AAR FOR AVERASBOR0 2001
Our company was mainly on site by 6 pm Friday evening. A company drill
was conducted to get some of the rust out. A forage detail was sent out Friday
evening in the hopes to fill the men's bellies Saturday. As the hours passed
our company grew restless with the hopes of plunder. Friday evening it was
reported that the Johnnies were improving their trenches to our front. Men
were put on alert and our own works improved. Friday was more than a bit cold
and sleepless for many. Saturday morning brought roll call and still no sign
of our forage party. Dress parade, company drill and battalion drill were
conducted Sat morning as well. My compliments to Capt. Pagano, who really
knows his stuff. By end of drill our forage party had returned and the men
were licking their chops to get at the banquet provided (courtesy of the
local, unwilling populace). Cornbread, molasses, butter, ham, pickles, live
chickens and more! My compliments to the Bully Boys for their first rate
forage detail! Our company was soon ordered forward with a squad of pioneers
to try to open a hole in the Johnnies abatis. Although we opened a small hole,
we took heavy losses and retreated back to our trench line. Capt. Murley's men
exploited our breech and took the Rebel trenches briefly at one section. His
men too were recalled as they were not supported. We then were ordered to
repeat our task and the whole battalion then launched an attack on the
Johnnies trenches and they were driven from their line as they were sorely
outnumbered. Not much to mention in the larger mainstream battle as the
Johnnies had their Kevlar on to protect them from our enfilading fire we
poured into their flank. Saturday evening was livened by our fifer and drummer
who lifted the spirits of the men. Our 1st Sgt Cecil also had our men laughing
in the trenches as he performed some sort of Shakespearian type skit called
"Ghost of Chicken Run". I personally enjoyed the singing portion.
Saturday was colder, but most of the men fared better. Sunday morning also
began with parade and battalion drill. We were much improved in this area on
Sunday vs. Saturday. Sunday we were ordered to launch a forward probe to
discover the Johnnies strength in their works. They seemed weak on their left
as almost all of our men fell back without injury. Reporting this to the
battalion commander, the assault was formulated. Mr. Keefer's and Mr. Murley's
companies would assault the center in echelon as was done on Saturday. BUT, a
minute later, Mr. Denton's and our company were to assault the weak left flank
of the enemy. The assault worked great and the sheer shock of the two pronged
assault combined with sheer numbers drove the enemy out en masse. Then
Sunday's mainstream battle was a bit better as the Johnnies at least fell back
once. My compliments to our skirmishers as we were forced to deploy in short
ranges. Sadly, our final assault was repulsed with heavy losses.
Capt. Jim Butler - 17th NYVV - Co. B
My observations on the event:
Great IA even though we were posted close to the sutlers. This did allow for
some spectator interaction. Spectator flow was light.
I was impressed by the quality of my peers impressions and bearings in the
event.
My humblest thanks to The Salt River Rifles, Bully Boys, 57th GA and several
others who made Co. B a success. Several of you traveled quite a distance to
take part and your participation was noted and appreciated (Curly and The
Shanty Boys).
The foraged ration was unforgettable!!! Kudos to the Bully Boys for this
one...the guys raved about it!
Aaron Cecil and Aaron Price had me rolling in stitches with laughter. You
fellas are very funny and you made the long hours in the trench fun.
I had wished more spectators had come thru. I personally led one group thru
the IA until Officers Call had me cutting it short on Sun.
I was also concerned and lost my temper a bit on Sunday after a 3rd man had a
weapon discharged in his face (luckily no serious injuries). I mentioned it to
certain people and let it go.
First person was spotty at times, but I had some wonderful first person
interactions with our company and several others.
The trenches began to look like works of art by the end of the weekend.
The realities of being pinned down under fire with few options was very exhilarating.
Thanks to our bugler David Fuclher who really added to the battalion by
offering his bugling services. It was invaluable when were skirmishing.
I had a great time and I hope you all did as well. I look forward to seeing
you all again at March Thru GA and Pickett's Mill coming up. My compliments to
you all.
Regards,
Jim Butler of The SRR
The Coffee Stack Mess at Averasboro
left to right- Zack Bauer, David Fulcher, Doug Nurse, Aron Price, Jim Butler and Sam Bruggerman
Zack Bauer at Averasboro '01
These were my observations from
the weekend at Averasboro, NC.
Aron Price, Sam Bruggeman, Doug Nurse, David Fulcher (Bugler), and I pulled
into the event site around 3:30 Friday afternoon. After a quick change into
our 1865 attire we made our way from the wagon train to the interpretive area.
We met up with Captain infront of the IA and had our weapons inspected by the
battalion sergeant major. Troops from the Rowdy Pards and Liberty Rifles had
already started improving their portion of the trenches.
We made the walk to our portion of the trenches and I was asked by Captain
Butler to form a wood detail. Our group cut down saplings at best and then proceeded
to the wood pile for better fair. After wood detail we had company drill and
skirmish drill, while Sam stayed back in camp and dug a bully fire pit for us.
A foraging party (portion of the Bully Boys) was sent out before drill to fill
the men's haversacks, they were expected back in the morning.
After drill Pvt. Price had picket duty in the trench for about an hour. He was
very ambitious and watched the rebs like a hawk. While Pvt. Price was on
picket duty about 5 pvts and 1 cpl were detailed to no mans land to build/dig
rifle pits. No action was reported between the rebs and us. Pvt. Nurse was the
next up for picket duty. He did a fine job of freezing his butt off until 1st
Sergeant Cecil gave him a couple gulps of "Nockem Stiff", after that
Pvt. Nurse was pretty warm.
During Picket Duty Captain Denton from Co. C was stopped by our pickets for
not knowing the countersign. Another thing that added to the confusion was he
had been reduced to wearing a reb coat for lack of a re-issued federal coat.
Sergeant of the Guard was called over and the matter was resolved adequately.
Friday night was very cold and windy. Everyone was bundled and huddled up by
the fire. All was quiet on the lines that night and no action was reported
between the rebs. Around 3:30 am Pvt Price and Cpl Bauer were up talking due
to lack of heat.
Reveille was sounded at 6 am and Roll Call followed right after. After Roll
Call everyone huddled back around their fires waiting for the foragers and
food. Morning Parade came at 9 am and battalion drill after that, still no
sign of the foraging detail. Morning parade was done very nice, but the
musicians that trooped the line were terrible; except our Pvt. Bruggeman who
played very well while shaking his head in disgust. Battalion drill was about
and hour and a half long. The battalion was very well drilled and looked
great. At the end of drill our foraging party had returned.
The foragers had done very well the day before. The men were issued rice,
pickles, beans, cabbage, sweet potatoes, onions, corn bread, eggs, ham, honey,
molasses, cone sugar, milk, bourbon, and three live chickens. The men
proceeded to cook the eggs and eat the ham for breakfast and left the rest of
the food for dinner.
After breakfast 1st platoon had the trenches. A detachment of about 8 men were
in the rifle pits and some even trying to knock down the confederate abatis.
Pvt's Price and Anderson, Cpl Bauer had the task of clearing woods for the
main assault while Pvt Van Huss kept us covered. One of our pvts had a rope
with a hooking mechanism that helped tear down the abatis. After some hours of
clearing Co. B was assigned to be the lead company in the attack. 1st Platoon
was detached as skirmishers while the 2nd Platoon were to be pioneers and get
the rest of the abatis down. Pvt. Sparrow came running up to the abatis only
armed with a railroad tie on his shoulder, needless to say he was shot dead
within seconds of his attempt to tear down the abatis. This ended up in an all
out fire fight between the rebs and our company. Co. B received about 40%
casualties. There after the main federal battalion came through and fought the
rebs out of their trenches. The battalion then went into the main battle and
flanked the whole confederate division. The rebs withdrew to another line of
planked breastworks and our battalion charged and took about 80% in
casualties. After the battle it was back to our trenches.
After the battle Pvt's Cecil and Nurse killed their chickens and began to
pluck and cook them over the fire. The birds were very old and turned out to
be very tough to chew, but still were satisfactory. 1st Sergeant Cecil gave
the company a taste of his sense of humor for the night with "Mr. Chicken
Head". Saturday night was much colder than Friday night.
Sunday morning was very frosty and much colder than the previous night.
Reveille was sounded at 6 am and the messes cooked their breakfast. At 9 am
morning parade commenced and soon after battalion drill. After drill the men
were detailed to the trenches and Pvts Nurse, Price, and cpl Bauer proceeded
to the far left rifle pit. Cpl Bauer dug like a bat out of hell while pvt
Nurse kept him covered. The rebs were not more than 15 yards away. Pvt Price
proceeded to another rifle were he didn't have to dig and Pvt Rives soon
joined him. During a lull in the digging and fighting the three of us traded
with the rebs. We gave them coffee, sugar, and a very well cooked bird for
some tobacco and pork. They were the 6th Tenn. Cav from Pulaski County. The
truce lasted about 15 minutes then we commenced to fight.
After this the battalion formed they hit the rebs head on while Co B and Capt.
Denton's company hit the rebs left flank pushing them all the way back to the
woods. The battalion then reformed ready for the main battle. Co. B was
double-quicked to the front of the Federal column to deploy as skirmishers.
The whole company loaded from the prone position and had little casualties.
The battalion moved out and hit the rebs hard. We repulsed the rebs with heavy
casualties. Cpl Bauer then decided to shirk and was caught in a fist-fight
with Pvt Rives with Cpl Bauer getting the best of Pvt Rives. Cpl Bauer then
ran as hard as he could to the trenches until being shot by the cowardly
dismounted cavalry who were hiding behind the artillery.
The battle soon ended and this marked the end of the event. I had a great time
and everyone in the Coffee Stack Mess, Bully Boys, 57th GA I think had a great
time also. This event was by far much different than some of the events I have
been to and I am glad I got to experience it. I just want to thank everyone
that participated with the SRR. If I left someone out, I didn't mean to. These
were just my closest observations plus I am always bound to forget someone.
Please forgive me if I left someone out. I'll probably remember something else
once I post this anyways.
Zach Bauer
2nd Corporal Co. B
of the late 17th New York Veteran Volunteers
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