BEDFORD LIGHT COURIER
Bedford County Virginia
VOLUME 3
June, 2004 No. 3
Brigade Structure:
Army of N. Virginia
Longstreets Corp.
Alexander’s Battallion
Of
ficers:Colonel Phill Matteson
Lt. Col. Craig McCann
Captain Mike Karnitz
NCOs:
1 First Sergeant
2 Sergeants
2 Corporals
Ordinance:
3 – 3" Light Artillery with Limbers
Phone Numbers:
Col. Phill Matteson-
(716) 694-0947
Lt. Col. Craig McCann
(585) 225-8984
Capt. Mike Karnitz
(585) 637-9069
Rain anyone????
Dues: $
30.00 Single The Party's started. Be sure to join in.$50.00 Family
Dues are due ASAP.
We have 3 guns this year. We need everyone possible at every event. Try to plan your vacation or time off so we can win the war this year.
Colonels Concerns:
Ok so now that you've regained consciousness, keep reading.
Thanks to all that attended Letchworth this year. I think it was a fun event, and you can't say Saturday night wasn't interesting!!! Hope all have been able to get their stuff dry. Hopefully Gettysburg won't be a mudhole this year.
Anyway I know this is short and sweet, but I know if I keep going you will have to read the same stuff again from Craig and Mike!
So keep the mud off your tent and see ya'll soon!
Lt. Colonel’s Minute:
PS: The Lt Col. is in conference. (really, he overslept at nap today.)
Captains Corner:
We have started the year positively. We have five new members; Marty Sobczak and Sue Sobczak, who joined us at Cedar Creek last fall; Sue Schulz and Carol May Hehcox who joined us over the winter and Paul Sheerer who joined us at the Fort. Paul lives in the Painted Post/Corning area and is in the process of buying a 10 lb Parrot. With this addition we will have four guns. What does this mean for us? We need to recruit. We have on the books, 3 officers, 6 NCOs, and 17 privates. However not all can make all the events. We typically can crew two guns comfortably. If you know or meet anyone that is interested in the Civil War or The War of Northern Aggression as our brothers in the South call it, invite them to a local event, have them talk to an officer, or give them the web site address and ask them to check us out.
We have three events under our belt and all have gone fairly well. Wells College Living History was a small event and was positively received by those that attended. We had a beautiful day with the rain holding off until after we headed home. The trip home was fun with the heavy rain and strong winds. It cleaned the guns better than a power wash. All arrived home safe and sound. The School of the Piece at Old Fort Niagara was also enjoyable. We had cool, drizzly rain on Saturday and clear sunny skies on Sunday. Everyone was able to qualify and all had a good time. Our third event was at Letchworth State Park. Here is where our lack of numbers hurt us. We had three guns but could only properly field two. With the wet grounds, underage participants, and general lack of authenticity we need to rethink this event for next year. It is a good event to get our feet wet, no pun intended, but with the underage participants on the field our gun owners are reluctant to be put in a no win situation. I agree with them, if a child is injured on the field because of cannon fire we will be crucified in court. The event was cut short due to thunderstorms that rolled through the area Saturday night and into Sunday. My stuff finally dried out. Thank you Craig for the cot, dry bedding and warm tent. I wish to thank everyone for the great job everyone did on packing up Sunday. Not one person left before everyone had been packed, everyone help each other. Considering the inclement weather, it was a great show of friendship and camaraderie. I am very proud of everyone. Coming Event are: Brockport School, June 11th; Gettysburg, July 2-4; Mumford, July 16-18; and Liberty, July 23-25. Come one, come all.
One of the things we need to work on is our military interpretation. We are weak in this and are taking steps to correct it. Please read the bylaws, especially the Military Code of Conduct section. We need to stop the horseplay while in formation. This applies to everyone, Officers, NCOs and Privates. Let’s remember why we do this hobby and respect those that came before us.
This last part deals with our drill. There have been some slight changes and I feel it needs to be addressed. First is the Prepare Command. Quite frankly after much discussion on it’s merit it has been decided that it is not needed. The reason for this decision is once the round has been seated no more than 15 to 20 seconds should elapse before the gun is discharged. This command adds to that time at the wrong spot in the drill. The argument that I have heard for using this command is: it lets the other gun crews know that you are about to fire, it lets your gun crew know you are about to fire and to be ready. My argument is this; if I am on a battlefield and there is at least one other gun on the field with me, it had better be firing. I understand this and expect it. As far as the crew on the gun, once the round is seated you had better know that the intent of that gun is that in the very near future it will be discharging. If you have do not realize this your position should not be on the gun. We train our crews to automatically go into the ‘ready’ position once the round is introduced to the bore. #2 and #1 cover at the ‘Ready’ command as #3 and #4 step in to pick the charge. Once the #4 moves out and nods of #3, #3 goes into the ready position. This is why he is nodded off. He is being told "we will be firing, cover up." Hence the nod. That is the purpose of nodding off the crew. To let everyone know that we are ready to fire so be ready. If someone is not covered, #4 should remind them before moving to the next crewman and should never report the gun is ready to fire unless he is confidant all crewmen are ready. With everyone in the ‘ready’ to say ‘Prepare’ is pointless and waste time. I do not think that the ‘Prepare’ command is entirely useless. It should be used when there is a misfire on the gun. Because of how a misfire is handled, once #2 steps out and everyone is nodded off (everyone should go into the ‘ready’ stance when nodded off), the control is handed back to the gunner, he then calls ‘Prepare’ before firing. At this point calling ‘Prepare’ lets not only the crew but also the officers and others nearby know that the misfire has been cleared and that a second attempt is being made to discharge the tube. The other time that ‘Prepare’ can be used is for the all-glorious Battalion Fire. Because of the difference in time it takes for various crews to get their guns ready, some hold with slacken lanyards waiting, before the Captain of a battery reports his battery ready, he should have the ‘Prepare’ command given. This tells the #4s to take up the slack and the rest of the crews to be in the ‘ready’ stance. I will not have a hissy-fit if the ‘Prepare’ command is used on the field. I feel we have chosen intelligent, competent NCOs that know when to use the ‘Prepare’ command and I feel we have competent crews that can adapt if the command is or isn’t used. I do not mean this to confuse anyone, especially our new people, but I think we can "kick it up a notch".
I have observed from time to time during the ‘By Detail’ drill, the command ‘Prick and Prime’. People, the correct command is ‘Pick and Prime’. Remember, the only ‘Prick’ on the field is me. With that said I will end this.
Your Obedient Servant,
Captain Michael J. Karnitz
1st Sergeant’s Desk:
CONGRATULATIONS TO CHIP LINDBERG ON HIS PROMOTION TO CORPORAL !!!
Well another newsletter is here, and nobody drowned at Letchworth, but not from lack of trying on Mother Natures part.
Just a reminder, next events are Lynchberg for anyone going and then of course Gettysburg. After that we have Mumford and Liberty. Hope to see everyone.
I was impressed with the team effort used at Letchworth so that we could all get packed as dry as possible. My thought is why do we have to wait for bad weather to do that. We where able to get the whole camp down and packed in two hours. The method used could be done all the time and it might even be quicker than are normal method of everyone fending for themselves. This is just an idea for future events.
Also In my opinion everyone did a great job on the guns at Letchworth, lets get up the good work.
Civil War Terminology (con’t)
Chain Shot - An obsolete form of artillery ammunition which saw some use in the Civil War. Designed originally to attack the rigging of sailing vessels, the device consisted of 2 hollow hemispheres connected by a short length of chain folded inside and the hemispheres closed together into a ball for loading. When shot, the chain whirled towards the enemy with deadly precision but only for a few.
Chevaux-de-frise - Like the Abatis, this defensive weapon was designed to protect fortifications or positions. The device has angles of six to nine feet of long pointed stakes. It was effective in stopping or slowing an advancing charge by infantry.
Commutation - A legalized form of evading the draft during the Civil War. The "commutation fee," normally about $500 allowed one to avoid military service altogether. Military records indicate 86,724 draftees bought their way out of the military and this did not include those that hired substitutes to take their place.
Company - Normally consisted any unit of 50-100 men, commanded by a Captain. 10 of these generally made up a regiment. Companies had 4 squads made up of a sergeant or corporal. Most had colorful names and mascots.
Company Fund - Was made up of funds or tax assessed to the camp sudlers (vendors) or savings from the post bakery and stores. The money was used to supplement food or minor items for distribution to the entire company. Rules governing the fund were identical in both the Confederacy and Union.
Conscription - Began during the Civil War. The Confederacy passed the first conscription act, then the Union. Officers and soldiers alike, despised the draftees, stating it undercut morale and compromised volunteers. It also seemed to encourage bounty jumping and desertion. Draft riots became famous in New York. Conscripts accounted for 25 per cent to 35 per cent of all Southern armies between April 1864 and 1865.
Contrabands - The Civil War term was used to described fugitive slaves who sought protection behind Union lines during Southern territory invasion. The term was first coined by Union political general and abolitionist, Benjamin F. Butler when he learned the fugitives were building fortifications for the Confederacy. Many relief measures were taken but commanders chronically complained of trouble caused by the masses seeking refuge. In March of 1865, the U.S. Government established a Freedman's Bureau to provide a formal structure in handling the situation.
Corps - The word derives from the French word "corps d'armee." Established by Gen. George McClellan, in 1862, the unit was composed of two or more divisions. Both sides of the conflict had corps. Most corps were designated by a number and corps had badges, such as a triangle, crescents, arrows and acorns.
Coup de main - A french term used by both North and South, meaning a quick, vigorous attack that surprises the enemy.
Davis Boot - Named for Jefferson Davis when he was Secretary of War under President Franklin Pierce, this soldier's foot apparel was worn by both North and South. Said to fit most men with a few standard sizes, this boot became identifiably famous as did the Kepi, the Civil War cap. Postwar, the boot helped to pave way for mass-produced manufacturing of clothing.
Dictator - Mortar - The oldest form of artillery. The "Dictator" saw service at Vicksburg and Petersburg. It was mounted on a railroad flatcar and could heave a 220 lb. bomb, 4,325 yds with elevation of 45 degrees. It had a 20 lb powder charge.
Division - The second largest unit of military in the Civil War. Normally about 12,000 men and in Union armies, commanded by a brigadier or major general. On the Southern side, brigadiers commanded brigades and major generals, divisions.
Embalmed Beef - Civil War slang by soldiers for issued canned beef.
Engagement - Term used to employ combat of different scales: a full scale battle or limited action in advance of a full scale battle. In descending order: battle, engagement, skirmish, action and affairs.
Envelopment - To pour fire along the enemy's line. A double envelopment meant to attack both flanks of an enemy - a risky venture. A strategic envelopment was not directed against the flanks, but a turning movement designed to a point in the rear whereupon the enemy had to vacate his position to defend it.
Fascine - A bundle of sticks used to reinforce earthworks. This was a field substitute for a sandbag or cotton bale - the most preferred reinforcing material. It sometimes gave the appearance of being an Abatis.
Feint - When armies meant to attack a position, they often put into action a "Feint," or smaller action at another point in a defensive position. This was meant as a distraction to ensure the enemy would pull troops out of the main area of primary assault and commit manpower to the lesser area of attack. This tactic was often used during the Civil War.
Flanking Position - To arrange a defenders battle lines so that 1 or more lines thrust forward at an angle from the main line, is said to be a flanking position. If troops in flanking positions have sufficient strength and are anchored tightly, they can be wheeled to squeeze the enemy between themselves and main line defenders. This tactic was a favorite of General Stonewall Jackson, C.S.A.
Flying Battery - The Civil War term whereupon 2 or more horse drawn cannons whipped along the battle front, unlimbering, setting up, firing, limbering up and riding off to another position. Confederate Maj. John Pelham refined the practice. It gave the impression many guns were in use when actually only a smaller number were being deployed.
Foraging - A Civil War term meaning to "live off the land." The term also applied to plundering. Receipts were often exchanged for goods taken and these in turn, would be owed or paid by the quartermaster. Too often, the term is more accurately applied to stealing by undisciplined officers and soldiers alike. Many soldiers felt the goods taken were payment for their fighting in the war. It has been said, cavalry was more prone to foraging than infantry. This is because the infantry normally was followed by supply wagons, sudlers and the like. This system of supply was not practical to the cavalry since they were so mobile.
Frontal Attack - A holdover from the 18th century, this tactic, often used in the Civil War, was disastrous to many a soldier. The era of the smooth bore musket had passed and the invention of the rifle changed this tactic forever. Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, Virginia, and Franklin, Tennessee were examples of the deadly attack.
More to come in the next newsletter. Accessed from a link to the website for Fannie & Vera’s
Do you have any Civil War Terminology you would like to share?
Gettysburg Map
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CONGRATULATIONS TO ERIC SMITH He came in 15th placed in the Poconos ARCA Race on Saturday, June 12. He received air time on TV during the race. They mentioned Eric is the only Native American driver, and talked about his Indian tribe and name. We wish him the best in future races.
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