Birney's Division 2d Battalion News

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

AFTER ACTION REPORT: Old Bedford Village

This past weekend was another Birney's Division success in Old Bedford Village, PA. 2d Battalion was again the largest Federal military organization at the event. Our units attending included:

The 105th OVI as 1st Company, the 69th PVI as 2nd, the 5th OVI, 4th OVI, and 74th NY making up 3rd, and the 54th PVI, 11th PVI, and the 105th PVI assembled as the 4th Company. All told, we had a little over 80 men.

Saturday morning saw the usual dress parade and drill. We could already feel the temperature climbing. It promised to be in the high 80s and humid. It certainly didn't disappoint (I am almost sure it was more like the low 90s, but at that temperature, who is counting). I was personally honored to have the 69th as our color company and march under Erin's harp.

Our first battle of the weekend kicked off with the Battalion placed in the town to watch the river and the corral. We were glad to have an old hand like Col Rich Adams from the Mifflin Guard with us as a Division Commander and to get a chance to see what Birney's is all about.

The 74th deployed as pickets to watch for Reb infantry down on the water. The rest of the left wing under Capt Towarnicki took the high ground on the road at the edge of town. The right wing under Capt Van Meter posted along the fence at the cav corral. When finally engaged at the river, the 74th alerted us with shots fired down range. The Rebs tried a go-around by fording the river (cold, wet feet must have been welcome in the heat) but found the 2d Battalion left wing up above them protected by a steep hill full of brush. Realizing that they could not really press an attack up that hill, they taunted us to "come down and fight". Be careful what you wish for! The rest of 3rd Company joined the skirmishing 74th and went at 'em. With this formation pressing their front, and the 4th Company above the Rebs continually sliding down to fire into their flank as the Rebs fell back, Col Essig and his men splashed back across the river to try the other wing of our Battalion in hopes that they might find some better ground. These were text book tactics. Good job boys. Too bad it wasn't on tape to show other reenactors how a classic pincher movement works.

Meanwhile, back on the ranch...

The right wing at the corral was behind the fence overlooking the dry scrub grass when suddenly some familiar Rebs came across the bridge to try their luck again. After some exchange, word was sent from on high to "push 'em". The right wing moved into the field and started for the Rebs (in spite of their mountain howitzer). With the left wing taking some water and shade up the hill, Col Adams and I went down to the corral to find the battle heating up in a shoulder-deep center of the allergy universe. What looked like smoke was actually a sea of pollen. Musketry mixed with sneezes and coughs (if only we could have sent back to the wagon train for a case of Claritin).

Col Adams looked at me as the right wing kept advancing and mentioned that he felt there must be something else out there. You could feel it. And just as he finished his thought, another large company of Rebs came across the bridge and poured into the paddock. They must have seen us turn around and look in their direction, because the resting left wing came streaming down the hill to join the other half of the Battalion now engaged. After some pushing and more sneezing, the Confederate force pulled out and left the field to us (and without so much as a Benadryl... bastards).

No rest for the weary however! Across a fence (the third time for some of our folks) and we were called into action at the other end of the battlefield. At this point, I really do have to apologize to all of you for the inordinate amount of "double quicks". We were were a long way from the 1st Battalion and word came down that they were about to get their clocks cleaned. Long story short, we got there to support them and pushed the Rebs off the field to conclude the fight for the day.

Once back in town and camp, the Battalion cooled down (90 plus degrees in the sun, 120 degrees inside your coat). The rest of the evening was spent shooting the bull and filling our guts. Later that evening, we had a hell of a time at a fine, robust gathering. I can't give to many details... what happens in Old Bedford Village, stays in Old Bedford Village. Let's just say that Capt Towarnicki, Lt Murphy, Sgt Maj Donahue, 1st Sgt Kruger, and myself spent the evening trying to keep each other out of trouble. We did use the opportunity (along with some malted beverages and Irish guilt) to talk a Confederate bag-piper into falling in with us on Sunday to lead us into the fight.

Sunday morning saw breakfast, church call, and some of the usual pre-packing in order to vacate the site later in the day. Col Price and Col Adams took the Battalion staffs out on the field to do a little tactical planning. Once back at Battalion HQ, the orders went out for maximum hydration as the temps started to climb again.

Certainly one of the highlights for me in my reenacting career was marching out to battle with the colors of the 69th and the pipes and drum in the lead. Many of you said it gave you goose bumps and I certainly agree!!

Our spot in the fight on Sunday began out in the far corner of the battlefield. With the Battalion hidden in the woods, the 1st Company went out as skirmishers and made things interesting for the Reb cav engaged with Maj Raymond and the Federal cav. Before too long, the Reb infantry popped up on the far side of the field after a donnybrook with the 1st Battalion in the aforementioned corral. Once out of the woods and on the field, the 2d Battalion wasted no time in taking the fight to the boys in butternut. They saw and heard us coming 80 plus stong with the pips and drum driving us on. The plan for Sunday was to let the Rebs have their victory for the weekend (everyone needs a story for the kids at home). We certainly made them work for it! With cartridge boxes almost empty, they backed us into a corner and forced us to retire the colors. It didn't stop every hot, dirty, and sweaty reenactor from having a grin on their face. We had a GREAT time. Some spectator said to me that they had never seen such a spectacle! I said, "Wait till you see us at the Cracker Barrel on the way home! We haven't showered in two days!!!"

I want to thank all of you for showing why Birney's 2d Battalion is shaping up to be the finest unit in Civil War reenacting. My gratitude goes out to our Wing Commanders, Don Van Meter and Rob Towarnicki, Adjutant Mike Murphy, Rich Adams, and of course General Kelly and ALL the Birney's staff (especially John Price, Denny Rohrbaugh, Matt Donahue).

If OBV doesn't get you excited about going to Manassas, you'd better just stay home and do your quilting!

Faugh a ballagh!
Lt Col Christopher L. Smith, Commanding
2d Battalion, Birney's Division

Posted by CL Smith @ 11:57 AM

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

AFTER ACTION REPORT: Old Bedford Village

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