Good Morning Vietnam! Part Deux:
Continuing with the thought about the militia as stated in the last piece--there are plenty of groups out there that maintain financial stability so that they would not serve as an overall drain on the state or local municipality's budget. The men all purchase their own equipment--while the company itself has some group-gear (large order items like the sibley--for civil war--cooking equipment, trailers for hauling and similar things). All that would be required is recognition and a requisite paygrade according to rank, and using the system already in place.
A small problem is that ban of the triangular bayonet--as it is part of the Civil Soldiers' equipment for period civil war living history. Not so much at the moment--but if the units were to be activated as militia in a state of emergency.
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Anyways--the captain finally arrives at the site, we set up camp: two shelter tents on either end, with the captain and the first sergeant in the middle. Present for the event: "Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln" portrayed by Joann Shelby, Cavalry trooper Mike Klein as the Presidential Guard, Private Ray Rota, the captain, first sergeant, Sergeant Ward and myself (I'm second sergeant in the unit).
The discussions were lively--"Mrs. Lincoln" giving her presentations on the house porch in-between tours of the house, while we military folks were resting in the shade, and playing a game of catch with a rounder (Historical note: rounders is the foundation on which baseball is built. Being played with a round ball--softer than the ball used today).
So, I played catch, did some manual of arms with my musket, and gave a few interpretive talks about the gear the soldiers would have carried with them. Got a few contacts out.
And then as sun set, we made off for bed. Oh, and let's not forget... with my tent, I had a portico on it; for those who don't know: the shelter tent--a.k.a. pup tent--is made of two shelter halves buttoned together at the middle to form the central ridge. Utilizing the poles I have for my shelter tent, I staked the back-end down, and then used the poles to hold up the front half of the tent, and then tied that down with stakes. We had a rope tied off between three trees to provide the ridge-pole for our tents. The captain and first sergeant used gum blankets for their tents, while Mr. Ward and myself used the shelter-tents.
Reveille for me was 0400 Sunday morning, with Mr. Ward following not too longer afterwards. I never thought late May would be cold... but damn. *Chuckling* The first sergeant got up long enough to light his lantern, and haul it into bed with him; and then the company reveille was around 0530/0600 with full dawn.
We broke camp in the hopes of beating the traffic related to the in-bound wagon train, as well as the rain--which appeared to be building in the east/northeast. We left around 0800 and broke our fast at Kings in Bridgeville.
And that is my weekend.
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In breaking news, tonight ruadh_jade will be coming into town for a few days... and then she'll be coming back up next weekend for Memorial day weekend with a friend.
Planned event of the day, Monday the 29, she and I will be falling in with the Ninth for the Memorial Day parade in Bridgeville.
Anyways, y'all keep well and more news from the field.
A small problem is that ban of the triangular bayonet--as it is part of the Civil Soldiers' equipment for period civil war living history. Not so much at the moment--but if the units were to be activated as militia in a state of emergency.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways--the captain finally arrives at the site, we set up camp: two shelter tents on either end, with the captain and the first sergeant in the middle. Present for the event: "Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln" portrayed by Joann Shelby, Cavalry trooper Mike Klein as the Presidential Guard, Private Ray Rota, the captain, first sergeant, Sergeant Ward and myself (I'm second sergeant in the unit).
The discussions were lively--"Mrs. Lincoln" giving her presentations on the house porch in-between tours of the house, while we military folks were resting in the shade, and playing a game of catch with a rounder (Historical note: rounders is the foundation on which baseball is built. Being played with a round ball--softer than the ball used today).
So, I played catch, did some manual of arms with my musket, and gave a few interpretive talks about the gear the soldiers would have carried with them. Got a few contacts out.
And then as sun set, we made off for bed. Oh, and let's not forget... with my tent, I had a portico on it; for those who don't know: the shelter tent--a.k.a. pup tent--is made of two shelter halves buttoned together at the middle to form the central ridge. Utilizing the poles I have for my shelter tent, I staked the back-end down, and then used the poles to hold up the front half of the tent, and then tied that down with stakes. We had a rope tied off between three trees to provide the ridge-pole for our tents. The captain and first sergeant used gum blankets for their tents, while Mr. Ward and myself used the shelter-tents.
Reveille for me was 0400 Sunday morning, with Mr. Ward following not too longer afterwards. I never thought late May would be cold... but damn. *Chuckling* The first sergeant got up long enough to light his lantern, and haul it into bed with him; and then the company reveille was around 0530/0600 with full dawn.
We broke camp in the hopes of beating the traffic related to the in-bound wagon train, as well as the rain--which appeared to be building in the east/northeast. We left around 0800 and broke our fast at Kings in Bridgeville.
And that is my weekend.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In breaking news, tonight ruadh_jade will be coming into town for a few days... and then she'll be coming back up next weekend for Memorial day weekend with a friend.
Planned event of the day, Monday the 29, she and I will be falling in with the Ninth for the Memorial Day parade in Bridgeville.
Anyways, y'all keep well and more news from the field.