Las Vegas Event 2008

I was under the impression that my soldier impressions were over for the year. Monday October 27 my wife called and asked me if I wanted to go to the Las Vegas reenactment? Of course, I did not have a choice. I told her I would make the sacrifice to go if she so wished. Our kids got out of school early on Thursday so we drove down to St. George, UT. Saturday morning we travelled to Red Rock Canyon, S.W. of Las Vegas. We must have travelled through some worm hole or time warp because we entered 1863. I found the Union Army camped in a field on Spring Mountain Ranch. I noticed some civilian children playing near by. Click on map to enlarge.
I reported to the Commanders tent. I was ordered to join other nomad infantry. I found out that our company was made up of men back from hospital or leave. We became our own company, "Friedmann's Orphans. We named ourselves after an old veteran 1st Sarg. named A. Friedmann. He is a rough, cussing, and tempered old soldier. If he has survived this war this long, I planned to follow him closely.The First Sarg. drilled our company until we were more than proficient. A few men had not learned about some Fire commands . So we practiced fire by rank, fire by company and my favorite fire by file. In the latter, being tall and tend to be rear rank I enjoy fire by file. Simply explained is when there is front and rear rows we do not fire by rows or the whole group, we fire by pairs. Being in the rear rank, I lower my rifle over the shoulder of the man in front of me and give the command to fire. Only the man in front of me and I will fire. The pair to our left will do like wise once we are finished firing. This continues down the line giving my front rank partner and I time to load and come to ready to fire. Then I command fire again. A good soldier should be able to fire every 20 seconds. Fire by company means all fire at same time. Fire by rank means either the command is given for front or rear rank to fire.

The first battle was short, at lease for us. It started with skirmishers (some sharp shooters that I recognized.) The cavalry joined the fight. Cannons were brought up from the rear.The first company entered the field and pressed the the Alabama boys back to their cannon lines. I have to admit those Mobile boys were the sharpest dressed and best drilled southern line I had ever seen.

The southern cannons fired canister shot and the whole company was decimated.
A second company was called forward and they experienced the same outcome.

Finally, our company was called forward. It made no sense. We were making a frontal assault on their cannon line. I was sure this would end in a massacre.

The Union Commander didn't have to worry about a fourth wave, because most of his men were dead. We formed up again for a salute. Click on pic to Enlarge

President Lincoln gave a moving address.
A second battle went much smoother. Our company was ordered to take the cannons. The First Sarg. marched us around in a wide arc to the southern flank of our foe. The rest of our battalion engaged with the Mobil boys and we were able to take the cannons. "Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah for Friedmann's Orphans!" The weather turned for the worst and it rained all night with great gusts of wind. I wore my kepi so it wouldn't blow away in the gusts.For the third battle the Commanders decided to attack as one line. The union artillery started with fury. Southern cannons returned with vengeance. The Mobile boys fought back hard. Their artillery was more accurate. The Commander sent our company to strike at the big guns. The rest of the battalion fractured.
Ducking and weaving to avoid cannon fire we made our way to their southern flank again.
We eliminated their cannon crews and others surrendered
After all the senseless killing and death on this ranch, we decided to negotiate the a temporary cease fire. After talking to some of the boys from Mobile I found out they weren't land owners or slave holders. I asked one fella why he was fighting us since he wasn't a slave owner or land owner. His reply was, "Because you boys came to our land to fight.
Spring Mountain Ranch was spectacular. I hope Nevada Day falls on a weekend that correlates with this event in the future. I will be there.

Fresno October 2008

During our visit to Nevada City the Battalion Commander invited us to attend the up coming Fresno event. He described it as bigger and better. After arriving home and speaking with my family we decided we would make a mini vacation out of the Fresno event.

I arrived Saturday morning to Kearney Park. It was a beautiful 158 acre park filled with grass, trees, an old mansion and other buildings. I was told that an old confederate owned the property at one time.

Click on Map

Private Edwards had made the trip and we reported to the Battalion commander. We were assigned to the 2nd Wisconsin Black Hats. Similar to the US regulars they wear the frock coat and Hardee hat. They wear Gators at their shins .

I set up my "Dog Tent" next to the other tents of my new company. We refer to our "Shelter 1/2" as the dog tent because it is about the right size for a dog. During our campaign I carry one shelter 1/2 and button it to another 1/2 to make a complete tent.
We spent time learning the new Manual of Arms. Normally we use Hardee methods for arms, but 2nd Wisconsin uses Scott's Manual of Arms. It took a few minutes adapting to the different commands of instruction. From the simple "order arms" to "right shoulder shift" and "fix bayonet" were slightly different then our home company arms drill. We also had practice learning another drill method at Nevada City. So to summarize it all we have learned three manual of arms in three events.
After cleaning our rifles and gear the command was given to break camp. We were going to march onto Charleston. The three union battalions formed up into one marching column and we started our march. Our forward scouts encountered rebel troops and we could hear the echo of rifle fire. I could not tell how far away the fight was but it must have been a few miles. Sometimes we can not hear rifle and cannon fire just a few miles away. The captain has explained this oddity as an acoustic shadow. I thought that the small company of Berdann sharp shooters were probably in on the action.

Our column halted and bugles sounded. The Cavalry shot past us on their way into the forward battle.
Our column continued at a quick pace toward the sound of the battle. Not too long after the Cavalry joined the fight we saw the artillery brought forward. We could hear and then feel the percussion of the big guns. That meant the battle was close.
I could smell the battle before I saw it. Our column rounded the corner and three battalions separated into three firing lines. Our battalion took center of the the field behind our cannons.
Like an invisible hand sweeping over our line a few men went down.
Off to the east I saw the southern lines forming. Our march shaped up to be the biggest battle I have ever seen. I hoped I'd make it through.
We advanced toward our foe and then fired upon them.
Smoke, cannon fire, rifle fire and men screaming made it hard to understand commands. Some men were confused and maybe scared. As I fired I saw grey coats fall but then men were falling around me. The surgeon was trying to evacuate the wounded. The cadet corp made an effort to bandage the wounded and provide water to the dying.

We drove the rebels back. They broke ranks and a few of them ran away. I hoped they run back to the bayou they crawled out of.

It looked like the rebs were regrouping and they disappeared. The battle was over.

After attending to the wounded we formed up again. We received a surprise inspection from The President. Fighting Abe came to address the boys. We gave him a salute. The Colonel commanded, "Strike tents." I was worried about a counter attack, and voiced my opinion to the First Sarg. He told me to, "Leave the thinking to the Colonel and keep you rifle clean and ready."

The next morning the bugle sounded. The South was marching toward camp. I got up and ready to go. We formed up and marched to meet our brothers from the south. The battle was similar to yesterday. It seemed like we gained the upper hand and marched quickly toward the fleeing rebs. Then I saw it. They had wheeled two dozen cannons from the tree line. "Kneel boys!" screamed our First Sarg. We got down. Angry thunder echoed. It happened so fast. A cannon ball exploded into our line. From my peripheral I saw my company go down. Then I saw nothing.

"Recall!, recall, recall," crowed the Sarg. Major. It was over.

We battled two more times. Each time the battle had a new story, unique challenges, and great memories. I plan on returning next year.

Photographs from Private Edwards: