vamoosed. In my rush to safety Iwas forced to abandon my pork!:cry_smile I learned to never take my traps off on picket post, no matter how quiet and passive the opposing lines appear...

[CSA Leatherneck]

Thanks to Tripp and Robbie and the other members of the 14th LA for a GREAT weekend. Well worth the drive and gas $$$ from Virginia. The suprise attack was a blast and the Scooby Doo look on the Federals faces was incredible. Had nightmares about Yankees chasing me all night on Sunday when I got home. Thanks again for the memories, look forward to a trip down south again soon.

[Mtn.Guerilla]

Yea, kind of the cool thing the about the suprise attack was that, many of us purposely left off our jackets, hats, and the like, to give somewhat of an "aint' nothing going to happen feel". I myself had my jacket over my accouterments (which I later found, was historically accurite to the Atlanta campaign, in fact) and left my hat off. The latter, mainly because I knew we'd be moving fast both in advance and retreat.

[TKlas]

Gents,

Thanks to the planners for an excellent event Coley, Tripp, John, Robbie, Steve, Pat, Mr. Wooten and anyone I am forgetting. The 2008 event offered many excellent experiences among those the pioneers, hearing the grumblings of the men due to lack of rations, and portraying the 29th Ohio during their actions at New Hope Church was excellent. By the way, the rations were planned to be as the 29th Ohio experienced and everyone did a good job of getting by with what was offered on Saturday morning.

Many thanks to Steve Acker whom did a splendid job as the federal commander, Jim Butler whom was excellent in his role of adjutant, Ken Giddens, Terry Sorchy, Steve Ewing, Pat Craddock, and Paul Jerram for being top notch to work with during the weekend. Also many thanks to Buddy Jowers for his help in keeping the federal battalion organized with bugle calls. All of the above were a pleasure to serve with during the event and thanks again to Steve for having me as a member of your staff.

To the first sergeants on the federal side, a job well done comrades! You made my role as Sgt. Major a very good one and kept the battalion organized and in good order. My cap is off to you gents and thank you for your efforts.

To the men of the federal battalion, thank you for your efforts and looking forward to serve with you all again.

Tom

[plankholder]

Yea, kind of the cool thing the about the suprise attack was that, many of us purposely left off our jackets, hats, and the like, to give somewhat of an "aint' nothing going to happen feel". I myself had my jacket over my accouterments (which I later found, was historically accurite to the Atlanta campaign, in fact) and left my hat off. The latter, mainly because I knew we'd be moving fast both in advance and retreat.


You make a right amaible prisoner too! Sorry I couldnt hang on to you a jaw for a bit, but at that moment, unless you had food, a prisoner was about as useful as a pig with side pockets. Nice to meet you.

Mr.Klas, thanks for your service over the weekend and as a compliment to your impression, on multiple times throughout the weekend you reminded me of a MSGT that impressed me while on a KFOR rotation. You really captured the essence of a veteran senior NCO, thanks for the help with the canteens. -ELI GEERY, Company E

[Dale Beasley]

This was a good event becasue we had good people, now it is time for an AAR.

[TKlas]

Hi Eli,

Thanks for the kind words and glad to be a help with filling those canteens. I wanted to make sure no one was being left out of water especially when it was getting harder to find. You all did an excellent job in helping each other out and following the protocal for filling the canteens. I have not heard of anyone getting the quick step from the water so far.

Thanks,

Tom

[Dale Beasley]

Tripp,

You know, I went to Port Gibson and thought it was the best, then TAG, and then OUTPOST, then I went to Picketts Mill, nothing but good came from this event, because , we had the best people there.

[Mtn.Guerilla]

"You make a right amaible prisoner too! Sorry I couldnt hang on to you a jaw for a bit, but at that moment, unless you had food, a prisoner was about as useful as a pig with side pockets. Nice to meet you."

Eli,nice to meet you as well. You were an amiable prisoner also , the full 3 seconds that you were captured. I kind of had my heart set on some hard crackers, until I realized I was the only fool holding our left flank, and about 20 of your buddies piled over the works. Although I was able to " escape" thru the gully and join our lines on top of the ridge, just in time for the Federal charge. No rest for the wicked, I guess.