OPENING COMMENTS: Happy New Year everybody! I hope this issue finds everyone healthy, happy and full of good cheer as we start the new millenium! This year will find our members and friends going to a wider variety of events and some traveling as we all work toward making our hobby better and more enjoyable for all. You will probably notice a change in the look of the Post Herald in several ways. I am now using a different word processing program and have attempted to add more pictures. I don’t know how this will all turn out since my luck with computers is not great, but I’ll give it the old college effort and see what transpires! At the top of this page are three pictures, different from the usual ones. On your left, you see a copy of the only known tin type to exist of our arch nemesis, Crazy Horse. On your right, you will see a picture of our equally tough scout, Lester Dumm. The middle picture shows an idea I had for a new year and millenium! On with the Herald!

UPCOMING EVENTS: There are several good quality events going on this year, both Civil War and Indian Wars Period, and a new event which I’ve already started sending out info on. Some of these events include the Rennaisance of the Bozeman in Montana in June, Fort D.A. Russell Days here in Cheyenne in July, and the reenactment gathering at Fort Concho Texas in December, for those of us who want to escape the snow. In August, we all know about the event at the Territorial Park in Laramie Wyoming. As of January, the groups that have confirmed their attending include: Co. G 9th US Infantry and our civilian contingent; Co. A, 5th US Cavalry and their civilian contingent; Co. H 2nd US Cavalry and their civilian contingent; Montana Indian Contemporary Arts (MICA); Bill Hutchinson and his CW Surgeon’s contingent. I have made contact with Company K, 3rd US Infantry/3rd Missouri (CSA) in Nebraska; Company I, 3rd US Volunteer Infantry in Casper; and the 7th US Memorial Cavalry in Colorado, who’s members and staff have shown interest in attending. I am also actively attempting to contact our comrades in arms from the 30th US Infantry and 4th Texas to attend. Of course, members of these quality groups are always welcome to attend as individuals!

COMRADES IN ARMS: David Webb, a good friend of mine over in Merry Old England, is a member of the 7th Michigan Cavalry, otherwise known as the «Wolverines». They are a civil war group that portrays a small detachment of soldiers that were posted between the lines as an 1860s version of an early warning system. David sent me a CD with pictures of the members in his group, and with luck, I will get the computer to put them on this page where I want them.

Also, our comrades in Company C, 9th US Infantry, sent me a «howdy» and some pictures of them at a SPANAM event back east. Private Joe Johnson, is in the picture at the left, and the one at the right shows members of Company C getting ready to move out. The one in the middle shows one of their shelter half tents set up on campaign. How many similarities can we pick out between the IWP and the SPANAM equipment? Chuck Casada, also in Company C has also sent an article I thought we would find interesting. Here it is in it’s entirety, following the pictures. Keep up the fire «C»!!!

This is a picture of our good neighbors to the north, who we will see twice this year, once in Montana and once in Laramie. They are the members of the Montana Indian Contemporary Arts, Company H of the 2nd US Cavalry, and their civilian contingent. We look forward to continued friendship and good fun in the coming year!

NEW SECTION: My wife, Betty, has graciously writtenan article for the newsletter. I will include it with this issue of the Post Herald. In my ongoing efforts to improve the newsletter and make it more enjoyable for all, I will name this new section «A Woman’s View». This area will be available for any of our more gentile members to post articles, pictures, opinions, advice or anything pertaining to reenacting.

A WOMAN’S VIEW: Hello! My name is Betty Varga and I am one of the «civilians» of the 9th Infantry. Although I am not an ardent reenactor like my husband Roy, I have developed an interest in the women who settled the frontier. How did they survive the harsh weathers? What about the lack of «basic» necessities – hot water, indoor plumbing, adequate health care? Why did these women follow their men to outposts in the west? What made them decide to leave friends, family and the security of civilization as it was in the 1800s? I have read many womens’ diaries and historical perspectives on their lives. After much reflection about my life as a military wife for 18 years, and the life it would have been in 1870, I have concluded that I would not have had the strength or courage to move west as they did. One of the more interesting parts of living history is learning the skills early women possessed. I am not overly enthusiastic about making soap from rendered fat, churning cream into butter in an old wooden churn, or learning to milk a cow. But I have developed an interest in working with fiber. When we first started attending events as a family, I created costumes for myself and my 2 children so we would appear somewhat authentic, or at least part of the group of reenactors attending. There were advantages to dressing up – we got into events free of charge, and enjoyed being part of the display. One of the things I found frustrating was that spectators would ask many questions of the soldiers – about the uniform, weapons, horses, etc. But they would smile and nod at me and the girls, perhaps comment on how attractive our dresses were. Now, I know most of you don’t know me, but let me just say that after the 2nd or 3rd time – I was very bored with this and the girls weren’t interested in attending any more events either. As a solution, I proposed to Roy that he «find me something to do», such as a spinning wheel, so I could learn a craft and provide an intelligent display and keep myself busy while the men were out on campaign. Well, Roy found me a wheel! That is my very unromantic account of how I got involved in fibers, spinning , weaving and also quilting. I will tell you that even though I grew up in a very talented family (I learned to knit, crochet and cross stitch at a very young age), I have found spinning to be most challenging. It is an art that improves with time, patience and perseverance. I started out spinning quite an array of «novelty» yarns as my instructor, Betty Hart, so politely calls it. My spinning tends to happen most often on cold winter nights, so after a lengthy summer break, I am just getting the touch back when I draft the raw wool through my fingers. But the feeling of satisfaction holding a ball of yarn that you have spun yourself from a fleece off a sheep’s back – now that is truly a great feeling! Of course, you could spin and spin and spin some more, but you really want to do something with all that yarn. I have already promised Roy a pair of authentic knitted wool socks (look for them….next year perhaps?). Currently, I am in the process of spinning enough wool to complete the Navajo weaving that I have started. I had the opportunity to take a class from Belle Rosen, who is a Navajo rug weaver from Loveland. She assisted us with warping the loom, setting up the rug, and teaching basics such as color changes. Finding that I needed more wool, I put the loom aside, but plan to resume weaving shortly. I would eventually like to get into more advanced spinning techniques, and try my hand at dying with natural pigments. That is a whole other world in fiber art. I hope that I have been able to give you an idea of how you can allow yourself to wander in whatever direction history takes you. A friend here is very involved in making authentic clothing. To be honest, I have the patterns, dress form and even the muslin to make my mock ups, but I haven’t sewed a stitch on the ball gown I vowed I was making last Christmas in time for this year’s Twelth Night celebrations. I’ll do it – eventually. But that is not one of my main interests. Quickly, another interest Roy and I do share is creating music together. We both have played a variety of instruments and Roy continues to keep up with his historically correct ones such as the recorder, tin whistle, etc. I am very interested in obtaining and learning to play the hammered dulcimer. So, if you have one stashed in an attic from a distant relative, let us know and we’ll be sure to take it off your hands! Happy New Year to all. Untill next time.
Betty

SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER: The three pictures shown below of positions in the manual of arms, will go along with the positions needed for sentinals on post and also for the challenging procedures, which has been written about in a previous issue of The Post Herald. I will add instructions on how to get to these positions, usually from the position of «carry», to help all of us get on the same page, do it according to Upton’s Manual, and look good while doing it!

As you look at these pictures, from left to right, the positions are called: Support Arms, Ready Arms, and Sergeant’s salute. I will try to add pictures and info on the manual of arms in each issue of the Herald from now till the beginning of campaign season. As I mentioned before, this guidance comes from the help of the 16th US Infantry, posted at Fort Concho Texas, and specifically from my good friend and fellow walk-a-heap, Steve Beistline.

1. SUPPORT ARMS: Carry the piece in front of the center of the body; grasp it with the left hand at the lower band and raise this hand to the height of the chin; at the same time grasp the piece with the right hand four inches below the hammer. Carry the piece opposite the left shoulder, barrel to the front; pass the left forearm extended between the right hand and the hammer, support the hammer on the left forearm, the left forearm horizontal, the wrist straight. Drop the right hand to the side.

To return to «carry arms»; grasp the piece with the right hand under and against the left forearm; turn the piece with this hand and carry it in front of the center of the body; grasp it with the left hand at the lower band, the left forearm horizontal. Move the right hand and position of the fingers around (above and below) the trigger guard; carry the right arm and piece down and to the right side into position, and drop the left arm to the side.

2. READY ARMS: The left knee is slightly bent, drop the piece into the left hand at the lower band, elbow against the body, the small of the stock two inches below the right breast, the right hand at the small of the stock, muzzle at the height of the chin. Right thumb on the head of the hammer (you will note my thumb was not in this position), the fingers supported against the guard and the small of the stock. To return to the carry, simply move the muzzle with your left hand up and to the right shoulder while moving your right hand fingers into position around the trigger guard. Then drop your left arm to the side.

3. SERGEANT’S SALUTE: Being at a carry, raise the left hand and arm horizontally to the front, palm of the hand down, the fingers extended. Bend at the left elbow, carrying the hand around till the forefinger strikes the piece in the hollow of the right shoulder, retaining it there until the salute is acknowledged. Return to the position of the first motion and drop the left hand by the side.

I hope this helps make these movements a little clearer for all of us. We are extremely fortunate that Upton’s Manual has been «translated» into a simpler vernacular from the original by members of the 16th US Infantry. I’m sure we all appreciate their help and guidance as we dig deeper into the walk-a-heap world.

AFTER ACTION REPORT: Hello one and all. My campaign partner, Lou Janack and I just returned from a hair raising experience in the mountains of Colorado, where we searched for and finally found members of the 7th US Memorial Cavalry who were rallying at Jim Wenzel’s outpost. We added our carbine and infantry rifle to the overall defence, saw off the hostiles, and proceeded to enjoy ourselves with the officers, sergeants, soldiers and ladies of the 7th, along with our own 9th’s ladies. We had a wonderful time tasting the wonderful old world recipes and desserts, and the highly enjoyable foot stomping music, played by several of the members. A fun time was had by all but it was shortlived. After about a two hour stay, we had to hitch up the team and head north before darkness overcame us. Why, do you ask? Because while we were arriving in the canyon just short of Jim’s outpost, we were «ambushed» by a very large dust devil that used my car as a target for thousands of stones, rocks, etc, resulting in my windshield receiving hundreds of star cracks and dots. It would’ve been impossible to see well at night, driving mountain roads so we chose the better part of valor and fall back to our reinforced position near Cheyenne. Maybe the dust devil was some newfangled weapon used by the hostiles? (grin) The ride home was uneventul, with the exception of the «tumbling tree» as my daughter called it. It definitely wasn’t a tumbleweed, it was as tall as the windshield of my truck and just as wide. Thankfully we didn’t hit it as it rolled through, but that is another story… Jim, we are very grateful for our visit with you. With luck, our walk-a-heap rifles will meet up with you horse pushers at an event this year and surprise our worthy foe with heavy fire and cold steel! Till next time, keep your hair!

HISTORY LESSON: Hot off the press! Our fellow walk-a-heap, Chuck Casada, has sent an article showing the similarities and differences of uniforms and equipment the doughboys in the 9th went through between the Indian Wars Period and the Spanish American War period. Here it is in it’s entirety.

By Chuck Casada

Good Day lads. My name is Chuck Casada and I portray a member of Company C, 9th Regiment of the Spanish American War period- 1898-1902. We the members of C-9 portray a very active period of our Regiment. We chose to include the Philippine and Boxer Rebellion eras as well as the war in Cuba as one event flowed into another. When studying the U.S. Army of the late 19th Century the student will see some radical changes and similarities in the soldier of the IW period and the later SAW era. What was the same and what was different? That is the topic of this article. I shall for the ease of the reader break it down in to two distinct columns. Indian War on the left and SAW on the right.

So looking at this basic list you can see there were very few differences between the IW and the SAW era soldier. In fact many IW lads could pass themselves off as State Militia or National Guard members with the change of haversack and Canteen. The Volunteer and NG units were armed with .45/70's of the M1884 or 88' style. Add the shirt and Trousers and you are ready to assault San Juan Hill.

So what else is there? Food- the stuff that keeps an army moving was very similar. Garrison food was probably the same with some minor differences between Wyoming and the 9th when stationed at Madison Barracks in New York. But Field Rations were pretty much the same- beans, hardtack, coffee, but something the SAW soldier had was food in tin cans. Travel rations in tin included- Salmon, Roast Beef, Baked Beans, tomatoes, Corned Beef, roasted coffee, sugar, salt, and bacon. There was no equivalent to the later C rations and K rations of later wars. There was however an experiment of providing an emergency ration consisting of- bacon, pea meal, hardtack, ground coffee, seasonings and plug tobacco in a compact wrapping. Few soldiers received this during the Spanish American War though.

The standard Blanket, poncho and shelter half remained. Although the M1892 Shelterhalf was current, it is a known fact that most of the Shelterhalf that went to Cuba were of the M1864 pattern. When these wore out then they were replaced with new issue.

Our friend Chuck Casada in his garrison uniform!
Thanks for the article and keep up the fire Chuck!

IN CLOSING: I guess that’s about it for the first issue of the new millenium! I hope all of you who read this humble document like the new look and format. Hopefully, this new format will allow all of you to receive the newsletter via e-mail without the problems the old program had. I want to thank all of you for your continued support and encouragement. Without you, this newsletter would not exist. Till the next issue, take care, keep your hair and keep up the fire!