The Advance Guard Post Thoughts

[Tom Klas]

Hard Heads and pards,

Just a note that your mess mate is on the mend literally from the Advance Guard. Sutures come out tomorrow and I can now type again.

I will put together my short AAR and post shortly. I just wanted to say thanks again to Captain Gerow, Sgt's Smith, Frank, Argue, all our Corporals, and hearty enlisted men of Company "H". The Advance Guard was an above average experience with many memorable moments.

Lucas' AAR and an after event picture of Company "H" 13th Ohio is posted on the Hard Head Mess Website.

www.geocities.com/hardheadmess/

Many thanks to all those who help coordinate the trip down to Tennessee and the way back home. Whitney if you read this, please let us know through e-mail how your wagon repairs went.

Keep that horse away from Captain Gerow's lean to.

Tom Klas
Hard Head and proud former Lt. of Company "H" 13th Ohio Vols.

[Tom Klas]

Tom’s AAR - Non first person thoughts

The Advance Guard event was a fine display of cooperation between what I believe are the two most accurate living history battalions in our hobby, the AoP and the WIG. After attending both Port Gibson and the Advance Guard, I must say that the WIG boys are first rate living historians. As expected, the AoP was simply a well-combined mesh of leadership and accurate portrayals led by Col. Dom Dal Bello and Lt. Col. Steve Dunfee.

Positives of the event:

1. Great site with no modern distractions within view.

2. Excellent leadership of the AoP and of course Company “H”. Captain Gerow did a first rate job as our commanding officer. Bully job by our nco's as well.

3. The Commissary and the active Sutler with period chits. Wonderful period rations and offerings from the camp sutler. The AoP really outdid themselves here!!

4. All day and night fatigue and guard duty as on active campaign.

5. It was great to see some familiar faces and the opportunity to meet some new ones. It was a pleasure to have Matt Smith once again in a leadership role in the mess, our new pards Tom and Aaron. Thanks for coming from Pennsylvania for this event. I also enjoyed the camaraderie of our Iowa and South Dakota boys who fell in with us. Also to meet some fine officers and nco's of the AoP including Col. Dal Bello, Lt. Col. Dunfee, Major Green, Captain’s Butler, Caldwell, and Kinzer, Adjutant Jason Bentley and Sgt. Major Steve Florman.

6. The Brigade Surgeon, Mr. Dirk Armstrong – without Doc I think my hand would have looked like a rotten tomato by the end of the living history experience. As Lt. Col. Dunfee noted, that is an ugly injury. If you’re out there sir, thank you.

7. The attack of one horse on Captain Gerow’s lean to. You had to witness this one to enjoy in the fun.

8. Some various first person discussions that I can not elaborate on this medium but they sure were side splitting none the less. ;D

9. On Saturday evening, hearing the wonderful voices of the local civilians from up on a hillside nestling in for some much needed rest. They voices and period harmonies where grand to the ears of this soldier. Thank you all for that grand moment.

10. Seeing all the small fires over the camp and hearing the pickets on Saturday night. We never knew if an engagement was imminent or not. One of those bully moments of the weekend.

11. As mentioned before but not expressed more fully, our guard mount for the weekend. As an officer of the guard, you never know what to expect when calls from various posts were exclaimed in the dark of the night. Company “H” and Captain Butler’s company had some great first person experiences on Friday evening, night, and Saturday morning while on picket post.

Negatives of the event:

1. Lack of consistency with first person impressions. We heard many jeers of modern topics from the start of the event to its completion. For an event billed as an immersion experience, I think this was a minor disappointment.

2. Some impressions were not quite up to par with the majority of the participants. Hopefully this event will be a catalyst for these soldiers to improve their kits even more for next time. As Dom stated in his packet, we want to push the ENVELOPE in ALL aspects of living history. Jim Butler also touched upon this quite tastefully on the Authentic Campaigner Forum. I agree with Jim on this one.

3. My fall to the bottom of a dry creek bed (about 8-10 feet off a ledge) while the Officer of the Guard on Friday night. Although I did need two sutures at a local hospital, I was more embarrassed than anything else. My sincere thanks to civilians who helped get me to the hospital so my pards would not miss anything during the night. If I could repay the favor sometime, please let me know.

4. Being captured by the Confederate forces on Saturday. What more can I say on this one. I knew we were in trouble when Captain Gerow and I were guarded by members of the Hogg Mess. Just kidding Hogg’s, it was good to see you gents at the event.

Well that should sum most of the event up from my end.
For members who attended, what was your opinion?

Survivor of the babbling brook fall,

Tom Klas