OPENING COMMENTS: Greetings to one and all! This issue of our humble newsletter will have quite a bit of new things included, such as articles written by members and friends. The pictures at the top of this page are of the good and honorable Dr Earhart (aka Bill Hutchinson) and my lovely wife Betty in her portrayal as Mrs Ann Burrowes. So without further ado, let’s get on with The Herald!

PROJECTS: Our group’s new recruiting pamphlets have started circulating throughout the city and county. Some have been given to interested parties, and through the kindness of Sherry at the base museum here, we have some proudly displayed on the counter in the museum store. If we are fortunate, they will encourage more people to join our group. As our group grows, I don’t plan on changing anything from our original goal of being a group of friends that enjoy history or reenacting. I don’t plan on letting the group get so big it will be out of control either. Rest assured, we will make every effort to welcome new members but keep our down home friendliness!

OFFICER’S FIELD DESK: I have started work on the first field desk during my lay off from the railroad. I have drawn up the plans, taken the measurements, and started making one. I hope to get one built before the start of the coming season, but only time will tell if fate cooperates with me or not. If I finish one, I will post pictures of it in a newsletter issue.

AFTER ACTION REPORT: My campaign partner Lou Janack and I, along with our friends Dennis and Sherry, all trooped down to «the outpost» of the 7th Cav in nearby Colorado on the 28th of January, for a very enjoyable social get together. The food was outstanding, the company was enlightening, and the music was very relaxing and entertaining. All in all, it was a very enjoyable day among friends. Quite a bit of talk went on concerning upcoming events. Members of the 7th Cav plan to work with us and the 5th Cav at events this year. They do not plan on attending the annual Buffalo Days Indian Fight this year, but will attend Fort Russell Days here in Cheyenne in July. They also plan on going to the Territorial Park event in Laramie during the first weekend in August. We have heard of a two day wagon train event near Laramie in early July, which they showed a lot of interest in attending with their troopers, animals, and especially the ladies and children. More info on this new event will be forthcoming, before this latest issue is published.

Numerous pictures were taken at the event in Colorado, and I hope to put some of them in this issue. Jim Wenzel has done a lot of work on the nearby bunk house, and in fact, two stalwart troopers actually slept in the bunk house overnight. I took some pictures of the bunk house and if they come out, I will post one or two of those as well in this issue. To Jim Wenzel and the members of the 7th Cavalry, I would like to thank all of you for a very enjoyable day! Maybe next time, I will be brave enough to bring along my concertina!

NEWS FROM THE EUROPEAN FRONT: Max Popov, our stalwart Pioneer in Kiev, has sent a news flash from the front. It is an article describing a civil war event in the Czech Republic. It follows in it’s entirety.

...Hello Corporal and Captain! Sorry for the delay. Here is a small report about my last trip to Czech Republic.

In general everything was fine. This year my trip was a little expensive because of VISA and some unexpected expenditures (spelling??). We arrived to Czech Republic camp on Wednesday and in the same day we were in Czech Military Base, place were Czech American Civil War Association usually helds all events and were badly surprised (as well as czechs-organisers). "Big Boss" from Czech military closed camp for all events because of new law about foreign citizens in Czech Republic. The main headache was because almost all details of ACW camp (bar, sutler camp, toilet, area and etc) were ready. Till Friday evening we (4 ukrainians and 4 czechs) moved the camp outside the military area. It was terrible:-( Rain + bad mood...But we had made that!!... ACW event wasn't very big, may be only 70-80 participants or so. (In 1999 there were around 150). Artillery had only one small cannon with crew. Believe me I heard that cannon only one or twice during event:-( (Last year both sides had two Batteries ~6 cannons total)

Since the area was new we had to do some recon missions before battle, and we did that in Friday evening. Terrain wasn't good for Battle of Olustee...Mountain, Hills and etc...A lot of trees, Forest and etc...Nothing deals with Florida land:-) Anyway we decided to fight (we all came to have fun!!!!).

At friday evening was night skirmish (traditional event in Czechia). Oh man, I have hard memories!!! It was dark, we climbed on rock, went down to valley, fall down because it was dark, fired, helped each other to go out of troubles, made scratches, lost equipment (I was lucky:-) and etc. We took cover right in the center of the mood...I went down up to knee (Later in camp I spent almost fours hours to make everything dry:-) I saw those damn Yankees once or twice during the skirmish and I fired, fired...Can't tell for sure but I think we won that skirmish...At least our officers and NCOs was happy for their guys...

Campfire and coffee was like water in desert for us:-) I don't like coffee but after the skirmish I enjoied it a lot!!! We made late supper, drunk a little (beer:-) and went sleep. Saturday morning meets us with that damn bugler's call:-) I was ready to kill him (I remember my time in the Army when I was Sarge - I usually threw (spelling?) my boots into Duty Sergeant who made Reveille:-) >From 12AM till 5PM we had Battle of Olustee. Everything was almost the same except it wasn't dark and I saw Yankees:-) I fought a little with 11th Virginia (Cpt. Peter Shulz) and later with 7th Georgia (Cpt. Dusty Chambers) because there weren't any Texian units. I couldn't fight as 5th Texas because if you want to fight as a separate unit you have to have at least 15 men in ranks...There was Quartermaster Sergeant (QmSgt McGaren) of 4th Texas but he didn't participate because of some reasons...There were (and still are) some problems in private life between two reenactors so several guys were depressed (I was in bad mood too, but I spent so much money for that trip so I decided to fight)...Battle was separated in two parts...The first one was finished around 2PM with our victory, we captured the Hill and made fortifications on it...I was lucky and wasn't killed (was in right place with right commanders:-) During the break we had small meal in the field -> some water, apple and a little dry meat and etc...So it was like in real life...In second part of battle Yankees tried to attack us but weren't lucky, we moved forward and forced them back to plain field...On the field I saw the cannon (first time) which fired directly to my platoon.. Oppps..Max Popov was killed:-)..Later I came back to ranks invisible...We broke Federal Company in two parts, one with flag retreated and another one came under HEAVY fire and all of them were killed (including some commanding officers). We left a part of our COmpany there to check the killed when we continued to forced remains of Yankee Company back...When we almost catch them up I was killed again (I didn't run 100 meters to capture Federal Flag:-( Guess who was that damn Federal who killed me??? The friend of mine - US Sharpshooters commander...Anyway we captured the flag and won the battle...I came back to ranks invisible again and later helped 1st Sgt. Frank Hood to give the Flag back to Federals...

The event was over...Saturday evening we spent with good supper, beer and conversations.

That's all.

Your friend,

Max Popov
Brevet 4th Sergeant, Co D, 5th Texas Infantry

Thanks for the event after action report Max! Don’t get too comfortable in that rebel gray buddy! We’ll need you to stand tall and watch for the warriors who may come over the hill once the weather improves! As always, take care, keep your hair and keep up the fire!

UPCOMING EVENTS: As always, I will try to keep everyone up to date on events during this campaign season. From July 27-August 4, the Buffalo Days Indian Fight (BDIF) will be in full swing. According to Michael Terry of Warriors Plus (aka Bad Hand), this year’s event is the 10th anniversary, and will be held on the Blue Valley Ranch, near Kremmling, Colorado. More information to follow in upcoming issues.

July 5-6, the wagon train event in Laramie, Wyoming: This is a major undertaking of several organizations in conjunction with the area’s Jubilee Days celebrations. Logistics and planning is still being worked out but from initial reports, the organizers are very excited that reenactors may participate. The event will have media accompanying the train so there is potential for publicity, which will help with our recruitment efforts. I will keep everyone updated as I learn of information. I sent out initial updates to everyone on February 1st, and hopefully that has answered any questions you may have had for now. More to follow.

FROM THE COLONEL’S DESK: This will be a periodic section in our newsletters, for articles from Lt Col Charles Reed, Assistant Adjutant General on General Crook’s staff. This issue’s article will cover good advice to new recruits to the world of reenacting.

We poor infantry privates often suffer unnecessary confusion when drilling or performing maneuvers. Simple tasks bewilder us. Maintaining contact or keeping alignment eludes our best efforts. We need suffer no longer. Observing a few simple rules will allow every veteran and «fresh fish» to conduct himself with certainty and confidence, whether he marches in ranks or files.

RULE NO. 1: Follow the File Leader

Once in formation, privates have limited responsibilities. Men in the front ranks have but a single task. They must maintain alignment with the nearest man, in the direction of dress, either left or right. They match their actions to his and achieve success by touching elbows and marching in step. Privates in the rear rank have less to do. Since front rank men are the file leaders, rear rank men only need to follow the man directly in front. Wherever the front rank man goes, the rear rank man follows. When the battle line faces to the right or left flank, the rear rank man moves in the same direction as his file leader.

RULE NO. 2: Comrades in Battle

Every two files in the line of battle form a group of four men known as «Comrades in Battle». These four will always be together whenever the line faces to the left or right flank. More importantly, they also represent the individuals on whom the private will most often dress. Comrades in Battle normally form from the right of the company to the left. A private who knows how his Comrades in Battle are, knows where he belongs at all times. With them! Even when Comrades in Battle do the wrong thing, they should all do it together.

RULE NO. 3: Wheel On the Pivot, Dress On The Guide

Wheeling in good order often seems like an impossible task. It need not. In every case, wheels turn on a pivot. One man acts as an anchor, while the rest of the ranks march around him. The pivot man does not move at all when wheeling from the halt. He takes small steps of 9-11 inches, when on the move. The man at the other extremity of the line, referred to as the guide, will set the pace for the wheel. He usually steps out in a slightly longer stride. All the men between the pivot and the guide move relative to these two positions. Each private lets the man on the side nearest the guide determine his pace. The closer you are to the inside pivot, the less you will need to move. Your steps should be shorter. No one moves faster than the outside guide. Ideally, the guide and pivot are NCO’s, but sometimes privates must fill in as well. At any rate, the pivot and the guide regulate movement, not individuals between the two. The scale and scope of the wheel does not matter. Whether by battalion, company, platoon or section, the execution of the maneuver remains the same. This is true of the command to march by files, left or right. The maneuver is a four man wheel, conducted by Comrades in Battle. The inside man pivots, the outside man guides the others around.

NOTE: I will include rules 4-5 in the next issue, due to lack of space. Even though we wouldn’t use the elbow to elbow drill in skirmishes against fast moving warriors, the same basics can be used in extended skirmish formation, keeping the lines straight between the pivot and guide.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH: I thought everyone who is a lover of democracy would enjoy this!

Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.
Liberty is two wolves trying to have a sheep for dinner,
And finding a well informed, well armed sheep.

Unknown

LIVING HISTORY SYMPOSIUM: The 5th US Cavalry, Company A, recently hosted a symposium given by Living Museums of the West. The speakers, John Luzader and Jerri Spellman, were a delight to listen to and were very knowledgeable of their subject matter. The most interesting part for me was hearing what direction living history will be heading into and why. There will be a lot of changes down the road, changes for the better, which I will cover in succeeding newsletter issues. All in all, it was a very enjoyable and informative two days which I know will help all of us improve our impressions, whatever they may be.

IN CLOSING: I will try and put out another newsletter in the very near future, but it is time to close this one out for now. There are several people who are writing articles for our newsletter, so I will publish another one shortly. I hope this letter finds all of you happy, healthy and prosperous. As always, take care, keep your hair and keep up your fire!

Your most humble servant,

Roy Varga, Corporal
Co. G, 9th US Infantry
Editor, publisher, office staff, dish washer!