Gettysburg Battle Reenactment AAR

July 4, 2023

Dragoons,

I am submitting this report nine days after the event for two reasons. The first is that I wanted to wait until after the Daniel Lady's Farm 160th Gettysburg event was over in case any of our units also attended that one. The second is to wish everyone a safe and Happy Independence Day. As always, the cavalry arrived in the nick of time. Huzzah!

160 years ago, to the day and almost to the hour, the fate of the United States began to proceed down the long historical road to the present path we experience today. At Gettysburg, on the afternoon of July 4, 1863, the sky opened up, and a downpour washed the blood from the battle-torn fields and the thousands of bodies still strewn in and around that small Pennsylvania town. Lee and his army had been defeated and began the long and painful retreat back to Virginia. Little did anyone know the impact of all the decisions and choices made during July 1-4, 1863, and what it would have upon our nation's future history. The result of Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg had such an enormous impact on the Confederate states that if neither event had occurred, we might not have today "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." In today's world, those words we say in our pledge of allegiance should not be taken for granted, as Abraham Lincoln words from the Gettysburg Address still reverberate with us to this day. Our nation is still being "tested whether that nation [conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal] or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.  

May we as a nation be granted the mercy to still "long endure".

On June 23-25, 2023 our unit had the privilege to participate in the PCWA [Patriots of the Civil War Association] 160th Gettysburg re-enactment. The re-enactment took place along Marsh Creek near the sight where cavalry Lieutenant Marcellus Jones, Co E  8th Illinois fired the first shot of the battle during the early morning hours of July 1, 1863. We were grouped with troopers from Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio to combine as one company commanded by Captain Steve Dacus from Wyoming. Yours truly acted as Lieutenant of the whole platoon on day one [Buford's Delay] and leader of 1st squadron on day two [Defense of Fairfield Road supply wagons]. On day three the 2nd US galvanized into the 9th VA Co D during the re-enactment of the East Calvary Field battle. I have to say riding confederate, I see now why the rebs find us so hard to defeat on the battlefield.  Federal cavalry coming at you is truly impressive. 

Mentioned in this dispatch are Sergeant Barry for getting to camp first and picking out a good location for both human and horse. Trooper Amy [Amos] for acting as both guidon and trooper in the ranks; going wherever she was needed. Trooper Tony for making the trip all the way from the Czech Republic to add to our ranks. And the two troopers from Iowa Kerwin Van Houten and Barry Bergman who we adopted into our ranks and made them one of our own. They will always be affectionately be known as "Kermit and Little Bear". Last, and far from not least, are our logistical team of Troopers Hank and Harry. Hank for again providing us with delicious meals which were envied by other units as well as prowled upon by the captain's son, the "cookie monster" and Harry for providing file closer support during the Cooke's drill Friday morning [which his left knee reminded him the rest of the weekend for doing] and for being persistent in acquiring us water to fill the trough for our thirsty horses. Huzzah! The whole weekend, despite the intermitted rain showers, did not damper the true spirit of comradery in the ranks and in the camp.

May you and yours enjoy the freedoms we all share as a nation that so easily could have been lost if the "high ground" had not been held by Buford's Cavalry 160 years ago.

Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,

Brad E. Thomas

Captain, Commanding

2nd U.S. Cavalry Company A/9th Virginia Cavalry Company D

Battle of Brandy Station After Action Report

Dragoons,

The 160th commemoration of the battle of Brandy Station now "belongs to the ages."  It took a grand effort on a grand scale to bring together about 126 horses (blue and gray combined) plus dismounted troopers and all the logistics needed to make this type of event possible.  Commended in this dispatch is our own Lieutenant  Scott Womack (Breveted back to Captain to be adjutant to the Colonel on the field) and our dear friend from the 17th PA, Norm Hoerer, overall commander of the Federal Cavalry force.  Thanks for all the hard and dedicated work that goes into the planning and logistics of the event.

Saturday began early and became a long and action-filled day.  We were in the saddle by 0800, riding the three or so miles en route to Beverly's Ford, crossing over Buford's Knoll as we went, to re-enact the first contact the morning of June 9, 1863.  The 2nd US had the privilege of leading the Order of March of the entire column down to the ford.  We were met there by Bud Hall et al. to reflect on the action when the federal cavalry first crossed the ford at 0400 on the morning of the 9th.  Our first tactical action was with the Confederates, who simulated the push of the gray troopers back towards St James Church.  Our original task was to hold the right flank, but as often happens, "tactical plans never survive first contact."  What happened changed dramatically.  As we were the first in line, we pushed the rebs hard down Beverly's Ford Road until they came to an open field.  The Illinois company behind us was to go around our rear and take a position on our left flank, and the Michigan unit behind them was to take up the extreme left flank of our line.  What actually ensued was that Illinois became our right flank, and Michigan became the extreme federal right.  When this happened, we lost the left flank for a time, and it took all the efforts of the 2nd US to gain it back.  If the rebel force in 1863 was even half as stubborn as the rebel re-enacting force was on this day, no wonder the battle took over 12 hours to conclude.  Kudos to Sergeant Barry Kruis for figuring out what I wanted and what was needed in shouting orders to get the job done.  The Confederates were finally pushed back a mile or so to the woods, where we took a break in the action to rest our steeds and ourselves.

At noon, the action switched to the fight at St James Church.  This spectator-viewed event consisted of reenacting the 6th PA charge on Confederate gun emplacements.  It was a surreal honor to do this on the exact ground that it occurred 160 years ago.  Drones in the air and go-pros on the ground captured the charge across this open and exposed field.  What a grand charge it was as about 72 horses (some were galvanized confederates) in single rank line of battle raced bravely towards a battery of seven cannons blazing away.  The 2nd US had the distinction of crossing over the creek to within 30 yards of the cannon.  We held that position for almost 5 minutes before being displaced and rallying back to the Colonel.

Saturday evening, we rode to Fleetwood Hill to reflect and reenact the action that took place there, led and narrated again by Bud Hall.  I want to commend the unit and their mounts for so diligently following the day's orders and persevering through it all. 

Sunday started nicely with a church call at the exact location of St James Church, led by our own LT Womack. The call centered on a life of service by example. Several troopers and others who knew Charlie Doutt shared stories of the grace and character he showed us during his time on this earth.  

The day’s battle, however, was a different story. Leave it to the rebs not to play according to the rules. What was supposed to be a scripted scenario for spectators turned out to be a tactical battle that could only be described as, "WHAT THE &@#$% ARE THEY DOING?!" 

Colonel Norm and Brevet Captain Womack soon sorted it all out, and we finally made a fine showing for the crowd, ending in a pass in review.

All battles aside, we all know an army marches on its stomach.  I thank Trooper Sopko for volunteering to be "Hopsing" for the weekend and keeping us well-fed and hydrated.  Even with his battle wound over his right eye, he still could see his way around the kitchen and served us all well with the help of his assistant, Trooper Jonathan Betancourt.  Mark can genuinely say, "I was wounded on the fields of Brandy Station.”

In conclusion, many riders who hadn't ridden with us in a while joined us during this event. Out of 14 riders at full strength in the company, we represented seven states: VA, WV, MD, NJ, PA, GA, and CO.  I wholeheartedly thank you all for your participation and willingness to follow me into a simulated battle. I hope it was a memorable experience. 

I remain,

Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,

Brad E. Thomas

Captain, Commanding

2nd U.S. Cavalry Company A/9th Virginia Cavalry Company D

Ft. Monroe Living History After Action Report

As your captain, I apologize for the lateness of this AAR.

So begins a new re-enacting season with the unit's first event of the year, March 24-26.

Fort Monroe was small in unit attendance but large in camaraderie and a general good time.

We've proven once again that we can do drill work with just three horses.

The weather, although cold at night, turned out to be favorable in wool, with overcast skies during the day. Two demos each day had a fair turnout of people still interested in preserving American history.

Mentioned in these dispatches are Trooper Sopko for the breakfast and dinner meals and for his behind-the-scenes tasks as POC working with NPS Ranger Firth to bring us "back to the Fort," as Ft. Monroe’s first Cavalry living history post-Covid. Trooper/narrator Mize for coming out, even though he was not feeling his best due that weekend. He is much on the mend now.  Thanks to aggressive social distancing and being upwind, as of this report, none of the unit has come down with anything.  I commend Trooper Marci for being back in the saddle both days after a long absence.  We wish her nothing but the best.  And thanks to Trooper Riggleman for his expertise with gun cleaning, smithing, and narration, and Trooper Jan for providing us with an abundance of lunch sandwiches and her renowned cookies.

I look forward to riding with all of you in the future.

Very Respectfully, Your Obedient Servant,

Brad E. Thomas

Captain, Commanding

2nd U.S. Cavalry Company A/9th Virginia Cavalry Company D