BACK! BACK! SETTLE DOWN!

It is guaranteed, approximately three days after Cedar Creek I will get the first e-mail asking for a list of events for next season. I did once get a request in July for the following seasons events.

Gentlemen, I have been putting together the listing of upcoming events from the Corps for about the past 10 years...I have never let you down.

At this time of year most of the regular events we attend are winding down and going over after action reports. Plans for the next year are still just a small glimmer. If you look at some of the web sites for the "annual events" (such as Endview, New Market and Cedar Creek) you will see they still have the 2006 event info posted. Mc Dowell, an every other year event, has it's site up but it is still under construction.

I normally start gather intelligence on future campaigns in November. Sources I use are Civil War News, the Web, camp gossip and other major units. My final check is the early January Civil War News when they post their annual calendar. I once asked one of my contemporaries in another large organization for a listing of the events they presented at their November meeting. He returned a calendar of three events! True, they don't offer the wide scope of events I do on the Corps calendar.

Speaking of, why do I list small events and things all the way in New York? With our membership covering the entire East coast I try to show events that all Corps members may be interested in. Many times the "small" events are ones sponsored by Corps units and we like to make that known to all. I don't expect all the Virginia units to pack up one weekend and go to an event in Buffalo but, remember, those Buffalo units make it to 3-4 events down here in Virginia.

So what do I know so far. I can safely say that New Market, Cedar Creek and Gettysburg will happen in 2007. Watch for Mc Dowell, a possible Valley Campaign event at Cedar Creek and a new event in Isle of Wight County, VA. As for Sharpsburg, General Maupin says he has not been contacted. There is rumor swirling around of a small, "limited number" or "Campaigner" Sharpsburg event but nothing solid.

For now if you have any solid leads on events, or you are sponsoring one next season, send me the info. I will put the calendar up on the Corps web site around mid-November.

And in case you were wondering, yes there will be a special theme to this years calendar.

The Great Cap Crisis is over!

Good news gentlemen, the great cap crisis of 2006 is now officially over. I spoke with Jack Venkoskie of Back Creek Gun Works on Sunday and the shipments of the "Good" caps have arrive in the states.

I will assume (and we all know about assuming) that sutlers at Cedar Creek will be stocked this weekend.

From what I was told the problem arose from a change in the corporate status of the manufacturer. The German company petitioned to become an American Corporation and did so successfully. It was later learned that their export license was then invalid as it only recognized the German company that no longer existed. Good old American red tape and paper work delays caused the company to not be able to ship orders until they were made legal.

So go celebrate this weekend and shoot off an extra tin of caps!

Burnout: 1. To be too tired to do a once favored activity. A common malady for those who have been in the hobby for sometime.

This year marked my 23rd year in the hobby and I am afraid I have finally succumbed to this most feared of all reenacting diseases.

I can blame part of it on the work I am trying to do on the new house or trying to balance two jobs at the moment. I can also blame the lack of events this season but it seems I only made the ones that were on my side of the mountain.

So how can you tell you may be suffering from Burnout?

1. Your neighbors comment that your yard has never looked better.

2. You actually remember your kids names.

3. There is a stack of unread Civil War Times and Camp Chase Gazettes next to your bed.

4. You forget which side the cartridge box is supposed to go on.

5. The wood smoke smell has actually disappeared from your shell jacket.

Good God Man! This is serious! I didn't even have ajulepp this season.

I needed something torecoursee my willingness to reenact. I was getting a little excited around Camp of Instruction time but when it got cancelled it sent me further into depression. That left a lot of weeks until Cedar Creek. More time to work on my real life.

I apologize for not keeping things updated but honestly this year most things have been company events. My home unit, 6th VA Infantry, stayed closer to home this year and did a lot of smaller events to get a little variety in their life. Perhaps that can be apreventivee to burnout.

I am looking forward to Cedar Creek as the event to drag me out of this pit of depression. Perhaps getting outside again with you, my friends, will shake the funk off of me. Perhaps the smell of black powder and the thrill of the mid battle nap will inspire me once again. If not, it is a long time until next season.

Check back this week. I will be posting info on Cedar Creek.