Zut alors!
Oh how glad we were that we missed Sunday's appalling weather by an hour or so! We'd had fabulous weather on the Friday and Saturday for the time of year, but all the portents were there Sunday morning for a horizontal sleet experience...
The freezing cold weather on Sunday morning was certainly bracing; it also meant plenty of action and movement and it was a credit to those who took part that casualties were still taken in the icy conditions. Well done all: throughout the weekend the spirit of fair play and sticking to the scenario was a joy to behold.
We'd got there early Friday morning - Boot doing the honours, driving Doc, Ginge and I to Pont L'Eveque and then cooking us a bacon sarnie feast after three hours fitful sleep in the ice cold mobile fridge that was his Van that morning. I couldn't cope with shivering me timbers, so dodged out to a wonderful Cafe/Tabac and drank hot coffee till I was climbing the walls.
A bit of shopping at the supermarket for some home comforts, (du vin, du pain, du fromage et de la biere- merci La Plume,) and we were off for Fort Blangy. We soon bumped into Mac and Palouse and were changing into the beautiful warmth of 19th Century clothing...
We set up the Cornfed camp in the same spot we had the year before and the boys had the fly up in no time. We whiled away a sunny day having all the time in the world to enjoy the fire and the companionship and have the craic with each new arrival from the 10th and 18th Louisiana. It got dark around 6pm and boy did it get cold once the sun went in.
I loved the way all the French guys mucked in with us, great and gracious comrades one and all and some marvellous characters. Along with our old pals William, La Plume and P'tit Jean, we enjoyed the company of Axel, Maxime, Oliver and Nathaniel, everyone came over and hand shaking was endemic. We had a song or two and some laboured conversations with broken English/French but just sharing the fire was a great icebreaker (literally...)
Morning came and it was time for drill. As Lo hadn't got there yet, I helped instruct the French boys into the art of Hardee's Rifle Stacking and dosy-doeing till we got it right, then we joined up with the Feds....and went through it again! Working as a combined Company gave the French lads a good example of what can be achieved by both Blue and Grey cooperating and experiencing working in a mid-war sized company. It was an equally rewarding experience for us.
Dress parade was undertaken, followed by a welcome drink of 'Pondwater' Punch and a moving dedication to Steve read by Paddy Aillot. It wasn't until then that I realised the depth of feeling, mutual respect and amity that Steve and the French lads had.
Lo and Vince had arrived, so we were given a break until the scenario began at 14.00. Mac had put a lot of work into mapping the site and preparing the scenario. We were organised into 4 reliefs which worked really well, Lo stepping in manfully to command considering he'd only come over to do Private.
We had 4 hours of sunlight left and boy, did we fill the time well. Skirmish lines and small forays by both sides kept the blood up and the body warm - unless you were unfortunate enough to take a hit! Regular parlays by the Officers soon got you back into the fray though.
Came the evening and the scenario kept up, the Feds giving us no peace. Whilst on reserve, I decamped to the roaring conflagration that was the 10th La fire while our resident campfire gourmets commandeered the VC fire. I learned some interesting stuff about the politics in French re-enacting of which more in another thread...
I was 'lucky' enough to be on the graveyard shift on picket - it could have been a nightmare, but as I was with Axel it passed quickly despite the cold - one could talk for England, one for Belgium!
The night was sub zero again and I kipped round the fire for the second night (you needed a crowbar to get me away from it virtually the entire weekend.) Joined by Vince around 3, a succession of frozen-footed soldiery gathered around the fire in the early hours - another fabulous magic moment, and us Brits learned some interesting French curses about the cold....and vice-versa!
Interestingly, we discussed the misery of the Armies in the freezing cold and wet environs of Murfreesboro/Stones River where they weren't even allowed fires at the front line for 3 days. Hell on Earth we imagined.
We fell in at 06.30 (check the superb pix of the Feds preparinging at the same time:Chickasaw Bayou
It was a picture - but we had no camera. We'd lost four valiant men who'd galvanised for the morning's scenario, but 14 of us shiveringly formed up for battle. The sheer cold brought the best out of the lads and the craic in the line was superb. You couldn't have wished for a better crew.
Lo posted the boys - we were spread thin. If the Bluebellies hit us in force at any one point, we were in trouble. They came in force presently on the right through the marshes, a spray of mist and frost about them, no Colours to give them away early. Our pickets were soon pushed in and they rapidly flanked us facing our camp. The 18th La boys on the left rushed over and we held their attack easily, punishing their line with some sparkling and rapid shooting.
But the Feds were up for it. After a parlay for them to remove their dead and relieve their wounded, during which our boys rapidly refilled boxes and alternately caught a minute at the fire and gulped a black as night coffee, we saw them coming on again.
We gave as good as we got, but they just kept on coming. Cool as anything, the boys gave way gradually, covering brilliantly and taking the wounded with us. Hell to leave the camp so directly though, we lost our blankets and flys. The Yanks can't have thought much of our treasures though, because they came on strong again.
The boys were wild now. Cold and homeless, we wanted to retake our camp, but the Yanks were well led and on the ball. We retreated rapidly, but still in good order.
To our delight, we hit an advanced Fed Picket HQ, warmed up at their fire and gobbled up their picket. Then it was away up the bluff to a prepared position. Now let the Yanks come on.
And come on they did. Straight at the Bluff. They didn't stand a chance. We hit them with everything as they crossed the open under the bluff. They never got close. Our dander was up. Four of our boys flew down the bluff to get a frontal fire on the next Yank charge, then hit them from the left flank after a rapid race across the pike.
They came finally in one mass charge, just about hitting the base of the Bluff before being cut to pieces by our fire. They never came again. The day was ours. Billy Sherman got a bloody nose at Chickasaw.
Our final parade. Held under a swirling sky that warned of severe weather coming, it was necessarily brief. Three Cheers and a Tiger were given for both sides and hosts and guests. The event had been dedicated to Steve and the very best wishes of all the French Infantry Units, Blue and Grey were sent via us to Donna and Sarah.
A marvellous event. Great spirit from all, wonderful companionship and many comradely promises to work together more often. Thanks Mac and Co for a blinding event.
A big thanks to Boot for driving us there and back and a big thanx to all the VC boys who went. Your training and experience was plain for all to see. A great weekend with some great comrades and some sparkling moments.
Nobby
Oh how glad we were that we missed Sunday's appalling weather by an hour or so! We'd had fabulous weather on the Friday and Saturday for the time of year, but all the portents were there Sunday morning for a horizontal sleet experience...
The freezing cold weather on Sunday morning was certainly bracing; it also meant plenty of action and movement and it was a credit to those who took part that casualties were still taken in the icy conditions. Well done all: throughout the weekend the spirit of fair play and sticking to the scenario was a joy to behold.
We'd got there early Friday morning - Boot doing the honours, driving Doc, Ginge and I to Pont L'Eveque and then cooking us a bacon sarnie feast after three hours fitful sleep in the ice cold mobile fridge that was his Van that morning. I couldn't cope with shivering me timbers, so dodged out to a wonderful Cafe/Tabac and drank hot coffee till I was climbing the walls.
A bit of shopping at the supermarket for some home comforts, (du vin, du pain, du fromage et de la biere- merci La Plume,) and we were off for Fort Blangy. We soon bumped into Mac and Palouse and were changing into the beautiful warmth of 19th Century clothing...
We set up the Cornfed camp in the same spot we had the year before and the boys had the fly up in no time. We whiled away a sunny day having all the time in the world to enjoy the fire and the companionship and have the craic with each new arrival from the 10th and 18th Louisiana. It got dark around 6pm and boy did it get cold once the sun went in.
I loved the way all the French guys mucked in with us, great and gracious comrades one and all and some marvellous characters. Along with our old pals William, La Plume and P'tit Jean, we enjoyed the company of Axel, Maxime, Oliver and Nathaniel, everyone came over and hand shaking was endemic. We had a song or two and some laboured conversations with broken English/French but just sharing the fire was a great icebreaker (literally...)
Morning came and it was time for drill. As Lo hadn't got there yet, I helped instruct the French boys into the art of Hardee's Rifle Stacking and dosy-doeing till we got it right, then we joined up with the Feds....and went through it again! Working as a combined Company gave the French lads a good example of what can be achieved by both Blue and Grey cooperating and experiencing working in a mid-war sized company. It was an equally rewarding experience for us.
Dress parade was undertaken, followed by a welcome drink of 'Pondwater' Punch and a moving dedication to Steve read by Paddy Aillot. It wasn't until then that I realised the depth of feeling, mutual respect and amity that Steve and the French lads had.
Lo and Vince had arrived, so we were given a break until the scenario began at 14.00. Mac had put a lot of work into mapping the site and preparing the scenario. We were organised into 4 reliefs which worked really well, Lo stepping in manfully to command considering he'd only come over to do Private.
We had 4 hours of sunlight left and boy, did we fill the time well. Skirmish lines and small forays by both sides kept the blood up and the body warm - unless you were unfortunate enough to take a hit! Regular parlays by the Officers soon got you back into the fray though.
Came the evening and the scenario kept up, the Feds giving us no peace. Whilst on reserve, I decamped to the roaring conflagration that was the 10th La fire while our resident campfire gourmets commandeered the VC fire. I learned some interesting stuff about the politics in French re-enacting of which more in another thread...
I was 'lucky' enough to be on the graveyard shift on picket - it could have been a nightmare, but as I was with Axel it passed quickly despite the cold - one could talk for England, one for Belgium!
The night was sub zero again and I kipped round the fire for the second night (you needed a crowbar to get me away from it virtually the entire weekend.) Joined by Vince around 3, a succession of frozen-footed soldiery gathered around the fire in the early hours - another fabulous magic moment, and us Brits learned some interesting French curses about the cold....and vice-versa!
Interestingly, we discussed the misery of the Armies in the freezing cold and wet environs of Murfreesboro/Stones River where they weren't even allowed fires at the front line for 3 days. Hell on Earth we imagined.
We fell in at 06.30 (check the superb pix of the Feds preparinging at the same time:Chickasaw Bayou
It was a picture - but we had no camera. We'd lost four valiant men who'd galvanised for the morning's scenario, but 14 of us shiveringly formed up for battle. The sheer cold brought the best out of the lads and the craic in the line was superb. You couldn't have wished for a better crew.
Lo posted the boys - we were spread thin. If the Bluebellies hit us in force at any one point, we were in trouble. They came in force presently on the right through the marshes, a spray of mist and frost about them, no Colours to give them away early. Our pickets were soon pushed in and they rapidly flanked us facing our camp. The 18th La boys on the left rushed over and we held their attack easily, punishing their line with some sparkling and rapid shooting.
But the Feds were up for it. After a parlay for them to remove their dead and relieve their wounded, during which our boys rapidly refilled boxes and alternately caught a minute at the fire and gulped a black as night coffee, we saw them coming on again.
We gave as good as we got, but they just kept on coming. Cool as anything, the boys gave way gradually, covering brilliantly and taking the wounded with us. Hell to leave the camp so directly though, we lost our blankets and flys. The Yanks can't have thought much of our treasures though, because they came on strong again.
The boys were wild now. Cold and homeless, we wanted to retake our camp, but the Yanks were well led and on the ball. We retreated rapidly, but still in good order.
To our delight, we hit an advanced Fed Picket HQ, warmed up at their fire and gobbled up their picket. Then it was away up the bluff to a prepared position. Now let the Yanks come on.
And come on they did. Straight at the Bluff. They didn't stand a chance. We hit them with everything as they crossed the open under the bluff. They never got close. Our dander was up. Four of our boys flew down the bluff to get a frontal fire on the next Yank charge, then hit them from the left flank after a rapid race across the pike.
They came finally in one mass charge, just about hitting the base of the Bluff before being cut to pieces by our fire. They never came again. The day was ours. Billy Sherman got a bloody nose at Chickasaw.
Our final parade. Held under a swirling sky that warned of severe weather coming, it was necessarily brief. Three Cheers and a Tiger were given for both sides and hosts and guests. The event had been dedicated to Steve and the very best wishes of all the French Infantry Units, Blue and Grey were sent via us to Donna and Sarah.
A marvellous event. Great spirit from all, wonderful companionship and many comradely promises to work together more often. Thanks Mac and Co for a blinding event.
A big thanks to Boot for driving us there and back and a big thanx to all the VC boys who went. Your training and experience was plain for all to see. A great weekend with some great comrades and some sparkling moments.
Nobby
