Vol. IX. July/August, 2010 Issue 5.
Captain’s
Column
The month of
June started out with the annual living history program at the Cold Harbor
Battlefield in
We proceeded
with the candle light tour on Saturday night.
As usual it was very well attended by the public. By the end of the program the heat had begun
to take it’s toll.
No one stayed in
There was near record heat again on Sunday so we broke camp and moved up to the demonstration area upon our return. At least there was a steady breeze to help keep the air moving up there. All went well in spite of the heat and I think everyone enjoyed the program. Those from F Company who attended included Privates Baird, Catlett, Clements, Pate, and Guillen, Corporals Hughes and Gammon, Sgt. Gammon and Sgt. Firth, and Lt. Stafford.
The second event
of the month was the Shenandoah Reenactment in
The Saturday morning battle consisted of the Confederates firing from a position somewhat protected by a wooden rail fence. We actually captured the Federal colors. At the battle’s conclusion we watered up and began the six mile march to our campsite for Saturday night. The weather was again hot and humid. In my humble opinion I thought we were pushed a little too hard during the march with there being only one water break along the way. Some of the men did drop out of the march because of the heat and caught rides to the campsite. I have to hand it to the stalwarts of F Company. Privates Vice and Alexander made it the whole way without any problems at all. Private Alexander was even in the advance guard out in front of all the Confederate columns. I was proud of how well they did.
We arrived at our campsite about 1300 hours. The remainder of the day was ours to rest and recuperate. Saturday night was spent on the back porch and yard of a nearby Bed and Breakfast. I slept well. We arose early Sunday morning to begin the next phase of the march to the battle site for the morning tactical. Due to the riggers of Saturday’s march, Private Vice and myself were the only F Company members to make the Sunday morning march. However, it was cooler and there were more rest stops along the way.
Once at the battle site we watered up and then began to make our way up the side of the mountain through the thick underbrush and wilderness. There was a pause at the top before the action began. There was a lot of up and down movement in this battle through the thickets and briars, and advancing and retreating. We actually captured a Federal battery. This was old time fighting in the woods not in an open field. It had been a long time since we had done anything like this. It was great.
F Company members at Shenandoah included Privates Jack Alexander, Catlett, Pate, and Vice, Corporals Hughes and Gammon, Sgt. Gammon, and myself. It was a great event and best of all we were on our way home by 1000 hours Sunday morning.
The third and
final event for the month of June took place on the weekend of the 26th
and 27th at the Gaines Mill Battlefield site. This is within a stone’s throw of the Cold
Harbor Battlefield. The program was very
similar to the Cold Harbor Living History that we did at the beginning of the
month except there was no candle light tour on Saturday night. We did this program for the first time last
year and as we did then we fell in with the 3rd
The weather was once again hot and humid as it had been all month, but the ice water and shade helped diminish it’s effects. We did three programs on Saturday and two on Sunday. Because of the heat all of F Company went home on Saturday night, but everyone did come back on Sunday morning. In spite of the heat the programs were well attended and everyone seemed to have a good time.
Those that
attended Gaines Mill included Sgt. Gammon and Sgt. Firth, Corporal Gammon,
Privates Clements, Catlett, Guillan, Pate, and
myself. As a side note, the 3rd
I would like to thank all the F Company members that supported the unit with your presence during the month of June. It was a very busy month, but you rose to the occasion and we had good participation at all three events. Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.
In contrast to June, F Company does not have anything scheduled for July thus the lateness of this newsletter. Please note that this is the July/August Newsletter. Next on our schedule is the Company muster set for August 7th. For details see the related article. Also please make note of the rest of this year’s schedule. Make our plans accordingly. We are already halfway through the season. Well, that is it for now. Hope to see everyone at the muster. Take care.
Respectfully
Submitted,
Captain
Turley
1st
Sergeant’s Report
Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to extend F Co.'s sympathies to Brett Weidman and his family on the passing of his Grandfather. He passed away on the weekend of Gaines' Mill. Brett, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
We will be
having our company muster on August 7th. See Jack's entry in the newsletter for
the details. We will not be in uniform for this, so dress comfortably for the
weather. We will meet at the Exchange Hotel in
We have also
been invited by Jimmy Price (
I would also like to remind everyone that registration will be going in soon for Cedar Creek, so if you would like to attend, please let me know soon. I have the following people signed up so far: (Turley, Gammon D., Firth, Hughes, Alexander Johnathan, Catlett, Clements, Guillen, Vice, Ward).
Lastly, F Company kudos go out to Private Alexander and Private Pate for their temporary weekend field promotions to Corporal at the Shenandoah 1862 event. Private Pate earned his in Sunday’s battle by pushing over a tree clearing the way for the Confederate infantry assault and ultimate victory. Private Alexander back doored into his with the stroke of a pen when he sent in registration. The same pen was to blame for Corporal Gammon’s temporary demotion to Private.
Your
Obedient Servant,
1st SGT. Gammon
Muster Call: to all members and interested parties of
F Company
There will be a muster call/ event on Saturday, August 7th, 2010 to
follow the line of march of John Worsham
and the members of F Company, on the days leading to the battle of
When: 9am, August 7, 2010
Where: Exchange Hotel,
Transportation: Your own vehicle (we will try and car pool once we arrive)
Cost: No registration fee (bring money for incidental expenses and lunch/dinner)
Your obedient,
Jack Alexander
Tour guide
