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The Commander's Corner
 Well,
yesterday (28 November 2009) was the annual artillery get together
at Colfax. I think attendance was down, but it was still
a great time of fellowship as we saw Rex Kennedy and John Stewart
for the first time in almost a year. Sandy Horvath had a craft event
planned for the ladies while the gentlemen went to a side room.
We discussed the 2010 Schedule as we
are projecting it to be through May of 2010.
We committed to continuing our impression through the 150th Battle
Anniversaries as long as age, horses and health permits. We
also discussed making a push to support Malcom Blue in 2010 since it
is a "MAJOR" money maker for us. We will work
to add a significant Cavalry presence to this event for 2010 in
addition to the cannon presence.
I
introduced the idea to began to chronicle the unit's history since
we began sometime in 1993/94 until now and to publish this in a
booklet form, with pictures. The idea was well received and
several stories were told that will need to be incorporated into the
publication. This project is not one we plan to put on one
person, I'll put it together and format it, but the stories will be
those of you the unit members.
We then rejoined the ladies and had
a wonderful lunch meal with one of the many highlights being the
Boston Butts that Dan Cooke prepared and donated to the event.
Thanks to Dan and all the other contributions this meal was a
success.
Sandy Horvath then conducted
the raffle, and Bobby Allen once again did quite well. Thanks
to all who participated in this event, it provided enough money to
pay the church and put $155.00 in our account. After some
wonderful fellowship we all headed our separate ways.
I am asking all of you to pay your dues promptly this year by
sending $30.00 to Sam Prestipino at 9250 Bruckhaus Street #311,
Raleigh, NC 27617. Please make your checks payable to the 26th
NCT. Let’s get this done quickly folks; this money goes
to support all of us and our operations during the year.
We all need to make a commitment to the schedule outlined in the
2010 schedule for us to have a
successful year. Commitment is my expectation of each member
of this organization. Lastly Joyce, Leah, Lindsey and myself
want to wish each of you and your families a very safe, healthy and
Merry Christmas!
Check the website for updates; if you have questions call me at
910-797-1783, or email me at
dstan78089@aol.com.
See you in the
field.J
Capt. David L. Stanley, Cmdg.
145th Cedar Creek - 16-18 October 2009
The weather forecast was ominous: rain; hard rain; mixed with more
rain. We decided to go, it was the major event for the year
and we knew we would be ok; still Cedar Creek and the 1st North
Carolina Artillery have had "issues".
We
began arriving on Friday afternoon (16 October) and the conditions
really were not too bad. We had been communicating by cell
phone and Virginia and Gary got there first and found our location
and then guided the rest of us into the site. We established
the picket line and set up the camping area. All the guys and
gals arrived before early evening and the camp was established.
We welcomed John Ruf back to the fold, John Horvath brought his son
....and Ric Morrow drove from Georgia to experience his first "East
Coast Mega Event!" We all parked our vehicles and went "suttlering"!
No one bought anything significant and after eating we returned to
camp.
Saturday morning dawned and had all the promise
of a wet day. Wet for us isn't bad, it is however bad
for the horses pulling a 1 ton gun and limber on the very, very
rocky ground of Cedar Creek. We ate with the 26th and began to
prepare for the day's event. Rounds to be rolled, meetings to
attend and finally in the early afternoon we harnessed and hooked up
and headed to the marshalling area to do the one thing all armies
do, hurry up and wait! As we waited the much forecasted rain
arrived and though light, was still wet, with the temperatures in
the 50s. We pulled out behind the 26th with the idea of
supporting their flank as they moved across the field, but again all
the best plans go awry. We limbered up and pulled behind
the Confederate gun line and move to support the attack from a
different angle, we helped push a federal battery back, fired into a
collapsing Federal Battalion and after firing about 21 rounds headed
back to camp. The gun crew had done an outstanding job and the
horses had done ok for their first major event of the year.
After all these years it is still a high to move that gun, in bad
conditions and bring fire on the enemy......even if it is just
reenacting!
We unlimbered and got everyone on the picket
line and the harness in the dry and began to discuss the merits of
going home or staying. The rain had become steady and the
ground conditions for horsedrawn artillery were simply getting
worse. We tabled the decision to the next morning and went our
separate ways to stay dry. The rain stopped during the evening, but
still Sunday was cold and very wet, so we decided to leave.
Now leaving a wet Cedar Creek is always an adventure, but we learned
at Shiloh years ago that if we stuck together and worked to get
everyone out at the same time, things seemed to go better.
Gunners went and got their 4-wheel drive vehicles and Mike got the
gun trailer and we broke camp, with everyone's equipment being on an
outgoing vehicle. We led the horses up the hill and to the
trailers. Men transferred equipment to their cars and trucks
and when we were ready to go we said our traditional good-byes and
left Cedar Creek behind. It was a good event and a good
time to get together again, it was still Cedar Creek, but we escaped
without anything being broken or hurt!!!! Thanks to
Virginia Price for the Photos!
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