Outpost II was without a doubt one of the best events that I have ever attended.

 Some of the pluses for me were:
 1. Serving in Company C of the 7th Ohio. First person was outstanding as I
 never heard one of our guys break first person. I only heard first person
 broken a few times on the Fed side for the whole weekend as a matter of
 fact. Nobody forced first person either, it just flowed naturally.

 2. Serving under/with the NCO's and commanding officer of the Huckleberry
 Mess. These guys are definitely top shelf. The privates of Company C were
 outstanding as well.

 3. The interaction with the refugees. Made me think about that part of the
 war and what the displaced women and children went through. Also, seeing
 top notch civilian impressions and seeing women camp out without tents in some
 very harsh conditions.

 4. The interaction we had with the Confederate deserters and captured. One
 fella in particular was very good. He kept talking about how he wished he
 had 20 slaves so he could be back home, how he was conscripted, etc. Some of
 our guys had pity for him while some showed disdain and disgust for being a
 deserter. Some traded while others just took from him.

 5. The semi-tense moment of when a Federal sergeant approached one of our
 posts and did not know the counter sign. He failed to answer further
 questions and was put under arrest. He didn't particularly care for that
 either. As it played out before my eyes it was very real. The emotions were
 real, the language used was real, etc.

 6. The picket posts and landscape were awesome.

 7. The full moon and fog coming off the creek on Saturday night really added
 to the experience. Eyes and ears playing tricks on me. The lack of sleep.
 The young soldiers that were easily spooked while on guard at night. The
 sudden musket shot, sometimes followed by many shots. The wondering of what
 was going on up the line and asking questions about what was happening as
the grand rounds came around. The tension was real. My post partner and
 myself stayed up for practically the whole shift - neither one of us could
 sleep due to the cold and the uncertainty of what might happen (we were
directly across from a ford).

 8. The hunger created from half rations.

 9. Finally tired of waiting on the Johnnies to attack, Captain Krieger
 decided to send a strong expedition across the creek. Hearing the Johnnie
 scream for the Corporal of the guard as we charged across the creek, the
 adrenaline rush from the frigid waters, fighting through the civilian camp,
 having the right of the skirmish line fall apart when the first sergeant was
 hit, the panic created by the Reb cavalry and push of their skirmish line
 (even though some complained that the Reb cavalry would have already been
 killed), the feeling of chaos during the route, and trying to save pards
 while trying to save yourself were all "special" moments. The sheer number
 of losses from killed, wounded, and captured of the Fed soldiers was
 sobering. I'm just glad the Johnnies didn't come on across the creek they
 would have rolled down the entire line.

 10. Being able to witness the resourcefulness of a soldier when we were not
 issued a meat ration and what he was willing to eat at the time.

 11. The ration issue, trading, mail call, and blanket issue off of the roll.

 12. Just being able to participate with some of the best reenactors and
 living historians in the country.

 There weren't really any minuses other than:

 1. The Confederate trooper that was injured - I heard he is okay so I guess
 that turned into a positive.

 2. One particular Confederate trooper that seemed to think he was
 invincible. He created some of the few "farby" moments that I personally
 noticed all weekend.

 3. One particular Fed attached to headquarters that created the majority of
 the only times I heard first person broken. However, I have never attended
 an event that was first person for
 98% of the time.

 Thanks Mr. Hadley,

 Michael Ilgenfritz
 Uncle Billy's Boys
 Late Pvt. Harry Schmidt
 Co. C 7th Ohio Infantry