COI Review

I believe I have fully recovered from the Camp of Destruction...oops I mean Instruction. This week will be spent reviewing what you missed at the COI.

We had a good turnout of a little over a hundred participants. For the first time this included the Cavalry command. Another first was our camping in Camp Hillsman, our hand picked home for future events on the site.

The event ushered in the first Ladies Seminar, giving the ladies a chance to expand their camp impressions. About a dozen ladies attended and enjoyed a lecture by Belinda Womack, a noted speaker on the time period and civilian impressions.

Since most of the members present this year were infantry the schedule of events centered around drill, field impressions, staff duties and logistics during the war.



The evenings are often legendary at the COI and this year was no different. The 5th Virginia opened "The Stinky Pickle" pub outside camp with the enticement of beer all night in your tin cup for $10. Part of the proceeds are to go to the Corps Treasury.


Strange happenings at the Stinky Pickle

After a later wake up call on Sunday the day began with parade and a little drill. Afterwards we held the ever popular Longstreet Olympics with the load and fire competition for the men and a frying pan toss for the ladies. After that we broke into the famous Officers vs. Enlisted tactical. Word was the third element had to be dealt with as the Cav and the Sgt. Major played high power bushwhackers with their fancy repeating rifles.

More updates for the troops

Camp of Instruction

I received the registrations from Art today and currently our numbers are 112 Military and 23 Civilians. I have had quite a few e-mails in the past two weeks from folks who were coming and paying the walk on fee.

You are still welcome to come to the COI and I encourage all to do so. Walk on fee is $8.00, please pay the Adjutant at the site when you come in.

For the ladies I would greatly appreciate all women who plan to walk on to drop me a note. We are making up quite a bit of printed materials for the lecture and don't want to be caught short. Please e-mail Tzusman@aol.com to reserve your spot.

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Relief Efforts for Historic Sites on the Gulf Coast

I have received early reports of an effort that is being headed by the Museum of the Confederacy to help collect donations for the museums hit hard by hurricane Katrina.

Corps members Charlie Knight and Johnny Glazebrook (both of the 44th VA) are looking into the possibility of gathering donations for this effort. We will pass the hat at the COI and Cedar Creek.

Mixed reports are coming in from Jefferson Davis' home and we have heard that the D-Day Museum in New Orleans physically came out OK but the collection was extensively looted.

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Other Fund Raisers currently going on.

The 47th Virginia is coming close to its goal of raising funds for the preservation of an original 47th VA flag. Folks who donate at least $35.00 will also receive a one year membership to the museum of the Confederacy. For more information please contact Bill Russell at jillinva@aol.com.

Tony Zusman is working to raise funds for a grand ball to be held in Richmond in September of 2006. Raffle prize is a new 3-Band Enfield Rifle. Tickets are $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00

Pie Palooza II has been scheduled for Saturday at Cedar Creek. Info will be available at the COI. This auction was very popular last year and raised about $500 for the 6th VA Infantry's special projects fund and the Corps Scholarship Fund. See Phil Gomez for more info.

This and that

Tonight we take care of some bits and pieces of business

Cedar Creek registration

I noticed that my "speed registration" package arrived yesterday from Cedar Creek. Keep you eyes on the mail if you registered early.

Beauvoir:

We had very good news in the wake of all the tragedy of hurricane Katrina. It appears the Beauvoir is OK. The director of the site was able to survey the scene yesterday and found the house intact more or less, damaged but intact. The collections had been moved to the attic and appear to be safe. They believe they will be able to rebuild.

It does make me think though about the CS museum in New Orleans along with the new D-Day museum. I am sure a lot of history has been washed out in the floods.

Camp O' Destruction

Oops, I mean camp of Instruction. It is not that far off! If you didn't get your registration in on time you can still come out and pay the walk on fee.

Exciting News!

I saved a bunch of money on gasoline today! Yep while most gas stations were selling gas at $3.00 +, I found gas for $2.87 at Costco. Now, I never in my life thought I would get excited about gas over $2.00 a gallon and be glad to get it. I will write more on this later as I contemplate what gas prices and availability will do to our hobby.

Happy Labor Day!

Reports from the Deep South

I have been checking around with our deep South membership and have some good news.

Billy Mc Cormack of the 48th Alabama says the brunt of the storm missed them for the most part. Mostly winds of 35 mph with a few big gusts.

It is the odd nature of these storms. The 48th is in middle eastern Alabama and the storm blew through pretty easy. Meanwhile, a few miles east on I-20, the storm wreaked havoc on the Atlanta area. We heard several reports of tornadoes in Alpharetta, GA, home of the 8th VA's Barry Woods. Barry reported in that he was ok as he was refugeeing in Maryland by pure chance.

It looks like we are going to lose a lot of history there. Already reports are coming in about Jefferson Davis' last home, Beauvoir, has been completely destroyed. Many of you probably saw the pictures of the Casino barge that crushed a Holiday Inn hotel, well it turns out that was right in the same area as Beauvoir.

Keep your thoughts and prayers with those who are enduring so much at this time.