Thoughts on Manassas

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

It was a pleasure to have you with us, Richard! Let's be sure that Manassas is NOT your LAST event!

Take Care,

[Rcceli]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

This was my very first event. No, not my first national, my FIRST event. In addition to my mess mates, I would like to thank a few individuals. Justin Runyon for making me feel welcome and placing me with Andrew Martin and (forgive the spelling) a Mister Tinley. As my NCO and rank mates they helped keep in line and on track. I really appreciate your patience and teaching Gents. John Wickett was a caring and well versed Captain who illustrated to me a great deal of leadership and compassion. I was thrilled at Saturdays battle and I will never forget it. It was awesome to have folks cheer you on going in and have Spectators cheer you on coming out. I am glad that I had the opportunity to share this experience with so many dedicated and stellar people. The Gentlemen who portrayed the Staff Officers Slave (Marvin Greer I think) was magnificent! What a credit to historical accuracy as well as a fine man helping with ice, water and wherever he could. He was by far the BEST IMPRESSION of us all.

As far as the 2nd leaving early, I will say this. I am 53 years old and most of the 2nd appeared to me to be twice the age of the original combatants. If we would have had cots or a level, non rocky, non rooted ground to refresh ourselves it may have been a different story. You can not battle the heat with 3-5 hours sleep. I flew missions in the Air Force with swollen knees, poison sumac that turned my legs purple and a variety of other ailments. I have nothing to prove to anyone. I never fell out or slowed Saturday, but when my mess mates talked about leaving early, it was an easy decision.
Just thought I would add "some more facts"

Yours respectfully,

Richard Celia

[David Fox]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

I was a high schooler hooked onto an Illinois N-SSA group when I participated in the 1961 Manassas reenactment. Laughed at the near-100 degree heat. T'was in my my early 40s when I suffered stoically through the 100 degree heat of the 125th Manassas. Last Friday, soaked with sweat, I made my wise but lonely decision not to dress-out, walked my aged body back to the powerline parking field and crept away. Edmond Ruffin played soldier at first Manassas in 1861 when exactly my age, and decided he'd leave campaigning to the younger folk. Was a wise decision for him and, regrettably, a wise decision for me.

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

OK, I'll chime in on what were the deciding factors leading up to leaving. About 8pm on Saturday night, we were told at our regimental headquarters by a staff officer from brigade that Pageland Road and reenactor parking would be closed until the spectators had left which should be 3pm on Sunday. OK, we knew that we couldn't bring cars into camp until 3pm, but not that the parking lot would be closed until then. We knew we'd be done with the battle by noon on Sunday and we had alot of guys who had 10+ hour drives ahead of them. Getting them out by noon was important. Skip, Pat and I talked about the issue and decided it was important to know if this was camp rumor or if this was really going to happen. So Skip went to brigade to get a definitive answer. Upon Skip's return we learned that Pageland Road and reenactor parking would be closed from 5:30am until the spectators were gone which would likely be 3pm. During that time, the reenactor parking lot would be closed. Pat and I said it was really odd that they would try hold reenactors over until 3pm. That would be at least a three hour wait after the battle if they did what they said they were going to do. Not cool. Especially with over 100 guys with 10+ hour drives (I know of one that had 18 hours). At this point, Skip, Pat and I called the company officers together to inform them of the news. And it was news to us even if some people knew about it prior to Saturday night as I've read. So here's where leadership has to kick in and make tough decisions. It's already now late Saturday night and everyone is tired. Our period show is over and we're ready to go to bed. But if we stay until morning, we're there until 3pm because the road closes at 5:30am. You can either leave before 5:30am or you must stay until 3pm. As the leaders in our regiment, we first have a responsibility to our men. Their safety must come first always. And yes, that includes their drive home. They need to be relatively rested and get out at a reasonable time. We don't put men out on picket duty all night Saturday if they have a long drive on Sunday. Why would we expect to wait until 3pm to leave? Our guys don't need to bring a car into camp, they'll carry their stuff to their car and go home at noon. That's our expectation. When the battle is over. Not three hours later, and yes that three hours matters when you're getting home at 11pm or 2am. When it comes to the safety of our guys, I will not compromise for an event, a county, other reenactors, or any one not in my regiment. Period. If you weren't in our regiment that weekend, your opinion matters little to me. Our leaders were there to serve our guys. Did any of us like that tough decision? No. Did any of our leaders like being told we had to stay until 3pm? No. If we had been told by brigade that we could leave after the battle was over, would we have stayed? Yes, absolutley and now you know. Why would we have stayed? We were having too much fun. Read below...

What happens when good groups from all over the U.S. come together for a common cause? My observations from the weekend and many thanks for...

I know of four of our guys who went down from the heat. And as I thought about it, I mentioned it to my traveling pards on the way home. All four were guys doing things to keep others going. Both our Surgeon and Assistant Surgeon were tending to guys all day Friday. Marvin Greer, who was the servant of the regimental staff, was constantly bringing cups of water and filling canteens for the staff. And Josh Sawyer, our Adjutant, who I watched run his butt off to see that the companies got the information they needed and got us formed up on Saturday. All four actually sacrificed their own well being for the benefit of the regiment. My God! That's what friends do for each other and that's what the orginal boys did for each other. You guys were selfless and to know that you went down helping keep so many of the rest of us up, makes my eyes well up with tears. Marvin, you actually got me through the weekend. Thanks! I owe you.

Did you see all of the 2nd Mississippi? Every company? Wow! The effort put in by everyone on researching the details of each company, the uniforms of each, etc. was truly amazing. Did you see Co. A, the Tishomingo Riflemen? Every gray frock and hat matching and at least thirty buttons on every frock? Wow, that took some dedication, money and sewing. And their captains coat was a dead ringer from the image of Lt. Henry Davenport's coat. Nice work guys! (Dave, did you find your ammunition box? If not, holler and we'll put a search out for it.)

Did you see the work that went into the officer uniforms? No shod there. Beautiful research and then execution getting the uniforms done. Even our adjutant's coat had the same collar trim as seen in the image of Lt. Loss Hovis. I know it's not all about the uniforms - glam as some say - but for that part you guys looked outstanding. Every one of you.

All of the overshirts were fantastic, red and gray. Just a little variety between companies and that's what the ladies aid societies of Mississippi were providing. Accurate again.

Did you see the Columbia Rifles that had the blue jackets with green trim? That was spot on! Very nice.

Joe Caridi, Bill Birney, Travis Brooks, Pete McCarthy and family for getting our rations and water together. That took an unbelievable amount of work. Real salt pork, and the 2nd Mississippi were issued "small bakers loaves" of bread when they got on the train to Manassas. That's why you guys had the loaves of soft bread. And the officer rations with invoices that had to be paid on the spot was accurate and correct. Officers were paid and had to buy their rations instead of having them issued which is what our officers were forced to do. You Q.M. and Commissary guys worked your butts off for months to make all of this happen. Really first rate work!

Cameron Stinnett and Robert Alexander for getting our wagon and mule team together. Hauling ammunition to the field, and having cold water ready when the regiment fell back to be resupplied. Really nice work.

Tom Williams for getting all of the officer's commissions printed up from originals on cotton paper! And the sheet that explained how a commission was actually obtained and all the steps was a nice educational touch. And Tom's years of experience being passed on to Josh was most helpful.

Greg Schultz for the pressed bricks of tobacco that were issued on Saturday evening. I hope some of you got to smoke it during Saturday nights show. That stuff will set you free.

Jerry Ross, Scott Little, Ethan Harrington, and the cavalry guys who brought us their horses. Guys, that's a big committment. These guys hauled the horses across the U.S. so you could have a full mounted staff done right. They came for us, were ready when we needed them, and did this for the regiment. It's alot of work to care for the animals (and think about doing it in that heat), you're never quite sure how they'll respond with drums beating next to them, trumpets blowing, and hundreds of people beside them jumping and cheering. I could be wrong, but I don't think any other regiment there had a full mounted staff. These guys worked their butts off to help us do it right and they added alot to our entire image.

I hope you guys enjoyed the knife throwing contest. We had about 20 men step up and throw their knives to win the prize. At the actual battle of Manassas, the 2nd Mississippi is recorded to have fired on the New York Fire Zoauves, thrown down their rifles and then rushed to within ten feet of the Zoauves to throw their bowie knives on lassos at them. There is also a nice Harper's Weekly woodcut image of Mississippi soldiers practicing throwing their knives. Since the Mississippi boys were known for throwing knives, that's why we recreated that activity. Congrats to our regimental knife throwing champion, Joel Williams, who had a perfect score by sticking his knife every time. I hope you enjoyed your bottle of whiskey and $20. All I have to say Joel is if you're throwing a knife, I'm stepping aside as I know it will find it's mark.

Chad Gray and Marty Rubin for doing our regimental bugling. You both are first rate and we're looking forward to having you bugle in the future.

Pat Craddock for teaching sword drill to the officers. Another correct activity done very well. Something you would have seen in a young regiment in 1861.

Brad Malone for getting everything together for mail call. Sorry about my labels not making it. Total brain fart on my part. Still the packages had addressee labels, express forwarding labels, etc. which was correct for this time period. Many people had to resort to express companies (modern equivalent of UPS, FedEx, etc.) when the south could no longer use the U.S. postal system. I saw many express company labels on our mail which would have been used then. Very correct and nice touch.

Whoever did our money did a nice job. Having both Virginia script and Mississippi script was nice. Especially when the farmer, Pete McCarthy, selling produce to our regiment wouldn't take the Mississippi script a face value. He discounted it 75%! The Virginia script was fine with him at face value. OK, so that's what our ancestors faced with different state money. Nice touch.

Did you see the Liberty Rifles put on that Saturday night show? Wow! That was great. OK, you could have gone to the ball. Naaaaahhhhhh. For my time and money, give me the good period entertainment. How long will you now recall, "I'm a bear!" Great work guys!

Kiev Thomason for making our red silk with real bullion fringe guidons. They looked great and I hope you got them back for future use.

The details in planning every activity and then the execution of it at the event by all of you was magnificent to behold. I consider it a priviledge to rub shoulders with all of you.

I know there was alot more that went on and alot of guys who did things that are worthy of mentioning here, but our regiment was so big that there was no way I could get to see it all. For everyone who came, you contributed to what I think was the best regiment at the event. THANK YOU! GREAT JOB 2nd MISSISSIPPI!

[gsusat]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

Who won the knife throwing contest?
Co. G did! (the Old Guard, but the fellow who actually won's name escapes me). That whiskey was some tough love though.

His name was Joel Williams - from Washington Arkansas - where a local knifemaker made a knife for Jim Bowie

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

Thank you, Joe!

Mississippi? Bugging out? Heck, no! It's a crying shame that Virginia needed Sons of Mississippi to help her defend her state. but we did our duty anyway.

Ummm...that's not how I read the books. Virginia sacrificed herself on the altar of blood for her Southern Sisters. Seriously, we were to be in the Union - voted twice to do so, until that character Lincoln called for Virginia to supply troops for the invasion of the Southland, and coerce folks to cease their secessionist feelings. That was the point when Virginia voted to leave the Union, our great Commonwealth has still not healed from that.

Event: Agree, first of the 150ths, looking forward to working/travelling around the country during the celebration! My only regret is that there were'nt more early war kits...but I had a good time. Creek was a godsend.


Paul B.

[YankeeTiger]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

An excellent picture courtesy of Yahoo/Reuters


And a few more from a couple different media outlets

[Milliron]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

Who won the knife throwing contest?

Co. G did! (the Old Guard, but the fellow who actually won's name escapes me). That whiskey was some tough love though.

[CornFedComrade]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

RE: 2nd Miss. leaving event etc. Perhaps folks should refrain from commenting untill they have all the facts. Just sayin....

Short and to the point and very true... well said!

[Wild Rover]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

Jack Dixon was the brigade bugler....he is top rate.

Pards,

[John5]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

RE: 2nd Miss. leaving event etc. Perhaps folks should refrain from commenting untill they have all the facts. Just sayin....

[GWagner]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

* re: "safe at home" ...time will tell... several boys were covered with deer ticks, so we'll have to see if they get lime disease (or is it Rocky Mountain spotted fever?). Its called permetherin, folks... and it works! I didn't have a single tick on me!

Same here John. Made it out with a few chiggers from park touring prior to arriving at Manassas. Gracie's Salient, or Wilderness. Should have sprayed the feet before putting on my sandals...but the Permithrin did the job for ticks at the event. I actually saw one crawl up onto my brogan...which we sprayed with permithrin...and fall off dead.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

Just a few more points, take it or leave it...as a former Preventive Med Officer, there is a thing called the "Wet Bulb"...which takes alot of "heat issues" into consideration. We were at no doubt a BLACK, which in the Regular Army would shut alot of an exercise down for a period, and we went beyond that. Another point, this was a "first" in many ways, first 150th Event, first time many from different Units/Commanders/Individuals worked together, much like the start of the War. Lets take lessons learned as they would have and improve. I still believe if anyone formed up on Saturday Morning, marched to the field, fought the heat and battle and marched back in those conditions...well they deserve a pat on the back.

Again, the Officers and NCOs did a great job of keeping things together, and did a better job of keepng everyone informed.

[4VADRUMMER]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

Any of you boys got pictures of the Brigade formed up Saturday morning you care to share?

Also on a side note, The fellow playing the bugle for the Brigade was amazing! That's probably the best I've ever heard anywhere! Very sharp playing sir. Hope we get your services in the future.....

[ohpkirk]

Re: Thoughts on Manassas

Who won the knife throwing contest?