Charles Heath
07-08-2008, 02:45 AM
Favor the Bold! The March!
Prelude to a March in B Flat
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams
As a battalion, we started seriously talking about attending this event at the Potomac Legion "Town Meeting" at 2nd Kernstown last summer, with the hopes of fielding up to three companies of infantry. The promise of adding on a "value added" campaigner adjunct in the form of a brief, four hour, four mile, event march had a certain cache to it, but by the time the PL put boots on the ground the number amounted to a nice size company, which would be one of seven in the Western Brigade's battalion. The original march concept was to camp at the designated living history area (one of three) near the Pennsylvania monument Thursday evening, and march westward to the event site Friday morning. Following the desires of the primary landowner, the march kickoff time changed to Friday around noon with an arrival around 4 pm.
Traditionally, event marches have added much to mainstream events, and even events of lesser quality. Oftentimes, these campaigner adjuncts are the best part of such an event. Additionally, Silas Tackitt arranged for a confederate march eastward from Caledonia State Park, and Doug Dobbs was executing an unrelated, and much longer, Sixth Corps march. To return to the definitions for a moment, campaigning is about movement, and significant movement at that. To bastardize the well known Artes Latinae motto of campaigners: "Totem all yer crappum on your backum." I mention this, because quite a few people believe sleeping sans canvas at a static event is campaigning, or sleeping in the parking lot if it rains is campaigning, or something along those lines. The hot spots, blisters, turned ankles, fallen arches, broken legs, displaced hips, sagging shoulders, and worn leather mark a campaigner, or as the young folks are apt to say, give "campaigner street cred."
For locals, a trip to Gettysburg means an ice cream cone, a trivia contest to find a certain monument, clean-up day for an adopted marker, a convenient shopping opportunity, indigestion at the diner, and dozens upon dozens of living histories each year (not counting the paid-for-play show at the Wax Museum), but for folks who live thousands of miles round-trip away from the battlefield, well, it's far more special. In some small way, I can relate, since I tried to drink in every square inch of Glendale while we were making pre-event site visits down that way. Sometimes we take it for granted, but not everyone in the hobby has marched across or slept on [insert your favorite battlefield here]. For some, it may well be the only time they ever get to do this.
So, the adventure begins in earnest last year around that fateful Oct-Nov "meeting season." A couple of satellite images arrive in the email box, and we are off from there. Of course, Google Earth doesn't show all the features, all the fences, nor the one way street configuration, and, most of all, it can't predict whether the often out-of-service stone outhouse between the Pennsylvania monument and the living history area will be operating.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent, guilty, roaming livestock, flying hot dishes, cast and crew of the movie Fargo, and anything in between.
Marching Orders
Overview - This may all be impossible given the local farmers using some of this as cropland..... I grew up near __________ National Park, and none of it is plowed, so I'm used to being able to cross parkland at will - this may just not be possible at GNMHP. If not - at least parts of this plan are out the window.
I want to stay off roads as much as possible - would love to avoid need for any kind of a police escort. Want to cross roads quickly, thereby disrupting local traffic as little as possible. Only 'major' road to cross is Emmetsburg Pike - would imagine best plan to be approaching in a column of companies, one company crossing at a time - or, in a closed column of, hell, divisions, or line of battle, and march the mass across in one quick move...Other choke point would be the covered bridge - would have to block traffic for a few minutes to scoot over that stretch of road.
Where possible, would envisage marching in a column of companies @ full distance. This will give lots of practice to guides, etc. Certainly, some obstacles / defiles would require marching by the flank.
I have tried to avoid fences, but they are hard to see on the GoogleEarth maps - scouting will be required. Also, I worried about Marsh Creek - how much water is in Plum Run? (my recollection is very little) and Willoughby Run over near Red Rock Road....that may require another bridge....
a.. Form battalion near PA / Minnesota monument. Plan here is to roughly approximate 1st Div, Second Corps approach to Wheatfield - Cross/Kelly/Brooke route - not Zook
b.. Parallel Hancock Avenue, with that road on our left.
c.. Cross United States Avenue - somehow skirting Weikert Farm
d.. Continue South, between Crawford Road and Sedgwick Avenue
a.. This area might be a problem, esp. if next June is wet - it's a creek bed. Might have to turn west into the historical Trostle lane and divert route to more closely approximate Zook's approach - if we go this way, fences appear to be a bigger problem.
e.. Cross Crawford Road & Wheatfield Road near their intersection. If possible, avoid Wheatfield Road bridge over Plum Run and jump over it - if that is not feasible, cross the little bridge and then leave Wheatfield Road to the left (south).
f.. Enter Wheatfield at eastern corner. Possibly deploy, just for fun.
g.. Parallel Wheatfield Road through the Wheatfield - again hopping over west branch, Plum Run - hope it ain't too wet!
h.. Exit Wheatfield through the gap to the north of Rose woodlot, south of Wheatfield Road.
i.. Diagonal across big field toward Peach Orchard - are there any fences in this field? The Batchelder maps show several in 1863 - GoogleEarth doesn't show any.
j.. Cross Emmetsburg Pike just south of the Peach Orchard. If fences are a problem - possibly @ Rose Farm lane - looks like there is a fence on the west side of the pike to prevent entering far field if we exit on the road that circumvallates the Peach Orchard....What are the drainage ditches like?
k.. March cross the big field toward Seminary Ridge
l.. Cross West Confederate Avenue at a convenient spot.......
Onto West Map
a.. Roughly parallel Millerstown Road - marching on its south side
b.. Cross Eisenhower Drive
c.. Cross fields, then Red Rock Road & then Willoughby Run - again, if too wet, using the bridge on Water Works Road - or we just ford it at a good spot (sure the boys would love wet boots! - if the dew is heavy, they will already be wet)
d.. More fields - south of Water Works Road
e.. Enter Water Works Road after stopping traffic and then jog Sachs Bridge over Marsh Creek
f.. Get off the road - I think we are now on the event field in the NE corner.....
The general idea was doable. So, on a bright, shiny, wonderful afternoon after the Living History Guild's Gettysburg Memorial March (this is the alternative to the Rem Day thing downtown), Bev and I went walking with images in hand from The Minnesota monument to The Weikert House, and then by the yellow house, and the Wheatfield, and the peachless orchard (they'll grow), and across the field to W. Confederate Avenue. The question was how to get to the 13th NJVI's annual dinner, and at the same time get back out to retrace the steps on Red Rock Road, Rebecca Road, and the dirt lane to Sach's bridge. It got dark, so that would wait for a later day. This would be one of four forays on foot along the march route prior to the actual march.
The Excitement Builds
On the march - I have not yet called the park - will do so next week, I think. Will not need the map with all of the final bits until we actually submit the CUP request - so there is a bit of time yet. I want to touch base with GNMP so they are aware of our hopes, and can advise on things that will be total no-go's before we write them into the plan.
With the usual ruminations in the background, and event prep season coming along, and the usual light snows, the next thing we hear is a change order. Hey, that's fine for consulting work:
Hang on
Meanwhile, I've been staring at the map and considering another route, one that would keep us off more high-traffic county highways. More on that as I stare at the maps....Thank goodness this is Gettysburg! Lots of maps......
We ventured out in a light snow. A light snow reveals terrain features not normally visible, but this wasn't any great help. The man made features, mostly fences, were the big bugaboo. One post and rail fence beside the Weikert farm, perpendicular to the route of march and a lovely stone wall, was mostly down. Another fence was knocked down in the strategic corner, but still approximately 18" high. I could get over it. Bev could get over it, and from the tracks on the ground the deer were having a much easier time getting over that snake fence than either of us. That meant only two falling down fences needed to be negotiated between start and finish, plus or minus any barbed wire or American wire fences between Sach's bridge and the camps on the event site.
Happy Daze
I am happy to inform you that the WB has received permission for a march from the Pennsylvania Monument to the At High Tide event site on Friday, 27 June 2008. Up to 350 armed soldiers will be permitted on the march. We will be joined for this by members of the other western Federal battalion, the Army of the Ohio.
The permit states that we will be assembling between 10:00 am and Noon on Friday 27 June. We will march south to the Wheatfield, cross the Wheatfield, continue to the Peach Orchard, cross the Emmittsburg Road, pass over the crest of Seminary Ridge, skirt some county roads, and enter the event site by crossing the Covered Bridge on March Creek. The march is approximately 4 miles long.
We should be at the AHT event site around 4:00 PM, depending on how fast we move. The ration issue will occur Friday evening.
Big Whitey the water truck was available, or so we thought. The 210-gallon tank with the quad manifold is overkill for most marches of this size, but too much water is better than not enough. Water is cheap. EMS is expensive. Plan B was using one of the five skid mounted 65-gallon tanks in the back of any pickup truck. We ended up with Plan B, supplemented with the familiar Jerry cans. Just think, you started out with Maryland water and ended up with Pennsylvania water. Details, details....
A noon march would put the lads out there in the heat of the day, and the shade expires well before the Peach Orchard, but some shade resumes towards the end of the march. The shadeless stretch from Emmitsburg Pike to W. Confederate Avenue will sort out the men from the boys. The large hedgerows near the observation tower provide a modicum of shade for a break, but the sun situation isn't much better than being in a big field for about another half mile or more until Red Rock Road to the Iron Bridge.
This march would also need a sag wagon. (It needed several.) The diabetics who haven't maintained their blood sugar levels will fall before arriving at the Weikert House, unless someone has a handful of lemon drops. The early heat casualties will be flagged by the Peachless Orchard, another couple will throw in the towel by the time they hit W. Confederate Avenue, and someone will likely pass out by trying to make it to the covered bridge. If memory serves me, that's a local hangout for the ghost hunters. The sag wagon probably needs a capacity of five or six. In the end, the sag wagons hauled 30, if I remember the correct count.
Caulk & Paint
I have been in contact with GNMP regarding the minor modifications that we have requested to our permit. GNMP is in receipt of my request, but have not as of this date responded to us. As soon as I get an update, you will know all about it. We do have a permit, so the march will take place - the requested modifications would enhance the experience.
Speaking of governments, it was important to know the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has an interlocking "township" system. This is different from the township and range system Mr. Jefferson bequeathed to the western folks in that a township is not a standard 36-square mile unit of measurement, but a metes and bounds nightmare, and the local politics that come with it. Fortunately, this was not an issue, and we didn't need parade permits, police escort, zoning permits (for gatherings of 50 or more) or amusement tax.
D-Day Plans
Back to the march route...I agree with _______ about the Eisenhower Farm. They do WW2 events there, and James may be able to talk with them a little bit. I think most reenactors will readily understand any zig zags or additional movement to avoid farm fences, barbed wire, and crops on an active farm. Sometimes when the boys get into a "bad" location like that, it presents a good opportunity to eat lunch, or have a brief history lecture. The location would lend itself well to a talk about the aftermath of Gettysburg, be it blue or gray.
Most of the gaps in the NPS period fencing were small. SomAs mentioned above, most fences were avoided. The worst spot was the one where the rails were already down. In a couple of spots, moving by the flank undoubled is going to be about the only way to move through some of the obstacles. For Glendale-Malvern Hill, Ley Watson used his new toy, a hand held GPS unit, to guide us through the march routes , and these "puppy tracks" are overlaid on aerial photographs. This was a pretty good system, and would have been handy at Gettysburg for this march. This technology beats the heck out of what we had 15 years ago, and is "double plus good."
Whaddaya mean there are other events?
I know that the wires have been pretty quiet lately, but have no fear, things are moving forward on many fronts. The _______ staff has been quite busy finalizing our event planning for "Stand of Colors" in Kansas City Missouri this upcoming weekend, and that has been taking a fair amount of our attention. We leave for Missouri tonight. After next Monday, all efforts will be put into the coming Pennsylvania Campaign.
The Day of Jubilee -1
Imagine tossing a handful of pennies onto a gravel road, and you get the picture as to how the camps were laid out. Upon arrival just prior to dusk Thursday, Bev and I could tell the camp of convenience stretched from curbs of Fairfield to the sultry banks of Marsh Creek. We could not find THE place to unload the salt pork, which, of course, blocked the back of the F-250 from being able to contain the normal water tank. Good thing we had a solid Plan B. for water in the form of one of the five 65-gallon mini-tanks. At least we found the sutlers, and, yes, it did resemble a bowling alley.
So, after a wasted 3 hours looking for the battalion CP, we went home. No brigade HQ. No division HQ. Nothing. A package of posterboard, some tomato stakes, and a bigass black magic marker would have fixed this right up. Heck, even the AOT has survey stakes and plenty of string. A smart man would have used the come-along and chains behind the truck seat to ease the barrel to the rear of the bed, and kicked it off the ramps. I don't think it could have achieved a strike with the first barrel, but with the layout of the sutler camp and the slight down hill grade, a spare wasn't out of the question, and the 2-10 split looked entirely possible with the second barrel. Hey, I'm an optimist.
Back a the bunker, I managed to prep a few more items for the next day, and went to bed about midnight. Knowing I needed to make muchos changes amigos, so 150+ people wouldn't get the screaming runs all at once, (Not that it wouldn't be authentic) I arose at 2:30 a.m. to start my busy day compensating for incompetent federal staff. Since we had to be on site no later than 9:00 a.m. to meet the Northfield Charter Bus from Minnehoohah Minnesota, I spent the next few hours repacking, rearranging, and sanitizing the alternative water supply tank. The familiar Jerry cans were already good to go.
Escape from New Streamerville
We arrived on site after a marvelous breakfast, and we were early! Old Whitey the Wundertruck made good speed drafting Big Whitey. The bus from Minnesota by way of Giant market on US 30 in Gettysburg was right on time. Bobby Small was wondering what I meant by "I'm just waiting for a bus," but he found out soon enough. A few more laps around the event site, and deciding on whether or not to take on right side rubber during a caution flag...well, by nearly 11 a.m. Friday morning, the federal division and brigade staff morons might not have known where our battalion was located, but by then we’d dropped the barrel of salt pork, and at that moment that spot became the “Center of the G-d D--n Universe” at that point. Period. On the way out of the lane in the woods, I noticed a midget size sign that read "Civilians ---> ." I must be a complete idiot not realize that actually translated into "Battalion HQ." Crap! I've forgotten how to read mainstreamese. Maybe a quartermaster is worth only a nickel due to inflation. Would that make him a nickelmaster? Dunno, but we need to buy some.
The good news a certain Queen of Alabama, who shall remain nameless, also had this problem with the language and assumed osmosis:
Waved and waved
"Well, this explains why I spent the whole damn day over at the site lookin' for Chawls or anyone who had a clue as to where the Western Brigade Ossifers Mess belonged. My vee-hicle is also still loaded with plunder and eatables, including some salt meat that is a mite aromatic after a day in the sun.”
Big Kahuna need guide boy?
Knowing what I knew about the campaigner adjunct preparations, and having walked most of the march route four times since last November, I volunteered…okay, I was drafted by a battalion commander (in full panic) to be their Native Guide Boy. That’s right. No map here either, except for the one I brought highlighting the monuments, and roads. Mostly monuments. Folks now baking in the hot sun suddenly realized Bev and I were the only two people who had actually walked this march route. Driving a march route does not equal walking a march route.
Given that Bev cannot drive two trucks at once (as I did at Burkittsville 2001, but that’s a logistics nightmare you folks already know by heart), Terre Lawson (Winston Free State) and Abby Walker (AGSAS) were pressed into service as wheelmen in the getaway trucks. Don Kessler, his helpful pard Trevor, and the WB medicos were the soon to be operating overworked sag wagons. Did I mention fun with one way streets on the NPS site? Our women drivers were carefully selected -- because have you ever seen a gal obey a traffic sign when they need to get somewhere with the kind of alacrity generally reserved for those day-after-Xmas sales? ‘Nuf said.
Chief, they went thattaway
I wandered on ahead while the battalion did the Plum Run Boogie. The battalion missed the turn on to the lovely, shaded, lightly graveled road that cuts through (did I mention shade?) the huge red (ripe, tasty) raspberry patch to the Wheatfield (it exits by the big yellow house). Hello? Native Guide Boy is over here in the shade, and not on the hot asphalt! I ate my share of fresh raspberries, and exited ahead of the column at the Wheatfield. Bev was there with the water point well ahead of the battalion, actually two battalions as the AOO was along for the march. At least the battalion did not find the Doug Oakes Memorial Ground Bee Nest, as we discovered during the 124th NYVI march a few years ago. Was that really in 200o?
Now, just how do you water 169 men from a single spigot on a 65-gallon tank? As Art Stone would say, "With alacrity." We averaged 14.2 seconds per canteen, but that does not include the many who went through the line twice. The funny part of this operation (other than my arse became welded to the truck bumper) was the number of reenactors who have no idea how to run a three man canteen detail. You need an opener, a filler, and a corker. We'll never make it as pit crew on the Spherical Oblate NASCAR Team at this rate.
After the 40 minute break, during which we taught a hip pocket version of The School of the Canteen Filler, they trudged on to the peach orchard. A light breeze sprung forth. At this point, we started providing park visitors water, and that is always an iffy situation. I mean what if they eat at Gen’l Piglett’s Buffet, and then blame their Montezuma’s Revenge on our water? Actually, those vistors were people we knew, so that was okay.
Anything but countermarching
The second water fill-up was on West Confederate Avenue near the observation tower. The first stop had consumed about 85 gallons of water. Folks were thirsty. The boys also enjoyed lemon flavored Gatorade and switchel. A couple of them asked for a switchel IV. We figured they were from downstate.
Doubting Thomas asks
BTW, when you do these kind of things do you feel like you're beating your head against a wall most of the time?
Originally, Plan A (for Abilene) was to cut across the Eisenhower farm, but it was easier to just haul ass down Pump Station Road (Millerstown Road in some places) and make a left turn at Red Rock Road. About this time, the clouds were forming, and we were glad for the respite from the sun. The Asphalt Warriors hung a right over the cute little iron truss bridge, and “trabbled on” down the lane to Sach’s Bridge where the rain commenced.
Pioneers to the Front!
When we reached the little dirt road on the other side of the bridge, we had three choices. We could cut through the corn field, and maybe hit a barbed wire fence a half mile into the field. We could cut through the soybeans (sorry, Dusty) and go straight into camp, or take the woodlands route recommended by Chris Anders that purportedly ran “straight into sutler row.” Having been around Chris for over a decade, and spotting a wry smile that I recognized as a mischief indicator, I realized it would be wise to scout out this third route, and after the first six fallen trees coupled with chest high stinging nettles, my mind was made up that this battalion, this hale and hearty battalion of western men, would be far better off doing battle with the ankle high soybeans. Yes, it was that bad. It’s a good thing I like these people.
Why this worked
Let's keep the communications going, so we have a pretty good plan for presentation to NPS when they are ready to hear it. I am looking forward to the event, and know that we can make it a memorable one even if this does not work out, but we can REALLY make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience if we can get this done.
Just as someone laid down and died 15 feet into the march with a broken ankle, another fellow collapsed just before we made it to camp. This gave me a chance to listen to the posers in camp exclaim how great the marchers looked. Honestly, boys, my $5 Bawlmer Orioles hat wasn't that impressive. The marchers returned to camp, and the rest of the event got started. IMHO, and what do I know, but the best part of the event was the 4 mile march with 169 starting and 139 finishing.
Someone asked how did this all integrate into the event schedule. Here is one of the schedules, and there were more:
The Shed Yule
Through the telegraph office of the Western Brigade, we received the following:
Participant Schedule
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Noon Sutler Registration opens
5pm Reenactor Registration Opens - Cars allowed in camp
8pm Reenactor Registration Closes
Thursday, June 26, 2008
10am Registration Opens
5pm Registration Closes
Friday, June 27, 2008
10am Registration Opens
8pm Meeting of All Field Officers and Event staff at the Road between Respective HQ’s
11pm Registration Closes
Midnight Cars Banned from Camp for the Weekend
Saturday, June 28, 2008
6am Registration Opens
8am Registration Closes for Event
8:30am Commanders Walkthrough – Meet at the Road Between HQ’s – all officers Field grade and higher are required
9am Public Programming begins in Living History Area
11am "Battle of Willoughby Run"
5pm Public Programming ends
6:30pm Commanders Walkthrough for “Tigers at the Gate”- Meeting again at the Road between HQ’s
8pm “Tigers at the Gate” - Reenactor-only Battle
Sunday, June 29, 2008
8:30am Commanders Walkthrough for “To Cemetery Ridge” meeting at the road between HQ’s
9am Public Programs in Living History Area
11am “To Cemetery Ridge”
2pm Event Site closed to Public. Cars allowed in Camps.
The campaigner adjunct added a lot to this event, which is what they are designed to do. Is it a new idea? Nope. I'm posting this hoping it will revive some of this practice at other events, and get a new generation interested in moving from Point A to Point B.
We've covered the carpe eventum vittles, the campaigner adjunct, and next the event itself. The latter is already in the newsletter, but will be expanded a bit here.
Prelude to a March in B Flat
"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." -- John Quincy Adams
As a battalion, we started seriously talking about attending this event at the Potomac Legion "Town Meeting" at 2nd Kernstown last summer, with the hopes of fielding up to three companies of infantry. The promise of adding on a "value added" campaigner adjunct in the form of a brief, four hour, four mile, event march had a certain cache to it, but by the time the PL put boots on the ground the number amounted to a nice size company, which would be one of seven in the Western Brigade's battalion. The original march concept was to camp at the designated living history area (one of three) near the Pennsylvania monument Thursday evening, and march westward to the event site Friday morning. Following the desires of the primary landowner, the march kickoff time changed to Friday around noon with an arrival around 4 pm.
Traditionally, event marches have added much to mainstream events, and even events of lesser quality. Oftentimes, these campaigner adjuncts are the best part of such an event. Additionally, Silas Tackitt arranged for a confederate march eastward from Caledonia State Park, and Doug Dobbs was executing an unrelated, and much longer, Sixth Corps march. To return to the definitions for a moment, campaigning is about movement, and significant movement at that. To bastardize the well known Artes Latinae motto of campaigners: "Totem all yer crappum on your backum." I mention this, because quite a few people believe sleeping sans canvas at a static event is campaigning, or sleeping in the parking lot if it rains is campaigning, or something along those lines. The hot spots, blisters, turned ankles, fallen arches, broken legs, displaced hips, sagging shoulders, and worn leather mark a campaigner, or as the young folks are apt to say, give "campaigner street cred."
For locals, a trip to Gettysburg means an ice cream cone, a trivia contest to find a certain monument, clean-up day for an adopted marker, a convenient shopping opportunity, indigestion at the diner, and dozens upon dozens of living histories each year (not counting the paid-for-play show at the Wax Museum), but for folks who live thousands of miles round-trip away from the battlefield, well, it's far more special. In some small way, I can relate, since I tried to drink in every square inch of Glendale while we were making pre-event site visits down that way. Sometimes we take it for granted, but not everyone in the hobby has marched across or slept on [insert your favorite battlefield here]. For some, it may well be the only time they ever get to do this.
So, the adventure begins in earnest last year around that fateful Oct-Nov "meeting season." A couple of satellite images arrive in the email box, and we are off from there. Of course, Google Earth doesn't show all the features, all the fences, nor the one way street configuration, and, most of all, it can't predict whether the often out-of-service stone outhouse between the Pennsylvania monument and the living history area will be operating.
The names have been changed to protect the innocent, guilty, roaming livestock, flying hot dishes, cast and crew of the movie Fargo, and anything in between.
Marching Orders
Overview - This may all be impossible given the local farmers using some of this as cropland..... I grew up near __________ National Park, and none of it is plowed, so I'm used to being able to cross parkland at will - this may just not be possible at GNMHP. If not - at least parts of this plan are out the window.
I want to stay off roads as much as possible - would love to avoid need for any kind of a police escort. Want to cross roads quickly, thereby disrupting local traffic as little as possible. Only 'major' road to cross is Emmetsburg Pike - would imagine best plan to be approaching in a column of companies, one company crossing at a time - or, in a closed column of, hell, divisions, or line of battle, and march the mass across in one quick move...Other choke point would be the covered bridge - would have to block traffic for a few minutes to scoot over that stretch of road.
Where possible, would envisage marching in a column of companies @ full distance. This will give lots of practice to guides, etc. Certainly, some obstacles / defiles would require marching by the flank.
I have tried to avoid fences, but they are hard to see on the GoogleEarth maps - scouting will be required. Also, I worried about Marsh Creek - how much water is in Plum Run? (my recollection is very little) and Willoughby Run over near Red Rock Road....that may require another bridge....
a.. Form battalion near PA / Minnesota monument. Plan here is to roughly approximate 1st Div, Second Corps approach to Wheatfield - Cross/Kelly/Brooke route - not Zook
b.. Parallel Hancock Avenue, with that road on our left.
c.. Cross United States Avenue - somehow skirting Weikert Farm
d.. Continue South, between Crawford Road and Sedgwick Avenue
a.. This area might be a problem, esp. if next June is wet - it's a creek bed. Might have to turn west into the historical Trostle lane and divert route to more closely approximate Zook's approach - if we go this way, fences appear to be a bigger problem.
e.. Cross Crawford Road & Wheatfield Road near their intersection. If possible, avoid Wheatfield Road bridge over Plum Run and jump over it - if that is not feasible, cross the little bridge and then leave Wheatfield Road to the left (south).
f.. Enter Wheatfield at eastern corner. Possibly deploy, just for fun.
g.. Parallel Wheatfield Road through the Wheatfield - again hopping over west branch, Plum Run - hope it ain't too wet!
h.. Exit Wheatfield through the gap to the north of Rose woodlot, south of Wheatfield Road.
i.. Diagonal across big field toward Peach Orchard - are there any fences in this field? The Batchelder maps show several in 1863 - GoogleEarth doesn't show any.
j.. Cross Emmetsburg Pike just south of the Peach Orchard. If fences are a problem - possibly @ Rose Farm lane - looks like there is a fence on the west side of the pike to prevent entering far field if we exit on the road that circumvallates the Peach Orchard....What are the drainage ditches like?
k.. March cross the big field toward Seminary Ridge
l.. Cross West Confederate Avenue at a convenient spot.......
Onto West Map
a.. Roughly parallel Millerstown Road - marching on its south side
b.. Cross Eisenhower Drive
c.. Cross fields, then Red Rock Road & then Willoughby Run - again, if too wet, using the bridge on Water Works Road - or we just ford it at a good spot (sure the boys would love wet boots! - if the dew is heavy, they will already be wet)
d.. More fields - south of Water Works Road
e.. Enter Water Works Road after stopping traffic and then jog Sachs Bridge over Marsh Creek
f.. Get off the road - I think we are now on the event field in the NE corner.....
The general idea was doable. So, on a bright, shiny, wonderful afternoon after the Living History Guild's Gettysburg Memorial March (this is the alternative to the Rem Day thing downtown), Bev and I went walking with images in hand from The Minnesota monument to The Weikert House, and then by the yellow house, and the Wheatfield, and the peachless orchard (they'll grow), and across the field to W. Confederate Avenue. The question was how to get to the 13th NJVI's annual dinner, and at the same time get back out to retrace the steps on Red Rock Road, Rebecca Road, and the dirt lane to Sach's bridge. It got dark, so that would wait for a later day. This would be one of four forays on foot along the march route prior to the actual march.
The Excitement Builds
On the march - I have not yet called the park - will do so next week, I think. Will not need the map with all of the final bits until we actually submit the CUP request - so there is a bit of time yet. I want to touch base with GNMP so they are aware of our hopes, and can advise on things that will be total no-go's before we write them into the plan.
With the usual ruminations in the background, and event prep season coming along, and the usual light snows, the next thing we hear is a change order. Hey, that's fine for consulting work:
Hang on
Meanwhile, I've been staring at the map and considering another route, one that would keep us off more high-traffic county highways. More on that as I stare at the maps....Thank goodness this is Gettysburg! Lots of maps......
We ventured out in a light snow. A light snow reveals terrain features not normally visible, but this wasn't any great help. The man made features, mostly fences, were the big bugaboo. One post and rail fence beside the Weikert farm, perpendicular to the route of march and a lovely stone wall, was mostly down. Another fence was knocked down in the strategic corner, but still approximately 18" high. I could get over it. Bev could get over it, and from the tracks on the ground the deer were having a much easier time getting over that snake fence than either of us. That meant only two falling down fences needed to be negotiated between start and finish, plus or minus any barbed wire or American wire fences between Sach's bridge and the camps on the event site.
Happy Daze
I am happy to inform you that the WB has received permission for a march from the Pennsylvania Monument to the At High Tide event site on Friday, 27 June 2008. Up to 350 armed soldiers will be permitted on the march. We will be joined for this by members of the other western Federal battalion, the Army of the Ohio.
The permit states that we will be assembling between 10:00 am and Noon on Friday 27 June. We will march south to the Wheatfield, cross the Wheatfield, continue to the Peach Orchard, cross the Emmittsburg Road, pass over the crest of Seminary Ridge, skirt some county roads, and enter the event site by crossing the Covered Bridge on March Creek. The march is approximately 4 miles long.
We should be at the AHT event site around 4:00 PM, depending on how fast we move. The ration issue will occur Friday evening.
Big Whitey the water truck was available, or so we thought. The 210-gallon tank with the quad manifold is overkill for most marches of this size, but too much water is better than not enough. Water is cheap. EMS is expensive. Plan B was using one of the five skid mounted 65-gallon tanks in the back of any pickup truck. We ended up with Plan B, supplemented with the familiar Jerry cans. Just think, you started out with Maryland water and ended up with Pennsylvania water. Details, details....
A noon march would put the lads out there in the heat of the day, and the shade expires well before the Peach Orchard, but some shade resumes towards the end of the march. The shadeless stretch from Emmitsburg Pike to W. Confederate Avenue will sort out the men from the boys. The large hedgerows near the observation tower provide a modicum of shade for a break, but the sun situation isn't much better than being in a big field for about another half mile or more until Red Rock Road to the Iron Bridge.
This march would also need a sag wagon. (It needed several.) The diabetics who haven't maintained their blood sugar levels will fall before arriving at the Weikert House, unless someone has a handful of lemon drops. The early heat casualties will be flagged by the Peachless Orchard, another couple will throw in the towel by the time they hit W. Confederate Avenue, and someone will likely pass out by trying to make it to the covered bridge. If memory serves me, that's a local hangout for the ghost hunters. The sag wagon probably needs a capacity of five or six. In the end, the sag wagons hauled 30, if I remember the correct count.
Caulk & Paint
I have been in contact with GNMP regarding the minor modifications that we have requested to our permit. GNMP is in receipt of my request, but have not as of this date responded to us. As soon as I get an update, you will know all about it. We do have a permit, so the march will take place - the requested modifications would enhance the experience.
Speaking of governments, it was important to know the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has an interlocking "township" system. This is different from the township and range system Mr. Jefferson bequeathed to the western folks in that a township is not a standard 36-square mile unit of measurement, but a metes and bounds nightmare, and the local politics that come with it. Fortunately, this was not an issue, and we didn't need parade permits, police escort, zoning permits (for gatherings of 50 or more) or amusement tax.
D-Day Plans
Back to the march route...I agree with _______ about the Eisenhower Farm. They do WW2 events there, and James may be able to talk with them a little bit. I think most reenactors will readily understand any zig zags or additional movement to avoid farm fences, barbed wire, and crops on an active farm. Sometimes when the boys get into a "bad" location like that, it presents a good opportunity to eat lunch, or have a brief history lecture. The location would lend itself well to a talk about the aftermath of Gettysburg, be it blue or gray.
Most of the gaps in the NPS period fencing were small. SomAs mentioned above, most fences were avoided. The worst spot was the one where the rails were already down. In a couple of spots, moving by the flank undoubled is going to be about the only way to move through some of the obstacles. For Glendale-Malvern Hill, Ley Watson used his new toy, a hand held GPS unit, to guide us through the march routes , and these "puppy tracks" are overlaid on aerial photographs. This was a pretty good system, and would have been handy at Gettysburg for this march. This technology beats the heck out of what we had 15 years ago, and is "double plus good."
Whaddaya mean there are other events?
I know that the wires have been pretty quiet lately, but have no fear, things are moving forward on many fronts. The _______ staff has been quite busy finalizing our event planning for "Stand of Colors" in Kansas City Missouri this upcoming weekend, and that has been taking a fair amount of our attention. We leave for Missouri tonight. After next Monday, all efforts will be put into the coming Pennsylvania Campaign.
The Day of Jubilee -1
Imagine tossing a handful of pennies onto a gravel road, and you get the picture as to how the camps were laid out. Upon arrival just prior to dusk Thursday, Bev and I could tell the camp of convenience stretched from curbs of Fairfield to the sultry banks of Marsh Creek. We could not find THE place to unload the salt pork, which, of course, blocked the back of the F-250 from being able to contain the normal water tank. Good thing we had a solid Plan B. for water in the form of one of the five 65-gallon mini-tanks. At least we found the sutlers, and, yes, it did resemble a bowling alley.
So, after a wasted 3 hours looking for the battalion CP, we went home. No brigade HQ. No division HQ. Nothing. A package of posterboard, some tomato stakes, and a bigass black magic marker would have fixed this right up. Heck, even the AOT has survey stakes and plenty of string. A smart man would have used the come-along and chains behind the truck seat to ease the barrel to the rear of the bed, and kicked it off the ramps. I don't think it could have achieved a strike with the first barrel, but with the layout of the sutler camp and the slight down hill grade, a spare wasn't out of the question, and the 2-10 split looked entirely possible with the second barrel. Hey, I'm an optimist.
Back a the bunker, I managed to prep a few more items for the next day, and went to bed about midnight. Knowing I needed to make muchos changes amigos, so 150+ people wouldn't get the screaming runs all at once, (Not that it wouldn't be authentic) I arose at 2:30 a.m. to start my busy day compensating for incompetent federal staff. Since we had to be on site no later than 9:00 a.m. to meet the Northfield Charter Bus from Minnehoohah Minnesota, I spent the next few hours repacking, rearranging, and sanitizing the alternative water supply tank. The familiar Jerry cans were already good to go.
Escape from New Streamerville
We arrived on site after a marvelous breakfast, and we were early! Old Whitey the Wundertruck made good speed drafting Big Whitey. The bus from Minnesota by way of Giant market on US 30 in Gettysburg was right on time. Bobby Small was wondering what I meant by "I'm just waiting for a bus," but he found out soon enough. A few more laps around the event site, and deciding on whether or not to take on right side rubber during a caution flag...well, by nearly 11 a.m. Friday morning, the federal division and brigade staff morons might not have known where our battalion was located, but by then we’d dropped the barrel of salt pork, and at that moment that spot became the “Center of the G-d D--n Universe” at that point. Period. On the way out of the lane in the woods, I noticed a midget size sign that read "Civilians ---> ." I must be a complete idiot not realize that actually translated into "Battalion HQ." Crap! I've forgotten how to read mainstreamese. Maybe a quartermaster is worth only a nickel due to inflation. Would that make him a nickelmaster? Dunno, but we need to buy some.
The good news a certain Queen of Alabama, who shall remain nameless, also had this problem with the language and assumed osmosis:
Waved and waved
"Well, this explains why I spent the whole damn day over at the site lookin' for Chawls or anyone who had a clue as to where the Western Brigade Ossifers Mess belonged. My vee-hicle is also still loaded with plunder and eatables, including some salt meat that is a mite aromatic after a day in the sun.”
Big Kahuna need guide boy?
Knowing what I knew about the campaigner adjunct preparations, and having walked most of the march route four times since last November, I volunteered…okay, I was drafted by a battalion commander (in full panic) to be their Native Guide Boy. That’s right. No map here either, except for the one I brought highlighting the monuments, and roads. Mostly monuments. Folks now baking in the hot sun suddenly realized Bev and I were the only two people who had actually walked this march route. Driving a march route does not equal walking a march route.
Given that Bev cannot drive two trucks at once (as I did at Burkittsville 2001, but that’s a logistics nightmare you folks already know by heart), Terre Lawson (Winston Free State) and Abby Walker (AGSAS) were pressed into service as wheelmen in the getaway trucks. Don Kessler, his helpful pard Trevor, and the WB medicos were the soon to be operating overworked sag wagons. Did I mention fun with one way streets on the NPS site? Our women drivers were carefully selected -- because have you ever seen a gal obey a traffic sign when they need to get somewhere with the kind of alacrity generally reserved for those day-after-Xmas sales? ‘Nuf said.
Chief, they went thattaway
I wandered on ahead while the battalion did the Plum Run Boogie. The battalion missed the turn on to the lovely, shaded, lightly graveled road that cuts through (did I mention shade?) the huge red (ripe, tasty) raspberry patch to the Wheatfield (it exits by the big yellow house). Hello? Native Guide Boy is over here in the shade, and not on the hot asphalt! I ate my share of fresh raspberries, and exited ahead of the column at the Wheatfield. Bev was there with the water point well ahead of the battalion, actually two battalions as the AOO was along for the march. At least the battalion did not find the Doug Oakes Memorial Ground Bee Nest, as we discovered during the 124th NYVI march a few years ago. Was that really in 200o?
Now, just how do you water 169 men from a single spigot on a 65-gallon tank? As Art Stone would say, "With alacrity." We averaged 14.2 seconds per canteen, but that does not include the many who went through the line twice. The funny part of this operation (other than my arse became welded to the truck bumper) was the number of reenactors who have no idea how to run a three man canteen detail. You need an opener, a filler, and a corker. We'll never make it as pit crew on the Spherical Oblate NASCAR Team at this rate.
After the 40 minute break, during which we taught a hip pocket version of The School of the Canteen Filler, they trudged on to the peach orchard. A light breeze sprung forth. At this point, we started providing park visitors water, and that is always an iffy situation. I mean what if they eat at Gen’l Piglett’s Buffet, and then blame their Montezuma’s Revenge on our water? Actually, those vistors were people we knew, so that was okay.
Anything but countermarching
The second water fill-up was on West Confederate Avenue near the observation tower. The first stop had consumed about 85 gallons of water. Folks were thirsty. The boys also enjoyed lemon flavored Gatorade and switchel. A couple of them asked for a switchel IV. We figured they were from downstate.
Doubting Thomas asks
BTW, when you do these kind of things do you feel like you're beating your head against a wall most of the time?
Originally, Plan A (for Abilene) was to cut across the Eisenhower farm, but it was easier to just haul ass down Pump Station Road (Millerstown Road in some places) and make a left turn at Red Rock Road. About this time, the clouds were forming, and we were glad for the respite from the sun. The Asphalt Warriors hung a right over the cute little iron truss bridge, and “trabbled on” down the lane to Sach’s Bridge where the rain commenced.
Pioneers to the Front!
When we reached the little dirt road on the other side of the bridge, we had three choices. We could cut through the corn field, and maybe hit a barbed wire fence a half mile into the field. We could cut through the soybeans (sorry, Dusty) and go straight into camp, or take the woodlands route recommended by Chris Anders that purportedly ran “straight into sutler row.” Having been around Chris for over a decade, and spotting a wry smile that I recognized as a mischief indicator, I realized it would be wise to scout out this third route, and after the first six fallen trees coupled with chest high stinging nettles, my mind was made up that this battalion, this hale and hearty battalion of western men, would be far better off doing battle with the ankle high soybeans. Yes, it was that bad. It’s a good thing I like these people.
Why this worked
Let's keep the communications going, so we have a pretty good plan for presentation to NPS when they are ready to hear it. I am looking forward to the event, and know that we can make it a memorable one even if this does not work out, but we can REALLY make it a once-in-a-lifetime experience if we can get this done.
Just as someone laid down and died 15 feet into the march with a broken ankle, another fellow collapsed just before we made it to camp. This gave me a chance to listen to the posers in camp exclaim how great the marchers looked. Honestly, boys, my $5 Bawlmer Orioles hat wasn't that impressive. The marchers returned to camp, and the rest of the event got started. IMHO, and what do I know, but the best part of the event was the 4 mile march with 169 starting and 139 finishing.
Someone asked how did this all integrate into the event schedule. Here is one of the schedules, and there were more:
The Shed Yule
Through the telegraph office of the Western Brigade, we received the following:
Participant Schedule
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Noon Sutler Registration opens
5pm Reenactor Registration Opens - Cars allowed in camp
8pm Reenactor Registration Closes
Thursday, June 26, 2008
10am Registration Opens
5pm Registration Closes
Friday, June 27, 2008
10am Registration Opens
8pm Meeting of All Field Officers and Event staff at the Road between Respective HQ’s
11pm Registration Closes
Midnight Cars Banned from Camp for the Weekend
Saturday, June 28, 2008
6am Registration Opens
8am Registration Closes for Event
8:30am Commanders Walkthrough – Meet at the Road Between HQ’s – all officers Field grade and higher are required
9am Public Programming begins in Living History Area
11am "Battle of Willoughby Run"
5pm Public Programming ends
6:30pm Commanders Walkthrough for “Tigers at the Gate”- Meeting again at the Road between HQ’s
8pm “Tigers at the Gate” - Reenactor-only Battle
Sunday, June 29, 2008
8:30am Commanders Walkthrough for “To Cemetery Ridge” meeting at the road between HQ’s
9am Public Programs in Living History Area
11am “To Cemetery Ridge”
2pm Event Site closed to Public. Cars allowed in Camps.
The campaigner adjunct added a lot to this event, which is what they are designed to do. Is it a new idea? Nope. I'm posting this hoping it will revive some of this practice at other events, and get a new generation interested in moving from Point A to Point B.
We've covered the carpe eventum vittles, the campaigner adjunct, and next the event itself. The latter is already in the newsletter, but will be expanded a bit here.