Winter Meeting

First, I offer my humble apologies for missing our annual Christmas meal.
 There is much work to be done in the first few months of the coming year; & the winter business meeting needs to happen.
  As such, I have tentatively scheduled the meeting for 5 pm Saturday Jan 12th. (Hunting Camp BBQ?)

Let me know.
Your Obedient Servant,
Duke

Musket buy

To members of the Marines (1st or 2nd), & 2nd NCMI... I will be placing a unit order with Loyalist within the next couple of months. The muskets are of Indian parts assembled & finish work done at Loyalist in Canada. Loyalist Muskets have seen considerable successful service with the Marine Detachment & have seen use with Captain Smith's Decav...

 To any interested, it is a chance to get a good serviceable arm at a very good price. Contact me for specifics- I' will get you an actual quote on the arm you want.
Duke

Brothers,

 Annual Christmas dinner & winter business meeting
Sat 8 December 430 pm Hunt Camp BBQ

Regards,

Duke

Brothers,

The fall campaign season, our 12th, is upon us. In very many ways, the hobby has changed. I see the changes, and I feel the changes in my heart. I remember in the not so distant past having five or six events between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. I remember fields full of men and their sons; glorying in the fall & glorying in their heritage. I remember falling out every other weekend with a grand group of men. Men who I thought I would grow old with.

Yes, the hobby has changed. The events have become fewer. The full companies... Like our forefathers before, had become thin and battle depleted. The richness of fellowship that we enjoyed with other units is diminished as each unit becomes clannish. Many of the friends and comrades who once served our colors have fallen by the wayside.

Indeed, the hobby has changed.

But take heart my brothers. I come here not to lament the death of our lifestyle... And while I note that times have become, for lack of a better term, a little lean. There have been changes that have made things better.

There are fewer events. So what? If you remember back to “the old days". We left a lot of events saying, "Well, that was just okay." How often do we say that now? There isn't an reenactment, drill, or social event that I attend now that does not bring me joy. I love to set up and I hate to leave. Further, the scarcity of events tends to get the entire unit on the ground at the same time. When we were doing 2 to 3 events per month, it was rare to see 50% of the membership.

I look at the dwindling numbers of reenactors as a blessing, a mixed blessing certainly, but a blessing nonetheless. The quality of infantry units that oppose us as certainly suffered. From a tactical point of view, that is not a bad thing. It has allowed us, with a relatively small Battalion, to become a force to be reckoned with on any field we take. Further, the thinning of the ranks has forced many of the true dipstick officers out of the hobby.

To run one better, I will state that, manpower wise, we're in better shape than we were 10 years ago. We are in better shape than we were five years ago. I attribute much of this to the direct grace and blessing of Almighty God. The unique combination of brotherhood, military excellence, fellowship, and personalities has allowed us to attract some really great people. Further, our fellowship with the second North Carolina mounted infantry and the third US artillery have given us a safe haven of like thinking soldiers.

As to empty seats around the fire... Looking at our membership from the first 3 to 4 years of our existence, only Harve, Ritchie, and I remain.  I miss every friend I have lost over the last 12 years. To be honest with you, there isn't a man who is served under our colors that I wouldn't take back – even the ones we would have to give a second (or third) chance. Having said that... I think that for every man who is left the ranks, God has given us another as good or better to replace them. I stated at the beginning of this editorial that I was surrounded by grand men whom I thought I would grow old with. Today, I am surrounded by grand men who I hope to grow old with.

Our fellowship, our brotherhood, to me is a grand gift. The fact that I can sit around a fire with such a splendid group of men remains one of the great blessings in my life.

Yes, the hobby has changed. Yes, it will continue to change. Who cares? Lads, grab your arms; grab your traps; put on your war faces... It is time for a season of grand adventure!

Your Obedient Servant in the Cause We all Hold Dear,

Duke

random notes

Brothers,
Let us schedule the next gun maintenance day for Saturday 14 July 2012. I believe all work to the gun can be completed in one afternoon. If not, we will adjust accordingly.
Next, brother Kateman has painted the tube and all of the ironwork. It is a fine job. We owe our thanks to Harve.
Also, there will be a unit business meeting scheduled for 14 July. Topics will include insurance, fall schedule, and Gettysburg. If anyone has any questions, please contact me.
I remain, your most obedient servant,
Duke

Brothers,
 Got some issues, i won't be able to make gun work this weekend. let's scrub it 7 I'll get up with y'all to re-schedule.
Duke

Carrot & Hammer

First, the hammer (I always have believed in getting bad news out of the way 1st)

 Having witnessed the fiasco with Chris Givins, having seen the expense & trouble that both he & the mounted cav guys have went through... I will not take the field without insurance coverage. Further, as several of us own houses, land & property that would be lost in a lawsuit- I won't allow you to take the field (at least as part of our unit) without insurance. This is the best deal I could find- take it or leave it...
 Now, the carrot-
  I have found us a good deal. Through the Living History association, for around $25-$30 per year (exact cost will depend on total number of participants) we can give every member both personal injury coverage & general liability coverage. We will have to band together with 2nd NCMI & 3rd US as a "battalion" to get the numbers to make this affordable.
If you have already paid your insurance/Dues for this year- your money is safe in the treasury & will cover most (very possibly all) of the insurance costs.
What, specifically, I need from each of you is:
Your Name & Address. Individual or Family coverage (family covers listed people in your immediate household & will cost an additional $15.00). Once I know how many people we are covering for the battalion, I can give each of you an exact cost.
Send you information via e-mail to screbelyell@yahoo.com
YOS
DUKE

Without Comment...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqBFRMGLoB0

Insurance

Brothers,
 The liability insurance carrier that has covered us through 2nd ncmi the past 3 years has stopped carrying club insurance. Until we find another carrier, we have no coverage. Our insurance funds are safe in the unit treasury...
Even a small accident in the field can cost thousands.
 As such, I am suspending all field operations (read: events) until liability insurance is secured. Both Smitty & I are focusing on the problem & I anticipate an early solution. However, times have changed & our options are much more limited than they were 4-5 years ago. As such, unless one of you can point me to an underwriter- live with whatever I find.

Y.O.S
Duke

Unit Musket Purchase

Brothers,
 I am considering making a Unit purchase for Muskets. Any interest?
Duke

Gun Work

During Saturday's Work Drill, separations (Cracks) was found on the Trail. These required filling & sealing. As such, Painting was not accomplished. Next round of work 1400hrs Saturday 23 June, with a follow up day Sunday 25 June.
Duke

On Cabins & Camp

Gentlemen,

 I am writing this as a brother among brothers. This is only my opinion. It carries NO weight of command; No direction towards the membership.

  Over the last couple of months, there has been a great deal of discussion amongst us vis-à-vis staying off site at events. I have “hoteled” it in the past, & would certainly consider it again if the conditions called for it (read: Statesville in August or Augusta in October). Further, I understand members desire for modern sleeping, hot showers, & flushing toilets.

  However, having given this a lot of thought, & a lot of discussion with my son- it occurs to me, that a lot of the experience I enjoy is staying on site (even if it means sleeping in the Volkswagen). This holds especially true @ Hot Springs (at least in November). As such, with great respect, I will politely decline to participate in any cabin or hotel activities.

YOS

Duke

I COULD NOT FIT THE WHOLE QUOTE ON THE POSTER...

" Marines I see as two breeds, Rottweilers or Dobermans, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean, or skinny and mean. They're aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They've got really short hair and they always go for the throat. 

RAdm. "Jay" R. Stark, USN; 10 November 1995"

Summer/Fall 2012 Event Schedule

Fall 2012 Reenactment Schedule

Spring Gun Maintenance -Saturday 09 June 2012 Work begins 1400 Hrs. Fish Fry to follow.
Friends of the Battery Welcome. Members expected

.August 25-26 Fall Regimental Encampment/ Camp of Instruction Hell's Hole SC Uniform: Confederate- Warm weather &/0r CSA Marine Summer

Sept or Oct Furman Camp of Instruction TBA Uniform Member’s choice

Oct 6-7 JEB Stuart Aarat VA Uniform Federal (if fee’s are waved. If not, ?)

Nov 3-4 Battle at Warm Springs NC Uniform Federal Marine- Officer’s Option

Nov 11th Veteran's Day- Uniform Federal

Dec 1-2 2012 Congaree Creek Reenactment Uniform ?

The Return of the Web Log (Blog)

Greetings All-
 This has been an unused tool for the last year. I was planning on communicating through a newsletter. Writing, editing, illustrating- I just have not had the energy. Still, there is a need for us to touch base. Sooo...
Welcome back the the Regimental Blog-
If you have anything to put out to the unit- send it to me. I will get it up here.
Thanks!
Duke