Regimental Dispatch

December 2003       Sic Semper Tyrranus Richmond, VA

Commander’s Column

 Gentlemen,

In the process of me stepping down as Captain, there have been many concerns about what is going to happen to the company and how the leadership will shake out.  Earlier this year the Executive Committee and I had come to a conclusion that Marc Ramsey would be approached as a potential replacement for the Captaincy, leaving the rest of the Executive Committee in place to provide for a smooth transition when I left.  As many of you know Marc was shocked by this revelation and was willing, at first, to accept the position.  But like most of us, in the excitement, he had not taken every- thing into consideration; the things that makes up his busy day to day life and after doing that he felt he could not commit the time needed or required to fulfill the positions expectations.  Many months have gone by now and many things have changed for Marc, he has a new house, the book store is doing very well and he feels now that he can make the time commitment necessary to perform the Captaincy.   

Mr. Ramsey has come to me and stated that he would like to be considered for the Captaincy of F Company in the upcoming election in February 2004.  I have known Mr. Ramsey for many years and feel that this would be an excellent move for the company.  His experience is not limited to F Company, a long time ago him left F Company for a few years and we would see him a different events, with infantry or with the artillery at one time but he came back.  He has experienced other units and sees the quality that we all have built into F Company and wants to continue to perpetuate that as the Captain.  Mr. Ramsey and I have had many conversations over the years and he feels as I do about this company and that is taking care of the men on the field and everything else will fall into place.  I have never placed anyone in "true" harms way or marched us all over creation just to impress someone else.  I have even marched the company off the field a few times over the years when it just was the right thing to do, Shiloh and Recon are the ones I can remember.  I would expect and feel that Mr. Ramsey will take this same type of stand for F Company and do what is best for the men.  Marc does know the drill pretty well, more than he will admit.  It is like I have told most of you; all of you have enough drill experience to be Captains in most other companies in the Reenacting community.  He is a very well respected member of F Company and I feel is a fine choice for my replacement considering the dynamic of F Company.  I feel he could bring many new things to the table and has a desire to build F Company to see it continue on as one of the best companies in the field. 

 With all this having been said, the Recommended Slate of Officers is the following; 

Captain/President - Mr. Ramsey

1st Lt./Vice President - Mr. Turley

1st Sgt./Secretary - Mr. Wilson

Treasurer - Mr. Alexander

Member at Large – Mr. Pearson

As always the election of all the members of the Executive Committee members is up to the membership to decide as they see fit at the annual meeting.  The elected Executive Committee and I will work with whoever is elected to ensure a smooth transition as well as bring them up to speed on drill as fast as possible.  Be at the annual meeting or you will miss out on the shaping of our future for F Company.

Capt. Jones

Commander F Co/ 21st Virginia

1st Lieutenant’s Report

For many of us, our reenactment season began with the Confederate Heritage Parade in Richmond last April.  When Fort Branch was cancelled, I thought that would be it for this year.  But some of us got the chance to march in another parade.  This time it was in Gettysburg for their 47^th Annual Remembrance Day Commemoration.  In the past, our Company was usually having its booth set-up at the Civil War Show at the fairgrounds followed by our annual soiree.  Since we have not done that the past couple of years, several of us took advantage of the opportunity to march in the parade.  Mr. Gammon, Mr. Harris, and our most recent recruit, Mr. Catlett, and myself drove up early Saturday morning.  We arrived in Gettysburg about 10 a.m. and met with Mr. Schirmer and his wife, Mr. Talbert and his wife, and Mr. Pearson, without his wife or his shell jacket.  We had breakfast, did some shopping (including Mr. Vice’s Family Heirloom and Weavers), and then formed up for the parade.  Mr. Alexander and Alexander also joined us in time for the start of the parade.  So we had a company of eight soldiers plus Mr. Catlett being the designated photographer, while Mr. Gammon carried our Colors.  It was a great day for a parade.  The weather was perfect and F-Co. looked very sharp.  The parade did not start until a little after 1 p.m., but was over before 2:30 p.m., so it was not very taxing.  Now, some may say that this is too long of a drive for such a short event, but it is time that we reciprocate those who come to Richmond all the time for area events.  After the parade, Mr. Gammon, Harris, Catlett, and myself visited some of the more famous sites of the park before heading back to Richmond.  This was a very enjoyable event and I hope we do it again.

Respectfully submitted, Lt. Turley

1st Sergeant’s Report

Update on the company wool and uniforms: 

I have had several discussions with Mr. Vice, and Heirloom weavers is in the process of making F Company a new bolt of wool to replace the uniforms that we had made last season.  All the uniforms, either in stock, or bought by a member off the old defective bolt of wool will be replaced.  We are waiting for the new wool to arrive, and when it does, I will be contacting the members involved to get some measurements and get Ms. Cronce working on them.  If you have any questions please call me.

I want to welcome the new recruits to the unit.  Please make sure that you are at the annual meeting and the Camp of Instruction.

Thanks to all members that participated this year. Have a great holiday season.  I will have more on future events hopefully in the next newsletter.

***1^st Sgt. Wilson

Remembrance Day Parade

Just when we’d given up on the 2003 season, the Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade was there to give us one last time together in the ranks, with our Colors, and with Lieutenant Turley efficiently and gallantly leading us through the streets of a town called Gettysburg.  We started our season after the C.O.I. with a parade in Richmond, where the weather was tremendous.  So went it with the Gettysburg parade.  We had clear and bright sunny skies, 50-degree temperatures, and perfect flag breezes that day.  My sincere thanks go out to the following individuals: 

Lt. Turley, Pvts. Harris, Gammon, Schirmer and his wife, Talbert & his wife, Alexander, Alexander, the soon to be Pvt. Catlett, who shared our kinship and gave us some wonderful photos to remember the day by, and myself.  Thanks to all that traveled from near & far.  On an embarrassing note, as ranking N.C.O. one would think I should have my act together by now.  Well, one would think.  Thanks to the extreme kindness, friendship, and generosity from S&S Sutlers, I had a borrowed shell jacket to complete my uniform for the parade.  I’m the “don’t forget your gear” warden, but I let my guard down for the finale of the season.  Who would’ve thought that my shell jacket was still hanging on the door at home?  Not I…arghhh!  I hope that next year’s Remembrance Day Parade will bring a full company to represent our unit to celebrate our ancestors’ devotion to honor and country.  As I had figured, there may have been a total of 4,000 or more soldiers that came to honor in their own way and with their own units, from Ohio to North Carolina, and all points in between from  N.S.E. & W.  I called Mr. Gammon on his cell phone once I got home, and they were still joy riding through the Gettysburg Park.

Gilham’s Manual

Article IV – School of the Company

Manner of forming the Company

 216.  The whole company being assembled on its parade ground, or in the rendezvous, the first, or orderly sergeant, will command:

Fall in – Company.

     At this command the corporals and privates will form in one rank, faced to the right, and in the order of height from right to left, the tallest man on the right (now head of the company), the next tallest man immediately covering the first, and so on to the left or rear of the rank, in which position will be placed the shortest man.  The other sergeants will take post in the rank of file-closers, two paces to the right of the company, and assist the first sergeant in forming the company.

     When the men have their places, the first sergeant will command:

Front.

     The second sergeant, who is the left guide of the company, will now place himself on the left of the company, and the orderly sergeant will promptly command:

1.)  In two ranks, form company.

2.)  Left - face.

3.)  March.

     At the command left face, the whole company will face to the left, except the guide and man on the left, who stand fast.

     At the command march, the whole of the men who have faced left, will step off together; the second man, counting from the left, will place himself in the rear rank, behind the man next to the guide, and face to the front; the two following men will, in like manner, on closing up, form the next file, the third man in the front, and the fourth in the rear rank behind him, and all the other men will come successively to form files, two deep, to the right of those already formed.

     The officers will now take their posts as prescribed in No. 8; if the captain has to discharge the duties of instructor, the first lieutenant will take his place on the right of the front rank, the second lieutenant replacing the first behind the fourth section.

     The instructor will then cause the files to be numbered, and for this purpose will command:

In each rank – count Twos.

     At this command the men count in each rank from right to left, pronouncing in a loud and distinct voice, in the same tone, without hurry and without turning the head, one, two, according to the place each one occupies.  He will also cause the company to be divided into platoons and sections, taking care that the first platoon is always composed of an even number of files.

*****Editor’s note:  In the reenacting community, it is hard to break the habit of tuning your head when counting twos.  I, myself, have been guilty of that quite often.  It is important to count in a loud and distinct voice without hesitation.  This will make not tuning the head a little easier to get use to and will hopefully eliminate the embarrassing halt of the counting to be done again until it is achieved properly.  This must be done by both front and rear ranks.  Don’t be shy.  It is quite simple to do.

2004 Annual Meeting

 As in the past, the Annual Meeting for F-Company is an important event for all to attend.  This is a 1^st glimpse of things to come, things that may be changing, and gearing up for a new season with information to be passed on to the membership.  It is also an opportunity to ask plenty of questions and give some input towards the betterment of the company.  I am working on the possibility of some new and refreshing events for 2004.  Sometimes, the same thing every year makes for a hum-drum season.  With that also comes the risk of poor events that we may have to learn about first hand.  As they say, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Be prepared for an informative day.  At the time of this Newsletter, the date and location have been set.  Please mark your calendars.  Even though we don’t get to shoot, or camp out, or build any fires, the Annual Meeting is probably the most important event to attend.  The date is:  Saturday Feb. 28, 2004 at the Ashcreek Club House.  Other than the one year where we were at Trigon, this is the same place we’ve always held our meeting for quite some time.  We are asking everyone to please be there by 9:00 a.m. at the latest.  As in the past, there is a cover charge for the day’s meal and help for room rental.  There will be no live bands or ballroom dancing allowed this year.  Come prepared to take notes and if you have any ideas for 2004 events, please submit them to the editor (prior to the Annual Meeting) with detailed information for our review to assist in determining if it would be a good event to add to our schedule for the 2004 season.  Please remember, your votes at the meeting help to zero in on what we do or do not do for the season.  If you have good intentions on attending any certain event, please vote.  If you do not plan on attending any F-Company events for the year, refrain from voting.  This would just put your name on the registration list, and then I’d have to either replace your name or try to have it removed from registration.  Given enough time, this does not present a problem, but on short notice, which happens, that registration money will not be refunded to the unit and we will have to bite the bullet, which then filters to your wallet, eventually.  So, please vote with your heart.

 Annual Meeting Directions

 Take I-95 to exit 86 and at the top of the ramp go east, which is Sliding Hill Road.  Go 2 miles and bear to the right on New Ashcake road.  Go 9/10’s of a mile to Linderwood Road and turn right.  The clubhouse will be about ½ mile on the left.

 Camp of Instruction

 The dates and location have been determined for the 2004 C.O.I.  Other than the foul weather which hit us quickly last year, and if you enjoyed the facilities at Tom Scott Park from 2003, you will get to share it again this year.  For those who had not attended last year’s C.O.I., or are new to the unit, Tom Scott Park has the appearance and ambience of an old style Fort, including it’s own flagpole for our colors.  There is an official firing range to sight in and learn how accurate you and your musket really are.  Mr. Allen has been gracious, as he has always been, to F-Company.  It’s a wonder that he hasn’t joined our ranks.  The date and location for our 2004 Camp of Instruction will be: 

March 26, 27, 28, 2004 in Amelia, Va.  Schedules and activities for the C.O.I. will be either posted in future Newsletters or will be handed out at the Annual Meeting.

 Camp of Instruction Directions

From the North – Take I-95 South to exit 79 stay in the left lane and take I-195 South.  Go through the toll booth (50 cent) and take I-76 South, go through the next toll booth (75 cents).  Take the second I-288 exit toward Amelia.  Take the next exit for Rt. 360 towards Amelia.  Now stay on Rt. 360 to Amelia.  Take the 360 Business exit and take a left at the bottom.  See the attached map.  Now go through Amelia till you see Otterburn Road on the left.  It will run into Rt. 38 follow it till you see a sign for Tom Scott Park on the right. From the East and South – Take I-95 North, around Petersburg take 460 West.  Take a right on Rt. 153 North, till you run into Rt. 38 on the left.  Go about 5 miles and Tom Scott Park will be on the left.     From the West – Take Rt. 460 towards Richmond.  Take Rt. 307 to Amelia.  Once on 360 Take 360 Business for Amelia.  Look for Otterburn on the right when you get near Amelia proper.  It will run into Rt. 38 follow it till you see a sign for Tom Scott Park on the right.

(Directions will be repeated in Feb.)

Quartermaster Inventory  Updated:  As Of 11/17 /03

New Recruits

Let’s give a hearty welcome to our new recruits.  Mr. Harris, who has already attended two events with F-Company. Mr. Catlett, who we met at Cedar Creek and is a co-worker with Mr. Gammon and Mr. Stafford.  And our newest addition, Mr. Beaty, who hails from the great State of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Beaty found us through our search engine and I have been in contact with him from the beginning.  By the time you all have read this, he will already have received his Soldier’s Handbook, and I’m trying to meet with him in Gettysburg at his earliest convenience to get acquainted and do some shopping.

A Very Important Message

Gentlemen of F Company,

     Lads, there’s just no doubt about it, this unit needs a new captain.  We have been blessed for many years with excellent leadership, but now must face the fact that our own and much esteemed leader Capt. Jones is retiring, and his replacement must be chosen.  I myself have enjoyed life as a Confederate infantryman in the ranks for these past seven years, and if left to my own devices, would probably aspire to no more for the future than to continue as a foot slogging, powder burning, goober chewing private for life.  But events have taken a different turn, and I would now like to make this task my own and take up the reins as Captain of the proud company of which we are all so fortunate to be a part.  F Company is a very special organization in the world of reenacting; a reliable, well drilled, and very highly regarded unit that serves as an ideal and a model for all other organizations to emulate and to admire.  To lead such a group would be an honor far beyond any that I have experienced in recent times, and is one which now compels me to step forward and give my very best in all respects to prove worthy of your support.  Capt. Jones and I have spoken and he has encouraged me in this course of action so I am therefore willing and eager to serve as the new Captain of F Company.  If I can have the support of the membership, and the blessings of an ever kind providence, I will pledge to serve this company in such a way as to bring honor to its already honorable reputation, to bring enthusiasm to its leadership and its leaders, to do all I can to motivate old members and new, and to strive to renew a sense of this unit’s mission as a vehicle to honor and to keep alive the memory of one Confederate company from the City of Richmond, that long ago won undying fame in the Southern War for Independence as some of those patriotic souls that became known as Jackson’s Foot Cavalry.

********** 

Pvt. Ramsey

Editor’s note

 For the benefit of all members, your editor and beloved Corporal applauds Mr. Ramsey for his bold and selfless request.  There’s a magnitude of fun and education that culminates throughout each event, but none of us realize the demands that are placed upon the leadership.  For Mr. Ramsey to weigh all of this, and still wish to take on this task, speaks volumes of his character and commitment, as it also did for Mr. Jones.  Mr. Jones’s future, in the ranks, with the company is thus far unknown.  Let it be known to all, regardless of the Commander’s name, it is my duty and my honor to follow any orders given to me, and to assure that our training and safety is of the utmost importance.  I want to assure you all that Mr. Ramsey is not stepping on anyone’s toes, this is not a sensitive issue within the Executive Committee, and his willingness to take such a leap of faith is most admirable.  Between now and February, please try and evaluate your time for the hobby, and do whatever you can to allot some time for the unit.  We need you all.  We’ll be back to business before you know it.  With all that said, I want to wish all my F-Company family a joyous holiday season and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours.    Take advantage of this holiday season to help others less fortunate than us. 

*************

HAPPY NEW YEAR-Cpl. Pearson