Commander s Call. Dispatches from the Dog Tent NEWSLETTER OF THE CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL ARTILLERY SOCIETY OCTOBER 2012

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1 NEWSLETTER OF THE CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL ARTILLERY SOCIETY OCTOBER 2012 Commander s Call Dispatches from the Dog Tent ALAN GINOS For those of you that think it cool that CHAS will be represented at the 150th Gettysburg reenactment, good news in that we have both enough people with money to make it happen, AND we are registered for the GAC event with 2 guns and 1 horse team. If you haven t paid attention, there are now two events, the traditional one put on by the GAC July 4-6, and a competing event put on by the organizers of the very successful Shiloh event of this year. This new event will be the weekend prior, and yes, we are in the process of registering for that one as well. Because we are going, and it will be a big deal, we have moved the date for next year s DM event back one week from our traditional weekend. Over 20 people are signed up for what will be a hot, humid and trying experience. But for those of us going, we will experience an event that comes only once in our lives and promises a hundred thousand spectators and more reenactors than any of us have ever seen. Thanks to Katie Rejaian for stepping up to coordinate the Ft Mervin event; we will take a gun and team there Oct 13 and 14. If you plan on attending either Saturday or Sunday, please let Katie know at katie4wbestm@gmail.com. Before anyone is asked to tow a trailer from Warhorse for that event, there is work to be done on multiple trailers including wiring, brakes/bearings, tire swaps and general checkout. This will get us through this event, Fresno and Moorpark. Now while I am willing to lead a work party, it would be nice to have at least a gopher/parts runner/food getter/ sympathetic ear person to listen to my complaint list. Of course a Sparky Boyd or general mechanical wiz like Super Sgt Duncan would really make this go better. I m thinking the week of Oct 8; when are you available to help me? TED MILJEVICH As we approach the end of the reenacting season, it is time to think about unit elections, winter maintenance, storage of unit equipment and plans for next season. I can say from a planning stand point for next season, we are going to have to make some hard choices for the unit to continue as it is. Plans are in the works to outline some new ideas and we should be looking forward to an important and lively annual meeting in January. Unit membership needs to be worked on and all members are encouraged to bring in new potential members. It looks like several people are on-board to go to the 150th at Gettysburg in July This will be quite an experience to have under your belt if you feel up to the task of dealing with the summer eastern humidity and days of moving around with fastmoving armies! The next board meeting will be on Friday, October 19th, 6:00 pm at the San Ramon Marriot in, of course, San Ramon. As always, any member in good standing may attend, or contact your member at large to send along any messages or input. Speaking of work parties, a weekend party is needed at Duncans Mills to move ahead with several projects before winter, and to get us ahead of the game for next year s event. Watch for a call to See Commander s Call, cont d on p.2 1

2 Commander s Call - cont d from p.1 arms for that one soon. The Fresno event is now under the ACWA banner. We should have a good turnout, but without horses, to support our friends. If you want to know why no horses, ask me to explain. Moorpark will be our season wrap up event, and we will have a big showing. Watch for the call to arms for this one as it takes a lot of people to man a section of mounted artillery, with an ambulance and wagon thrown in for good measure. Parade for at least the last 5 years. This year we are working on a deal with our friends of the New Buffalo Soldiers to place four of our black horses in the parade as well, for their participants needing horses. This will lead to opportunities to have more of a presence with the group in the parade in future years. Our stars for you to watch for, and the parade position, will be announced in the December Cannons Mouth. And yes, Big Guy will once again be in this year s parade, shining like neon in a sea of black horses. Most of you know Big Guy has been in the Rose Tres Pinos KATIE RADJAIAN What a blast! The weather was perfect, the food was good, and the cake was awesome! It was First Sgt. s 60 th birthday on Saturday (photo, p.3) so of course we had to party! Sgt. Scott made his famous spaghetti that we promptly devoured. Thanks to Kim Foster for making the cake! Yum! Wyatt got to ride a horse for the first time and Shannon tried his hand at driving the hearse. They both did great! We put on quite a show on Sunday with Brooke lying in the coffin with flowers in the hearse. Dee did a great job following us and crying in despair. I think we could be movie stars! green grass with no rocks under the bedroll for once. I only wish I participated in the game of rounders some of the soldiers started. Oh well, what can you do when you re on a horse? We will definitely go to this event again next year! Election News! With our annual elections for the CHAS board of directors coming up in a few months, it's time to consider whether you want to do your part by running for a position. All positions are open each year to incumbents and any member in good standing and meeting the age requirements. Anyone wishing to run for office must submit a candidate s statement to the editor of the Cannon s Mouth and to the elections officer, Carolyn Faubel. This will ensure your name on the ballot and a spot in our November newsletter. We also unloaded a good deal of powder at the rebs, I mean, union soldiers; we galvanized all weekend. This was ok because we defended the saloon and their fabulous lemonade. It was great to camp on Please your statements or address any questions to Carolyn at carolyncork@gmail.com and to the Cannon s Mouth at Admin@Warhorse.org Ballots will be mailed out in December. 2

3 Tie downs and their Usage (and why you should NEVER cut one to length for a particular load) ALAN GINOS If you have ever helped to tie down our equipment for trailering, you know what a pain it can be to use a strap too long for the intended job. On the other hand, very few of you have ever had to tie down a really big load, like a truck full of hay. Look at the following pictures to know what type of loads our tie downs are actually used for, especially at Casini Ranch, where two teams of horses are stationed. Big hay loads require lots of LONG straps to be safe. Until you have had responsibility for a load that requires long straps, you may not appreciate how important proper tie downs really are. Take it from one that almost lost a load from lack of proper tie downs, LONG straps are needed at times and any of the CHAS straps should never be cut down with the idea that the strap will be dedicated to a particular purpose. Nothing is dedicated to anything! 3

4 WHY DO WE NEED ARTIFICERS? MIKE BLAIR Mike s article continues from last month s installment - Ed. Historically, the smith has, up to about this time and a little after, been the unchallenged top artisan of any community. The smith builds the tools of all the other trades. Hence the motto of the London Blacksmiths' Guild: By hammer and hand, all trades do stand. The tools will tell us more about what artificers were expected and equipped to do. We'll start with the carriage maker's tools in which we find: Augers and handles (1 2 in., 5/8 in., 3/4 in.) Framing gouges (1 in. and 1/12 in.) Frame saw... 1 The T-handle auger is used for drilling deep holes, as is clearly seen in this period photograph. The men in this picture are members of the Engineers. Light artillery artificers weren't expected to build bridges or trestles, obviously, but the augers we were issued 1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, and 3/4inch show their duties to require occasional drilling of holes deeper than would be possible with the brace and 24 bits also supplied. There aren't many tasks that require such depth of holes, but among those few are the replacement of severely damaged parts of the gun carriages themselves. In concert with the frame saw and framing gouges, the carriage maker is capable of fabricating a replacement cheek piece of a gun carriage. The frame saw is what is also called a turning saw, a 4 saw for cutting curves. It is most indispensable in cutting the curves of a cheek piece. The tight curve inletted into the cheek for the trunnion is too small to be sawn, but would need to be cut with the framing gouges. Except for the hubs of the wheels and the lunet, there is no part of a cannon carriage the artificers were not equipped to repair or replace. The army made sure that the tooling of the artificer section provided for multiple situations. A battery's artificers carried 300 pounds of mass produced, factory made horse shoes in three sizes. The savings in time was enormous using these shoes, eliminating, as it did, one hour's work in hand forging a set of four shoes. Yet the smith's tools hold all the necessary tools to produce horseshoes from the iron stock carried beneath the bellows in the traveling forge. The tool boxes held a creaser for setting the groove for the nail holes in the shoe, and both a fore punch and a pritchel for making the nail holes. Horseshoe nails were issued as well as various sizes of cut nails, but the smith's tools include a nail hammer specifically for making nails. The army took no chances. There are a lot of odd opinions held in the reenactment world about artificers. One discussion list had a fellow solemnly assuring everyone that leather work, especially harness repairs, absolutely could not be done in the field. But the saddler's tools and stores contain everything necessary to make such repairs, including whole hides carried in the battery wagon. The fellow probably missed having a clam bench (a seat with a leather-worker's vise called a clam). But the saddler's tools included a clam, and it is possible to make such repairs in the field. There are other tools carried in the tool boxes and in the battery wagon that are intended for use by others in the battery. There are multiple shovels and felling axes and mattocks, scythes and sickles. There are bill hooks, also referred to simply as bills, and in other documents called fascine knives. These last have several different roles to play. Fascine knives tell two stories, actually. Fascines are bundles of small branches bound together. One use of these fascines is to provide fillers for crossing wheeled vehicles over small streams and larger depressions in the landscape or to fill marshy places in roadways. Another use is to bind short See Artificer, cont d on p.5

5 October 2012 Civilian Update DONNA SCHULKEN, CIVILIAN COMMANDER It is that time of year again and we must begin to think not only of the upcoming Fall with its holidays and traditions, we at CHAS need to focus on our last few events, Fresno and Moorpark to name a couple. But we also must think of our shutting down for the year and our upcoming elections. Artificer - cont d from p.4 bundles together, dipped in flammable material, to be fired from cannon. Fascine knives were also used to construct gambions, essentially large baskets filled with earth to use in making expedient fortifications. The picture below shows the extensive use of gambions to restore portions of Fort Sumter to usable condition. With that I am announcing that because of added work obligations and personal changes in my life I will not be running for Civilian Commander this next year. I will also need to give up the Fundraiser Chair. I will still continue as part of the unit but not as active. I have enjoyed this past year as Civilian Commander and it pleased me that I was able to recruit a few new ladies to join our ranks. Someone would need to volunteer for the Fundraiser Chair as well. Not hard, but very important to unit as a whole. We need to continue to move forward with securing funding from any and all places possible. It can be both frustrating and rewarding at the same time. The fundraiser chair will also need to be responsible for the Information Booth and the sale of CHAS memorabilia at Duncans Mills. In my tenure as chair, I found that to be the most fun and rewarding. Dealing first hand with the public coming to our event and hearing from them their excitement. Don t forget to volunteer and for you civilians think about running for commander! TACK DON T MESS WITH IT UNLESS YOUR NAME IS ALAN OR TED ALAN GINOS Every winter during tack cleaning, Dennis Winfrey and others spend a lot of time sorting out our horse equipment trying to put all the cleaned pieces back together again for complete and working equipment. This means ready to go as intended for any purpose. For example, McClellan outrider saddles are rigged complete with a breast collar, a crupper, saddle straps for tying on bedrolls and other equipment, surcingles, and grain bags. If you ride a horse and go on a trail ride involving hills, you will appreciate both a breast strap and a crupper. Unfortunately, and mostly because of ignorance of their intended function, members who don t know or care, remove this equipment and it becomes lost in the shuffle. Then someone needs it and who knows where it is. Gambions were found in use in field conditions as well as in filling breaches in established fortifications. The army didn't train artificers. Training in one of the trades came through the old apprentice/master system, and generally required 7 years of apprenticeship to reach the journeyman level. These journeymen were craftsmen who were recruited to become artificers. It was their experience, knowledge and skills that kept a light artillery battery mobile, able to do it's particular job of rapid deployment. What was their job? If it broke, fix it. If it wasn't broke, maintain it. Otherwise, shoe every horse in the battery once each month, and shoe all replacement horses as soon as they appear. So the moral of this story is that if you don t know what something is used for, leave it in place and ask for instruction. If you do know what its function is, then you should not be part of the problem of missing tack. 5

6 Antietam 150 th Anniversary Reenactment BVT. 1ST LIEUT. KEN DOMBROSKI, ARTILLERY RESERVE STAFF One of the biggest reenactments this year took place September just a few miles north of the actual battle field of Antietam. While the reenactment battles were impressive, they paled in comparison to the 135th Antietam reenactment back in For some reason, the 150th events this year are not drawing the same level of participation by reenactors or attracting big crowds of spectators, at least here in the east. It probably didn t help that there were two Antietam events put on by competing groups one week apart and a living history event the weekend of September put on by a third disaffected Federal headquarters group. That trend is likely to continue as we already have two 150th Gettysburg reenactments scheduled in For a variety of reasons, the reenacting community back east cannot get its collective act together and learn to play nice with each other. The location, planning, access, and logistical support for the 150th Antietam were sub-par. The event staff was not up to the challenge of putting on a large reenactment. Yours truly had the unenviable job of quartermaster for the Federal Artillery Reserve and had to deal with problems that the event staff should have sorted out. All the camps ran out of firewood Friday evening, before the event officially started. Our cooks were up in arms. The water point was a large water tanker truck parked in an open field about a hundred yards from our camp, but it only had a three-inch valve. A crew had to be called in to fabricate a spigot. Things were no better on the battlefield. During the battles, ice and water were in short supply. Luckily the artillery suffered no heat casualties; the battles lasted less than an hour and the weather was mild high 70s with low humidity. The battlefield itself was too small and bisected by huge electrical transmission lines, which detracted from the historical realism. Because the field was so small, the artillery tow trucks and trailers had to park in the open along a fence less than 50 yards from the rear of the gun line. Convenient, perhaps, but it further detracted from the realism. The artillery camp itself was located about a mile away from the battlefield, sutlers, and spectators. Access to the battlefield from the various camps was limited to a single unimproved goat path that was jammed with artillery tow trucks, infantry, cavalry, mounted artillery, and spectators before and after the battles. I spent most of Sunday playing traffic cop with no event staff or Provost guard to help. Now for the good news. Despite the logistical snafu, once we got on the field, the Federal artillery was impressive. Twenty units with a total of 36 guns covered the width of the battlefield in a grand battery. Col. Rick Dennis, the Chief of Artillery, divided his brigade into six field batteries, including a four-gun, horse-drawn battery. Our line included four 6 lb. bronze guns, one 12 lb. Napoleon, four 12 lb. field howitzers, a 12 lb. James rifle, ten 10 lb. Parrott rifles, and sixteen 3 inch Ordnance rifles. 6 See Antietam, cont d on p.7

7 Antietam - cont d from p.6 Over 325 reenactors represented volunteer artillery units from Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and regulars from the 2nd, 4th, and 5th artillery regiments. Your most humble servant represented the 3rd U.S. Artillery, portraying a staff officer attached to the Artillery Reserve. The Federal artillery dominated Saturday s battles of Dunker Church and Bloody Lane. At Dunker s Church, one division of Federal infantry pressed the Confederates, while the artillery kept up a withering barrage. Cavalry clashed on our left flank. A second infantry division formed up behind the guns and, on signal, passed through the gun line. As they moved forward, Capt. DiMaria s and Capt. Smith s field batteries on the left began to move their guns forward by hand, pressing the rebs and enfilading their line while our batteries on the right supported their movement with constant fire. In the afternoon at Bloody Lane, the mounted battery went into action on the left, moving forward and pressing the Confederate flank while the grand battery continued to erupt in flame and smoke supporting the infantry attack. We did have a moment of real drama as the swing driver of one of the teams was thrown into the traces and dragged by a team that bolted and headed toward the spectators. With great skill, the lead driver was able to divert the team away from the crowd and bring the runaways to a halt. Luckily, the swing driver was not injured. Sunday morning was devoted to a cavalry skirmish and the artillery remained in camp. The afternoon and across the road from us, also jammed almost hub to hub. Oh, to add some realism to the battle, some fool of a photographer had parked and locked his red car along the fence line 50 yards directly in front of our guns. We were not happy cannoneers that day. Our left section got the short end of the stick and had to shut down every time some infantry straggler wandered down the road inside their safety zone. I think there was a battle to our front, but we were so far away from the action it was hard to tell. Despite the challenges, we did have some fun. It s not that often artillerymen get to participate in a battle reenactment with six full batteries firing on line. Quite a show. Now, it s on to Cedar Creek in October for our final reenactment of the season. Fredericksburg in December will be a small event, with virtually no Federal artillery involved due to battle of Burnside Bridge was a nightmare for the Federal artillery. We were on the opposite side of the field and had to cram 13 guns along a frontage of less than 100 yards in a field bordered by a road packed with infantry on one side and a half-inflated observation balloon on the other. Three other batteries were backed up to the fence line forward the event s size and location. Next year s events at Gettysburg promise to be even bigger, and hopefully better. 7

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9 3rd US Roster Assignments 2012 Role Name Report To Commanding Officer Ginos, Alan 1st Sergeant Foster, Scott Captain Company Clerk Neikirk, Janice 1 st. Sgt. Provisioner Faubel, Carolyn 1 st. Sgt. Provisioner Foster, Karen 1 st. Sgt. Gun/Team 1 Chief of Piece Thompson, Terry 1 st. Sgt. Gun Corporal Alto, Scott Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Gillich, John Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Gumbley, Ben Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Kaufmann, Stephanie Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Kaufmann, Steven Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Lemasters, Michael Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Lenz, Dennis Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Maurier, Bruce Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Murphy, Brooke Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Murphy, Sierra Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Thorne, Philip Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Thorne, Taylor Gun Sgt. Team Corporal Faubel, Wes Gun Sgt. Driver Carlisi, Deb Team Cpl Driver Faubel, Loreleigh Team Cpl. Driver Fischer, Pete Team Cpl. Driver Horton, Jim Team Cpl. Driver Miljevich, Ted Team Cpl Role Name Report To Stable Sgt. Winfrey, Dennis 1 st. Sgt. Teamster Bailey, Wendy Stable Sgt. Teamster Casini, Paul Stable Sgt. Teamster Dawson, Charohn Stable Sgt. Teamster Faubel, Melinda Stable Sgt. Teamster Mettler, Jon Stable Sgt. Gun/Team 2 Chief of Piece Duncan, George 1 st. Sgt. Gun Corporal Boyd, John Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Casali, Federico Gun Sgt. Cannoneer Lavall, Ronald Gun Sgt. Team Corporal Berry, Mike Gun Sgt. Driver Creager, Mike Team Cpl. Driver Flores, Michael Team Cpl. Driver Hewitt, Norm Team Cpl. Driver Moretti, Teri Team Cpl. Driver Murphy, Dee Team Cpl. Driver Neikirk, Garth Team Cpl. Driver Reese, Nathan Team Cpl. Driver Ruther, Justin Team Cpl. Driver Sullivan, Lisa Team Cpl. Driver Thompson, Karla Team Cpl. Artificers Artificer Ahrenholz, Ray 1 st. Sgt. Artificer Boling, Roger 1 st. Sgt. Artificer Faubel, Tristan 1 st. Sgt. Artificer Weston, Mark 1 st. Sgt. Amari, Gary Blair, Mike Burtz, Dan Byrne, Jeanne Dombroski, Ken Fulks, Andy Hawkins, Bill Johnson, William Justiniano, Joe Kaufmann, Diane Langman, Chip Lee, Robert Macy, Mary Kay Martinez, Thomas Moretti, Scott Rogers, Keith Rogers, Laurie Sims, Ed Supporting Cohan, Laura Pico, Sharon Davis, Margaret Rah, Sarah 9

10 Schedule of Events October Oct Fort Mervine, Presidio of Monterey. Contact Katie Radjaian. January 2013 Oct. 26 Oct November Lake County Bass Bowl. One team and gun to support the high school football game that got us all the volunteers from Lake County. Possible parade or event on Saturday the 27th. A good time will be had by all that attend this one. Contact Alan Ginos. Fresno. Maybe one or two guns, artificers, no horses. Contact TBA. Jan. 20 April Apr July Jul. 04 Jul Tentative annual meeting date. Prado reenactment. 2 guns and teams, ambulance. July 4 timeframe, Gettysburg reenactment. 14th year of Civil War Days at Duncans Mills. Nov Moorpark reenactment in So. Cal. 2 teams and guns, possibly wagon/ ambulance/artificers. Contact Alan Ginos. Nov 17 December Put away work party in Salinas. We take all rolling stock off trailers, inspect wooden wheels, grease axles, clean equipment and put away. Put all tack from trailers away. Inspect all loaner gear for needed repairs and cleaning. Wash all horse blankets, etc. to get ready for winter furloughs. Contact Alan Ginos. Happy Holidays! CANNON S MOUTH SUBMISSIONS to: admin@warhorse.org and cc to: freenblest@hotmail.com NOTE: DO NOT SEND ARTICLES/PHOTOS TO 10

11 CALIFORNIA HISTORY ARTILLERY SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012 President Ted Miljevich (650) Chairman of the Board of the California Historical Artillery Society: Ted Miljevich Federal Employer I.D. # Cal. Corp. # Vice President John Boyd (415) johnmboyd@earthlink.net Recording Secretary Scott Foster (510) rdartyscott@sbcglobal.net Corresponding Secretary Judith Boling (559) sancomlady@sbcglobal.net Treasurer Teri Moretti Members at Large Safety Roger Boling 2012 Committees cwartificer@gmail.com Fundraising Donna Schulken (209) dschulken@earthlink.net Materials/Acquisitions/Maintenance Alan Ginos (925) adginos@hotmail.com Recruitment/Public Relations Wes Faubel (530) faubel@syix.com Bylaws/Rules Wes Faubel (530) faubel@syix.com Historical Educational/Archives Al Plocher morettitl@comcast.net Roger Boling cwartificer@gmail.com Keith Rogers (925) rogfam@pacbell.net 2012 Unit Command Military Commander Capt. Alan Ginos (925) adginos@hotmail.com Sanitary Commission Commander Donna Schulken (209) dschulken@earthlink.net Events Alan Ginos (925) adginos@hotmail.com Submissions for the next issue are due no later than Oct. 24, 2012 For CHAS Membership Information Contact: Wes Faubel (530) faubel@syix.com Important Web Addresses Civil War Days at Duncans Mills Web Site: Phone: or CHAS Web Site: Pacific Area Civil War Reenactors Members~ American Civil War Association (ACWA) American Civil War Society (ACWS) Civil War Re-enactment Society (CWRS) Comstock Civil War Reenactors (CCWR) Fort Tejon Historical Association (FTHA) Reenactors of the American Civil War (RACW) War Between the States Historical Assn (WBSHA) Cannon s Mouth Vol. XVII, No. 7 Copyright 2012 Cannon s Mouth. All rights reserved. This publication may not be reprinted, in whole or in part, without permission. The Cannon s Mouth is published monthly by the California Historical Artillery Society, a private, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to educating the public regarding the events and activities of United States Artillery ( ). Additional information may be obtained by visiting the CHAS website at Opinions expressed in the Cannon s Mouth do not necessarily reflect the views of the CHAS, its governing Board, membership, or any other person, living or dead. Contributed articles and photographs should be addressed to The Cannon s Mouth, c/o M. Flores, 185 Zabala Rd., Salinas, CA 93908, or ed to admin@warhorse.org. Materials may also be submitted via CD or floppy disk (in MS Word or ASCII format). Submitted materials will not be returned unless by prior arrangement. Changes in mailing address should be submitted to: CHAS Recording Secretary, c/o S. Foster, 4446 Richmond Ave., Fremont, CA or to 3rdartyscott@sbcglobal.net. 11