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Date Posted: 16:12:27 06/03/02 Mon
Author: Jeremy Mazur
Subject: Gainesville AAR

The Gainesville reenactment was the best campaign event in Texas that I have ever been to. The event planners and organizers clearly put alot of thought and effort into making this event a success. By this I mean that water was plentiful and stored in thoughtfully camoflauged buffaloes, the military camps were located a long distance away from the sutler/spectator area, and the event included an outpost scenario for those reenactors seeking a more immersive experience. To this list I might add that the site itself was unbelievably fantastic. But for a few water towers in the distance, the area was well secluded from modern intrusions.

Sadly, the Gainesville event was the best campaign event in Texas that not enough reenactors went to. Out of eight members of the Austin Red Sock Boys planning to attend this event, only two of us went (myself and Mike Phineas). Other units suffered similar "losses" at the last minute. I think that this was unfortunate for all sides: those that couldn't go missed out on something special while those that went could have appreciated the greater numbers.

Speaking for myself, I had a good time at the event. But for the heat, humidity, ticks, chiggers, scorpions, rattle snakes, tarantulas, Henry Rifles, and man-eating grass a good time was to be had. I'll list of of my highlights here:

THE OUTPOST
This event included an outpost scenario starting Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning. While there were not enough participants present on the Federal side to have a working grand guard - outpost - sentinel formation, we did our best. While on outpost we did what they probalby did back then-- sit around and watch. It wasn't until around 4:00 pm until the enemy battalion appeared at its posts. Rather than wait for him to reconoiter our line first Major Benefiel had us conduct reconnaisance patrols every half hour. Although our patrols were risky business, we managed to get a good view of the enemy's lines and demark his positions on a map. That map would be quite useful on Sunday morning when we were

RUNNIN' 'ROUND DA RED RIVER BATTALION!
On Sunday morning we conducted a reconaissance in force of the enemy's position. Shorlty after we began, however, we found ourselves a wee bit too far behind the enemy's right flank. What was worse was he-- the Red River Battalion-- had taken notice of us and had deployed his companies to engage us. (Why he didn't send a company forward to capture our capms I do not know.) What ensued was literally a running battle where the Frontier Battalion had nowhere to go but forward while loading and firing towards our left flank. At one point we had to cross a deep creek bed where we had to file in and out one at a time. Again, the Johnnies could have bagged us, but they were too slow on their advance. We pushed further and finally made it back to our lines. Although our reconnaisance wasn't planned as such, we managed to go around the entire Red River Battalion. It was a tense, but thrilling affair. Only JEB Stuart and the Frontier Battalion could have accomplished such a feat.

NEW PARDS
I had the great fortune of joining elements of the 55th Illinois this weekend. I enjoyed falling-in with Cal "Soapy" Kinzer, Steve "Slats" Bonds, and Dave "Stovepipe" Petersen. They were no foreigners to the concept of campaigning it, and were a thoroughly agreeable lot to work with. I look forward to falling in with them again.

Just as it was nice to meet some new pards, I was delighted by the opporunity to catch up with some old ones. I was thoroughly impressed with Clark Kirby's willingness to haul, kill, clean, and cook a real chicken during the event. I also took envious note of the 1st US's authentic ration issue Saturday morning. That's something that we don't see out here all that often, and I salute the 1st's ability to go that distance.

THAT'S IT
As I scratch my chiger bites while trying to write this AAR I can't help from hoping that what happened at Gainesville will be the prelude to things to come here in the Trans-Mississippi region. It was a good first time event, and my thanks goes out to Bob Fuhrman, Greg Benefiel, Tom Stuart, Mark Dolive, and the others who took the time to make the weekend a success.

-jeremy "brother maynard" mazur

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