So...now what?

I know what you are all thinking...the 15th Alabama's season of fun and excitment is almost over (the Veteran's Day parade in Waterville, ME is technically our last official event), so now what am I going to gab about?

Oh, I have plenty in store for the winter months. Some of my plans involve some research because I am going to try to entice some people I know into the hobby...I'm thinking of maybe baiting them with....marshmallows. Yes, that sounds good. I'll go with that.

Remember, if you see someone you know (or should know) e-mail me with some names if you want and I will gladly post correctly!

Ft. Knox, Maine; Take Two!

September 22-23

While I was not there, my super-secret-undercover-roving reporter (the dope I love) was there and brought his camera! Let's see what happened!


~*********************************************************************~
It looks like Saturday dawned (or rather, didn't) the same as it did last time, foggy. Chris must be wondering what Mike is wearing...I'm wondering, why is he wearing that?


Camp looks like it was set up in the same place as last time and from the look of Vicky's hair, it was rather windy.


Here are some of our compatriots from the 20th Maine. I am guessing Vicky was taking the photos, but Dave was not to clear on that and I am not certain when Peg and Kate got there. So it could have been any one of them!


Ah, the glory of the 15th Alabama! Wait...four of them are loading their guns...at the same time... I think I know what is going to go on at Camp Pratt next year.


Looks like our on-sight photographer got pretty close to the action this time! I had to stand pretty far away from them when I was there. This is a good shot of the Union line, not as big a group this time, states my source, but still, they make it look good.


And once again, Ben plays the bloodied victim. He's pretty good at that, and it looks like Chris not only has a bloodied apron (that's new), but he has two very pretty nurses to help him care for the wounded! Lucky Ben!

It looks like everyone had a good time, I also heard (from a reliable source) that the ladies of the 20th Maine invited the ladies of the 15th Alabama to tea! I am so jealous! Unfortunately, as of yet I have no photographic evidence of that soiree, but hopefully I will get to participate in something like that next season!

Well, it sounds like things went over pretty well, and everyone came back alive. I was sorry to have missed it, but I hope to see everyone in the near future or at the latest, next season!

Okay, who spilled the beans?

**


I blame Mike.

Sorry Vicky. Well, I guess word is out and apparently catching on! I am just glad to see other people blogging! I love Deb's blog on the 3rd Maine's activities! If anyone else has felt inspired to blog, please send me an e-mail and let me know so I can link to your blog and see where you and/or your company has been. Also, I would really like to get some names on the people in certain events. If you can describe yourself, friends, family members, etc. I will gladly post their names under the photos. It will also help me remember names & faces the next time I see everyone!

~Kylah

Robbin' a Train...again!

September 1, 2007

We just can't get enough! This event seems to be the only one where we have outnumbered the Union troops. We only had three this time, too, but we had some new civilians and one of the soldiers from the 3rd Maine was new! It was a fun affair! I actually missed the first couple of runs, but I made up for it!

Here's Ashley, a daughter of the 3rd Maine, Deb's child. She's sweet and the same age as Charlene...two ten year old girls on a train doing basically the same thing over and over again all day...they were talking about killer ninja rabbits stopping the train by the end of the day. The vivid imaginations on these girls!

Here's a photo of Deb and a new civillian, Brenda. It's always nice to meet new people. I did not get a real chance to sit down and talk with Brenda, but she seemed nice and all the 3rd Maine women I have met like to get into the act of accusing 'our boys' (the Confederates) of being traitors. Something me and Vicky take offense to! To think of those dashing men of the 15th Alabama as criminals is just horrible! And they're not robbing the train, they are "liberating" goods for the benefit of the country as a whole.

Here's a photo of Rick and Private Cylik. I had never met him before, he was our replacement for Matt. I hope he comes back next year, it is so great that more Union people come to protect the train! It makes the whole robbery more plausible in the defense of the train part (two Union soldiers shooting down six Confederates...I don't think that would have happened during the Civil War unless someone was REALLY lucky).

Here's another photo of Deb and the other new (to me) civillian, Marsha! Once again, I came late so I did not get to say hello to the two new ladies of the 3rd Maine, but I cannot wait to see them again! Hopefully sooner rather than later! I have to say, I loved all their hats! I need to get into hat making! As if I had free time! >rolls eyes, snorts<

Here's Ben's valiant charge at the Union troops!

Unfortunately, as brave as Ben is, he was brought to a halt by the musket fire of the 3rd Maine. Here, our surgeon, Chris administers something to assage his misery (no, not whisky).

Here's another elusive member of the 15th Alabama, Mr. Joe! I have actually only had the pleasure of meeting him once, at the Stranger's grave in Gray, ME on Memorial Day.

This was great. As mention above, I arrived late for this day's events. Well, on my way up to Maine, I stopped and picked up Dave and a few others, some provisions which did not fit in my basket! Kate was gracious enough to loan me hers. Well, once I got the food covered, I had to figure out a way to get it to the guys. So, I called Dave on his cell phone (I know...real authentic >eye roll<) and said that I was going to figure this out and ask the 3rd Maine to help me out. I was thinking, I'll just put it on the end of the last car and someone can sneak it off. Well, I went to Rick to ask for his assistance. Well, told me that it shouldn't be a problem passing off the basket to the Confederates because some of the ladies (Vicky) had been flirting and consorting with the men in some manner all day. Basically, it was Vicky flirting her heart out. >smacks forehead< That's what I did. Someone burst out laughing as I lowered my face into my hand and then looked back at Vicky sharply. Honestly, what are we going to do with that woman?! Well, she did pass off the food rather well, and Mike made it seem part of the plan when he asked if anyone had found provisions on the train with the dispatch case and coin box.


This was a good scene. Chris came over to his daughter, Kate and started calling her "Maggie." He asked her where her mother was (Peg, who was back at the station). Peg was there to pick Kate up and she wasn't supposed to be on this ride, which could be why Chris came up to her and asked (in a southern-like accent why she was on the train). Anyway, Kate, with her own southern-like accent, said that the Yankee's had captured Peg. Then the conversation went downhill and Chris said something about how Kate should know how much of a troublemaker her mother is. His parting words to Kate were something along the lines of, 'your mother should be out of prison, soon.' It was so hard not to spend the entire event laughing hysterically.

There were enough of us to seperate the Union sympathizers from the Confederates. Here's a good shot of the Union, Steve is wearing the straw hat. And you can see a young boy in suspenders peeking out from between the railings on your left...that's Deb's son, Benjamin. I actually did not get many photos of him.

Well, finally, the Union got to take the Confederates out in the last run. Fair enough seeing as how our boys took them out all day in June.

It was a good day. The weather was nice, there was a good breeze for those of us wearing layers, and we had a great turnout! The best part was the last run, we were sitting there for a while when all of the sudden, about fifteen asian tourists came around the boatyard. We thought, "okay! tourists! And foreigners, this'll be great for them!" well, next thing we know, a huge bus comes into the parking lot and we end up taking on about fifty asian tourists. My big question of the day was, why are they in New England? >shrug< but they seemed to enjoy themselves, and as always the 15th Alabama and the 3rd Maine do not disappoint when it comes to drama!

Finally!!!

I finally figured out how to get the comments link to show up. I just clicked the wrong thing. >smacks forehead< Anyway, the train robbery post will be up soon (for some reason the people of the Portland Maine area LIKE being robbed...) and once again, Ft. Knox this weekend! I will not be there, but I cannot wait to hear about it from my fellows going up!

Ft. Knox, Maine: Part III: Revenge of the Confederacy

July 28-29 (Sunday's Battle)

I just couldn't resist the title, we won this day, and it didn't look as bad as it did in Groton! Can you really blame me? It's such a shameless pun.

Here's Mike serenading Chris and Steve with a little song (story) after breakfast.

I think this is a really good photo of Sandy. She's amazing! She went to one event, the train robbery in June, and she's gone into re-enacting full ahead! She also spins wool into yarn! It's pretty neat. If ever there is an event the 15th Alabama attends, look for her spinning because it is really neat to watch.

Well, here are the Union scouts. I guess the one on the right was brand new, like that day brand new! Good for him, young people getting into the re-enacting is nice to see because they could be out doing worse things.

Here is an excellent death scene. The 15th's soldier's took out the scouts first so they wouldn't alert the rest of the 20th Maine. You know, it looks like the Confederates shot a lot of young people at Ft. Knox...stop dying! You're making us look bad!

Here's a good photo of Dave and Ben. Well, it's not that good because you can barely see Dave's face through the smoke, but you get the general idea.

This was a good scenario. Chelli, against the Captain's orders, charged the 20th Maine (from a rediculous distance). Well, big surprise they "shot" him. However,...

...they only wounded him. He's really part of the 20th Maine, so they treated him like a traitor. Here's a photo of one of the guys running up to steal Chelli's hat, as a souvenier?

Then, when the hat-thief was "shot" the Captain of the 20th went up and stabbed Chelli to finish him off. It was pretty comical and the spectators around me thought that it was not only good drama, but pretty funny, too. I mean seriously, the guys couldn't help but laugh.

Steve's another one of those people who are hard to take a photo of. I was/am really happy that I got this shot of him because it's a good action pose, too.

And finally, we finish off our battles with watermelon because it really makes you feel better after running around in the heat. It's the original fruit/sports drink!

Well, we packed everything up and headed out. It was a little cramped to get the cars in because the 20th Maine couldn't bring their vehicles into the Fort and we were right there, so it created a little congestion problem. But all in all, it was a fun event and hopefully we'll be able to go again!

Update: There will be another Ft. Knox event September 22-23, 2007. I cannot go but I strongly encourage everyone who can to go!

Ft. Knox, Maine: Part II

July 28-29 (Saturday's Battle)

Mike and Vicky really are a couple of teenagers at heart. Here's the Confederate wife hugging her husband good-bye with a smooch for good luck (he "died" in battle, but that's later!)

We actually got two volunteers and drafted someone from the 20th Maine so that it would not look like we were severely outnumbered.

One of our volunteers was "Chelli" the surgeon that we had captured a few hours earlier, I guess there were no hard feelings there. I found out later that he's actually from Texas! I noticed that he had a heavy Southern accent and I wondered why he was part of the Union...but he has his reasons.

Here's a good photo of Tom in the midst of battle.

Well, here's the Captain giving his last orders to Tom (Corporal). There was only three of them left by that time.

For the record, the 15th did not shoot the kids playing the drum or other musical instruments. They were tending the wounded. They were actually quite good.

And there, amidst the crumpled forms of Confederate gray stands Private Lindsay, a pillar of strength and oblivious-ness. She didn't realize she was the last one standing until she realized that no one else was shooting.

Well, we finished up our evening (accompanied by quite a few mosquitos) by watching fireworks through a heavy fog. It was interesting because they launched the fireworks from the Fort, down near the water where the battle had taken place earlier. We just watched these bright flashes of light through the fog and it was kind of neat.

Now on to Sunday!

Ft. Knox, Maine

July 28-29

So, here's the story; I went to Ft. Knox knowing I was going to post photos of the event on this blog and talk about it. However, I did not plan on taking so many good photos nor experiencing so many fun events! I loved this event! It was wonderful, definitely worth the (8 hour round)trip! The park had real restrooms!!!! It was not just port-a- um...chamberpot, they had real restrooms! I nearly cried. Nah, it wasn't that dramatic, but it was really nice to go and wash your hands for real and not just with hand sanitizer. But the event was fun and there were quite a few spectators on both days. Also, the 20th Maine, they're a good bunch of people.

Anyway, it looks like I'm going to have to post Ft. Knox three times because of the sheer number of photos


"Here, Dave, shake my hand." That arm actually belongs to our surgeon's collection of Civil War props. I was kind of surprised that they sold fake limbs, but then, why should it?

Here's a good shot of Peg and Chris watching the rest of the company get ready to take the fort! I know what you're thinking...

On Saturday, the Federals went to march in the Bucksport parade. Well, they left a few soldiers behind because they either 1. didn't want to walk all that way, and/or 2. so that there were some Union troops left at the camp. Anyway, the Union surgeon, "Chelly" I believe his nickname was, came over to our encampment (kind of hard to miss since we were just outside the only entrance to the fort). He said to Mike "How 'bout 11:00 you guys come over and take the Fort and tie me and --- up. Just to see what the rest of them do?" Well, they expected the Union to come back around that time. So a little after 11:00 Mike got everyone lined up and we went for a "stroll".

Here's the checkpoint, he asked where we were going and Mike told him that the Union surgeon invited us in. I don't think he believed us, but he was smiling as he let us pass.

Here is the 15th storming the fort and taking the two prisoners.

We tied up the two prisoners in the surgeon's quarters. It was funny because Lindsey tied up the gentleman in the white shirt, a lot. She kept wrapping the rope around him until finally Mike said "Having fun there Lindsey? I think that's enough."

Well, after the prisoners were left (foolishly) unguarded one got away, but we kept the surgeon. Miss Vicky came to see that we (the 15th) were treating the prisoner(s) decently. Dave had been left to guard them after we lost the one prisoner.

So, eventually we gave the fort back to the Union because the rest of the 20th Maine were MIA at that parade, lunch was served, and "Chelly" had a surgeon's lecture to do. Of course, just as we sat down to eat, the 20th comes around the corner and we all just started laughing. I heard somewhere that the gentleman who escaped had gone to warn them or something. Well, after they heard that we had taken the fort they posted a guard at the gate for the rest of the weekend. He stopped anyone who looked suspicious.

The face of the 15th? We get our photos taken by a lot of newspapers at these events, this was the first television station that interviewed anyone. It's too bad it happened on Saturday and there was no way we would have been able to see it.

Groton, Mass.

July 14-15, 2007

Wow! This has probably been one of the best events I have been to this season! What made it so great was that the Groton Historical Society (or Hysterical Society, as Chris likes to call it) was so involved in the event and really pulled things together! They even linked the town to the Civil War through historic buildings, discussions and cemetary tours of soldier's graves (all Union, obviously).

This was Lindsay's first re-enactment where she actually participated, as a soldier no less!

I don't personally know these boys, but they were watching the Confederates line up for the Saturday battle. Future soldiers?

Well, not only did the Union have seven cannons (at least six were full size, too!), but on Saturday they had the high ground. Here are some of the 15th's and the 1st Maryland soldiers running across the field away from enemy fire.

This was our (the Confederates) cannon...yes, I know, not that impressive to look at, but dang! That thing can make some noise! I like how the "bodies" of the artillery crew that manned it are strewn about.

Later that evening we noticed the Confederate Cavalry saddling up and I thought, "oh, they're going out to ride, scope the hills, or practice." Well, in reality, they were headed over to Unity to raid the town. When they started shooting and yelling, Mike looked up and said "Oh, it looks like Unity is being sacked again."

As I was watching the raid and the large tent on the right was that of the largest sutler (shop) for the weekend, well all of the sudden, as the horses were slowed down and things seemed to calm I saw these three figures go running out of the tent and take off down the field back to our camp. I'd forgotten that Kate, Charlene and Amelia (Charlene's new friend) had gone down to buy some rock candy. They came back with the news that a man had been "shot" during the raid because as the cavalry raider said "that suit is unacceptable!" I thought that was pretty funny and the girls told the story quite well.

Charlene is just so pretty in this photo. Her father has plenty of reasons to worry!

On Sunday, me, Vicky, Peg, and Kate went on a cemetary tour. When we arrived a Union group, the 13th Massachussetts I believe, were leaving after holding a memorial service for the Civil War soldiers buried there. I was sorry to have missed it, but the ladies giving the tour were excellent and they really knew their history! Two of the three were dressed as Civil War era widows and they described the three (recommended) stages of mourning for the time period.

A year and a day after her husband's death the widow barely went out or socialized and she wore black dresses with a veil and gloves and little to no adornment.

After that time had elapsed, for the following nine months she was allowed to incorporate a little color into her attire (i.e. putting little purple rose buds in the folds of her bonnet, a dark red hat covered with thick black lace, etc) and she was allowed to send out letters to friends informing them she was allowed to have visitors, the stationary was usually had a black border of some kind. As for jewelry if she wore any it was black, usually made of jet, and not fancy.

After those nine months she went through the final stage which was three months long and she only had to wear the black dress and hat, she could accent it with some of her family jewelry, white lace collars, etc., but she still had to keep it subdued.

Back to the battle!
Here's some of the Union artillery. They were supposed to lose on Sunday, but it didn't look like the Confederates won...I don't really know what happened except that the company nearest me took some hits (guys fell down as though dead) and their captain started shouting "Get up! get up!" They kind of looked at him like 'huh? But I'm dead." So not that many fell in the onslaught of our Volkswagon Beetle-sized cannon.

Here was one of the last Confederates standing on the left flank. He made the Union company nearest him charge and take him, they were actually laughing with him after that and I think they and him just watched the rest of the debacle unfold.

So that was the afternoon. As we were folding up though, the skies darkened and despite Mike's attempt to keep the rain away (he was blowing at the clouds as he was tying things up >eye roll<) as we were halfway through packing up the sky opened up and it poured! Lightening, thunder, the whole shebang! Everyone who was there to help ended up soaked through! It was pretty amazing through when the re-enactors around us saw we were still trying to get stuff stowed and they just came over and took stuff down. Before I knew what was going on the fly and wall tent were down and they were folding the canvas. There are some really nice people involved in the re-enacting hobby.