Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

[coastaltrash]

The Independent Rifles will be hosting a Living History weekend at Fort Blakely in 2016 for CS ONLY. The idea behind the event is to rebuild sections of the works in preparations for the next CS v US living History in 2017. More information to follow.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Maybe I can make this one. Have yet to get to Blakely and I need to do so since it has such ties with the Missouri Brigade.

[bAcK88]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Sounds like a great event. I'm marking it on my calendar and will make an effort to get down to Alabama next year.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Billy B,
If you fly to Nashville I have a carpool for you

[coastaltrash]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Update from Brian

April 8-10, 2016. Confederate Living History at Redoubt 4. Battalion size effort portraying the 1st & 3rd Missouri dismounted cavalry from Cockerell's Brigade.
Plan to drill, stand picket duty in original rifle pits, improve existing earthworks, and interact with the visitors.
Period tools are needed, and encouraged.
Rations will be issued, you won't be disappointed.
Sandbags are needed, get to work.
Registration is $20.00 and opens October
1, 2015. Form and address will be provided tomorrow.

[bAcK88]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Billy B,
If you fly to Nashville I have a carpool for you

Awesome! Its still up in the air (pun intended) if I'll fly or drive.

BB

[NCSoldier]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

What kind of turnout is usually at the fort when events are going on there and is this being promoted to the public already? My group is also interested in going, but just curious of numbers expected, etc. Blakely is a new site for us

[coastaltrash]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

We do everything by invitation only, so you can email the main coordinator (Brian DesRochers) at Bdesrochers4@yahoo.com

Speaking from my point as the CS commander we had about 300 participants between the CS and US battalions last year, which was great for a first go of an authentic only event.

[NCSoldier]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

.....we had about 300 participants between the CS and US battalions last year....

I understand it is an invite only for reenactors, I may have jumbled my meaning, but I meant how much public shows up, since it is a living history.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Not sure of the gate return last year, I would guess over a thousand people, probably more.

[Lucky]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Gate was around 700 for the 2015 program.

[Strawfoot]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Pat and Brian,

I've been talking up the 2017 event with my guys in the 24th Missouri. Please keep us in mind when forming the Federal battalion.

Pat, our company is significantly larger than it was at the time of the Vicksburg LH two years ago.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

Contact Brian about the stuff in 2017. I believe Joe Blunt will again ben the contact.

[Stephen Lunsford]

Re: Fort Blakely CS Living History April 1-3 2016

The living history was great! Thanks to Brian DesRochers and all who helped put the event together! And thanks to Christopher Stacey, Patrick Landrum and the Commissary Crew for some fine rations! We got a lot of work done on the fort and it looks great! Walls were repaired, bomb-proofs were built, sandbags were filled, and more. A lot of us had never experienced pioneer corps before and many of us had never been to Blakeley before. In a short time we got to learn a lot about fortifications and an "unknown" campaign of the Civil War. Huzzah to all involved!