Friday, 5th April, 2024 - Sunday, 7th April, 2024
The company’s second voted event was a first for the company as we were officially in the field with other companies of the Hardee Guard Battalion as full members. From the delivery of morning reports, weapon inspection forms, and the call for battalion formation, we felt right at home among fellow living historians from other member companies.
Arrival:
I arrived in Stevenson at the site of Fort Harker on the banks of the Tennessee River, Thursday evening. We arrived early in order to set camp and assist the event host, the 18th Alabama, with the school days program. Our understanding was that had they not needed assistance, we’d use the time to rest and enjoy preparing for the weekend event; however, we did end up providing assistance in the form of a cooking demonstration for the students that came in waves ranging from about fifteen to twenty students in each group.
Upon arrival, I quickly noticed the wind, which I thought would settle down following the sunset. This unfortunately was not the case which made keeping candles lit very challenging after dark had fallen around us. Despite the hardships from the lack of significant light, we were able to huddle around a good quality fire and to relax. The night was cold, and our preparation for the colder weather was rewarded as the temperatures fell into the upper thirties in the early morning hours. Some time into the night the wind did eventually subside which was a bit of a relief, leaving only the occasional sound of the trains running nearby to be of bother to us.
Friday, 5th April, 2024:
Friday morning was quite eventful, as we spent the first few hours preparing for the students who would be visiting for the school days program. We woke shortly after 0600 and were invited to a breakfast provided at the event by the Jackson County, Alabama Chamber of Commerce and City of Stevenson. While at the breakfast we heard from the Mayor of the City of Stevenson who talked about the importance of economic development within his community as well as the significance of events like this which contribute to the growth of the community. I appreciate greatly the commitment and support the city has given to this event. It has ensured continued growth and development of the event and support for the 18th Alabama, which has done a phenomenal job in planning and executing the event each year.
School Day Program 0900 - 1300 hrs:
One of our favorite things to do as living historians and generally speaking, history nerds if you will… is to talk about the Civil War, show off our rifles, our gear, our uniforms, and I personally like to show off my field desk and explain how we operate as a company. Education is at the very core of our purpose and mission as an organization and school day programs give us the opportunity to work towards our mission. For the school days program at Ft. Harker, we were asked to provide a station as a part of a large rotation with students from multiple middle and elementary schools moving from one station to the next in fifteen minute intervals. As we were one of the final stations; we were allotted plenty of time to prepare for our first students. Our station combined cooking and ration preparation with discussion on the use of swords by officers. The majority of the time was dedicated to showing off how we cook in the field as well as explaining the rations that were issued in each army and how rations would be presented for issue to the soldiers. While presenting to visiting students, Sgt. Jennings was actively preparing food for the weekend’s event in front of the students. This presentation was followed by a brief presentation on the importance, purpose, symbology, and use of swords by both NCO’s and by Officers during the American Civil War.
Establishing the Camp:
Following the departure of the students from the school days program, the afternoon was dedicated to assisting other company members as they arrived and began set-up. I very much enjoyed the ground we were established on as it was in the center of the field. The flat ground made establishing the company street quite easy. The company street was configured in a manner in which two shabangs were placed on the left, while A-frame tents composed the right side of the street. The company continues to move more towards the use of canvas fly configurations in the field as opposed to the traditionally used A-Frames. The benefits of this are numerous in first that it appeals to the historical accuracy of our impressions while in the field; secondly, it is much easier to set up and tear down our camp when going into and out of the field.
Friday evening consisted of steaks cooked over the fire and a meeting with the Hardee Battalion Command Staff. We were slated to conduct a battalion drill the following morning at 0800; however, given the numbers available to us collectively at the event, it was decided that we would hold formation instead.
Saturday, 6th April, 2024:
Saturday morning consisted of Company Roll Call at 0700hrs with each of our members dressed without accouterments, standing in front of their prospective flys or tents. The purpose of this roll call is to ascertain a count of members available for taking the field in the afternoon’s skirmish. We collect a count, record that information on a morning report and submit forms 100 and 200 to the battalion adjutant who then tabulates the count for the whole battalion. This informs the battalion staff in advance of the event designated officer’s call of the strength of all companies in attendance at the event and determines the strategy that will be implemented in planning out the action during the scheduled skirmish. We endeavor to give an “as accurate as possible” impression of combat in the period; however, this can’t be achieved without obtaining information and details like these beforehand.
Officer’s call commenced at 0900hrs and the location of the Confederate assault of the fort was determined. It was thought better that we approach from the banks of the Tennessee River which flows adjacent to the fortifications. Thus, we would assemble for inspection and then move in column to the area of staging at 1300hrs.
I had ordered the company drilled prior to my departure for Officer’s call and returned to find the company having breakfast. After eating, I spent time resting and catching up with my compatriots, as it had been a good while since we had been in the field together. I made a trip to the sutler row and visited with my friend Chuck at Rum Creek Sutlery, with the intention of trading some items that I no longer had use for and obtained a very nice blanket made by family heirloom weavers which would compliment my confederate impression nicely. I also resupplied my candle stock and looked at other odds and ends that he had available. I had dearly desired a new officer’s haversack and found that he had one that had been made by another individual and traded in to him when the gentleman left the hobby given his age and ability no longer suiting the demands of a living historian. I was very taken with the item and decided to purchase it from Chuck.
A Rolling Party:
The company undertook a rolling party to prepare powder for future events. As each man of the company pays into the company powder fund annually, Black Powder is ordered in bulk, and once arrived, brought to either events or particular meetings, where paper is cut and rolled into tubes, which are then loaded with 60 grains of black powder. This process is an important facet of our operations as it keeps the company in the field. We collectively take on the challenge of this task as we need to ensure that there is a healthy supply of ammunition for each of our events. The main responsibility for this operation is that of our First Sergeant, who does a fine job with coordinating the satisfaction of the company’s needs. He gets a great deal of support from our Second Sergeant who also greatly assists with making sure powder is rolled and available to the men of the company. It truly takes the company all working together to successfully keep the powder stores stocked.
Preparing for the Skirmish and taking the field:
Upon returning to camp, it was time for first-call and not long until battalion formation. The order given to the company by the 1st Sgt. for “first-call” informs the members of the company that it is time to prepare to stage for the skirmish and that they are to dawn their full kits and then report to the 1st Sgt. for the issuance of powder. This is also the time that they should check themselves to ensure that they have percussion caps in their cap pouch and water in their canteens. Water, being the most important item carried, is an essential requirement for all of our membership and is checked by either myself or the sergeants before the company is moved into the battalion formation.
When the company has been issued powder, the next action of the sergeants is to form the company, which consists of the 1st sgt. organizing the members into a single file line by height with the exception of rank which denotes the order of the file closers. Once ordered and in formation, the 1st Sgt will command the members to “Count by Twos,” this will essentially denote amongst the company which man shall be in the front rank and who shall be in the rear, and as ordered by height, the tallest members typically are organized behind the shorter members.
After formation has occurred, I often will command the company to “Inspect Arms” which instructs them to fix bayonets, remove the rammers from their rifles and place them down the barrel. And stand at Shoulder Arms, ready for inspection. If the formed company has been placed into two ranks, I typically will order the rear rank to “Shoulder Arms” and then “In Open Order” march to the rear, being about four to five paces backwards as counted off by the 2nd sgt, who posts in advance of them to mark the line. Once there, they are about faced and their weapons are inspected to ensure that there are no obstructions within the barrel of their muskets. cartridge boxes, cap pouches and canteens also are checked on each member to ensure they are adequately prepared to leave camp for formation. Once the inspections are executed and reported by the 1st Sgt. I usually take direct command of the company and move them into the battalion formation in preparation for the staging.
We moved into battalion along the road adjacent to the area in which was designated for camping and after having assembled the battalion, we were moved toward the fort to jointly inspect arms as an entire formation. After this was undertaken, we were marched to the bank of the river to wait for the skirmish to begin.
The skirmish began on time at 1400hrs and we advanced from the thicket along the river bank into the field opened aside the fort. Here, we would push across the field while handling resistance from the federal forces which had left the safety of the fort to make a stand. The scenario called for the driving of the federal garrison forces back towards the fort which was accomplished at a slow and consistent pace. Both sides were instructed to minimize losses in this portion of the event to ensure that the numbers were not misplaced once nearing the fort. We moved through a battery position taking the guns and their crews, and then onto the fort itself, with the federal garrison taking heavy losses mostly at the base of the fort. From here, our company and that of our friends in the 34th Georgia, were instructed to take the fort, with the 48th Alabama made to engage the garrison long enough to provide time for us to pass to their rear. We fired two volleys into the fortifications before following alongside the 34th into the fortifications and taking the fort effectively ending the scenario and skirmish. It was quite a finish to a great skirmish.
Following the skirmish, living historians on both sides drew together to provide a salute, and to clear rifles. After the skirmish had concluded, we then returned to our prospective camps to rest and enjoy each other's company.
Returning to Camp:
Anytime the company returns to camp following the use of muskets in which they’ve been shot numerous times, a field cleaning is necessitated in order to maintain the operability of the weapon. Field cleanings are not meant to clean the gun for storage; instead, they are meant to keep it in operable condition for usage on the second day of the event, with the expectation that the gun will be cleaned when the living historian does so following the event. It consists of taking hot liquid, such as water that's been prepared by the fire, or coffee, and pouring this down the barrel to dislodge built up black powder and residue. After rinsing the barrel a few times, patches are placed on the end of the ramrod, either by attachment or by design and run down one’s barrel in order to swipe the sides and collect any residue or powder not dislodged by rinsing. Further, the nipple cone should be picked and checked to ensure no blockages. After patches have been utilized, an application of a light coating of ballistol (gun oil and lubricant) can be applied and the rifle hung to dry out.
Sunday:
Sunday was a much more relaxed affair, which consisted of the company having a formation around 0800 for the purposes of roll call and assembly with the battalion for announcements. Officers call at 0900hrs regarding the need to make some adjustments to the placement of artillery around the site and to review a different strategy for the approach of and deployment of the battalion for the assault at the afternoon skirmish.
As is customary, the first task undertaken by most is the breakdown of bedding after waking to ensure that one’s breakdown after the skirmish is timely and quick. For me personally, this means the rolling of my bedding and placement in sacks that I carry for the purposes of both ease in transportation and the concealment of these items. Generally, having broken down my bedding, these items are carefully placed in the corner of my fly set-up as to make room, but also as to be quickly moved and loaded at the end of the event.
Conclusively, Ft. Harker was an excellent event and is growing. Additionally, our company is growing, and I feel quite confident about our new home in the Hardee Guard Battalion. This event was a great way to get back into the swing of things in the hobby as it marked the first event of our more regular schedule. If you've managed to make it this far into my assorted collection of random thoughts on this event, Thank you!!! We mean to grow our impact in the living history community and this website serves to document our efforts along the way. I appreciate greatly the support we have received in our journey so far and hope that those reading will continue to follow our journey!
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