Re: Vicksburg Conference Report -- Mississippi Valley Brigade

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Date Posted: Thursday, July 07, 09:44:12pm
Author: Phil McBride
Subject: Re: Vicksburg Conference Report
In reply to: Mark Griffin 's message, "Vicksburg Conference Report" on Thursday, July 07, 10:10:32am

Gentlemen,
>The report by Tom Ezell, sounds terrific. While it will indeed be a hill to climb, it ain't a mountain. I regret the 6th Texas leadership didn't make the conference, but I can assure all, that Dusty Lind and I will be blowing the bugle at every opportunity to be sure South Texas is well represented in a Progressive MVB. We are eager.

>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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