Vol. V. August, 2006 Issue 6.
1st Lieutenant’s Report
Well, 1st Manassas has come and gone and Captain Ramsey has officially stepped down. The event was early war so battle-shirts and militia uniforms were in order. While it was hot enough, it was not nearly as hot as I had anticipated.
Those in attendance from F Company included Captain Ramsey, 1st Sgt. Stafford, Corporal Powell, and Privates Parzych, Schirmer, and Ward and myself. Private Dachos was there for half the day Saturday and the new "old recruit" Travis Clements was finally able to hook up with the unit. Several members from the 15th Va and a few from the 4th North Carolina formed up with us so we actually had a decent size company.
F Company’s campsite was back in the woods on private land. The Captain talked the landowner into letting us use her property. It was a nice escape from the sun and heat.
For Saturday’s battle, F Company served as the color company. We actually used our Militia 1st Regiment flag. It was the first time it has been used in that capacity. Bill Ward had the honor of carrying the flag. We were supposed to be portraying the 11th Mississippi. The battle did not go as I had anticipated. We were supposed to rally behind Gen. Jackson’s Virginians standing like a stone wall. We kept being pushed back and were finally told that we would be held in reserve. Thus we made our way back to camp.
Sunday’s battle was a little better. After initially being pushed back, we were able to help push the Yanks back. But by then our numbers had been decimated. Private Schimer and myself were the only ones left at the end of the battle.
We did have some heat casualties. Mr. Powell had some issues with the heat on Saturday and Mr. Parzych on Sunday. Special thanks to Dottie Schimer for being a nurse to the guys and helping to take care of them. Also thanks to Skip Schimer for bringing an excellent church service on Sunday morning. His message was about man’s need for salvation and that we can all be saved if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. All-in-all it was a very good and satisfying event.
Now F Company is entering a new phase in its history. I again thank Captain Ramsey for all that he did for the unit. F Company will go on, but it will definitely have to be a group effort. Everyone will have to do their part to help support the unit. We all have jobs to do whether it is simply showing up at events or in some additional capacity as in holding an office or position within the unit or on a committee of some other function.
As I said we need this to be a group effort not just that of the Captain or the Executive Committee or any particular individual but all of us working together. If we all work together we will go on to even bigger and better things.
Now next up is the Petersburg Battlefield muster. See elsewhere in this newsletter for details. Let’s try to get as many people there as possible!
Your Obedient Servant
L.T. Tony Turley
1st Sergeant’s Report
Gentlemen
I would like to thank the members who were able to attend the 1st Manassas event. For the members who were unable to attend you were greatly missed. We were able to experience a lot of marching, a couple of nice rain showers and some of Virginia's fine heat and humidity. The battles on Saturday and Sunday were well done by our Company (with the help of members of the 15th VA and the 4th NC). Our Company showed that we are one of the best in the field once again! Our campsite was a great little spot in the woods that was hand picked by Mr. Ramsey. I would also, like to thank Mr. Schirmer for a splendid Church Service on Sunday morning. I would like to remind y'all that the Muster is on the 19th of August. You do not need to register, so if you can make it, please come. We will be meeting at the Visitors Center at the Park at 10am. Don't forget to wear your F Company t-shirt and cap. We will be leaving the Park around 1:30pm and heading to the BBQ Restaurant. Remember to dress comfortable and bring water bottles. The directions will be further down in the Newsletter.
Respectfully
1st Sgt Stafford
To get to the Eastern Front's visitor center from I-95 & I-85: Take the Wythe Street (Rt. 36 east) exit. Turn onto this one-way road and follow it 2.5 miles to the park entrance on the right.
From 295: Take exit 9B onto Rt. 36 west to park entrance on the right just past Fort Lee.
Ode to Joe BAAAH
