September Storm Part 5 Sunday

Thankfully morning came at last. It took me a moment to debate wearing my nicer heavier dress or the same, lighter dress from Saturday. The dirty dress won simply because it was cooler. Chef Bray spoiled us with Maine blueberry pancakes. They were awesome! Notice the
black skillet above? It is lovingly called Bertha and has been used to defend the camp again Rebels in the past.

The color guard posted the colors at the crack of dawn Sunday. After breakfast the boys readied themselves for the final battle of the event. "Assault of the Iron Brigade". So once again they geared up and marched out to the battle.

To get to the spectator area it took several minutes to walk. We ended up coming in from the end of the field where the Rebels had thier cannons.

I love this picture showing the both flags and the smoke ....


Rebels falling in battle. Then a final Cannon shot and miraculously they all stood up. Everyone applauded them!

Once the battle was done, we returned to the camp and packed up. It went very quickly. My brother-in-law picked me up and returned me to the RV. I showered, had a snack, then went to sleep for an hour. I was so tired when I woke up I was staggering!

When asked then if I would sleep in a tent again I said "no". But now that time has passed I am already looking forward to my next encampment ~Deb

September Storm Part 4 Saturday Night

Ok this was my first night ever in a canvas tent in a field of canvas tents filled with fun loving unwashed re-enactors. So this post will be full of whining and b&tching. If you don’t want to read either, go no further in this post.

I’ve told you about the heat. Did I mention the crickets? Hundreds of crickets, we’re talking plague of crickets all clinging to our tents...beds...floors...oh and my green dress. Twice I dug some out of my dress! By 9:30 at night I had washed up using my new canvas bucket and sat at the opening of my tent, soaking my feet and listening to a rowdy group several camps away singing period songs. They were very good and had I not been so tired I might have joined in.
Marsha and I had a nice chat (though short) and headed for bed. Now if anyone out there thinks that a cot is comfortable to a large person then they are nuts. I couldn’t manage to get comfy and after about an hour gave up and tried my sod cloth on the ground.... it had more room but was ...the hard Maryland ground. I can’t say I did more then doze at best all night and was thankful when 5:30 am came around and I could get dressed. At least my quilt was warm.

September Storm part 3, Saturday Evening

Right before Mail call, the troops were gathered, in the current state of undress and called to make judgement over a possible CS informant. It was quite entertaining for the soldier to try and explain a picture of a Southern Belle (Not his wife), a confederate flag, gold bars and a letter from a CS general. I don't recall if the man was hanged or not as the ladies were not consulted.



As the men cooled down, I seemed to get hotter! I peeled several layers off leaving my dress, corset, undershirt, bloomers and and thats it. A complete state of undress for a proper victorian woman. But I have to say I don't recall ever feeling as hot as I did around 5 pm that evening, despite the ice water and cold rags. As long as I kept sweating I wasn't going to worry. Amazing how heat makes you not want to eat. Despite the delicious meal by Chef Bray, I just couldn't. As the sun finally started to go down, the bite of the heat seem to go with it making the air tolerable. The Third Maine guys gathered their weapons and headed for the woods for some good old fashion skirmishes. With only four of us in camp chatting, we talked through the gunfire until it came closer and we could see the CS troops right near our camp. It was great to watch
but once again I wanted to join in!






Invasion of the Rebels!


With the troops skirmishing in the woods, there was bound to be a few injuries. First there was one of our guys (his name, I think was Joe?) who got a twig to the eye. Thankfully it popped out his contact lens and seemed to spare his eye. The second was Cpl Kyle H. Some one shot their musket less then ten feet behind him. The shot covered the 2nd Corporal's neck with powder! He remained deaf in right ear for hours with a headache and ringing of the left ear. Of Course I am not convinced that he also like the fact he couldnt hear me talk anymore!



The most grievous of injuries was that of the brave 2nd Sergeant Matt B. He was wounded in the woods finding a splinter in his hand on the knuckle. It was a horrid site, the pain, that redness. I asked that he be allowed to go to the nearest ER for a shower and some airconditioned rest, but no, alas the hardcore officers would not allow it so he was forced to suffer his injuries in silence.


A lot of Stripes in this picture....2nd Corporal Kyle H, 1st Sergeant Glen L and
2nd Sergeant Matt B.

September Storm part 2, Saturday Daytime

Saturday morning I left the comfort of the RV and headed the 10 miles to the event. It looked to be a hot and humid day in the making. I arrived around 7 am and greeted the Third Maine boys. It may sound odd, but when I look at them in uniform, I can't help but feel proud to be part of this group. They work so hard to be authentic and maintain a respectful and fun atmosphere.


Chef Bray, as always, works like a dog to get a decent meal ready for us. The Third Maine is so lucky to have him. After breakfast I was conscripted to meet someone with a lot of strips. He had Major in his title but something else too... I'll have to check with one of the boys. Anyway, All medical people were asked to do first aid/heat stroke duty. Because I am female, I was not allowed on the battle field despite the 90 plus heat. Women of 1862 just didn't go there. This is what I find the hardest about this hobby. I would prefer being in the thick of things, on the field if needed, If I was a male re-enactor, I would choose being a field surgeon, carrying my field kit into the battle. But I digress.... Our duty was to prepare an area to recieve heat casualties. So Mrs Cylik and I gathered ice, I went to the suttlers (again) and purchased a canvas bucket, we got plenty of rags and waited.

Somehow the call of the battlefield was just too much for me so I headed towards where I thought the troops would be. Over the hill and through the woods we went finding ourselves on the edge of the battlefield (before any battles started). I was able to take a few pictures but was already bright red with a sunburned face so didn't want to go to the spectator area in the full sun. While we watch, a gentleman approached us and explained that we need to move soon as the battle would end up where we were standing. Not wanting to go back through the woods, we headed towards a group of civilians. To our horror we ended up in the CS camp! Thankfully we could blend in as we followed a large group of Rebel soldiers back towards the sutlers and the mixed camp. Returning to the "ice stations" we waited.

Listening to the gunfire is an amazing thing. The sound of the cannons, the shouting of the men. I can't really imagine how it would have been for families living near battlefields. The fear and anxiety. The people of Gettysburg listened to the sounds for three days. Three days!

Our first arrivals to the ice station needed just cool wet rags to help cool them down. They were redfaced, sweating and dusty. One gentleman was kneeling on the ground, thinking he was in trouble I ran to him and doused him with a wet iced rag. Poor guy looks at me and tells me he was simply waiting for the privy. Sgt Lawson then called me, at the 17th camp site they had a heat stroke casualty. Quickly Mrs Cylik and I swooped down on the lad that was sitting in a chair. We iced him, got him on the ground and monitored his pulse.

I was rather annoyed that his unit would not allow us to remove his wool pants. Had he been in the Third Maine, common sense would have prevailed over modesty...so as a last resort we dumbed ice water over his groin area (normally ice bags to the Femoral pulse points in the groin would have sufficed). I am glad to report the soldier eventually recovered.

Our lads cooling down ...

September Storm Part 1 Friday

Gathering in the hills of Maryland, near Antietam, the Third Maine joined hundreds of reenactors to recreate the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. I arrived Friday, September 7th at around 5 in the evening. Already the mixed camp bustled with activity. Persons from as far away as Oregon where present. Needless to say after setting up my tent...thank you to those kind enough to take care of it for me...I quickly set up the cot and headed with Mrs Cylik to the Sutlers. What an amazing array of products. I visited them several times over the weekend and purchased more then I needed (typical woman??).

Someone told me that there was a civilian meeting at 8 pm. Unaware of the details, Mrs Cylik and I headed to the Civilian camp. There was an amazing tavern set up their by a nice family from Maryland. There we got a itinerary for that area. Upon returning to the Third Maine camp we discovered we went to the wrong meeting! We were suppose to be that the 2nd USV ladies meeting. Oh well....

I left around 9 pm that night and stayed in my sister's RV. Ok I admit it, I was a Ramada Ranger for the weekend. But I am girl how keeps her bedroom at 65 degrees and have a fan running! I still didn't get to bed until almost midnight.