A Few Images

[Gallo de Cielo]

I did not have a camera and saw one only twice the five days I was there. However, some crafty folks must have managed to get one in and snap some images.

Below you will see a few token frames, taken from four days in the field. They are of the finest men in the hobby. I would march with them anywhere and invite them to my fire at any time. I miss them greatly.

(Part 1)

Regards,

[Gallo de Cielo]

Additional images.

(Part 2)

[Gallo de Cielo]

Mas.

(Part 3)

[Gallo de Cielo]

Fin.

(Part 4)

[DougCooper]

If anyone wants an idea of what the roads (trails) looked like most of the time, the first photo is pretty accurate. I lost count of the creeks we splashed across but at times it was hard to tell where creek and trail seperated. Mud, mud, mud and standing water everywhere.

There were no water buffaloes on this one - did not need them. One purification tablet per canteen drawn from moving creeks over sand bottoms. We did not see a single fence after Wednesday, nor any other man made structure of any kind except for the civilian camp and a park service shelter or two which tended to blend in and resemble period structures. We crossed a macadamized road twice and saw two gravel roads. Burned woods, mud, water, hills, more mud, rocks, sand, unburned pine trees and nasty thorn vines. The weather was awful on Wed, raining all day and saturating the entire area, and most of us. After that it was cloudy or gorgeous...and unbelievably dark at night (Friday was a new moon).

The first night we camped on a slight slope in the rain and when we attempted to dig a fire pit, the water gushed up from only 2 inches down. It took over an hour to start good fires, even with candles and a pile of uneaten forage. Field craft was tested.

At one point on Friday we saw 2-3 little fires and thought we had set them, but it was burning embers left over from the controlled burn.

At night we heard packs of coyotes howling and saw stars many of us had not seen in years. During the day birds of prey flew over, wondering what the fuss was about no doubt. No bugs or snakes. Distant artillery could be heard from Fort Polk at times, whch added an interesting dimension.

In short, the area was perfect, and had not changed a bit in 145 years.

[Gallo de Cielo]

One of my favorites is the one taken over the top of Nathan's draft mule team with both columns of men marching side by side.

At the end you can see Sgt. Major Hicks chatting with a Secesh boy. In the middle are the two flags, both made by Mrs. Cindy Stuart of Flower Mound, Texas. Her work on the Taylor flag was really, really something.

As Doug notes, the stream crossing images of men filling canteens shows what it was like. These were meant more for the men who came and did this as I found they jogged memories for me just looking at faces and remembering events attached to each man.

Regards,

[Silas]

No bugs or snakes.

Speak for yourself, Coop. Judging by how throughly the heads were buried in my flesh, I seemed to have carried one for most of the event and acquired another toward the end. All told, the scorecard in the contest between ticks and bruises of no known origin was : ticks two and bruises four.

I thought the burn would have kept them down. Maybe it did.

[BorderRuffian]

Speak for yourself, Coop. Judging by how throughly the heads were buried in my flesh, I seemed to have carried one for most of the event and acquired another toward the end. All told, the scorecard in the contest between ticks and bruises of no known origin was : ticks two and bruises four.

I thought the burn would have kept them down. Maybe it did.


I picked up a tick as well.Thankfully skeeters and chiggers were a non-issue.:)

[41stVa]

Great Pictures. I didn't even notice at first, but I'm in a few of them. It was an amazing experience and i'd do it again in a heart beat. I was actually able to portray my fiance's ancestor who was in the original Co. A of the 81st. Maybe of few of you Rebs remember me??? George W. Eaton aka "Little Mac" It was great sharing your food and tobacco the two times y'all captured me :-) However, I guess none of you was a McCllean man :)

I had a wonderful time and made many friends! I can't wait to take the field with yall again. Thank you everyone!

Ryan Protz
aka George W. Eaton and Little Mac

[AZReenactor]

Little Mac,
Good to hear from you. It was great to serve with you in 2nd Platoon!

[Silver Spring Guards]

One of my favorites is the one taken over the top of Nathan's draft mule team with both columns of men marching side by side.

A most wonderful Photo.

[utahreenactor]

Great Pictures. I didn't even notice at first, but I'm in a few of them. It was an amazing experience and i'd do it again in a heart beat. I was actually able to portray my fiance's ancestor who was in the original Co. A of the 81st. Maybe of few of you Rebs remember me??? George W. Eaton aka "Little Mac" It was great sharing your food and tobacco the two times y'all captured me :-) However, I guess none of you was a McCllean man :)

I had a wonderful time and made many friends! I can't wait to take the field with yall again. Thank you everyone!

Ryan Protz
aka George W. Eaton and Little Mac

Ryan,

Sorry I didnt get a chance to bid you fairwell at the end of the event. My two pards were quite eager to get going and have lunch. It was awesome meeting you and serving as prisoners together! Your first person was really superb and it added a lot to my expirience. I hope I will see you on the field again one of these days!

Chase Pinkham

[DougCooper]

Great Pictures. I didn't even notice at first, but I'm in a few of them. It was an amazing experience and i'd do it again in a heart beat. I was actually able to portray my fiance's ancestor who was in the original Co. A of the 81st. Maybe of few of you Rebs remember me??? George W. Eaton aka "Little Mac" It was great sharing your food and tobacco the two times y'all captured me :-) However, I guess none of you was a McCllean man :)

I had a wonderful time and made many friends! I can't wait to take the field with yall again. Thank you everyone!

Ryan Protz
aka George W. Eaton and Little Mac

Ryan - there was much discussion of your differing political views in our CS camp. We wished there were more Little Mac men and fewer Lincolnites! Your impression was outstanding.

Do you have a copy of the 81st Illinois regimental history? If not, grab a copy here (only $10):

Experience in the War of the Great Rebellion (Regimental History of the 81st Illinois) by Edmund Newsome

Jackson Co. (Illinois) Historical Society- book list at: http://mysite.verizon.net/jchs/BookList.htm

[Dreamer42]

To all,
Many thanks for everyone who put this event together, and especially for men and women who attended to my needs while "un-shod" on the third day. I was impressed that so many of you showed concern for my medical and physical needs in regards to my shoe "blow-out". All is well now and the guilty leather has been repaired.
Also, I was impressed with how quickly many became "a band of brothers" within such a short time. I attribute much of this to the goals of this website and dedication each of you have for accurately portraying history the way you do.
Congradulations and well done. When my pics come in I'll be sure to post them.
Dan Monahan...your sketch is in the mail.

Jay Reid
Dreamer42
9th Texas/165th NY

[Footslogger]

The French fellers have posted some photo's and a couple of sneaky video's on a hosting site here are the links.

http://news.webshots.com/album/558297133nYHxeW

http://news.webshots.com/album/558301107WYTBOs
http://news.webshots.com/album/558305952KDEeDg

http://news.webshots.com/album/558307275YkFbjK

(http://news.webshots.com/album/558305952KDEeDg)http://news.webshots.com/album/558307018tdXVlU

Regards
SteveB

[huntdaw]

I really like that photo of the Confederates in the woods. Had no idea that was being taken - there must be a pretty good lens on that camera. We were the reserve at the time and were watching the skirmishing going on ahead, waiting for the call to advance and hopefully push the Federals along one more time.

There is a look on the face of many in the photo - tired, anxious, straining to see what is going on in front, to read the skirmish wondering if we will be thrown into the fray or be allowed to stay in the relative safety of the reserve position.

I really felt good about this event when it was over and I was heading home. The farther away I get from it and the more I reflect on it the better I feel about it.

[Emily Burns]

Beautiful photos! You took some wonderful photos in the civilian camp. I'm kinda partial to the ones of my darling Anna.

Kind regards,

[DougCooper]

Beautiful photos! You took some wonderful photos in the civilian camp. I'm kinda partial to the ones of my darling Anna.

Kind regards,

Me too - showed them to my daughter Abigail when I got home and she said "she looks like me!"

[Rob Murray]

I would like post a picture of Co.B, 81st Ill. taken after the event. The company lost 1 man during the event. The finest company I have had the pleasure to command.
From L-R. Sergt. Rob Carter, 1st Sergt. Andrew Willenbring, Dave "Tiny" Grimes, Cpl. Mike Scott, Joe Johnson, Martin Goff, Ted Whitten, Dan Monahan, Kevin Gansz, Cpl. Kelly Scott, Grant Wilson, Jeff Lehmann, Tom "Cornbread" Key, Cpl. Dan "Bobo" Williams, Sergt. Joe Smotherman. Kneeling Capt. Rob Murray and 2nd Lt. Bill Hoskins. Photo by Grant Wilson 13th US.
I would like to take this time to make special mention of Cpl. "Bobo" Williams who performed outstanding work tending to the mens medical needs, as well as stabilizing Capt. Sean Miller when he went down on the first day.

[DougCooper]

I would like post a picture of Co.B, 81st Ill. taken after the event. The company lost 1 man during the event. The finest company I have had the pleasure to command.
From L-R. Sergt. Rob Carter, 1st Sergt. Andrew Willenbring, Dave "Tiny" Grimes, Cpl. Mike Scott, Joe Johnson, Martin Goff, Ted Whitten, Dan Monahan, Kevin Gansz, Cpl. Kelly Scott, Grant Wilson, Jeff Lehmann, Tom "Cornbread" Key, Cpl. Dan "Bobo" Williams, Sergt. Joe Smotherman. Kneeling Capt. Rob Murray and 2nd Lt. Bill Hoskins. Photo by Grant Wilson 13th US.
I would like to take this time to make special mention of Cpl. "Bobo" Williams who performed outstanding work tending to the mens medical needs, as well as stabilizing Capt. Sean Miller when he went down on the first day.

Rob - you guys look great, esp with Tiny and Joe as bookends :) Course you also had the ultimate guide in Mr Lehmann - good move that!!

[Rob Murray]

Doug, As a side note, I learned on the drive home that "Tiny" is a Lt. Col. in the modern Army and will be making a trip to the "Sand Box" shortly. "Tiny" if you're reading this, good luck and Godspeed. I am always humbled when combat vets follow me in the field.
Thank the Lord for Jeff! Otherwise we might still be in the bayous', dodging the "bayou yetis'"

[Miss Elodie]

The French fellers have posted some photo's and a couple of sneaky video's on a hosting site here are the links.

http://news.webshots.com/album/558297133nYHxeW

http://news.webshots.com/album/558301107WYTBOs
http://news.webshots.com/album/558305952KDEeDg

http://news.webshots.com/album/558307275YkFbjK

(http://news.webshots.com/album/558305952KDEeDg)http://news.webshots.com/album/558307018tdXVlU

Regards
SteveB

Many thanks, SteveB for posting the link to this album; my Acadian great-great grandfather Charles Theogene Daigle & my gr-gr-gr-uncle Pierre Blanchard served in Co. C of the Consolidated 18 Reg't and Yellow Jacket Batt'n, Louisiana. Both survived Pleasant Hill & Mansfield though many of their compatriots didn't. I have followed the campaign and walked many of the battlefields, but these pictures, as well as all those posted in this thread bring that particular conflict to life!

Thanks very much!