Because our events were back to back to back, I did not talk about the Brooksville Raid. As always, it took place the third weekend in January.
Brooksville, like Townsend's Plantation, is very special to Steve and me. It was the first large reenactment in which we participated in the early 90's. Steve was a private with the 1st Minnesota; Steve actually did his "fresh fish" learnin' at a neat place in St. Pete called Boyd Hill, a fun, but small event that no longer exists.
I was a field nurse. I often carried a canvas water bucket. Hydration is important, especially here in Florida. Tom was the "in charge" person over the Union Medical. In his real life, he was a paramedic. He preferred to have his "nursing staff" with a bit of knowledge. I took a CPR course and knew some basic first aid. As a field nurse, my job is two fold--first line responder in the event of a real accident or injury and to look good for the spectators. Often, when there is an injury, it also looks "good" to the public. Over the years at Brooksville, I have helped several people under the supervision of Doc Tom. In a medical scenario, many years ago, one young man was injured because his rifle misfired. He was burned on his belly and left arm. I sat with him with the other medical people holding ice on his burns till the ambulance could get to us. Another time, a cavalry soldier was thrown from his horse when the horse at a full gallop tripped in a chuck hole. The horse ran away, but was ultimately Okay. The rider, on the other hand, broke his collar bone. I was not dressed in my nurse outfit, but for a change, as a lady with hoop skirt and all. It was a hot day. I was able to drop down and give him shade while others ran for ice and called for the medics. It was a satisfying job.
I do have to admit, however, that making money from my favorite pasttime is even more fun.
I do have to admit, however, that making money from my favorite pasttime is even more fun.
There were lots of stories from those early days. I will probably share many more of them with you as time goes on.\
The original Raid, minor military action, had slightly over two hundred participants. It was over cattle. The reenactment which grows every year, has included as many as 3000 folks coming from as far away as Connecticut, New York and other Northern places.
There is not a lot of primary information on the original Raid, but Michael C. Hardy and Robert M. Hardy have done a fine job gathering as much information as seems to be available and wrote a neat little book about the Raid. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the arrival of the Federal ships, but they have done a good job of finding resources.
"A Heinous Sin" The 1864 Brooksville Bayport Raid
ISBN 978-0-557-03620-2
http://www.michaelchardy,com/
Again, we saw many long time acquaintances. One special friend is Liv. Olivia and Rose are the youngest two in a very large family of boys. I met them very early in our business adventure in Georgia. I have watched yet another group of youngun's grow up. Liv comes to see us almost every Brooksville as she lives locally. We don't see Rose as much these days. When they were little, I could not remember who was Liv and who was Rose. Mom told me that Rose was The Yellow Rose of Texas. This was due to her blond hair; Liv had dark hair. I never got them mixed up again. In their younger days, both played the violin (well, Rose played the violin and liked classical music; Liv was more of a fiddle player). Often they would play outside our tent. They put a hand-printed sign up that stated: "My Dad was kilt at Gettysburg." I always enjoyed their music. They would receive many tips in a very short time frame. Once they made enough money for their current wants, they would pack up and play games with the other children. Rose stopped playing first because she preferred to play classical. One year Liv showed up without the sign and violin. I asked her about it. She said, "I'm not cute anymore!" Of course, I still think she's cute!
Steve goes to set up on Wednesday; I take the trip to Alafia to claim my real estate there. Brooksville is close enough so that we go home some nights rather than spend the entire four nights in our cargo van. Friday is the day reserved for school children. There are some wonderful stations set up to which the guides can bring them, so that it is a great learning experience. Artillery, medical, the lady spy, Confederate and Union camps, cavalry, period toys, clothes, etc.
There often is a presentation of VARIOUS Confederate flags. There is NOT one Confederate flag that y'all may belief. And what you think is the "Stars and Bars" is not the true Stars and Bars. The true Stars and Bars is the First National Confederate Flag. I will do the flag presentation on this blog one of these days. Just like the United States of American, whose flag changes every time a new state is added, the Confederacy had many flags.
This year was very disappointing as there was an "in service teachers' day" in Hernando County. This means the teachers go to school, but the students do not. Hernando County is one of the few counties that has a field trip to a Civil War event. This left us with Pasco County and a lot of home schoolers.
Saturday and Sunday are extremely busy! Hooray!
But my favorite day is Thursday. Party day! Two parties!
The first one started a traditional several years ago. My BFF from eighth grade is Beverly. I spent many an hour with her and her parents and three sisters. They had a pool. After high school she got married; many years later, so did I. She lived in Connecticut for a while; then they moved to Pennsylvania. I stayed in Connecticut a long time; then moved to Florida. We kept in touch; saw each other once or twice a year. A few years ago, she moved to Florida (after having been a snow bird for a few years). Now, we are seventy miles apart and get together quite often. Her parents are snowbirds. Their winter abode is in Brooksville. They are in their eighties, but they always seemed to like me, and don't seem to mind having company. Several years ago, they invited us for lunch with Bev and her husband. We now go every year--sometimes with another one of their daughters (Peg) and her husband; sometimes with my wonderful helper Lynne. They do not seem to care about the number of people...always gracious in their hospitality. Nothing fancy, but good company and a pleasant afternoon. Sometimes, Thursday night, we end up at Bev's in Hudson instead of going home or to the van. We crash in her guest room. She gets her gracious hospitality from her folks, I believe.
Beverly and I have been BFF for over fifty years. I will write more about this in the future.
The second party is for sutlers and their friends. Bob of Loafer's Glory also lives in Hudson. He invites those of us who are sutlers (vendors of time-period-sensitive things) to his house for a hot dog roast. Everyone brings something...deli salads, desserts, sodas, chips, etc. Since we are on-site, most stuff comes from the local grocery as we really don't have the capacity to bake or keep large amounts of things cold or hot (although we do seem to get home made chili). Bob and Deb have a beautiful house, mostly built by Bob on acreage. It used to be totally canopied by live oaks, but a hurricane took out many of them. Their daughter Annie has a real thing for Tennessee Walking Horses. There are always several on the property--some she boards for others, some she owns. They have a large area where we can have an outdoor pit fire where we cook our dawgs on long metal rods. It seems that it is my lot to bring the cheese cake. Winn-Dixie, one of the local groceries, has a large cheesecake with a variety of flavors. This is always a hit. The evening is never late, but again...good times, good friends, good food, great enjoyment. As sutlers, we see each other often, but because we are often transacting business, it is tough to get out of one's tent to do more than meet and greet each other. This is a great get-together for our socialbility.
It is an easy ride back to Bev's for a warm evening and a shower. (The Brooksville event is almost always COLD).
http://www.floridareenactorsonline.com/
http://www.brooksvillereenactment.com/
The original Raid, minor military action, had slightly over two hundred participants. It was over cattle. The reenactment which grows every year, has included as many as 3000 folks coming from as far away as Connecticut, New York and other Northern places.
There is not a lot of primary information on the original Raid, but Michael C. Hardy and Robert M. Hardy have done a fine job gathering as much information as seems to be available and wrote a neat little book about the Raid. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact location of the arrival of the Federal ships, but they have done a good job of finding resources.
"A Heinous Sin" The 1864 Brooksville Bayport Raid
ISBN 978-0-557-03620-2
http://www.michaelchardy,com/
Again, we saw many long time acquaintances. One special friend is Liv. Olivia and Rose are the youngest two in a very large family of boys. I met them very early in our business adventure in Georgia. I have watched yet another group of youngun's grow up. Liv comes to see us almost every Brooksville as she lives locally. We don't see Rose as much these days. When they were little, I could not remember who was Liv and who was Rose. Mom told me that Rose was The Yellow Rose of Texas. This was due to her blond hair; Liv had dark hair. I never got them mixed up again. In their younger days, both played the violin (well, Rose played the violin and liked classical music; Liv was more of a fiddle player). Often they would play outside our tent. They put a hand-printed sign up that stated: "My Dad was kilt at Gettysburg." I always enjoyed their music. They would receive many tips in a very short time frame. Once they made enough money for their current wants, they would pack up and play games with the other children. Rose stopped playing first because she preferred to play classical. One year Liv showed up without the sign and violin. I asked her about it. She said, "I'm not cute anymore!" Of course, I still think she's cute!
Steve goes to set up on Wednesday; I take the trip to Alafia to claim my real estate there. Brooksville is close enough so that we go home some nights rather than spend the entire four nights in our cargo van. Friday is the day reserved for school children. There are some wonderful stations set up to which the guides can bring them, so that it is a great learning experience. Artillery, medical, the lady spy, Confederate and Union camps, cavalry, period toys, clothes, etc.
There often is a presentation of VARIOUS Confederate flags. There is NOT one Confederate flag that y'all may belief. And what you think is the "Stars and Bars" is not the true Stars and Bars. The true Stars and Bars is the First National Confederate Flag. I will do the flag presentation on this blog one of these days. Just like the United States of American, whose flag changes every time a new state is added, the Confederacy had many flags.
This year was very disappointing as there was an "in service teachers' day" in Hernando County. This means the teachers go to school, but the students do not. Hernando County is one of the few counties that has a field trip to a Civil War event. This left us with Pasco County and a lot of home schoolers.
Saturday and Sunday are extremely busy! Hooray!
But my favorite day is Thursday. Party day! Two parties!
The first one started a traditional several years ago. My BFF from eighth grade is Beverly. I spent many an hour with her and her parents and three sisters. They had a pool. After high school she got married; many years later, so did I. She lived in Connecticut for a while; then they moved to Pennsylvania. I stayed in Connecticut a long time; then moved to Florida. We kept in touch; saw each other once or twice a year. A few years ago, she moved to Florida (after having been a snow bird for a few years). Now, we are seventy miles apart and get together quite often. Her parents are snowbirds. Their winter abode is in Brooksville. They are in their eighties, but they always seemed to like me, and don't seem to mind having company. Several years ago, they invited us for lunch with Bev and her husband. We now go every year--sometimes with another one of their daughters (Peg) and her husband; sometimes with my wonderful helper Lynne. They do not seem to care about the number of people...always gracious in their hospitality. Nothing fancy, but good company and a pleasant afternoon. Sometimes, Thursday night, we end up at Bev's in Hudson instead of going home or to the van. We crash in her guest room. She gets her gracious hospitality from her folks, I believe.
Beverly and I have been BFF for over fifty years. I will write more about this in the future.
The second party is for sutlers and their friends. Bob of Loafer's Glory also lives in Hudson. He invites those of us who are sutlers (vendors of time-period-sensitive things) to his house for a hot dog roast. Everyone brings something...deli salads, desserts, sodas, chips, etc. Since we are on-site, most stuff comes from the local grocery as we really don't have the capacity to bake or keep large amounts of things cold or hot (although we do seem to get home made chili). Bob and Deb have a beautiful house, mostly built by Bob on acreage. It used to be totally canopied by live oaks, but a hurricane took out many of them. Their daughter Annie has a real thing for Tennessee Walking Horses. There are always several on the property--some she boards for others, some she owns. They have a large area where we can have an outdoor pit fire where we cook our dawgs on long metal rods. It seems that it is my lot to bring the cheese cake. Winn-Dixie, one of the local groceries, has a large cheesecake with a variety of flavors. This is always a hit. The evening is never late, but again...good times, good friends, good food, great enjoyment. As sutlers, we see each other often, but because we are often transacting business, it is tough to get out of one's tent to do more than meet and greet each other. This is a great get-together for our socialbility.
It is an easy ride back to Bev's for a warm evening and a shower. (The Brooksville event is almost always COLD).
http://www.floridareenactorsonline.com/
http://www.brooksvillereenactment.com/
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