26th North Carolina Command Blog

Snohomish After Action Report

 The weather gods continued to smile on us. Warm, dry, a cool breeze in the afternoon, and even a full moon. Perfect weather for harvesting Yankees.

 One of the best parts of Snohomish this year will stick with us into the next campaign season. We made our numbers for the second consecutive event, and barring any glitches, Lieutenant Pike should be promoted to Captain Pike at Ferndale.

 I know that Scruffy will thank you at Ferndale, but I would like to jump the gun and thank all of you now. We made the numbers for his promotion because y’all showed your dedication to the 26^th by making event after event. I know that times are hard, and gas is expensive, and I appreciate the sacrifices you make to be there.

 But I also know that the more of us that show up, the more fun it is!

 Battles this event were Antietam/Sharpsburg. Lots of flat ground and toe to toe slugging. Once again the 26^th showed it’s ability to give and take hits. After the “Bloody Lane” scenario, a Yankee officer just about lifted me off the ground shaking hands, telling me how “beautiful” the cordwood was, and what a great job we did. I was hard pressed to disagree, since I had spent the last ten minutes with my face in the dirt as the Yanks fired volleys over my head.

 On the first day, the Yankee cavalry were feeling their oats. Lots of attempts to flank us, and even to ride along the rear of our lines. While the Company dealt with the Yank infantry, officers and NCO’s stood facing backwards, ready to empty pistols and saddles. After that lesson, they settled down, and even galvanized for us on Sunday.

 Morning drill continues to improve beyond all expectation. The troops are learning and improving at every event. This weekend Sergeant Angell introduced a new firing drill he picked up on his walking tour of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

 Instead of “firing by files” we tried “firing by the rank and file.” Starting at the right, the rear rank man fires. His file partner in the front rank fires one second later. One second after that, the man to his left fires, followed by his front rank file partner. It slows “fire by file” way down, and makes it sounds like a metronome; bang! one, bang! two, bang! three all the way down the line so that by the time the firing reaches the left of the Company, the right end is ready to fire again.

 To ensure timing, an NCO walks down the back of the line, tapping the rear rank men when it is time for them to fire.

 We practiced this over and over at morning drill, much to the annoyance of people still trying to sleep. But our practice showed out on the field later, when we kept firing volleys that sounded like a blacksmith hammering on an anvil. It is my fervent desire that we continue this pattern of practice and performance in the future.

 And it was fun firing live volleys at morning drill, if only to watch Sergeant Major Lewis wince at every loud noise. Seems he had some “dirty water” the night before and was feeling poorly in the morning. Of course, so was everyone he punched, kicked or bit that night. Major Gulley is still looking for a tooth, and I have a nice shiner. We all wish Dirty a speedy recovery though, if only to rid ourselves of his pesky little Prussian replacement.

 We were joined by our newest recruit, Eben and his lovely wife Katha. In addition, we had several interested civilians asking about membership, and hopefully some will succumb to the lure.

 Our civilians were active and present as well. Mrs Russo helped cook our Company dinner. Private Otto turned out a really good pot of red beans and rice, Angell roasted corn, and Mrs Russo fried chicken. Despite the ad hoc nature of the meal, I think everyone was happy.

 Miss Emma Alred spent her first full weekend at an event, sharing an A-tent with Private Sam. I would like to thank each and every member of the Company for not cussing at her when she started happily chattering at Oh-dark-thirty on Saturday morning. I don’t think she realizes yet that tents aren’t soundproof. Although she did comment on someone snoring really loudly.

 The Company continued our friendly rivalry with our comrades in the 15^th Alabama, providing them a small hoard of footwear so that we could honestly tell them “Nice Shoes!”

 All was not roses, however. Colonel Starr took a hit during one battle, falling to the ground, and scaring his staff into an unwarranted state of sobriety.

 

Not all of the water served us was dirty. Some of it was so clean that it hurt your teeth to drink. Several of the water buffaloes had been hit with the bleach so hard that even after sitting uncovered all night, a cupful still smelled like a community pool in South Central LA. Mr Russo took it upon himself to travel into the real world and bring us back a van load of bottled water, saving our lives.

 Private Moochie was buried near the Lieutenant’s tent, complete with a small Orthodox cross above his grave. Sadly, two lovely young ladies came to visit him, and were so disconsolate at learning of his demise that they both joined the Marines.

 

Once again, my thanks to Sergeant Angell for providing decent firewood. A pickup truck load of applewood goes a long way toward keeping the gloom away. And in this case proved essential since the Yankees absconded with all the firewood, leaving nary a stick for their poor cold foe. We were able to confirm that they had all the wood by a late-night scouting and reconnaissance mission. Our troops returned with valuable military intelligence in the form of several armloads of samples of the wood in question.

 But despite the hardship, the absolute best part of Snohomish 2008? Number One in the Top Ten?

 Someone in the rear rank managed to sink peanut shells, not once, but twice! onto Sergeant Angell’s hat in formation. I am not allowed to say who managed this feat of derring, but the very thought makes me Pucker.

 

 ROLL OF HONOR – SNOHOMISH 2008

 Military

Lieutenant Pike

Sergeant Alred

Sergeant Angell

Corporal Lewis

Corporal Russo

Private Hamel

Private “Fluffy” Juracek

Private Myers

Private Otto

Private Sam

Private Nick Dodge

Private Roeper

Private Russo

Private Saathoff

Private VanDusen

Miss Monet

Miss Sarah

 

Detached

Colonel Starr

Captain Curnutt

Sergeant Major Lewis

 

Civilian

Miss Emma

Mrs Curnutt

Young Jack

Mrs Myers

Miss Adrianna

Miss Amber

Mrs Roeper

Mrs Russo

Mrs Starr

Mrs VanDusen

Ladies and Gentlemen of the 26th NCT.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of you on a job well done, The 26th is no longer a shadow of its former self but has taken shape and is congealing into a form that promises to be better then its former self. I am very proud to see this turn around and to see you all pulling together to make it happen. I have always been proud to say I’m a member of the 26th but now even more so .

I also want to sincerely thank you for all the support you have give this Command. Many times there would not have been a Confederate turnout at some of the smaller local events if it wasn’t for the 26th. You are always there and I can always count on all of you whether I need a gap in the Battle line filled or members for a living history ceremony, or some other small gathering, you are there.

I am deeply grateful for the camaraderie, and the great friendship and caring you have shown me and my family. I can only say with sincere respect and gratitude, Thank you. Thank you all.
 
Col. Frank L. Starr
Commanding Adams Legion
Rusty
Proud member, 26th NCT

Battle of Port Gamble - After Action Report

 I am still amazed at the steady improvement we are seeing in the 26^th.

 And it’s not just Scruffy and Angell and I that are seeing it. The Colonel has complimented us. Other units have pulled me aside and told me how good y’all look. Hell, even Yankees are noticing that the Wall of Beef is back.

 I tried to tell you in formation how proud I was of you, of all your effort; in drilling, in pulling picket duty, in helping out in camp and working with new people. But I am better when I can write it down and reread it and make sure I get it right.

 So I will tell you now in writing. I am very proud to be a member of the 26^th, proud to be associated with the men and women that remember and recreate the history of one of the proudest Regiments on either side of the War. And I am proud that I can call so many of you my friend.

 Port Gamble was a great event. The weather was gorgeous, bright sunny days and nights just cool enough to make circling the fires a good idea. The crowds were large, and interested. We even had good firewood, thanks to Angell bringing a pickup load of well-dried apple wood.

We camped in our normal positions, with the Yankees down in the town and the Confederate Battalion camped on the heights to the west.

On Friday evening, Colonel Starr ordered our batteries up to the edge of the hill and they began shelling the town below. After a prolonged preparatory bombardment, Rusty led the troops down the hill to the attack. Meanwhile, the 26^th, under the command of Acting Major Blackford, roadmarched around town to the south, intending to hit the Yankee flank. Along the way we cheerfully marched directly in front of a Federal battery, which luckily was a little slow in taking us under fire. A quick countermarch around (if you are properly motivated, you can double quick faster than they can turn a gun) and we slaughtered the gunners as we rolled through their position.

Unfortunately, the noise engendered by the slaughter served to warn the Yanks we were coming. As we reached the edge of the Federal encampment we were met by a strong force. The Yankees were now engaged on two sides of their camp, so Major Blackford zigzagged us through the house lines until we reached the metalled road through town. There we drove off a force of Union Marines and Berdans and began firing into their main body as the assembled on the road.

 When Colonel Starr’s wing crashed into them a few minutes later, it was all over but the running away part. They handled that role admirably.

 The 26^th was given the very great honor of lowering the old National colors and replacing them with our own cherished Stars and Bars, a huge flag that continued to fly over the town for the rest of the weekend.

That night a large applewood campfire served to drive away the darkness both without and within, and most of the men stayed close, enjoying the camaraderie of the flames. Major White also passed through camp, offering his own form of benediction to our efforts.

Saturday dawned bright and clear. The embers of the fire still burned, and soon coffee served to clear the fog of war.

 Saturday’s battles were good, without being too predictable. Truth be told, most of the second one I was face down in the grass watching ants crawl while I practiced bloating.

 Our Company dinner went well. We had chicken and dumplings, Miss Bettie made green beans and baked beans, there was cornbread and dinner rolls, and a huge jug of sweet tea. Most of us were so full we elected to put off dessert till after the dance.

 The dance was moved from the street outside the store to the pavilion on the grass overlooking the bay. It seemed like more people were dancing, and fewer watching – and quite a few less curious civilians. Perhaps the large happy crowd in the street attracted more spectators?

 After the dance, we returned to camp for an impromptu dessert party. Jamie baked apple pies, a few others just appeared, and quite a few guests showed up. At least one previously unknown, but rather attractive female followed the troops home, and joined us around the fire. Later in the evening she was seen admiring the view of the Stars and Bars in the moonlight, draped in a frock coat adorned with Sergeant’s chevrons. Neither Angell or Alred are admitting to anything.

 The other vision of radiance seen around camp was our own Sarah Starr. I have always thought Miss Starr to be pretty, but having seen her this past weekend, I need to upgrade my description by several adjectives.

 After morning parade on Sunday, most of the Battalion gravitated toward the sound of Captain Curnutt’s preaching. The men of the 26^th however held our own recessional service in the graveyard at the top of the hill. A few moments of quiet reflection, and some shared stories, followed by a stroll through the headstones.

Sunday’s afternoon battle was to be Malvern Hill. Our troops repeatedly advanced toward the Union artillery on the hillside, and were repeatedly shredded by well-timed volleys. The 26^th sustained heavy casualties in the action.

 After the battle, break camp, dash for the ferry line, and reform the party there as we waited for boats. Not sure what some of the people must have thought watching the grimy Confederates wander from car to car. At least Jamie didn’t drag out his “Will Fite Fer Food” sign.

We gained a new member over the weekend. Private Jordan Ebbinghausen signed his enlistment papers after marching behind us as a corpsman at the Battle of Spokane Falls. His father, CB, a corpsman in the Confederate Medical staff gave me blanket permission to train him as I saw fit. The men promptly nicknamed him “Strawberry”.

 It looks like we have also gained a new member since the event. Eben Roeper from Anacortes saw us at Snohomish last year, and has sent in his paperwork and started acquiring gear. Looks like he will fall in with us at Snohomish.

 MEMBERS PRESENT

 CIVILIANS

Mrs Curnutt

Miss Monet

Mrs Marshall

Miss Adrianna

Miss Amber

Mrs Russo

Mrs Sharp-Breland

Mrs Colonel Starr

 

MILITARY

Lieutenant Pike

Sergeant Alred

Sergeant Angell

Corporal Russo

Private Breland

Private Ebbinghausen

Private Findley

Private Gerrer, S

Private Gerrer, T

Private Hamel

Private Hill

Private Marshall

Private Miller

Private Otto

Private Russo

Private Saathoff

Private VanDusen

 

DETACHED DUTY

Colonel Starr

Captain Curnutt

Lieutenant Saville

Sergeant Major Lewis

Private Saville

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPOKANE AFTER ACTION REPORT
 
Spokane was wonderful. That was easy.
 
The weather was good, the company was good, the battles were good. Best of all, it was the first big event of the year, and I hope it holds promise for all the rest of the events.
 
So now for the details. Our attendance was light this year, perhaps as a result of the price of gas. We had Colonel Starr and Sergeant Major Lewis detached to Battalion, along with Private and Lieutenant Saville to the Signal Corps.
 
Present on the line were; Lieutenant Pike, Sergeants Angell and Alred, Corporals Lewis and Russo, and Privates Miller, Myers and Breland. We were joined by a new color-bearer, Bobbi, who with luck will be carrying a musket soon.
 
A special note. Ear plugs are now mandatory on the field. Not because of the rattle of musketry or the roar of the guns, but because of Bobbi’s ear-splitting screams when taking a hit. It was described as sounding like a gigantic rabbit being beaten to death with a stick. Really quite impressive.
 
The battles were early war, so on Saturday we did the morning and afternoon of First Manassas. Sunday was Shiloh, with the morning battle representing the Hornet’s Nest. The Yanks died gloriously and in heaps, surrounded on three sides by well-coordinated killing machines. Monday’s battle was an unscripted “tactical”.
 
Our “battle shirts” arrived, so we looked sharp, and stayed cool on the field.
 
In between the battles, we got to play with Battalion’s ideas for “anything goes” action. Pickets were in place, spies wandered around, there were small exchanges of fire between the lines all the way up to an early morning assault. And Yankees discovered that just because they had a “camera” while they wandered past the pickets didn’t mean they couldn’t be captured. Still some tweaking to be done, but lots more fun than sitting around, and lots more for the paying customers to watch.
 
Our civilians also put on a good show. Miss Linda and Miss Elisa set up the seamstress tent, along with Bobbi and Maddy. More about seamstresses later. The Provost Marshall appeared around camp in a quixotic search for event cards. Miss Bettie appeared wearing a set of widow’s weeds, looking so fetching that were she really in mourning, I doubt it would be for long.
 
On Saturday we had a “mail call” scenario in our camp. The Colonel and the Sergeant Major arrived with our mail, but first wanted to ask about reports that the men might have behaved “injudiciously” while visiting Richmond.
 
It seems some lying scoundrel of a tavern keeper alleges that the men of the 26th have bothered the young lady seamstresses that lived above the tavern. Naturally we denied any such improprieties, in light of the fact that we have never, ever been to a tavern called “Phillipes” at Number 9 Water Street in Richmond. The note alleging these lies was wrapped around a bottle of good Bordeaux, so the Colonel, in an effort to deliver an honest quid pro quo, announced he would investigate further. 
 
The Colonel then distributed the mail. Curiously enough, many of the letters to the men were from young ladies living on Water Street. There were packages with small presents from home and loved ones, and some newspapers. (Corporal Lewis even received a twenty dollar note from a young lady who suggested she would rather “work” for Twitch than Phillipe.)
 
Sergeant Major Dirtywater rose in righteous fury at this tale of moral decay, until a letter for him from a young (oh, so very young!) lady was found and read.
 
At parade Sunday morning, we were presented with the Battalion Honor flag for our unfailing support of the WCWA. The Colonel specifically mentioned our steady attendance at small events and meetings, as well as at large events.
 
Shortly after the morning battle, the Provost Martial appeared in camp, accompanied by several young toughs wearing badges, and sided by a pair of scared privates from another unit. The Marshall read out an order from the Provost Marshal in Richmond declaring the premise at Number 9 Water Street to be off limits, and then posted the order at the end of the street.
 
Ironically, the Off Limits notice went up directly beneath the Honor flag!
 
That night we held our first “pie social” in camp. Things went well at first. We had pie, and that’s always a good start. Then it went sideways.
 
During the day, the Corporals performed admirably in scouting enemy troop movements. Corporal Lewis even advanced to contact on one occasion, inviting the young lady to join us. Much to our surprise, she did, along with her SIX sisters and their father. That’s when we discovered we had no pie plates – or forks. A desperate scramble for plates and utensils ensued. (These were cute girls.)
 
Then I decided to be hospitable to Dad, and perhaps distract him from the blatant seduction occurring beneath his nose. I mentioned that we had several bottles of fruit juice available, and that some might have accidentally undergone spontaneous fermentation. In return I received a short, sharp lecture on the virtue of Temperance, and the need to avoid the evils of alcohol. (This might explain the six daughters. What else can you do if there’s never a drop to drink in the house?)
 
Just as I was withdrawing the bloody stump holding the whisky, our very own “seamstresses” arrived wearing the very latest in fashionable attire for walking about the streets of town.
 
Oh, it was glorious! Corsets, petticoats and pinafores there before the Colonel, the Temperance man, and best of all, Miss Bettie! Unfortunately, no one had cued her to the joke, and the look on her face as she saw the ever correct Miss Linda in a near state of undress was priceless!
 
The Berdans arrived next, and things went downhilll from there. Temperance man, drunken Froggie sharpshooters, “seamstresses”, the six cute girls, the Colonel and even some of the 7th South Carolina – it’s starting to sound like a Christmas carol. There were even reports of a garden gnome living in our camp.
 
After the battle on Monday, we packed up and moved out in good order.

I was very proud of the 26th. The Colonel and the Sergeant Major complimented us on our discipline; the 7th SCVI complimented us on our new look, and we had a lot of fun.

Even with all the new work involved in the “anything goes” days (what idiot posted pickets at 5:00AM instead of 6:00?) the men were energetic and agreeable, stayed around camp and seemed to be having a good time.

Let’s work on continuing the new look, and getting our numbers back up. Captain Pike has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?