Ron
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May 2009 Battle of Wilson Store at WaxhawGreetings
We are well under way with the planning for this event.
Several units have said they are ready to burn powder in Waxhaw.
The Town of Waxhaw is going to help with advertising. We have almost everything we need except firewood. If you find any one with some wood scraps get it.
During our winter quarters we will talk more about this and plan out the scenario a bit more.
Also, the civilian impressionists are working on fashion, cooking, and ladies tea.
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Newt
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I will be able to help with the firewood. I may possibly be able to bring a small trailer full. If nothing else, I should be able to bring enough for our company alone.
Also, I have some ideas about possible (and removeable after the event) breastworks and defenses for the battle scenario. I think the close proximity of where the public would be duing the battle could give us the potential for an exciting small skrimish.
***May I suggest we try as much as possible to stray away from the simple marching out in a front and simply manuevering back and forth, firing a volley, fall back, advance, fire a volley, fall back, fire, advance. I think we have an opportunity to make this event our own and make it exciting while at the same time, being historically accurate. We will likely not have extremely heavy numbers for this event this year because it is brand new, therefore we should try to take advantage of such things as firing on the move, taking advantage of cover and defensive works, SKIRMISH DRILL AND FORMATION, etc. etc.
The terrain and event site where the battle will take place will likely give us room to stretch our legs and do some things we don't normally get to do when we are constrained to a large battalion formation.
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Ron
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Battle of Wilson's StoreThe only part I disagree with is--this is not a possibility. This is our event. The Director has given us full reign to plan and execute this.
The Director is going to try to secure donated wood from Lowes. I saw the breastworks at Latta and they are fantastic but at Waxhaw I suggest we stay with simple fencing that we can move it if we want to later.
I have my own thoughts on the scenario and I agree we need some flanking and some skrimish lines instead the typical back and forth in big bunches.
Captain Jack
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Newt
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Agreed...good point about the breastworks. i forgot about the fence. We can work with the fences nicely.
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Ron
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Battle of Wilson's StoreNot my idea exactly
1st Sergeant Gus mentioned it. Curiously Civil War Times did an article the same month on breastworks. I doubt you will ever get him to confess where he got the idea from.
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Ron
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Update on eventGreetings fellow reenactors
I went to Waxhaw today and met with a guy about a horse. Ok several
horses. The point is we should have horses maybe 8-10 for our event.
Also, the guy said he was bring 2 mountain howzers since we lack
artillery for the event this year.
We gained another verbal committment from the another infantry unit.
All in all shaping up to be a fine event.
Ron
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Newt
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I probably should have posted this here originally...so I re-posted it here.
Gentlemen of the military,
Just a few reminders for Waxha/Wilson Store...
We will be portraying elements of Sherman's Western Army advancing through the Carolinas. Western Federal Army...that means blue kepis and as many black slouch hats as possile. Remember...Federal. Try to leave the straw hats and uncouth floppy hats at home. They would have been a foraging party supporting any local cavalry in the area. We should strive for ALL men in the ranks, enlisted and officers, to have either a blanket roll or knapsack. If you don't have either one, see myself or Hunter. We have rarely if ever done a full scale Federal event.
**Having blanket rolls and knapsacks is something we should ALWAYS strive to go into battle with in future events...Federal OR Confederate.**
Also, hike up those traps and accouterments. Tie up those floppy and sagging haversacks and canteen straps. You'd be surprised how much this does for your impression simply by doing these things. Keep those waist belts above the waist...
**Anyone with a Federal Emergency issue blanket, PLEASE bring it.**
In discussing the history of this campaign and the troops in the area and talking with Philip and Hunter who know more than I do about such things...it would probably be best to go for a 9th Iowa impression that several tried for Aiken a few months ago. that is unless anyone finds a more correct unit to go on...Philip has extensive information about this unit and the 15th Corps in general.
Also...remember: we are federals. Keep the rebel yells and cat calls to a bare minimum. The battle cry should be a deep sounding Huzzah! of sorts.
If any of you have seen the youtube video of us going into the fight at Latta...then you know how good we are capable of looking and sounding! I say we (at least for this event) turn that blood curdling rebel yell into a huzzah and do it right like we did then. (by the way...nice hit Hunter )
If anyone else can think of any more ways to improve accuracy and combat operations and realism in the field, PLEASE keep this discussion going.
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Philip
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So far my initial research has revealed that the federals at Wilson's Store were a brigade of the 17th Corp. More to follow on this but the guidelines for this one are similar to the ones I put together for Aiken with a few differences. I finish with school on Thursday and will be able to write a full post after that.
-Philip Brown
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Newt
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By the way, if anyone has any gear they want to sell or trade, I am bringing several things to Waxhaw. You younger fellows...I have some things from my early days in the hobby that will most likely fit you. Go to the trading post section of the forum to see what all I have to sell and trade.
I encourage anyone who has any old gear or anything they want to get rid of or sell to bring it to Waxhaw.
If anyone has a wool blanket they want to sell or trade for...let me know!
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Hunter
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Ok folks, hope yall are as excited about this as i am. This has the potential to be a REALLY fun event. I would really really like to throw this out to yall, but we need to have a little campaign section goin on. Please yall(and yall kno who YALL are) stick it out this time. The visitors center is not an option now MWAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!
So everybody needs to bring double bags, ground cloths/ponchos and any US issue blankets if u got em(Regulation, emergency issue, "artilary" and dragoons blankets). Bring all u got, if u dont have any us stuff we can wrap blankets in ponchos and wear it as a bed roll or throw it in a knapsack, and nobody except us will kno were cheatin.( i will have EXTRA stuff.
Black Hats are STRONGLY, STRONGLY, STRONGLY preferred over any other color slouch. Im sure Phillip will be the only kool guy with a real hardee hat on(Go Phil!). I will bring some extra black hats. and we will do the best we can.
Also all the US brass and insignia would be a added little touch to the look. And dont be afraid to get DIRTEEEEEEEEEEE. And if you cant do it surely i can help lol j/k.
Bein that this is the 35ths event we should really set the standard in impression, drill, discipline and on the battle field. I am absolutely pumped and am gona be proud to wear blue with this fine group of men(sorry to the womens). Lookin forward to seein yall friday night.
Hunter.
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Newt
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haha hunter you put it better than I ever could.
I'd like to strongly STRONGLY second what he said about black slouch hats. This point in the war, for Federal, in this (Western Federal) Army, black slouch hats are a key part of your impression. If you dont have a black slouch hat, PLEASE wear a federal kepi or forage cap. leave the brown and grey and straw slouch hats at home.
But above that, we DEFINATELY ALL need to have a knapsack or blanketroll. Hunter is right...we are the host unit and have the ability to set the standard in drill and impressions as well as authenticity in camp and combat realism (of which we will be having a "class" of sorts in drill on saturday morning...hunter...you and Phil's help will be greatly appreciated.)
Also, I have thrown the idea around of a picket/outpost scenario in the woods between the federal and confederate camps. This was done a few years ago at cedar creek and it was a lot of fun! it also adds realism to the event.
Any other ideas, let em rip!
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Philip
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Hunter truly hit the nail on the head about the hats and the knapsacks and blanketrolls. The research that I have done has turned up some very interesting things about the men that fought at Wilson's store. For the most part I have done research on the federals because that is who we will be portraying. The men as I have laready aid were of the 17th Corps of Sherman's western army. These were of the first division commanded by General J.A. Mower. The most specific reading I can find on the units that fought at Wilson's Store is that it was a single brigade pulled from the first division 17th Corps on reconnaissance in the direction of Cheraw. They ran into Wheeler, engaged and withdrew.
These were hard fighting men from Ohio, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois and Iowa. After discovering which Corps was at Wilson's Store I began to research the 17th Corps badge. Unfortunately their official badge (The Arrow) was not adopted until March 25, 1865, this would be twenty four days following the actual battle. BUT the 17th Corps had an unofficial badge used before March 1865 in the form of a five pointed star. In General F.P. Blair's (the commander of the 17th Corps at the time) words "The badge now used by the Corps being similar to one formerly adopted by another corps" refers to the badge of the 12th Corps which was reorganized into the 20th corps. These Corps used the five pointed star as their badge. Therefore to set his Corps apart Blair adopted the arrow "In its swiftness, in its surety of striking when wanted, and in its destructive powers when so intended, it is probably as emblematical of this corps as any design that could be adopted."
SO having said all of this I decided to try my hand at an unofficial badge. All surviving examples were made form silver. Having no access to silver nor manufacturer to custom produce a small set of badges I pursued a cloth example of this badge. I just finished a run of these red badge. They are simple five pointed stars with "17" or some variation thereof stitched into the center. I hope to have enough for everybody this weekend. I will be there on Friday to distribute and help sew them on to headgear or jackets. I think this will add to our impression a great bit.
To re-enforce Hunter's point about being dirty these men had just been caught in a very strong rainstorm the weeks leading to this fight. In General Blair's personal account he states that "the roads were in very bad condition" He also writes about how the water was two to six feet deep in some areas. At one point he mention that "one regiment of Fourth Division waded along the road and through the swamp to the high ground beyond." He mentions an Engineer Regiment from Michigan building bridges and corduroy brigdes for the men to pass over. Throughout his accounts surrounding the fight at Wilson's Store he mention the men entrenching to defend against the enemy. SO to say the least these men would have been filthy! To get the full impression of these men we should all try to dirty our trousers and jackets for this event.
The highlights of the impression should be the slouch hats and Hardee hats, the sack coats, the sky blue trousers, the corps badges, the dirt, and the bedrolls and knapsacks. To wrap up this rather long posting (and thank you for reading this far) I would just like to say that I am looking forward to this event and getting some time to do federal. I hope to see you all this weekend.
-Philip Brown
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