Vicksburg Conference Report -- Mississippi Valley Brigade

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Date Posted: Thursday, July 07, 10:10:32am
Author: Mark Griffin
Subject: Vicksburg Conference Report

Gentlemen,

I was very pleased and highly encouraged with the MVB conference held last Saturday in Vicksburg. We had a stong representation of progressive units and the support of many others who were unable to attend in person. I very sincerely appreciate everyone who stands for excellence in living history. I am proud to serve with you.

I have copied the meeting notes taken by Tom Ezell. They are very concise and should provide insight for those who were not able to make the meeting.

We are in the process of putting together a new progressive battalion in the Mississippi / Louisiana / S. Arkansas region. Membership in this battalion (or any MVB unit) will be strictly limited to those units/men who meet or exceed the published Brigade guidelines. Units who are commited to "changing over" from a mainstream impression will be given special consideration. The bottom line is, regardless of how difficult it makes recruiting, this will be a brigade ENTIRELY of progressive reenactors. We are committed to a base standard that covers drill, dress and demeanor. We are, in fact, the Few, the Proud the MVB...and yes, we are looking for a few good men.

Captain Ezell said it best "We stand together". Our vision is for excellence and to give a TRUE picture of history. We will accomplish our mission and not simply offer lip service.

Numbers are important yet numbers without standards are simply worthless.

More details will come as we move forward.

Mark Griffin
_________________________________________________________

In attendance were BG Mark Griffin of the MVB; MG Mike Moore, CG of the 1st Confederate Division; Tom Stuart (MVB Adjutant); Chuck Toney (Chief of the MVB Commissary); COL Fred Yokubaitis (CO, 9th Texas/Red River Battalion), his sergeant major and two company commanders; and representatives of four independent companies: Tom Ezell & 1 representative of the 6th Arkansas; eight representatives of the 32nd Mississippi; Tom Savoie and 1 representative of the 4th Louisiana; and Dennis Neal and 1 representative of the 16th Louisiana -- a total of around 20 folks.

After a short opening and introduction of the MVB staff and their responsibilities, BG Griffin explained the purpose of the conference and went over the Brigade's mission statement/vision in some detail. Key points to note here is that the MVB strives to provide:
-- Consistent, competent, and enthusiastic leadership;
-- Support, education, and direction to its member units;
-- A spirit of excellence in living history;
-- Create a realistic atmosphere for its members at Brigade events; and
-- Do all the above in a manner which honors the men who served in the War for Southern Independence.

CURRENT STATE OF THE BRIGADE
Like much of the rest of the Division, the MVB has undergone some upheavals since Franklin. The net result has been a loss of two battalions of the original four: the Tennessee Valley Battalion to form part of the new Heartland Brigade in early 2004; then the Trans-Mississippi Volunteer Infantry earlier this year to authenticity issues.

What's left is two of the original battalions: the 9th Texas/RRB based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in Texas, and the Elk River Battalion, based in north Alabama. Other organic units include the Buttermilk Rangers (company-sized cavalry) and the 1st Arkansas Light Artillery, consisting of 6 full scale six-pounder guns. Brigade Headquarters consists of the staff, with a commissary/quartermaster section with 3 supply wagons an on-call access to two other wagons. Left over from the spring upheavals are a number of independent companies wishing to seek affiliation under the MVB or
the FCD.

Total strength at this point in time, (less the Elk River Battalion, due to its geographic isolation from the rest of the MVB, now located in the Trans-MS) is about 200.

On an event-by-event basis we can be augmented/supported by some of the independent progressive/authentic battalions such as the WIG.

Emphasis now for both the MVB and the 1st Confederate Division will be QUALITY (in both men and events) over QUANTITY. As General Griffin stated, "We're not concerned about having the biggest brigade around, but we do want to have the BEST brigade in the hobby."

THE BIG PICTURE
--- Benefits of a progressive Brigade
--- The power of numbers: negotiating as a brigade on behalf of its member units will carry more weight with event organizers for better scenarios, better positioning, and the ability to do things we'd rather do.
--- The ability to hold/host our own larger scale progressive events
--- Making a positive impact on the hobby at the National level.

WHAT "PROGRESSIVE" MEANS TO THE MVB
--- The difference between "hardcore" and the MVB standard:
----- Bottom line is that if your uniform/outfit meets the published MVB standard, you're okay at any MVB event.
----- We encourage men to be authentic down to their underwear, but won't be checking under your shirt & pants.
----- Hand stitching button holes, etc., is ENCOURAGED, but NOT MANDATORY.
----- Brigade may sometimes announce an "optimal" or
"recommended" uniform for a particular event, but if you only have your stuff that meets the published MVB standards, you are still good to go at any MVB event.

--- CAMPS
----- Military "campaign" vs. "static" camps: Not a whole lot of difference here, although the term "static" camp will usually imply that we'll have tents. Multiple occupancy in the tents; Minimal camp furniture. No farby stuff.
----- Civilians camp separately from the military.
----- WE WILL NOT HAVE WOMEN/CHILDREN IN THE MILITARY CAMPS.
----- WE WILL NOT HAVE WOMEN/CHILDREN FIGHTING IN THE RANKS.
----- Women must have a pass & escort to enter the military camps
----- Period-correct female/civilian impressions are welcomed in an appropriate, period-correct role.
----- No cars in camp from event start time to ENDEX.

CORINTH 2005
All the unattached units (6th Arkansas, 16th LA, etc. should register under the 9TH TEXAS/RED RIVER BATTALION for Corinth. If we get the numbers we project, we will try to split off these folks to form a new battalion of their own at Corinth, and start building it from there.

MVB will provide rations for the event to all members, at $8 per man. Send the rations money in with your event fee, a total of $20 for us and the other MVB folks. We will be eating a bit better and carrying a whole lot less than we had to do at Franklin. We will be getting slab bacon as at
Franklin, but the raw potatoes & onions will be replaced by a desiccated vegetable mix so we can make stew/soup on a mess basis. They will be issuing boilers to us for this purpose. Also some sort of bread ration. (if MVB doesn't provide coffee, then we'll do that on our own).

MG Moore gave a short talk on the upcoming Corinth event. This will be far, far better than Franklin, as we now control our own destiny and the 1CD staff has taken the things that got screwed up at Franklin and are working hard to ensure this doesn't happen again. They are building a full-scale (well, 7/8ths scale) replica of the original Battery Robinett, and it will be our job to take those works on Saturday, and again under a different scenario on Sunday.

The 1st Confederate Division standards will be in effect for ALL
CONFEDERATES at Corinth. While there is a good bit of leeway on jackets and other items, they will draw the line at Federal sky-blue trousers. These will not be allowed on any Reb at Corinth. To quote General Moore yesterday morning, if you show up at Corinth with sky-blue FEDERAL pants, you will have three and only three options:

1) Go to the sutlers and get a pair of pants that meet the FCD/MVB standard;
2) Go see if one of the Federal unit will let you fall in with them; or
3) Go home.

He wasn't kidding.

The Division is tightening up on membership as well, in order to hold the Confederate/Federal ratios as close to even as possible at N/SA events. After the July 31 N/SA meeting, all FCD battalions and brigades must submit a by-name roster/spreadsheet of their membership rolls to the Division.

For Corinth, registration is being required through the chain of command to ensure that units are actually members somewhere in the FCD. For example, in the past non-FCD units like Jack King's Texas Brigade and the Georgia Volunteer Battalion have attended our events as Confederates by listing themselves under or hiding inside a neighboring FCD battalion or brigade. This will not be allowed at Corinth -- if a non-FCD unit wants to attend Corinth they are more than welcome -- but they must register and fight as Federals. Controls on a by-person basis will be in place at the event to ensure that if you register Federal, you fight Federal, or if you register civilian, you stay out of the lines of battle.

Moore promised us an event that we will remember as well as our old guys do the first Raymond, and the 135th Gettysburg. Although I was a bit skeptical at first, I've talked to Mike 1 on 1, seen the site, and now I'm a believer. It'll be good!! If you only come out to one event with the 6th Arkansas this year, this ought to be the one.

EVENTS
--- Taking over the mainstream shows
--- Doing our own thing minus the spectators and carnival.
--- Living Histories/Brigade Musters
----- 1st weekend of April 2006, MVB is going to Shiloh National Battlefield for a brigade-level LH & training event
--- Event fees: The "ration fee" charged at events like Franklin and Corinth pays for a little more than just the food, so this may vary a little on a by-event basis, depending what we have to pay for. It will be kept reasonable.
--- Our "playground" will be Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, with excursions up into Arkansas and west Tennessee, as well as wherever the Division decides to go for its national event each year.

WHERE WE NEED TO BE
--- A solid coalition of earnest, progressive re-enactors - now is the time to make it happen.
--- The WIG is an independent battalion, and marches to its own tune. They may often fall in with us, but it will be on an event-by-event basis.
--- The forming of a "Gulf Coast" or '2nd Arkansas" battalion. Intent is to gather the loose, independent companies who wish to affiliate under the MVB and form a second standing battalion in the region between the RRB
and the ERB. The independent companies present at the meeting were warm to the idea, but will need to check with their troops and count noses first. Numbers are going to be weak, as the entire hobby is in a slump right now and recruiting/retention is tough. The units organizing the battalion would decide on a name, structure, and necessary leadership. For Corinth, independent companies of the MVB were invited to register under the Red River Battalion/9th Texas. If we have the numbers and some sort of structure in place, we will be allowed to assemble the new battalion at that point; if not, then we will still have a home in the ranks of the Red River Battalion... which in my experience is still a good place to be.

==========================

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Replies:

Re: Vicksburg Conference Report -- Phil McBride, Thursday, July 07, 09:42:47pm
Re: Vicksburg Conference Report -- Phil McBride, Thursday, July 07, 09:44:12pm