Post by Paws on Jun 28, 2006 1:22:55 GMT 12.75
Terrific time there. Not too many reenactors showed; about 40 I guess in total. No Yankees at all. We got word that one unit on their way in from PA had an accident dropping their cannon and damaging a wheel and returned home for repairs. Since there were no Yanks the Rebs decided to skirmish one another. We were set up at opposite ends of a large open field and both units were equipped with mortar, musket and ball, cannon, rocks, dirt, hatchet, butcher knife, and at the very end water balloons! ;D In the first battle General Eli's troops squared off with Major Reynolds Company toe to toe with cannister shot fired from mortar and cannon. The troops gave a fine account of themselves on both ends of the field waging such terror as had not been seen except inside the mansion edifice itself. Cluttered it was the field with bodies of both young and old giving all for the spectators enjoyment. As the Raiders fired their last round a brave lad donned the kepi of a Union, Federalist dog and braved the mid section of the battleground taunting the good Rebels on either end to quicken his demise. Accommodating as they were he fell from a sudden volley of mini ball and chain shot. Like a swan he went down first rising in the air and with a gracefall decent collapsed becoming the last casualty of the Battle. Embellishing this fall during the second battle a brave crew from the Raiders formed a burial party complete with headstone to bury the lad on the field where he lay. General Eli and company decided to relieve the corpse of his boots instigating a hand to hand encounter over the soldier's property. Pleased to say the Raiders set the thieving General to flight! The next battle brought out the artistic talents of the Generals forces as they performed what I think was a cross between a water ballet and a square dance. In perfect unison with precision the troops performed this spectacle dropping the jaws of all in attendance. There being no music they provided their own vocal accompaniment for the dance leaving the crowd in laughter and cheers of approval. The last battle became certainly the most ferocious as much planning and care went into strategy on both sides. The opening volleys from the field pieces helped;ed to disguise the snipers slipping from Eli's camp to positions behind the columns of the heavy gates. Then too as previously planned SGM Collins of the Raiders fainted a flanking movement to the left flank of Eli drawing both the attention and fire of the snipers quickly revealing their positions. Whilst this was going on nobody notice Corporal Hogan slipping up on Levi's right flank with his 50 caliber Hawking buffalo gun fit for sniping at 500 yards. Hogan opened fire decimating the Gen's troopers as their musket rifles were outgunned. Confusion reigned in the camp as fire came now from all directions. Attempting to reorganize and move his forces to his left seeking cover from behind the entrance gate uprights Eli took courage as the Raiders cannons fell silent having spent their last rounds. "Up the middle" shouted Eli ! "Fix bayonets!" commanded Reynolds. "Bucket Grenadiers!" Major Reynolds shouted stopping Eli in his tracks with a look of puzzlement upon his face. Forward they ran at full speed hell bent for the enemy line lobbing one after another of the water stretched rubber orbs at the opponents leaving the crowd breathless, bent over in laughter, and satisfied they had spent their week-end well. Thank you guys one and all who participated, attended, or put this thing together. I had an absolute blast! ;D