Something to think on!

[Coatsy]

This is a quote for all of my Firey Federal comrades who have "taken up the torch" for Bummers.

From the letters of William W. Pendergast of Minnesota in regards to foraging in Georgia:

"If any one fails to live well it may be attributed to his own laziness."

I got this one while reading "Southern Storm" by N.A. Trudeau, who got that from the Pendergast Family Papers from the Minnesota Historical Soceity.

Merry Christmas all.

[Coatsy]

From Sam Watkin's "Company Aytch" descibing the Georgia Militia who at the time were attached to Hood's army. Take a look at pages 184 and 185.

I especially like this line: "A few had double barreled shot guns, but a majority had umbrellas and walking sticks."

http://books.google.com/books?id=WMzSDT7ykOEC&pg=PA184&dq=Joe+Brown%27s+Pets#PPA184,M1

These two pages are a fun read. We all know Watkins embellished it up a little in his book, but the descriptions in regards to the Georgia Militia are quite good.

~Herb Coats

[Coatsy]

For those inclined to go as Georgia Milita, here is an amusing instance in regards to an "older" gent in the ranks:

"Sam Griswold (grandson of the pistol maker) had this to say of his milita comrades. "Uncle Mem" Williams had posed an important question before the battle opened." This is in regards to the fight at Ft. Hawkins in East Macon, Ga. "What should an old man so crippled with rheumatism that he would not be able to run?" The officer in charge replied "Why we want those who can't run."

Oh the glory of being one of Gov. Brown's "Pets".

[PogueMahone]

If the event placed an age limit on the Union enlistees, the militia's ranks would swell.

Just sayin',

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Herb, that is good stuff. Ah History...

[Pat.Lewis]

If the event placed an age limit on the Union enlistees, the militia's ranks would swell.

Just sayin',

I like where your head's at.

[Mcguire]

[QUOTE=Coatsy;139643]For those inclined to go as Georgia Milita, here is an amusing instance in regards to an "older" gent in the ranks:

"Sam Griswold (grandson of the pistol maker) had this to say of his milita comrades. "Uncle Mem" Williams had posed an important question before the battle opened." This is in regards to the fight at Ft. Hawkins in East Macon, Ga. "What should an old man so crippled with rheumatism that he would not be able to run?" The officer in charge replied "Why we want those who can't run." [QUOTE]

I've found my first person impression for Bummers! Just call me Uncle Mem!

[Kiev Thomason]

Also think about this one for the federals....Uncle Billy was having his men arrested for waistin ammo. 40 rounds is all the bummers need!

[Coatsy]

Please excuse my extreme Farbiness! I forgot to cite the book where I got my last quote.

It is from Griswoldsville by William H. Bragg

And here is yet another good quote.

"After discharging the old men and cripples I had a good brigade as was in the army, as its record will show."

From Brigadier Charles D. Anderson of the Georiga Militia in regards to his brigade after the actions at Griswoldsville, Honey Hill, and Savannah.

This is also found in Griswoldsville by William Bragg.

Ah! A new perspective on Joe Brown's Pets.

[prestontoprail]

Hah, I'm reading Griswoldville right now as well. I do second the recommendation on catching a glimpse of this under-rated fight. It's a quick read as well.

[Coatsy]

Scaife, Davis, and Trudeau's books, plus the myriad of letter/jorunals seem to have one thing in common when it comes to what type of food that the Foraging Parties found.

Does anyone want to guess what that type of food is? I know the answer... Do you?

[PogueMahone]

Was it cotton?

[J. Donaldson]

Swine, sweet potatoes, and peanuts come to mind. I think Hitchcock mentions a couple of farms where soldiers found the peanut harvest drying on the roofs of outbuildings and simply scooped/pushed down the peanuts to bring them back into the Union.

[Hank Trent]

Does anyone want to guess what that type of food is?

Alive?

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[PogueMahone]

Its soylent green!

[Pvt_Sullivan]

I'm thinking there where lots of chickens. LOTS OF CHICKENS...

[WestTN_reb]

I remember reading an account some time ago (I just wish I could remember where) where a Federal was complaining that the men were begging to be issued salt pork, because they were fed up with eating chicken.

[PetePaolillo]

SWEET TATERS!!!!

http://images.quickblogcast.com/51351-46438/taters2.jpg

[Spinster]

Sweet potatoes!!

If I had to choose only one food and one food only for the rest of my life, that would be it. :D

[DocReynolds]

Dang...yew kin eat 'em raw, bile 'em up wif 'lasses or sugar, or fry 'em in bakon grease...thems is a maseter of awl foods...

Pete

[Coatsy]

Yup,

Sweet Taters are the first item of food listed in many diaries/journels. Porky porky pork is next.


Joe,

Soylent Green is about dead last in choices. Sorry.

[PogueMahone]

It is unclear who should be more insulted ... me or Pete.

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Joe,

I don't know if I am offended. If he's confusing you and me now... I must be becoming more honest in my old age, or you're getting better looking.

[blackhattertuck]

Coats,

Do any journals that you have read list War Roosters on the menu? A book I got at Vicksburg does... Something about how the General was finally fed up with that d___d Rooster... Bawka, Bawka!

[PetePaolillo]

Coats,

Do any journals that you have read list War Roosters on the menu? A book I got at Vicksburg does... Something about how the General was finally fed up with that d___d Rooster... Bawka, Bawka!

I just read in Glatthaars book that Cock fighting was quite popular among the Foragers and the loser would get cooked for Suppa..So I guess they was eatin Roostas!:D

[Coatsy]

I had someone bring this up to me the other day. Simple question, but effective.

"So what is the exact time period you are trying to recreate?"

Well we are looking at the opening 10 days of the Savannah Campagin aka the March to the Sea. With all of the reading/research I've found that the sterotype of Gone with the Wind homes getting torched left and right, wanton destruction of private property, speed looting, and a carnival like amtosphere are just.... well sterotypes.

The Federals moved a staggering grand total of around 7 miles the first day out of Atlanta. The next day was around 10 miles.

Sherman had a massive wagon train that he was VERY worried about loosing to that darn Wheeler chap and his men. He desingated one infantry DIVISION per day to guard it.

When those Darn Yankees came up on Middle Georgia homes, they were more apt to loot the out buildings (chicken coops, smoke house, etc) than the homes. Most folks in Middle Georgia were subsistence or yeomen farmers. If you don't understand what that means I suggest reading up on this. I know I have. In the first ten days out the majority of buildings torched were State or Government propert such as telegraph offices, train depots, cotton warehouses, military warehouses and the like. The home/property destruction that everyone thinks of when someone says "March to the Sea" really started up in South Georiga when the Federals started to see the larger farms and plantations. aka RICH PEOPLE (not that the opening of the Savannah Campaign was a kinder/gentler Sherman and Co.)

The short factoids here have been gathered from the Glatthaar, Trudeau, Davis secondary source books and the letters of fomr the likes of Hitchcock, Dolly Burge, and those Offical Records that people mention from time to time.

I cannot say this enough that what we are setting up for all of you to recreate comes from the history books. Eric and Co caught a lot of uncessary silliness because of knapsacks at Rich Mountain. Folks I cannot stress enough that the event is not going to be "easy." The terrain is tough and the personas a participant may enounter will cause you to make tough choices. Stay immersed in your persona.

Billy Yanks... You boys are looking for forage for you and your comrades back in the main column of march. Are you boys looking for a fight? Or are you looking for food. Remember what the men from Sherman's army were looking for when foraging. UncleBilly only allowed 40 rounds per man. No waisting of the ammo on hogs!!! The descrition of "Bummer" has a very broad meaning.

Georiga Militia... This is your home! Can you stand against the overwhelming blue tide? Do you even want to? What exactly did Joe Brown's Pets do??? Mr. Scaife and Mr. Bragg have a book on this very subject.

Confederate.... Wait there are no large Confederates infantry forces afoot in the Peach State during this time period except those at Savannah. General Hardee and his men are busy not having a clue as Sherman and his Blue Horde step off from the ashes of Atlanta. Looks like G.W. Smith, Henry Wayne, Howell Cobb and Joe Brown's 'Pets' are what is left to stem the tide. Inspired leadeship???

This is an immersion event. No one gives a rat's bum about the forums, your kewl gear, the polar ice caps, polar bears, or the internet. Read up on the March to the Sea. When you arrive onsite and are in kit by 5:30pm get into the mindset of one of Sherman's men, Joe Brown's Pets, and the civilians who were caught in the middle.....

[Ken Cornett]

So Herb, you mean it's not suppose to be a "Vietnam Ambush" with 400-500 Henry rounds per man? :tounge_sm

[PetePaolillo]

This is an immersion event. No one gives a rat's bum about the forums, your kewl gear, the polar ice caps, polar bears, or the internet. Read up on the March to the Sea. When you arrive onsite and are in kit by 5:30pm get into the mindset of one of Sherman's men, Joe Brown's Pets, and the civilians who were caught in the middle.....

Herb, you are so right....That is the truth


So Herb, you mean it's not suppose to be a "Vietnam Ambush" with 400-500 Henry rounds per man? :tounge_sm


Oh Man!!! LMAO:D.........I could not sit there and let that troll tell lies.. I think that I know what his intention was now though and I fell for it.:rolleyes:

[Coatsy]

Federal participants.. Look at the Cartidge Box of the XV Corps badge to see how many rounds Uncle Billy will let you carry.

[PetePaolillo]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e2/XVcorpsbadgehq.png

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Federal participants.. Look at the Cartidge Box of the XV Corps badge to see how many rounds Uncle Billy will let you carry.

Whew... thats good to know. I hate arsenal packs.

I seem to remember something about being charged legally and financially about unauthorized expenditure of ammunition.

[Coatsy]

Many thanks goes to Robby Mitchell for sending this historical tid bit my way:

“The following was written post-war by D. J. Miller, who served in Captain Randal Bennett's company, 29th Ga. Militia. (I suspect this is actually Capt. A.T. Bennett's co. from Clarke County, 11th Regt. Ga. Militia, or it could be Capt. James L. Wilson's Co., 11th Regt. Ga. Militia from Lowndes & Ware Counties as there is a "Pvt. R. McD. Bennett" on the roster as well as another "Pvt. David M. Bennett". This company's captain was KIA at Griswoldville and possibly "R. McD. Bennett" was elected captain.


"I left Waycross, Ga. on March 15th, 1864 at the age of sixteen and went to Macon, Ga. We were there two months on picket duty, guarding the city, and looking after the cemetery to see that no one disturbed the graves.



We did not have any tents, and our quarters consisted of tents made from young pine trees, beds made from straw which we raked up, and such other comforts as nature could furnish us. When it rained we had to endure it. We had to furnish our own clothing and blankets, the clothing being homespun woven at home by our wives and sisters. Hats we made from wiregrass. The Government did not furnish us anything but a little hardtack, and some meat - one pound of bacon to a man, per day. We were never furnished a uniform. . . While in Atlanta we were only furnished two meals a day, one at nine o'clock and the other at three or four in the afternoon. These meals consisted of stewed beef and rice. Later on, in August, we had only meal a day. We were ordered from Atlanta to Savannah, Ga., and while en route suffered the misfortune of being cut off from our commissary wagon by Sherman's army. We had to run and travel as fast as possible to save ourselves from capture by his army, which was then burning and devastating the country in its route to the sea."

This comes from the UDC letters collection, Vol. XX which is on file at the Ga. Archives."


So this letter is a good examole of the lack of government issued items to the Georgia Militia.

Now for those attending the event as Militia please read over this letter, digest the information, and perhaps read it again. What I am getting at is that Confederate issuedclothing should be almost non existant. Civilian clothing and home spun cloths that were made to look military should be seen in the ranks. I'm not saying that Columbus Depot or Atlanta Depot gear did not somehow get into the Militia Men's hands, but an entire company of men in Columbus or Atlanta Depot jacket is pretty much unacceptable at the event.

Event Guidelines: http://www.bummers09.com/Guidelines.html

There is plenty of time to get the needed items for the event. Make sure you are a responsible living historian and do so.