Regimental Meeting 2007

Coming

On a clear, crisp Saturday afternoon, the 9th held its annual regimental meeting at the historic Howe House in Emporia KS. Present at the February 10 meeting were Tim and Mike Adams, Brad Amend, Brian Albert, Brian Shively, Randy Downey, Shawn Bell, Herb Shemwell, and Brian Cox. The meeting was a success, and submitted here are  notes from that meeting as well as notes from the Battalion meeting held January 27 near Monett MO:

NEXT YEAR’S MEETING --

Next year’s regimental meeting will be held February 9, 2008, at a location to be determined. If it meets the schedule, this may be converted to a muster, however, the meeting date is firm. Participation by the rank and file, not just officers, is strongly encouraged. This is a good time to trade information, gossip, war stories, and pictures, and generally stoke the embers for another great year of reenacting with the 9th. A rolling party is another option.

DUES --

Dues for the website are now due ($15) and can be forwarded to either me or to Jamie Ralph, for the continued maintenance of our excellent website.

RECRUITMENT --

Recruitment continues to be a first priority for the Ninth and we discussed many options for this.

I cannot stress enough that recruitment is each soldier’s responsibility. If we do not grow, attrition will doom us. At the risk of pushing the matter, I think that each solider needs to take every opportunity to broach the topic of reenacting with family, friends, co-workers, and other persons they may come into contact with of a given day.  

Please contact me, Herb S., or Brian A., for support on some recruiting materials/handouts. We may also post some on the website for your use.

ALTER EGO FEDERAL IMPRESSION --

We also discussed having an “alter ego” federal impression, and the 9th did this in year’s past. This does not substitute for the 9th, but merely offers an option when we must put on “the Blue.” I think it will be appropriate to let this idea percolate over the next year to let us determine what this will mean for the 9th and what is best for it.

SHILOH UPDATES --

For those going to Shiloh, if you have not already registered, please do so immediately. I note that their website (http://battleofshilohreenactment.com/index.asp) reflects that late registrations will be permitted, however, it is always best to register early and in advance.

There are at least two teams of us going, one out of Wichita and one out of Topeka. Please contact either Brian A. or me for details.

those planning to attend are as follows:

Brad A., Brian A., Shawn Bell, Brian S., Herb S., Mike A., Tony M., Bob A., Gene H., Jamie R., Brian C.

Please advise if I have missed anyone.

If you are going to do the Friday tactical, you need to be ready to go Friday morning at 5 am (yes, that’s right, ready to go at 5 am).

Apparently given low numbers, we will be consolidated for company street and battle purposes with the lads of the 4th Missouri for the tactical, then back to our own identity for the rest of the event. Combined, we’ll have about 16 men. We will arrange for our combined officers upon consultation with Captain Keith of the 4th.

According to Brad A., we will have a water wagon, and possibly an ammo wagon. Brian S. will bring his ammo box for our use.

Brad says that the federals are ready to tangle with us.

For those not marching out with us on Friday morning for the tactical, the chances of attempting to find us are not good. However, they may remain in the static camp which should be set up by that time.

Soldiers participating in the tactical must be able to carry with them what they plan to use, including food and ammo sufficient to carry them through Saturday’s battle (don’t forget toilet paper as there will be no porta-potties on the tactical). This means a minimum of 80 rounds on your person. We may or may not go directly back to the static camp prior to Saturday’s battle.

Of interest, there will be three Irish lads who reenact the American CW. They will be made corporals for this event and will be part of the color guard. One of our brother units will take them under their wing -- I am a little uncertain which unit this will be -- and they might appreciate a visit from us to trade war stories and to show some Southern hospitality.

As to the static camp, Brad. A. says to bring tentage if you want to.

No need to bring “the Blue” for Shiloh.

If there remain questions regarding registration, please contact me, Brad A., Brian A., or visit the website for the event.

RANK STRUCTURE --

Rank structure for 2007 will remain the same with one captain, one sergeant, and three corporals, as follows:

First Sgt. Brian Shively
First Corporal Randy Downey
Second Corporal Bob Albert
Third Corporal Rob Matlack
Captain Brian Cox

No other insignia of rank should be worn when the 9th is on the field as a unit (local events excepted).

Please remember, as in the War, these are your officers and they should have your obedience and respect (unless they get too big for their britches).

This is not to say that individual soldiers cannot develop their own areas of expertise to help the 9th, and I welcome all suggestions concerning how to improve the 9th, scenarios we should have at events, and anything else on your mind. The most important part of the 9th, as always, is the rank and file.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS --

Our calendar of events is posted on the website (as well as the battalion’s website at http://groups.msn.com/1st-MoBattalionWebPage), with the following changes:

Sept. 28-30        Cabin Creek Ok.

May 8-10         EBUFU -- Brad A. will notify us if this date will be                                                changed

June 18-20         Grand Island NE -- Tim A.will keep us updated on this                                     event

As always, the events noted on the schedule as “MAX” are intended to be those for which all soldiers of the 9th should make a maximum effort to attend.

REMINDERS --

Don’t knock down tents on Sunday until after the battle (I’ve been an offender).

Always bring “the Blue” unless instructed not to.

We will try to refrain from immediately ”resurrecting” at the end of the battle and will do more of the medical/wounded type of impression.

Avoid -- modern footwear, eyeglasses, tobacco, and highly visible earplugs.

Try to use alternative food containers (e.g., cloth bags, rather than plastic), or keep them out of sight (e.g., coolers). Non-commissioned officer will have greater responsibility in ensuring that our camp is “de-farbed” and kept clean.

Don’t use the fire pit as a trash pit. (I’ve been a big offender in the past.) We should try to bring a burlap or cloth or trash bag in the future to put our trash in.

When at an event and under fire, we should act like we are under fire, not smiling and joking. Take a look at the picture on our website (in the gallery section) of Brian A. and Brian S. reacting to opposing fire.

We need to slow our rate of fire. As in the War, soldiers would need to ram each shot, unlike us, and their pieces would foul. So, the thinking is that we are maybe firing too fast. Also, we need to have something to fire at.  This will obviously be the concern of the officers.

Every solider should try to have as complete a set of uniforms as possible, to include the following:

1.    regular Confederate including a Columbus depot shell jacket (a sprinkling of blue trousers is acceptable);

2.    civilian/Missouri State Guard;

3.    Federal -- I suggest that soldiers have all of the following:  blue sackcoat, sky blue trousers, appropriate headgear, including a kepi, bummer, or black felt hat, and all other appropriate paraphernalia. If any uniform questions, please consult the First Sergeant or me.

1ST MISSOURI BATTALION WEBSITE --

Staff wants the rank and file to be registered on this site to be able to access those restricted areas, including reading and posting comments.  The url is http://groups.msn.com/1st-MoBattalionWebPage. I registered the other night and the process is not overly burdensome.

SCENARIOS AT EVENTS

We discussed expanding our different scenarios at events, to keep up interest. In years past, we have had a dental examination, distribution of rations, vinegar ration, letter writing, roundball, wounded and medical, inspection of quarters, drinking and card playing, discipline, running from the battle, court martial, execution, and etc.

Brad A. this year wants us to expand our card playing to other companies and I think there is some fertile ground here for some fun....

I am also going to work up some scenarios involving courts martial, including both minor infractions and more serious infractions. The latter will require the convening of a court martial with officers from staff or other companies.

NEWEST MEMBER --

Congratulations to Cpl. Rob Matlack for his second  contribution to the 9th -- a new baby girl! Glad to have the new MCWRA guidelines permitting women in the ranks.

OTHER EVENTS --

The historic Howe House at 315 East Logan, in Emporia, will have a border ruffian event this year on October 7. This was the site of our regimental meeting, and they have some “good ground.” This is entirely optional.  

Ft. Defiance -- I don’t recall the 9th having been to this event, however, they want to have alot of demonstrations with interaction with the spectators. Please note that this a MAX event. Some of the structures on site here can be seen at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/7109/Boonesfield.html. This event appears to be quite near St. Louis and is about 290 miles out of Topeka.

Tribbey OK -- Brad A. says that attendance at this event is encouraged. We have been several times in the past, and with the exception of the flying potatoes which you have to be careful about, this is a good event. Apparently, the State of Oklahoma has made a large financial commitment to this, including for pyrotechnics. This event is approximately 330 miles out of Topeka.

Civil War on the Western Border , Lawrence KS -- some of us from the 9th attended this in the past, and it may be fertile recruiting ground. Be aware that this likely will be living history only, and they may want us to go federal. I will obtain more details as we get nearer to this. Can’t argue with an event this close to home, and in Kansas! I don’t find a website up for this yet.

Pea Ridge/Bentonville AR -- they are looking to build an Elkhorn Tavern for us to assault.

EBUFU -- This may the next greatest thing in reenacting -- an  Event, By Us, For Us (hence “EBUFU”). We presently plan to have this on church property near Monett Missouri, where the Battalion meeting was held. The location is about 230 miles from Topeka. The battalion will be one big company. The event will be unscripted and a tactical like the first day at Shiloh. Our impression will be regular Confederate army. The church will have its parking lot and restrooms available for us. Otherwise, its out in the woods. Brad A. will notify us if this date changes.

MISCELLANEOUS --

MCWRA membership is encouraged but not required.

Women in the ranks -- each soldier can form his own opinion.  The MCWRA website has some guidelines for the female reenactor (www.mcwra.org/policies.html).

Veteran Reserve -- Major Looney discussed this at the battalion meeting. This is designed for the “old soldier” who can’t take the running and marching as much as before but who wants to stay active and can still assist. Please see me, Brad A., Brian A., or Sam Looney  if anyone is interested. This option is still a work in progress.

Dress parade --  Color sergeant Shawn B. has proposed that we clean up our impression for dress parade in the mornings, to include buttoned shells and shirts, un-bloused trousers, no accouterments, and generally a more polished impression than in camp. More on this later.

We should have the skirmish drill down cold. Check the animated drill link on the Battalion website at http://groups.msn.com/1st-MoBattalionWebPage.

Parade rest, at a parade, in camp, is with the gun held with both hands, left over right, across the body, lock plate in.

Tim A. is looking into forming an historical reenacting group up his way to facilitate information and communication across all time periods and organizations.

Brian S. has found a site for powder in Mexico MO. -- their address is http://www.grafs.com/powders/. The cost per pound of black powder is $11.99. They are four hours from Topeka. Another option is powderinc whose website is http://www.powderinc.com/blackpowder.htm. Their price appears to be $18.40 per pound, however, this appears to be with shipping and hazmat included.

The 9th has a peerless record for safety, and we need to do everything we can to ensure the safety of all who attend our events, our own soldiers, other soldiers, and spectators, in what is obviously a dangerous activity. I have asked Brian S. to compile a “Top 10”  list of safety concerns to focus our attention on this important aspect of reenacting. Those wishing to review some of these safety guidelines can check the MCWRA’s policies for infantry safety at http://www.mcwra.org/infantry.html

Brad A. has promised us some hand-to-hand sometime this year!

Brad A. is looking for a bugler ...

Travis Franklin, our excellent battalion drummer, has been promoted to corporal, and been given directions to recruit another drummer, fife player, and etc. Congratulations to Travis for the promotion and his consistent excellent performance!

We are going to stress more paperwork, including passes from camp. Henceforth, any soldier must have a pass signed by the First Sergeant, or his designee, to be absent from camp. The purpose is not to keep track of the soldier, but to keep him aware of when he needs to be back in camp.

Brad A. wants us to attend church call more often (Abraham Lincoln in his Second Inaugural address said, of note with reference to the soldiers on both sides, that “[b]oth read the same Bible and pray to the same God, and each invokes His aid against the other. ”).

Sam L. has asked if anyone can help create a website to contact him.

9th DVD --

We previewed Herb’s retrospective of the 9th in 2006 and over the years, and it was stupendous as usual. Herb also showed off a new flag for the 9th and we may be seeing additional colors from the Shemwell Flag Company in the future. Kudos to Herb and Cathy!

END
 

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