Battle Of McDowell May 4-6, 2007 Highland County, VA

[Chessa]

Re: McDowell

One thing I noticed at McDowell: As the pickets got younger, it got easier to pass through the lines ::snickers::

I had a great time :) Granted, it was my first event out of state (never slept in a tent at a reenactment before), but it was a good first event. We had pretty good food and a great group of civilians. I just wish I had come up with a better persona...

[dixiecowboy25550]

Re: McDowell

Michael,

That was an interesting report. I couldn’t help but beam with some pride with mention of the "poor fellow buried under the guards” (not that I was a local ruffian or anything ;) )." That was enjoyable. I haven’t had as much fun in ages. Thanks to everyone for their hard work and dedication.


Andrew Marcum

[Pvt Schnapps]

McDowell After Action Report

An in-depth view of the harassment of the civilian population of McDowell :) , and other stuff. This was my third McDowell, and the best, thanks to everyone involved.

[Desperado]

Re: McDowell

This wasnt one of my favorite events. I thought it was supposed to be authentic ? Gold foil bags of coffee ? C'mon. At least take the sticky price tags off, for goodness sake. The uniforms and such were better than a main stream event I reckon. I didnt see any rubber soled combat boots or people wearing blue jeans with suspender buttons sewed on.

And then there was the guys out there playing picket. They did a fair enough job, but why didnt the officers of the Companies let the men know what the pass words were ? It happened to me twice, I was stopped once and never having been told what the pass word was had a little akward trouble with the picket and he with me,as we didnt quite know what to do with one another. And then once on picket duty myself, the Sgt in charge just dropped me off at my post and never told me either the challenge or the pass. So having stopped someone I was never sure whether it was safe to let them pass or not !

And the battles. Good Lord. They were the dullest things I'd ever been involved with . Command of the battalion I was with seemed totaly inept. Inept, confused,contradictory. If this had been a real battle the Yankees would have routed us Rebs Im guessing. I've not been in this hobby long,but Ive never been under poorer leadership before,or leadership that seemed so poor. It seems the officers in charge didnt know how to do anything but fight only 2 companies at once and then only in skirmish line. Im used to considerable action and manuevering. Not standing at order arms watching 2 companies in skirmish line try to fight a whole yankee battalion.And any period mood I might have been able to work myself in would have been destroyed when the trucks came up to take us to the battlesite for the sunday "tactical" . 1st CS Mechanized Infantry ? Oh well, as cold as it was I was glad of the things honestly.

I guess in short I considere McDowell to have been a mainstream event with good uniforms and unfortunate officers ! I had some fun mind you, its better than stayin at the house and wastin time and you always get to meet new people and have a good time talking and fellowshiping around the various campfires which is one of the main reasons we all do this I reckon. I just had pretty high expectations for this event, and they were not in the least close to being met.

But thats just my opinion, like I said I had some fun and everyone else seems to have as well so my comments are not in the least meant to offend or upset anyone or take anything away from someone who enjoyed the thing. Or to upset anyone who was in charge, I dont know who any of the officers were so Im totaly unbiased anyway. This is just my observations and personal feelings. Dont nobody get upset with me.

D.Matthew Sharp

[Guy Gane III]

Re: McDowell

I had a great time!

I was impressed by the number of good impressions I saw (at least on the Fed side - I didn't see too many Rebs being on Lt. Col. Buffington's staff.

The Saturday drizzle was a bit discomforting but the attitudes of anyone I came across was just the opposite.

Although there were a few less than spectacular kits, you can't base the event on those things. Those with low kits still knew their drill and were well trained - from what I saw.

Standing behind the lines to actually observe more than usual, I have to mention the importance of awareness by the company commander and the orderly sgt. There was an incident that occured on Saturday (thankfully nothing happened) during the battle, but was quelled quickly when the accused left the ranks so as to avoid a conflict. The accuser was at fault, as I witnessed it. Safety is a huge part of this hobby and there are no excuses.

Overall, I had a great time and I wish my sore hip and legs would have been able to carry me up the mountain and through the battle. Except for my lameness, I had a blast and many thanks to those who organized the event.

Cheers,

[John Slade]

Re: McDowell

Comrades,
I am the young confederate who took sick early on Saturday. I want to thank all of you for your help, and for finally getting me to Saunton. I am sorry if my inability to perform my soldierly duties brought down the experiance of others. Just remember sickness killed more than battle, and it didn't stop for the campaign. However this is not ment to defend myself, but rather to thank others.
I loved the event and am really looking forward to coming back in two years. I especially loved building the bridge and look forward to further and more ambitious projects in the future.
Finally, I was sent to the hospital without my gear, and while I have most of it back, I am still missing two items.
1-a black untarred, federal pattern haversack, with a tin cup on the outside, an poke sacks inside.
2-a medium brown blanket with tan stripes on the ends.
any help will be appreciated.

Thanks again.
A.P. Duafala
27 Va G
Wheeling's own Shriver Greys

[Wild Rover]

Re: McDowell

Frank,

Be sure to thank Bob, Dave and Bill...I was just there to play!

You were a life saver. Funny when 21st Century mthods fail, 19th Century methods save the day.

The guy who went down is ok, talked to him, it was a blood sugar thing, he will be more careful next time.

Pards,

[frankstevanus]

Re: McDowell

Definitely a step up from the typical "powder burn-saber dance" mainstream event.
And Chris and company did a great job organizing the activities. Best thing, my over weight horse lost about five pounds running up and down those mountains. Good stuff!
Thanks Chris

[Knapsack Matt]

Re: McDowell

The event was pretty good. Randy sorry I had to take you prisoner.

Matt

[Charge Bayonets]

Re: McDowell

Hey,

I had a great time.

Thanks for getting the event togather.

This was my second trip to that tiny town, and I half expected it not to be as good as my first. (I was just in such awe at what I went through as a new guy last year.)

rations weren't bad, (did miss the hardtack, but I understand) weather bearable, gorgeous setting.....

The fights were great
(Even if my company did get worked over more than once..
Saturday for example:
"Ok, you're going down this hill, and you're not coming back up"
Great.
Worth every awkward slide to the bottom though)
Yanks impressed me.

I really had a great time.

Thanks again event coordinators.

[Eric Wisbith]

Re: McDowell

For me the part that takes the cake was no women and children in uniform. I havent seen that since the early '90's, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Running a line of pickets halfway up the mountain and maintaining it thru the night was cool, even with the rain. I woke up about 3 AM and the moon was shining through the mist, awesome!

[Arthur Stone]

Re: McDowell

Gents!
I for one had a great time at McDowell this year. It was a different experience for me to do a war correspondent ( Alfred R. Waud). Accompanied by my friend Joe Bordenaro as Joseph Borden from Philadelphia. We were treated rather well by the federals all in all. It was good to see old friends, and meet new ones.
We missed out on our rations for the event because we were run out of the civilian camp, to which we registered. Live and learn I guess!
The highlight of the weekend for me was to be on the hill with the Pittsburg Battery, when the Rebs attacked and overran the gun. The first shot of canister took down 20 of those brave lads. We couldn't get out of there fast enough! And finding an" A "frame for Saturday night in the federal camp. We had around eight lads in there and laughed all night. The boys from the 13th and 14th N.J. and Rich Hill (Lt. Josiah Hurd). It was good to see him out in the field again.
My hat is off to the organizers, Great job! Hope to see you at the next one.

Alfred

[nrandolph]

Re: McDowell

Well, as someone, who with my good friend Mark Trail, worked the commissary and HQ mess, we did our very best to avoid any modern packaging. I know that it was always a concern to Ron Myzie and Kevin Kelley, our sergeant.
That said, Mark and I had a real blast! We had both "volunteered" to Ron way prior to the event and it just felt like home for the both of us. I'm sure we have Ron to thank for that atmosphere, along with the other members of the HQ staff. They were considerate and appreciative, probably not a period quality of all the officers at HQ!
I thoroughly enjoyed the variety of work we had, cutting up the bacon slabs, and the beef quarters (a first for me), peeling potatoes, and cooking nearly non-stop from Friday eve till Saturday eve, just don't e-mail my wife and tell her!
We had a good little scenario late Friday night with a Mrs. McGillicuddy and the two Wise sisters making their way into camp for rations, being questioned and finally allowed to draw rations and being escorted out to the end of our lines by the provost (Josiah Hurd?) and myself.
Saturday's battle was interesting to watch from our perch about a thousand yards up on the rise away from the action. It was easy to see the moves and counter moves of both sides from our view. Our officer (Ron) finally decided we were in danger of having our one road of retreat cut by the advancing rebels and he climbed aboard the wagon, which had the commissary gear, told the driver to move it, and Mark, Kevin, and I took off running in full gear behind the galloping wagon (cough, cough) for a half mile or so.
Saturday evening and night was rainy, but Kevin got up from time to time throughout the night to insure that we had a hot fire for some coffee at wakeup. Got a bit cool toward dawn also.
The march up to the battlesite itself was invigorating, and a good wakeup. I'll have to say that I've seldom, if ever, attacked up a 45% grade, and after the third time up, I made it to within about twenty yards of the Confederate lines, took a hit, and collapsed on the ground panting and allowing my burning thigh muscles a chance to recuperate. The battle was well done.
I'd also like to thank the guys in Co.A, 3rd Loyal Virginia for having Mark and I step into their ranks Sunday. They were alot of fun and made us feel very welcome! Thanks also to Bill Watson and all the officers at HQ and some of the boys of the 82nd Ohio, who we shared our cooking fire with in town.
Mark and I both enjoyed the event and it was certainly the better of the two McDowells we've been able to attend.

Neil Randolph
1st WV

[billwatson]

Re: McDowell

It is the darnedest thing that you just can't beat a produce vendor into believing that you really, truly want 300 pounds of SMALL, UGLY carrots or onions or whatever.

Ron Myzie and I were talking about the lack of repackaging of the rations we saw at the Confederate camp and trying to figure out how to avoid that at future events. The "event" supplied the rations, and the respective commands were to handle breakdown and repackaging into appropriate containers and whatnot. That happened OK on the federal side, but apparently not on the Confederate, and we were feeling bad about it and wondering if there's a step in the process we've overlooked. What we might do is jointly volunteer to provide Confederate commissary services at an upcoming event. That would give us a chance to see how things work over there and maybe figure out adjustments to make at the "event" level.

The price of hardtack went up since last June, and we decided to just skip it this time, especially given the last-minute rush to registration. The stuff needs to be ordered well ahead for the order to be met satisfactorily.

Sam, I wish I'd known you were there, I've looked forward to meeting you for some years now.

[S.D.Foster]

Re: McDowell

Overall, I enjoyed the event. This was my first time to McDowell. Here are a few reflections:

THE GOOD:
People conducted themselves in a military manner (at least from what I saw on the Federal side)
Most impressions I saw looked good. But I do agree there were a few things that could have been easily amended.
The march up the mountain on Sunday was great.
The weather on Friday and Saturday (until dusk) was as perfect as I could have hoped for.
Some great vendors were set up at McDowell, and all that I met were friendly and informative, even if you didn't end up buying something.

THE BAD:
I was a little disappointed to find out that things were unclear at registration. It took some time to discover where the civilians were supposed to be (I brought a few of them with me).
I was looking forward to an issue of hardtack with the rations. Some of the rations ran low when my company went for rations, but we were all fed and to my knowledge nobody went without.

THE UGLY:
The rain Saturday night was OK, but the wind afterward was a bit more unpleasant. But that is not the fault of anyone at the event!

I will most certainly plan to attend future events at McDowell.