Post by Tom Klas on Apr 20, 2004 17:53:55 GMT -5
Carter House Living History AAR
The Hard Head Mess had the privilege to participate in a Living History hosted by the Hogg Mess on the remaining preserved grounds of the Franklin Battlefield including the Carter House. We arrived Friday night April 16th at Franklin with Brad Argue, Lucas Dietsche, Dave Gerow, Dave May, and myself representing the mess. Our portrayal was the 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company “E” which made quite a stand at the battle of Franklin near the Carter House. Steve Acker and the Hogg’s gave us a brief tour of the site and the outside of the Carter House. All I can say is this was a very unique opportunity to see the Carter House and all the bullet holes this building withstood during the Battle of Franklin. That night we camped on the battlefield and swapped stories with our 24th Wisconsin pards from the Hogg Mess and Mess #3.
Saturday morning we arouse to cool dampness and then to the welcomed warm pleasure of the Tennessee sunrise. Our camp started to form up and cooking rations started in earnest. Most of us delighted in our salt pork, salt beef, hardcrackers, and coffee. After breakfast, we formed for roll call and school of the soldier. By nine o’clock in the morning, guests to the battlefield started to arrive and we had the task of being the best interpreters we could of the 24th Wisconsin. The WIG represented the Confederate impression for the living history. As always, they were first rate in their depiction of the 41st Tennessee for this living history event.
Steve Acker of the Hogg Mess (representing the 24th Wisconsin) and Nate Petersburg of the Fisher's Mess & WIG (representing the 41st Tennessee) started the day by introducing the crowd to each soldiers kit and the history of each represented regiment. After this each camp had varying living history presentations including drills, cooking rations, and uniform and equipage demonstrations. Of particular note was Dave Gerow, who portrayed Pvt. Herman F.W. Fisher of Co. “E” 24th Wisconsin for the day. Dave did an excellent display of shaving with a straight razor without any murmurs from his fellow “Plankington Rangers”. The brave men of the Hogg Mess, Mess #3, the Missouri boys led by Bob Alexander, and the Hard Heads lived to see the afternoon after Pvt. Fisher finished his shaving demonstration.
At lunch each camp cooked rations and explained the life of the soldier in the Western Theater to the spectators in attendance. Pat Craddock of the WIG topped off Dinner Call by kindly giving some homemade pies to the 24th Wisconsin, which were made by his wife. Thanks to the Craddock’s for this much-appreciated treat! ;D In the afternoon, both the 41st Tennessee and the 24th Wisconsin provided some more living history demonstrations for the public including the School of the Soldier and Bayonet Exercise. After this, many of the living historians had the opportunity to view the Carter House and its role in the Battle of Franklin. For any one who has not seen the Carter House, it is an amazing site full of history in one of the fiercest conflicts of the Civil War. We also had the fine opportunity to get a personal tour of the Franklin Battlefield and Fort Granger by Chris Utley of the WIG. Thanks Chris for the great tour.
Overall this was a top rail event with many experiences to remember. Each participant I talked to was glad they could attend and are looking forward to future events such as these. Special thanks to Steve Acker and the Hogg Mess for hosting this living history experience.
Hard Heads,
Tom
The Hard Head Mess had the privilege to participate in a Living History hosted by the Hogg Mess on the remaining preserved grounds of the Franklin Battlefield including the Carter House. We arrived Friday night April 16th at Franklin with Brad Argue, Lucas Dietsche, Dave Gerow, Dave May, and myself representing the mess. Our portrayal was the 24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, Company “E” which made quite a stand at the battle of Franklin near the Carter House. Steve Acker and the Hogg’s gave us a brief tour of the site and the outside of the Carter House. All I can say is this was a very unique opportunity to see the Carter House and all the bullet holes this building withstood during the Battle of Franklin. That night we camped on the battlefield and swapped stories with our 24th Wisconsin pards from the Hogg Mess and Mess #3.
Saturday morning we arouse to cool dampness and then to the welcomed warm pleasure of the Tennessee sunrise. Our camp started to form up and cooking rations started in earnest. Most of us delighted in our salt pork, salt beef, hardcrackers, and coffee. After breakfast, we formed for roll call and school of the soldier. By nine o’clock in the morning, guests to the battlefield started to arrive and we had the task of being the best interpreters we could of the 24th Wisconsin. The WIG represented the Confederate impression for the living history. As always, they were first rate in their depiction of the 41st Tennessee for this living history event.
Steve Acker of the Hogg Mess (representing the 24th Wisconsin) and Nate Petersburg of the Fisher's Mess & WIG (representing the 41st Tennessee) started the day by introducing the crowd to each soldiers kit and the history of each represented regiment. After this each camp had varying living history presentations including drills, cooking rations, and uniform and equipage demonstrations. Of particular note was Dave Gerow, who portrayed Pvt. Herman F.W. Fisher of Co. “E” 24th Wisconsin for the day. Dave did an excellent display of shaving with a straight razor without any murmurs from his fellow “Plankington Rangers”. The brave men of the Hogg Mess, Mess #3, the Missouri boys led by Bob Alexander, and the Hard Heads lived to see the afternoon after Pvt. Fisher finished his shaving demonstration.
At lunch each camp cooked rations and explained the life of the soldier in the Western Theater to the spectators in attendance. Pat Craddock of the WIG topped off Dinner Call by kindly giving some homemade pies to the 24th Wisconsin, which were made by his wife. Thanks to the Craddock’s for this much-appreciated treat! ;D In the afternoon, both the 41st Tennessee and the 24th Wisconsin provided some more living history demonstrations for the public including the School of the Soldier and Bayonet Exercise. After this, many of the living historians had the opportunity to view the Carter House and its role in the Battle of Franklin. For any one who has not seen the Carter House, it is an amazing site full of history in one of the fiercest conflicts of the Civil War. We also had the fine opportunity to get a personal tour of the Franklin Battlefield and Fort Granger by Chris Utley of the WIG. Thanks Chris for the great tour.
Overall this was a top rail event with many experiences to remember. Each participant I talked to was glad they could attend and are looking forward to future events such as these. Special thanks to Steve Acker and the Hogg Mess for hosting this living history experience.
Hard Heads,
Tom