|
The Newsletter of the 9th
Virginia Cavalry, Co. B & McGregor’s Battery Light
Artillery
March/April 2008
Edition
After Action Report - Spring
Muster:
Roll Call:
Lt. Bob
Scherr
Al Oclon
Sgt. Bill
Maddox
Thomas Braese
Cpl. Brian
Mason
Emily Kalinowski
Cpl. Sandie
Vaillencourt
Zach Jenkins
Cpl. John
Braese
Dennis Mason
Privates: Tom
Pekny
Jack
Maddox
Tom's daughter (Sorry, no name
given)
Traci
Smith
Kathy York
Steve Small
Fresh Recruits from the Augusta
Arsenal:
Private Dan Chmelar (1st
WI)
Private Peter Yurkonis (Sgt. 8th
IL)
These two "fresh fish" bore a strange resemblance to some
Yankees that I had seen over the tip of my saber during past
engagements! - Private Dennis
Mason.
Honored
Guests:
General Robert E
Lee
General Thomas
Jackson
A rat:
A U.S. Marshall that bears a striking resemblance to that
Devil Sherman.
A 1-1/2 hour drill was expertly conducted by Sgt. Maddox,
allowing the veterans to get back into saddle shape (both horses and
riders!), and for a few less experienced riders and horses to get
some time in formation and more used to the orders. This drill
allowed our visiting Generals to gain some saddle time with
Cavalry. This experience will allow them to better run the
army from horseback during the upcoming
Campaigns.
Not to be left out, the Artillery started out the season by
warming up Belle and firing her first round of the year. The
horses and troops of the 9th Virginia Cavalry responded as veterans
should, but what about the Civilians? See "From the Horses Mouth"
for more details...
Following the drill, a brief meeting was held to discuss the
big problem that has arisen in our Artillery section. This big
problem, if you have not heard, is we have GROWN TO FULL
BATTERY STATUS!! We have two new additions to go
along side Belle and Virginia (mortar), Steve Oclon has nearly
completed his new gun, and Ken Kalinowski has acquired a full scale
Mountain Howitzer for the upcoming season. This is where our
big problem begins; we need crews to man these guns! So tell
your friends and neighbors, we have immediate openings in Artillery
for all able bodied (or at least can still walk)
cannoneers!
In other news, now that we have 4 field pieces, when they are
present and "manned" Bob Scherr will be "brevetted" to the rank of
Captain. Once we have full crews, Bob will be promoted to Full
Captain. Watch out Lt Bochniak, now you have a new Captain to
kiss up to!
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON WESTPORT,
MISSOURI
Due to the cost and distance associated with attending this
event, we need a final and official head count of who is going,
mounted, dismounted, or otherwise, to Gene by April 15th!
Call, mail, or email your intentions to Gene ASAP! This allows
us to determine horses and haul money
required!
For those not pulling or riding in a pulling vehicle, plan on
car-pooling to save cost and simplify the
logistics.
FYI - Westport 400 miles from Dubuque,
IA.
Registration for Westport is $10/person and is being done
stricly onlne at the following address and requires a credit card
for payment:
http://www.standofcolors.com/UnitRegistration.asp
I have asked if we can pay upon arrival. I will advise
when I receive and answer. In the meantime,
please register online under 9th Virginia Cavalry, Co. B and list
Lt. Bochniak as unit commander. If you do not have internet
access, a credit card, or a friend or neighbor with this, call Gene
and I will help
you.
Artillery, this same weekend is Cannon School in
Boscobel! Contact Bob Scherr ASAP to coordinate your
attendance. This
is mandatory!!
Dues are
DUE!
$15/individual or
$20/family
Combatant Insurance is
$15/individual
Make all checks payable to: 9th VA Cavalry, Co. B,
Ltd.
Send all checks to our
treasurer:
Sandie Vaillencourt
Rolling
Party
A company small arms round rolling party will be held in
April at Butternut Acres (Bill & Theresa's home) for
dismounted and mounted troops. The unit has purchased 25lbs of
powder to be made into carbine rounds. Al Oclon will once
again supply tubes for this event. It will be held in April.
Further details to be announced shortly. (Keep April 5th
open!)
2008 Event
Schedule
April
26-27
Wright College, Chicago, IL
(dismounted)
May
3-4
Bloody Lake, Argyle, WI
(Rendezvous)
May
17-18
Westport, MO
(National)
Cannon School, Boscobel, WI (Mandatory for
Artillery)
June
13-15
Fort Robinson, NE
June
21-22 Franklin
Grove, IL (New) *
July
12-13
Waudona, IL
Riverbend, WI
(Cancelled)
Aug
2-3
Boscobel, WI*
Aug
16-17
Viroqua, WI (Wild West
Days)
Sept
13-14
Lake Villa, IL*
Sept
27-28
Wade House/Greenbush, WI (with 1st
Alabama)
Oct
4-5 Stockton,
IL*
Oct
11-12
Princeton, IL
Oct
18-19
Minooka, IL (dismounted)
Cedar Creek, VA (National)
* = Indicates Max Effort
Events
Note: All dates are good faith estimates, changes will
be made if any errors are
discovered.
From The Horse's
Mouth
By Horse Veteran 1st Class
Bullet
Spring has finally arrived; the snow has melted and as is so
common to the Midwest, come again. Another sign of spring is
our annual muster. How grand it was to have our extended herd
together again. We all met at the West 20 tack shop and used
their indoor arena. Being indoors like that was nice being
that it got us all out of the wind. The only drawback being
that after so much trotting we became a little tired. As a
matter of fact I was still sore a day later and kept having to
stretch my legs.
We had ten horses there including Peter Yurkonis and Beyhawk
from the 8th Illinois cavalry. Our artillery section was also
there with one of their guns. They demonstrated for the
public also inside the arena and then took the gun outside for their
first shot of the season. Their first shot made a smoke ring,
and in a wind to boot. Not bad for the red stripe
"boys". Corporal Braese and Tom Pekny from the dismounted were
also there and partook in the Artillery drill. While our
mounts barely moved there were several civilian horses outside who
bolted as soon as that round went off. So much for the
civilian herds.
Those of us in the mounted took the time to break in new tack
and train a couple of new mounts along with a couple of new
riders. The Generals were there and partook in the drill also,
the former Captain Mason and Jack both gave up their rides for the
Generals along with Pvt. Thomas Braese. During the drill it is
my sad duty to say Cavalry Horse 3rd class Molly decided to lay down
while at the trot on her rider Pvt. Traci Smith. This is a
gross breach of conduct and discipline of army regulations.
For this CH3 Molly has been sent to NonJudicial Punishment and
received a reduction in grade to Horse Recruit and Forfeiture of 1/2
mont cookies for 2
months.
After this drill I am personally looking forward to the
season with our unit/extended herd. I can't wait for the
evenings in camp on the picket line with our pals, listening to our
riders sing around the the fires. Just the thought of the
artillery fire and our charging forward together makes my ears perk
up and want to head to the field. On to Westport and
beyond. Well that's enough out of me for now.
Company attention, from the right to the right,
Dismissed.
| 
