Gettysburg 2008 Part 3

My Confederate Day

The first official day "in period" was Friday, July 4th. Excited and ready to go, I made my family drop me off at 7am. But I am getting a little a head of myself. First I had to FIND where to get dropped off.

First we stopped at the registration area and naturally I asked the simple question "Where is the 15ht Alabama". Of course the response was "What regiment?" Yeah, like I am so militarily inclined as to have that clue! They then proceeded to ask me something about Mississippi? the ANV? General Longfellow? Was this a history quiz no one prepared me for? I was then directed to the CSA camps, so we drove there next and again I got the history quiz , this time from a southern soldier. I looked at him as if he had 2 heads. He was a kind southern "gentleman" (A female reenacting as a man) and sent me to the Provost. There I looked up and found my guys... part of the Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) 6th battalion. Sent the car home and started wandering around the CSA ANV 6th battalion area.

I almost had given up when I stumbled across Lindsey and Robbie from the 15th, both in a stressed out and worried state. They could not find the rest of the group who were missing since Thursday. In desperation we drove back to the registration area and found everyone else! Their horse had thrown a shoe (Car trouble) Which had delayed them all.

Making quick work of it, we returned to the camp area and set up the tents. Unfortunately there was poison ivy near by. Yuk!

With the camp set up, checked my watch. It was 9 am and I planned to attend a class in the activity tent at 10:30. Robby and Lindsey dropped me off at the hay wagon stop on their way to town. I could see the tents way across the road. Didn't seem far but every wagon that arrived was full so I spent 20 minutes waiting for a ride! By the time I got to the tent, the class was half over .. I consoled myself by going shopping at the sutlers...again.

I was delighted to run into Tracy W from the Third Maine and we went shopping...at the suttlers...again. We also attended a Civil War Wedding in the tents before watching the afternoon battle.

Gettysburg 2008 Part 2

As I was laying in bed last night, I realized I forgot to mention 2 points from my first night. First, I was wearing my Third Maine tee shirt when I registered on Thursday night. While in line a tall gentleman turned to me and offered his hand.."I'm Chamberlain, Joshua Chamberlain, also from Maine". What a surprise that was...turns out that I was standing next to a famous man!




The second point was Sutlers row. Now I know you might find it hard to believe, but I was drown...no compelled to go shopping. I was startled to find so many sutlers and shocked to see some of the non period items and inflated prices. Of course I still managed to purchase some items on my daily visits!

Gettysburg 2008 Part 1

The 145th Anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg took place July 4, 5th and 6th 2008. I was honored to be a participant and the next few blog entries will be about those three days.

I actually left Saturday, June 28th and drove to my sister’s in Maryland. Our car was stuff with all sorts of Civil war paraphernalia: Tent, table, crates, blankets, dresses, writing desk, small barrel...as if I was leaving for the real war!

We didn’t actually leave for Gettysburg until Thursday July 3rd. And as luck would have it, we were stuck in traffic and it took longer to get there then we hoped. We set up the RV and I quickly headed to camp arriving at 5pm.




Now finding the right camp was entertaining to say the least. At least I knew where my tent didn’t belong. I wasn’t with the cavalry or the artillery. That narrowed it down to a many acre field of Infantry. I circled the area, several times, and at last I stopped and called "Uncle Dick". Logically he asked to identify my surroundings. "I am near the flags" referring to the regimental flags. "And now you’ll tell me you’re by the white tents too!" he said...For the record, I thought I was quite clear in my directions. He saved me, led me to the Third Maine and helped me set up the tent. Good ol’ Uncle Dick!



Being a "Ramada Ranger" I of course headed back to the RV to sleep.

Union Train Attacked!

Once again the patrons of the narrow gauge railway traveling from Manassas Junction to Harpers Ferry were besieged by the blue and gray.The day dawned with the Federal Troops ( all 3 of them!) commandeering the train to transport payroll and important dispatches. Once the train was underway along the Potomac River (Why were there so many sea gulls?) the Rebel forces attacked.

There were many ladies of secession aboard cheering for the attackers. One even going with a Rebel!

Brave Union ladies attempted to defend the train, one even pulling a gun on the Secesh.

Despite all attempts, the gold and papers were stolen....

Contraband

Sunday Tribune Headline: Contraband Found!

June 14th, 2008 Camp Baker, Pownal, ME

Mrs D Bergeron was camping with the Third ME. The First Sargent, M Bray, was tipped off by an informer that Mrs Bergeron had confederate items in her tent. On orders of the Sargent, Private Jared Johnson performed a search finding several Confederate items including a CS belt buckle, Confederate currency and personal letters.

Mrs Bergeron was asked to stand before the company while charged as a Confederate Sympathizer, upon questioning she claimed that the belt buckle and currency were sent to her by her brother, Micheal Bell. The personal letters were reviewed and offered proof that her brother was indeed a union soldier being held as a prisoner of war.

The charges were dropped at that time. Mrs Bergeron was unavailable for comment as she was suffering melancholy as a result of the experience

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Music of The Era

I thought it was interesting to look up some songs of the war era...

Union Dixie http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/songs/union-dixie.html
Away down South in the land of traitors, Rattlesnakes and alligators, Right away, come away, right away, come away. Where cotton's king and men are chattels, Union boys will win the battles, Right away, come away, right away, come away.

CHORUS: Then we'll all go down to Dixie, Away, away, Each Dixie boy must understand That he must mind his Uncle Sam, Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie. Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie.

I wish I was in Baltimore, I'd make Secession traitors roar, Right away, come away, right away, come away. We'll put the traitors all to rout. I'll bet my boots we'll whip them out, Right away, come away, right away, come away.

CHORUS: Then they'll wish they were in Dixie, Away, away, Each Dixie boy must understand That he must mind his Uncle Sam, Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie. Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie.

Oh, may our Stars and Stripes still wave Forever o'er the free and brave, Right away, come away, right away, come away. And let our motto ever be -- "For Union and for Liberty!" Right away, come away, right away, come away.

CHORUS: Then they'll wish they were in Dixie, Away, away, Each Dixie boy must understand That he must mind his Uncle Sam, Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie. Away, away, And we'll all go down to Dixie.

Shiloh's Hill http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/confederate/songs/shilohsg.html

Come all ye valiant soldiers -- a story I will tellAbout the bloody battle that was fought on Shiloh Hill.It was an awful struggle and will cause your blood to chill; It was the famous battle that was fought on Shiloh Hill.'

Twas on the sixth of April, just at the break of day; The drums and fifes were playing for us to march away.The feeling of that hour I do remember still,When first my feet were tromping on the top of Shiloh Hill.

About the hour of sunrise the battle it began; Before the day was ended, we fought 'em hand to hand.The horrors of that field did my heart with anguish fill For the wounded and the dying that lay on Shiloh Hill.

There were men from every nation laid on those bloody plains, Fathers, sons, and brothers were numbered with the slain, That has caused so many homes with deep mourning to be filled,All from the bloody battle that was fought on Shiloh Hill.

The wounded men were crying for help from everywhere, While others who were dying were offering God their prayer,"Protect my wife and children if it is Thy holy will!"Such were the prayers I heard that night on Shiloh Hill.

And early the next morning we were called to arms again, Unmindful of the wounded and unuseful to the slain; The struggle was renewed again, and ten thousand men were killed;This was the second conflict of the famous Shiloh Hill.

The battle it raged on, though dead and dying menLay thick all o'er the ground, on the hill and on the glen; And from their deadly wounds, the blood ran like a rill; Such were the mournful sights that I saw on Shiloh Hill.

Before the day was ended, the battle ceased to roar,And thousands of brave soldiers had fell to rise no more; They left their vacant ranks for some other ones to fill, And now their mouldering bodies all lie on Shiloh Hill.

And now my song is ended about those bloody plains;I hope the sight by mortal man may ne'er be seen again!But I pray to God, the Saviour, "If consistent with Thy will,To save the souls of all who fell on bloody Shiloh Hill."

Camp Pratt, Farmington Maine

Camp Pratt May 2-4th 2008

Well, for me preparation for Camp Pratt started several days before the event. In April, I purchased a tent from birthday money (Thank you Dad!). So I needed to make tent poles. My Hubby cut them for me (Thank You Honey) and I needed to paint them. Off I went to the paint store and wanted brown paint...Who Knew??? there were so many shades of brown to choose from: Seal brown, Sand, Taupe...All I wanted was mud brown. Thank goodness they had that!

Camp Pratt, My tent's the second from the Right

So I packed the car Friday night and headed for Farmington, Maine at 6:30 Saturday morning. It was misting in Berlin, drizzling in Rumford and continued to do so all weekend!

They southern gentleman were kind enough to set up my tent for me and cart my belongings into camp.

And they cook too! Capt Mike made ribs using his special recipe. Though it was kind of creepy how he treated them with such love.

After a camp fire dinner, they gentleman were kind enough to let me and Miss Sara fire the guns at the Union picket line. It was so much fun trying the guns.

The evening was spent chatting at the camp fire. I headed to the local inn until morning returning to the cold, muddy camp for breakfast and clean up.

So are you saying...Miss Deb, it rained all weekend, how could that be fun? Cause those southern gentleman can keep you entertained with their stories, impersonations and jokes!