What is Piney Woods all about?

[Gallo de Cielo]

I saw a naughtly little elf taking a crack at the uniform standards for Into the Piney Woods in another thread. I believe it was directed at a particular type of belt plate which was either allowed or not allowed, thus comprosing the standards of the event.

For the record, the Ground Hornets are not putting on this event to hold an uber-cool fashion show. While we hope fellows will have good kits and take their impression seriously, that is not the over-riding concern. Kit only takes one so far. Owning the high-end, expenisve, museum-patterned gear is fine but what's the point of owning it and never using it?

What this hobby lacks is people with the right attitude. At BGR we had 200 folks with the right attitude. They were there to get a taste of soldiering. To hump a pack and stand picket next to their buddies. To eat hardcrackers and slab bacon and drink water drawn from a creek. To enjoy the few joys and more constant miseries of being a soldier. In short, to get as close a taste of what the fellows we theoretically strive to portray endured. I feel confident that a similar set of men will show up for Into the Piney Woods.

This is not an event about belt plates. It's not an event about the number of stitches on your cartridge box. Instead, it's an event about experiencing the life of a soldier for five days.

This event will take hardy folks, not flaky, pretentious whiners and snipers. If you are physically and mentally up for the event, come on down. If some particular piece of clothing or gear needs to be swapped with something, we'll square you away.

My guess is that if you asked the fellows who did Banks' Grand Retreat from start-to-finish if they remember what belt buckle the guys around them wore they'd neither remember nor care. They'd remember instead who was next to them and the experience that they had shared with those folks.

Tom Yearby wrote me an email after BGR which I hope he won't mind me posting. I've kept it and read it every now and then when I'm sick of seeing guys bash one another over trivial matters. I think this hits the essence of what we are striving for squarely on the head-

"It was all worth it to see those boys weary and bedraggled back at the parking lot Sunday morning. Then it was all worth it. Iron men they are. Every damn one of them and for those that live on keyboards and at sit around events, they know and we know the truth. The quest of the vision was reached. One of the many moments that I will remember forever was when old Cornbread came over and hugged me and with tears in his eyes said it was the best event he had ever attended and he had attended both the Red Rivers and would continue to come until he died in the woods with the boys."

Hope to see the Iron Men from BGR back in Kisatchie come March. Others up to the challenge are welcomed.

[Mcouioui]

We shall be there, it is that all, us want...:wink_smil
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PS: For the belt, mine will be pink, but as nobody looks :p

[Old Reb]

Yes, indeed, Iron Men they were and Iron Men they shall be! Guidelines for the event are generic Trans-Mississippi. They might not be unit specific enough for some people, but I have a doubt after the fourth day of slogging through bayou bottoms and scrambling up hills and eating poorly and sleeping little it will matter. A soldier's life on the campaign is what we are envisioning, not a sit around an admire who made what event. There are plently of events where one can do that, but few that allow five days on the campaign in a very remote region far from modern things. Fred and I want Into The Piney Woods to be better than BGR. That is our goal and those that attended BGR know that is a lofty goal, but one we are striving to implement. So, get registered and pay no attention to the boo birds that say that we have the wrong belt buckle on the guidelines. For the brave and hardy men of the 28th Louisiana such petty quibbling would no doubt seem rediculous. They cared not what they wore and probably didn't care where it came from. They cared about there mess mates. They cared about their comrades in arms. They cared about their homes and families. They no doubt cared little about their belt buckles. I have written enough, but I want to urge the hardy men of reenacting that want a unique experience to register and attend Into The Piney Woods. Since the complaint was directed at the Confederate guidelines, I wrote regarding those guidelines and in no way mean to slight the Federals who also took part in the Red River Campaign.

[Spinster]

From my AAR for Banks Grand Retreat:

I have seen an army appear in an instant, silent as the grave, and there without warning. Even though I knew they were coming, and from which direction.

And in that dappled sunlit piney woods, one army looks about like another, hard to tell apart--weary, hard, hungry, men------here, gone.


At the time, my educated eye had difficulty in even discerning which army was upon us, never mind the details. A few days of this sort of solidering, and any pretense falls away, revealing a man's true ability and true attitude.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

The guidelines are secondary. Show up, have a good time and LEARN!

[Mcouioui]

I would say that it is a whole, guidelines, authenticity, conviviality, friendship, etc. without important differences...
But that effectively, a story of belt, it is secondary, I did not follow this story and Sincerely when we are 10000 km to come from Europe, for one event and that we chosen this event and not the other one, a story of belt seem surrealist and very very very secondary ;)
Peace and Love for IPW and my ping belt too :) :) :)

[Terry Sorchy]

Piney Woods is a soldiers event. I had many men that are and were real soldiers come up to me after BGR and tell me this was as close to the real thing as they got. It is an event that will take all the things you have read about in soldiers journals and bring them to life. The only thing we wont recreate is the flying lead and steel. Being out there in the middle of no where for more than two days really does it. We are looking at an event that will accumulate 37 miles of marching. Having tools food and ammo brought by wagons. No modern intrusions, filling your water in streams.
A full week of immersion. Even those not used to first person were into it during the event. It wont be easy but neither were the things those iron men did during the war.
Step up and come. We would love it if you did. You wont be sorry.
Cheers
Terry Sorchy

[The Lonely Reenactor]

Fred, us Sample brothers will be there for sure! Maybe even with pink belts issued to us from our pard William from the Pink Flamingo Mess! Marty Rubin,Tater Mess

[Mcouioui]

I have one question, you are sure, this model is good for IPW :D:):D:rolleyes:
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8551/beltgd9.png (http://imageshack.us)

[Andrew Kasmar]

They might not be unit specific enough for some peopleTom Yearby

Hi,

I think that was the point made by several people. Would I personally like to see the guidelines more specific to the 28th Louisiana, yes. However, if you can get a kit that is close to what these men wore, it would not bother me. The one thing that I would change, is how the guidelines are set up. I would list the items in two sections. One being the items we know the 28th used, and the second being items that are generic to the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Doing this, I think, would clear up some of the problems. Just a thought.
I thik everyone has got it right, after the third day, no one is going to care what the guy next to him is wearing!!!!!!!!:D Thanks

Andrew

[MD_Independent]

I have one question, you are sure, this model is good for IPW :D:):D:rolleyes:
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8551/beltgd9.png (http://imageshack.us)

Damn... I need to get that belt... Newest reenactor fashion from Paris...

William Birney

[Charles Heath]

That belt needs a Bully Buy!!

Billy, have you read that diary from that thar Illinois feller in French yet? Just thought I'd mention it (again).

[coastaltrash]

Andrew,
Let me tell you one thing about this "specific" guidelines. I have seen and received messages about specifics that have little more than a two word quotation that was in large part misinterpreted and used to form one persons opinion of what a group should be wearing. I've also seen a two word quotation be used as examples of what jacket a group should be wearing 6 months from the date of the quote. Jackets didn't last that long.

The problem is with a "specific" impression is that you are probably more incorrect by going after that (unless you have a picture) than a generic impression for the scenario. On top of that, asking a group of people to continuously fill their closets with jackets they may use once, is probably as close to retarded as one can get.

I've got no dog in this fight, as I'm not attending the event due to real life. But I know that the Ground Hornets are one of the finest groups in the hobby, do not lack on standards and can out march any silk footed person that wants to challenge them. I enjoy their friendship, and admire their hard work.

[Mcouioui]

I joke with my pink belt for relax atmosphere and put in perspective, but far from me the idea to boost the belt debate, because very honestly, I did not look this debate.
What is the guidelines, I would follow it, but I understand that it is very difficult to impose something to the people, while alone it is simple to make.
But as I have already said, this event is a whole and the seriousness of the guidelines is also important for me as the other things which make this event.

[Andrew Kasmar]

On top of that, asking a group of people to continuously fill their closets with jackets they may use once, is probably as close to retarded as one can get.

Hi,

I do that way to much!!!!!!!!:wink_smil:D

[Rob Murray]

Andrew,

To re-iterate what Fred and Tom have said, this event is NOT about who wore what buckle. This event is about getting off ones computer and attending an event that IMHO, will be as close to the real deal as you will find.

A 5 day event is so unlike a weekend event. You end up BECOMING a company, instead of just 35 guys with a couple of strap hangers, depending an each other to make it to mustering out.

You don't need to be a marathon runner to take part in this event, just have a modicum of physical fitness, as well (and probably more important) as the mental fortitude to continue to put one foot after the other when the going gets tough.

BTW, Tom or Fred, the guys around me were wearing US buckles:D

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Timothy Arnold, Scott Busenbark, and Preston Todd these were just names before BGR. After BGR they became my brothers.

That is what this event is about.

[boozie]

Hear, Hear Holler!

I don't really care myself. As I recall at BGR, Federals were to wear frocks and mounted trowsers. In our company; probably 1/4 of the guys were wearing frocks. I may have seen two pairs of mounted trowsers myself. There were many Federal blouses and jackets.

I guess my point is that it did not matter to anyone at the event. You became soo busy with marching, fighting, cooking, eating, sleeping and surviving that no one even cared who was wearing what. The kick is just being out there and living the life of a mid 19th Century soldier. It's about as close as we can come in the 21st Century. As Holler stated, you will definitely make new friends and alliances. You have to count on one another to live.

Plus the Federal guidelines are pretty easy to pull off this time around.

[Campjacksonboy]

I think we should reenact the battle of Agincourt 1415. Most of the Army had diahorrea. Try dropping trou with chainmail and armour!!! This would make it a little more appropriate to the Henry V, Shakespeareian speech that was delivered at the end by one of Mr. Sorchey's boys and I wish I had been able to memorize that speech (although I have been working on it).
Aside from trying to be faceious here, it was all that and more.
Guidelines are a good thing but even more important is finding good men that will do their duty. With out them we have no army and one is left alone in the woods holding the bag. Anyone who would say differently has never planned an event.
If you ain't there....
Now back to filling the ranks

Frank Aufmuth

[Mcouioui]

It is Azincourt, but for the rest of your message, I agree with you ;)

[Old Reb]

Yeah, Frank. It was Azincourt not Agencourt. Azincourt was when Big Foot Wallace and the Texas Rangers whupped the entire French army along the Rio Grande.

[Mcouioui]

Another urban legend :) :) :), It is the episode with Luke Skywalker? I did not look at it that ... :) :) :)

[Old Reb]

William,
Do a web search of Big Foot Wallace. There will be a test of your knowledge regarding him at Into the Piney Woods.

[Mcouioui]

I joke obviously Tom, put that at the count of the French chauvinism ;)

[DougCooper]

I have one question, you are sure, this model is good for IPW :D:):D:rolleyes:
http://img300.imageshack.us/img300/8551/beltgd9.png (http://imageshack.us)

If anybody shows up with a new issue pink belt, I am sure Tom and Fred will rub some dirt on it to make it look a little more "worn." Course, after the first day at BGR we all looked alike, as Terry's quote states. ;)

Seriously, it's funny how real soldiering quickly removes us from the rediculous crap this hobby sometimes worries about on-line. Out in the field, in first person, is where the hobby gets closest to the real deal. Fortunately thanks to Tom and Fred and Eric and Ken, Tripp, etc...there is plenty of real soldiering on tap for 2009.

[ohpkirk]

If I am sure Tom and Fred will rub some dirt on it to make it look a little more "worn."

If you are referring to your sparkling Pen jacket when you came to the Mansfield muster, you must remember that the muddy handprint and tobacco juice were done out of love.......

No other reason.

[Campjacksonboy]

Well I don't know how you spell it but that's how it's spelled in the books here. Just looked it up...again.
A-G-I-N-C-O-U-R-T
The Face of Battle,p 67-100. Don't like it? Take it up with John Keegan.

Frank Aufmuth

[MarionRifles]

Azincourt happens to be the French spelling of the area in question.Pardon the spelling differences William,English (and American) folks tend to spell things a little different to get the sounds right.

[Campjacksonboy]

Yeah, I didn't want people on the other side of the ocean thinking I was incompetent. I get enough of that from the wife;)
Frank Aufmuth

[Mcouioui]

No problem, i indeed understand Ron, we also play with English spoken, so that rings better, I think moreover that in all the spoken languages ;)

[Mcouioui]

Far from me this thought Frank, ;) I make errors every day and my English write as spoken is the proof :) :) :) while making errors which we learn ;)

[biddler165]

I can't wait to get into Kisatchie. My kit isn't the the most accurate, but I am slowly but surely getting there. Hopefuly, my "real life" Army job will not keep me from attending.

William,
Please bring some of the same chocolate that you did for BGR. I want to trade for something from Texas. Tell me what you want and I will get it to you

[Mcouioui]

Rick,

Chocolate, black or milk, french or belgian?

[biddler165]

William,
I prefer black. The country of origin does not matter. What would you like from Texas?

[Mcouioui]

Nothing more that a good event, good friends and companions...
Or maybe a texan girl, a cow... ;) I joke, I have no place in my suitcase :) :) :)
Nothing Rick It is my pleasure ;)

[ohpkirk]

Rick,
I have a bunch of chile petin's we can give William.....

I am sure he will love them.

[DougCooper]

Yeah, I didn't want people on the other side of the ocean thinking I was incompetent. I get enough of that from the wife;)
Frank Aufmuth

No chance of that Frank - the collected folks who followed you at BGR (and that whistle) would be glad to send your bride a testimonial of your extreme competency :D

[Mcouioui]

Rick,
I have a bunch of chile petin's we can give William.....

I am sure he will love them.



I do not know why, but I am afraid when I read that...:(:confused_:sarcastic:D

[Alamo Guard]

As my memory doesnt fade too quickly, I remember bring a handful of the delightful little peppers to our brothers across the waves when they attended the Franklin Event a few years ago.
A few of these peppers can spice up almost every meal adding a unique taste that shall be remembered always.
The REAL Texans have been known to put one in their mouth and slowly suck out the juices on the hottest of days. They keep them in their mouth the whole time they are out working in the hot sun. Although quite spicey the peppers keep the mouths moist and preventing cottonmouth. At least it does and did for me.
Might I also suggest dicing the little fireballs and mixing them with your period mustard?

[stx]

The only thing we wont recreate is the flying lead and steel. Terry Sorchy

I guess this means dying of disease isn't out of the question?

[Terry Sorchy]

Tim,
I guess you will just have to be there and find out old boy!:D
Cheers
Terry Sorchy

[stx]

Haha, believe me I'm swingin' for the fences trying to make it happen. My last hurtle is convincing my dad, but I'm working on it with some help.


....and everyone should experince dysentery at least once in their lifetime, right?

[Coatsy]

So when we get to the end after marching around all week, is that when we are recreating Age'n-Court? :)

[Auld Pelty]

At BGR there were a few men who re-created ailments serious enough to require treatment at the ER. Not much fun, but they were authentic other than the intervention of modern emergency medical care.

This year, we are asking for volunteers to have some slip and fall accidents, burns and perhaps a snake bite.

[Old Reb]

Fergus,
Sergeant Major Johnson heeded your request. Lucky for us, the teamsters had a block and tackle with them that was capable of wenching out a fully loaded wagon. Unfortunately, it broke trying to pull the good Sergean Major out!

[Auld Pelty]

I was about 5 yards up the trail and heard him fall. Sounded like something heavy falling hard on pavement. He must have read my post because he did not seem interested in talking to me the next day.