May 2005Newsletter

     Thanks to all of you who made Saylor's Creek and the 140th Appomattox events. Two things happened that weekend that are especially worth noting. First, I was extremely pleased to find, when I picked up the Richmond paper
with an article on the weekend, that there, prominent in the picture, was
our own Private Parzych. Congrats, Mr. Parzych, for being there to represent the Company, and then having the excellent stage presence to get your mug in the media; well done! The second item that bears mentioning, and remembering, is a certain photo. I'm not much into the
subject of ghosts and spiritual encounters, though there have been several incidents in my family concerning my Grandfather, but the other day I saw something that gives me pause, and that I can't stop thinking about. It is the picture that Cpl. Gammon took of Pvt. Perry at the fire. There is more in that picture than two dirty Confederate reenactors. I believe Mr. Gammon captured on film a visitor from the past. I can say no more at this point, only to suggest that copies be made and the men of F Company all be shown this incredible photo, and hear the context, and the fact that it was taken on a real battlefield, and that there was no smoke being given off from the
fire at that moment.    Now, on to Fort Pocohantas. Please join us, all who can. This one is close to Richmond, on the fascinating Plantaion Route along the James, and it is once again a real battlefield. Fitz Lee attacked this Yankee stronghold, only to be driven back with loss. Somewhere on those grounds is an unmarked mass Confederate grave...    As a final note, I want to send out a call for a Company Muster at Cold Harbor the first weekend of June. I challenge you all to join us and prove that we can indeed field a full Company. This is an excellent opportunity to study history up close and personal and spend quality time with your mates on one of the most important battlefields of the War Between the States. Keep in mind that F Company was in the thick of some of the heaviest fighting there, under Jubal Early at Bethesda Church, and we gave
as good as we got, taking a number of casualties. My own adopted soldier,
Captain Reuben Jorden, was seriously wounded there.   If you only make one
event this season, please make this the one.   Now, Mrs. Capt Ramsey and I are off to England, to study and explore the
battlefield of Hastings, and to seek out and return with a really cool batch
of British books.

I think April made up for the disappointments of March, at least for me, it did. We had two fine events. The Confederate March/Funeral and Saylor’s Creek.

The other event for the month was the 140^th Anniversary of Saylor’s Creek. While the caliber and magnitude of the event was somewhat questionable, the event was outstanding as far as company comradery and cohesiveness are concerned. We decided to forego Saturday’s afternoon tactical in favor of a leisurely afternoon in camp. The "yahoo-ness" of the units we had to form up with may have had something to do with that, especially when they did the "black-powder- face" thing on the fresh fish. But I think the company really had a great time.

The event had been promoted as having three to five thousand reenactors. We were lucky if there were three hundred. Come to find out, there was another competing Saylor’s Creek reenactment being held at Appomattox. That was apparently the one to go to with the thousands of reenactors and spectators. But we endured and made it through. New member, Pvt. Parzych, participated in the miniature surrender ceremony held at Appomattox on Saturday. His picture even made the Richmond paper with his blown-out brogans and all. Pvt. Ward, movingly, spoke about his participation in the D-Day reenactment for church on Sunday morning and even Sunday’s battle was not bad.

All in all, it really was a very nice weekend and I think everyone enjoyed our time together. For more details, see other reports.

Through the good times however, the solemn occasion of being in such a spot of hallowed ground was not lost upon us. It was an honor and a pleasure to be there, and think of the men that fought and concluded their arguments upon these rolling hills.

^{Friday, August 26, 2005}
^{8 am}	^{Registration Opens- Cars allowed in camp}
^{7 pm}	^{Overall Command and Staff Meeting - Division/Brigade Commanders from both sides and Event Staff - Activities Tent} following Command and Staff Meeting - meeting with Lt. Col. Robert Craig, Divisional Medical Officer, for all Medical Officers
^Midnight	^{Cars Banned from Camp}
^Midnight	^{Registration Closes}
^{Saturday, August 27, 2005}
^{6 am}	^{Registration Opens}
^{7 am}	^{Horse Drawn Wagons will commence ferrying late arrivals to camp}
^{8 am}	^{Event Open to Public}
^{9 am}	^{"The Common Soldier of 1862" - Activities Tent}
^{11 am}	^{Registration closes for the Weekend}
^{11 am}	^{Horse drawn Wagons cease ferry service to camp}
^{11 am}	^{"School of the Campaigner" - Activities Area}
^{12:30 pm}	^{Battle Scenario Walk through - All Battalion and Brigade Officers and Senior NCO's of both sides - Battlefield}
^{1 pm}	^{Civilian Program- "Life in 1860 America" - Activities Tent}
^{2 pm}	^{"The Battle of Cedar Mountain"}
^{6 pm}	^{Event Closed to Spectators}
^{6 pm}	^{Commanders Walkthrough for "Battle of Brawner's Farm"}
^{7:30 pm}	^{"The Battle of Brawner's Farm" for participants only}
^{9:30 pm}	^{Period Theatrical Production of Black Eyed Susan, by the New Old Theater Company}
^{Sunday, August 28, 2005}
^{8 am}	^{Church Service - Battlefield}
^{8 am}	^{Event Open to Public}
^{9 am}	^{Battle Scenario Walk through - All Battalion and Brigade Officers and Senior NCO's of both sides - Battlefield}
^{9:30 am}	^{"Life on the Home front" Civilian Seminar at the Activities Tent}
^{12 noon}	^{"Unfinished Rail Road Cut"}
^{2 pm}	^{Cars allowed in camp - event ends}

^{Before I start my novel
on life and the existence of mankind, I wanted to state for the record that we have done
ourselves quite proudly on a couple of issues so far this season. We have performed well
in the field and we have struck camp closer to the wagons than we have ever in the past.
Before Pvt. Harris and I agreed as to the location of our Saylor’s Creek home for the
weekend, I took him on a 3-hour tour to our last visit’s camp. Needless to say, I was
quite content to be somewhat secluded in the woods, but near to the wagons, the wood,
water, and plumbing; an issue that’ll remain sealed in a vault until I am
adequately bribed to bring forth at our next Executive Meeting. Friday afternoon found
Pvt. Harris and myself setting up our camp while the wood supply had already been
procured. The event organizers supplied each camp with a cut down 55 gallon drum to
contain the fires. I just had to stack higher, not wider. Pvts. Parzych, Perry, and Perry
were the next to arrive. The five us manned the camp until morning when the balance of our
unit gradually filtered in. Pvt. Powell and Macalah had already set up their fine shelter
a short distance from our wooded camp. We did manage to avoid extreme precipitation on
Friday evening, but small amounts of drizzle did greet our first night, with cold
temperatures and continuous winds. Saturday night was starlit, but colder still. The fire
pit, as always, provided a nice refuge for helping to keep our core temperatures in the
safety zone.}

Since our mass exodus at Bentonville, we really need to get back into gear "as a Unit" and field a good size company at as many events as you can muster. It doesn’t matter the quality of the event or the quantity of participants that are expected for each event. Remember, we do this for each other and the time we spend together will leave a lasting memory in our brief time that we serve, not only on this earth, but as a small group of men who believe in paying tribute to our ancestors. I look forward to serving with you, rain or shine, hot or cold.