HEADQUARTERS: ARMY IN THE FIELD
After-Action Report:
The Battle of Averasboro
St. Pauls, North Carolina - March 10th & 11th
PVT. MIKE CECERE surveyed the field with the heat of battle on all fronts.
CHARGING HEADLONG INTO the guns of the enemy, the "blood and guts" battalion lost heavily for their efforts.
ENJOYING A MOMENT of camraderie around the fire were, from L. to R., Cpl. Jack Hefestay, Pvt. Christopher Wilson, Pvt. Steve Bush, Miss Shirlene, Pvt. Jeff Bush (seated against tree), Pvt. Dan Paterson and Pvt. Elwood Collins.
AN OLD FRIEND FROM Bentonville, N.C., Pvt. Dave King from the grey side of the lines wandered into camp and resumed acquaintences with his pards from the 7th.
STANDING BEFORE the troop movement display on the actual Averasboro battlefield, Pvt. Guy Beaven saw firsthand where the horrors of the war were let loose.
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PRESENT FOR DUTY
Military
Sgt. Andy Breeden (Liberty Rifles)
Cpl. Jack Hefestay
Privates
Jeff Bush
Steve Bush
Guy Beaven
Mike Cecere
Tom Piston (Liberty Rifles)
Matt Piston (Liberty Rifles)
Christopher Wilson (Liberty Rifles)
Elwood Collins
Dan Paterson
Civilian
Miss Shirlene Riffe
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With a strong showing of 12 members, the 7th Maryland made the long trek down to St. Pauls, North Carolina for what has now become a right of springtime - the battle of Averasboro/ Bentonville. And just as was the case in past years, the weather remained similar. In more ways then one.
What was different this year was the participation of our members in the authentic scenario of trench warfare. Led by Sgt. Andy Breedon, the squad of Privates Christopher Wilson, Tom Piston, Matt Piston, Mike Cecere, and, eventually for the final battle, Cpl. Jack Hefestay, braved the elements to put on a display of a virtual realistic "life in the day" of an infantryman in close quarters combat. The location was well-placed in a spit of woodland about 120 yards long and 50 yards deep. There some pretty decent trenches were dug with "all" the amenities - sand everwhere, cramped quarters, snipers constantly available, and the inevitable "Over the Top, Boys!"
The only thing missing was the trench lice.
On the mainstream side, the main force of the 7th consisting of Cpl. Jack Hefestay (before he enlisted with IA for Sunday's battle) and Privates Mike Cecere (briefly before he defected to the authentics), Jeff and Steve Bush, Dan Paterson, Elwood Collins and Guy Beaven took control of the camp straddling the edge of the confederate bivouac across a dirt road. The sheer terror of having to go up against the Maryland boys kept the rebel army at bay. :-)
The centerpiece battles on both Saturday and Sunday consisted of two lines of breastworks held strongly by the rebels attacked by a column of companies fully exposed of Union forces. Needless to say the results of both were inevitable - a field blanketed with blue bodies.
The "authentics" fared worse. They flayed themselves head-on into the rebel cannons and were atomized. It really almost appeared too real. The strategy, however, was similar to that originally used by the Union forces at Averasboro, plunging headlong into intrenched positions. Although considered a yankee victory, this was only true because the rebel commander had seen enough to know this wasn't the real force and abandoned the field for a destination known as Bentonville a few days later.
Meanwhile, back at the bivouac Friday and Saturday evenings were shared together around the flickering campfire as temperatures plunged from the 50's to 60's in daytime to the mid-20's at night. It got so cold Sunday morning, Pvts Steve and Jeff Bush and Guy Beaven perched themselves overtop of the flames long before the sun even gave hints it was in the neighborhood. Hard tack and salt pork grilled on the coals was the fare. Yummy, especially since the coals were from pine and gave the meat/fat a rather distinctive after-taste. This was in between dodging the ice crystals formed inside our canteens.
All said and done, however, the weather was perfect the whole time with not a drop of rain showing its ugly face. The battles were fun, and the comraderie was excellent. Shirlene even brought some genu"whine" firewater to the table Saturday night.
Averasboro/Bentonville should be an annual stopover for the 7th - a great beginning to a great season to come.
