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Attached is the updated Federal Registration list for Before the Breakout.
Here are some notes to keep in mind.
Arrival Time: All company commanders be on site by 7pm. There will be an officer’s call at 7:30 pm. This will happen between the lines just out-of-bounds of our event area. For the men we ask that ALL participants arrive by 7:00pm. When you arrive, a shuttle will take you near to our Reserve/HQ area. You will need to follow a trail about 40 yards to our Reserve area. We will have this marked. Arrive with full canteens. We would like to send out an advance squad to take positions at our line and even begin some work on the posts. Arriving sooner is better than later. Do NOT wait around or linger near the sign-in area.
Rations: These will be issued per company Friday evening in the Reserve/HQ camp. . you may bring a coupel of small items to trade (newspaper, small amount of coffee, personal item, etc).
Step Off Time: We will be stepping off at 8 pm on friday evening and deploying the Guard from the Reserve/HQ area.
Rules of Engagement and Boundaries: The historical location we are recreating is the Orchard Knob area outside of Chattanooga. Of course we would have other units guarding our flanks so this is the scenario. Both commanders have agreed on this. Grand flanking assaults are not to occur on either side. This is an outpost event where we are focusing on the guard, lack of guard, interaction with the opposition rather than a shoot um up. Please stress to your men if you have not done so already.
Guard, Fatigue, Rest Rotation: I sent out a previous email with attachments on how we will deploy the guard. Please be sure youa nd your NCOs are familiar with this procedure. This will be done failry close to the book (some pomp and circumstance is removed as the lines were so close). We will assign three men to each post. I expect that at least ONE man is ALWAYS on each post. The Reserve should have at least HALF of the men there at all times. The others are encouraged to go between the lines and fraternize. Officers should farternize with other officers.
Tools: Encourage your men to bring period correct tools. We are allowed to dig, set up rifle pits, trenches, and we can also knock over small trees. No trees larger than a person can be knocked over.
Please encourage the men to write some letters for the event. These should replicate letters FROM home. Turn them in at sign-in to Joe Blunt and they will be delivered.
The Fun: The organizers have been posting accounts regarding the opening days of the Siege of Chattanooga on the Authentic Campaigner. We are looking to recreate the relatively lax and somewhat friendly culture that the pickets of each side had.
Bring extra money to buy chits for the sutler (Carter & Japser-Joe Blunt) who will be between the lines selling items and additional food. You may purchase these chits at sign-in from Joe Blunt. Bring a few period items you may wish to trade.
We are encouraging trade, gambling, and just chewing the fat with the opposing forces. I am sure you have seen to post in regards to the script being passed around by Joe Blunt on the AC. Also encourage your men to have letters ready to be passed out to themselves or their pards. Adult beverages… There are plenty of accounts of the men trading liquor with the Federals and this is fine for the event. Let’s not turn this into a Frat Party though.
I know that some of the participants don’t really care too much for first person, but this event leads to a very immersive/first person type of experience. We are building the framework and setting out the “props” for the men to immersive themselves for the weekend. They need to take this and make it work. Please remind your men of this. As we all know one guy talking about his new gear can be a pain in the rear so let’s be fair about this. Some men may receive vignette cards. They are to follow-thru and act out what the historical cue card instructs them to do. Please stay in first person. If you must break first person, please say "Howell Cobb can eat a whole chicken" and take the conversation off privately.
Any interaction with female reenactors is to be HANDS OFF. Do not touch, search or man-handle any ladies.
End of the event: As with most events this will not go past Noon on Sunday. We all realized many of the participants need the time to get back to their homes.
One additional note is that our line will be broken into two sectors. Two companies will be on the line manning these sectors and the other two will be in Reserve (rest) in the Reserve area. These will be rotated out every 6 hours.
Here is the tentative sector assignments:
SCAR (Co. A) Sector 2 (posts 4,5,6 with added post #3)
works with
Easterners (Co. D) Sector 1 (minus post #3, so only covers posts #1 and #2)
Doc Bruce (Co. B) Sector 2 (posts 4-6)
works with
WFB (Co. C) Sector 3 (posts 1-3)
Cav will cover Vidette flank cav posts #1 and #2 (#1 actually has a small fort built for it as well). The cav should assign 3 men per post and the rest in Reserve to rest and also act as couriers and patrols.
Be sure that ALL your NCOs have read and understand the Guard Mounting procedures. I have previously emailed the simplified version of 'Posting Sentinels'. Have all your NCOs review this will all the men prior to Guard Mount at 8 pm on Friday.
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