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"By Seas, By Lands"

After Action Report
Townsend Plantation Raid Mt Dora, FL.
January 30th - February 1st, 2004

Compiled by Pvt. Steven Fowler

Observations:

  • Only one word can described the weekend for Co. A this past weekend:  Wet!!  Well for the most part we stayed dry, but now the tents have to be set back up again.  Ouch.  We should have about a month before the next camping event.  The rain was a not a constant thing. It would rain then it would dry out and it would rain and dry out. The sun was able to make an appearance on Sunday but the rain clouds came back and let loose with a light sprinkle that soaked everything. Then it stopped before every battle that was nice. It did not dampen a great weekend. I am sure we would do this again.

    Note: This Pvt would like to those folks who have now done the work after the engagements in the past two weeks to dry out the tents.  I know I can't make it there to help and really appreciate the effort those folks put in.

    Update: Frank, Judee and Joe placed the tents out on Tuesday night. Sean arrived after we were done but he is going to be there tonight Tuesday to help fold and put them away. We were lucky because the weather is just right and we did not have to set the tents up just hang them over the fence and lay them on the ground.

  • Setup included 2 NCO Tents, 3 Officer Tents, 5 Large A Frames and 5 medium A Frame.  Friday at 1030 we arrived, Steve, Sean, Jon and Joe. Set up three officers tents and two NCO tents. The rest of the tents arrived sometime after 3:30 and we quickly took care of them. It seemed like night time came along very early.

  • The food was really good this weekend. Thanks to the ladies who brought the snacks onto the field before battle.

  • The mortar worked great. The Union Army gave us a little hint. They said they use popped popped corn to cause a little compression and that will cause a larger bang. They also use 5 oz of powder and their bore is much smaller. 2 1/2 “ compared to our 4” bore. We may try this.

  • Saturday night was very cool and wet. We stayed under a Fly with a Heater. That was really fun. We moved the heater into an officers tent and set up chairs. The heater was a great addition that night. I think several troops were very tired from the battle and went to bed around 1930 hours. It was a combination of the cold damp weather and the battle that took it out of most everyone.

  • The Colonel  “Corky” from the 15th Alabama was taken ill Saturday night. The good news is he will survive. Scuttlebutt is that he has pneumonia.

  • Some new members drank from the bucket again. Well a bunch of us almost lost it. That is really a sick and twisted tradition. One of the members from Milton's drank from the bucket twice because the last time he was on the #5 position and this time he was on the #4 position. Well I draw the line at one.

  • We were given a great honor this weekend, Several actually! Corky asked us to give a salute at the morning colors. This was for the young man that died last year from spinal meningitis. The Marines did a great job. Acting Sgt. Jon Bateman was operated on by Colonel Riker.  This Pvt happen to catch one of Riker's demonstrations.  You will need an Ironclad stomach for these. We are all glad he will be ok. He joined us on the battle field after surgery, he is one tough Marine. Also on Saturday the Marines were requested to provide two guards for the meeting General Hardy was having.  This meeting was to not be interrupted or disturbed.  Ronnie and Roger provide support for this detail.  This just means that the Marines are getting more and more respect.  Our unit takes pride in the details and we are doing those tasks that Marines today provide support for.  Keep the good work everyone.

  • Another note from this Pvt. I was glad to see Eileen back.  I wish to thank her personally.  I feel, after seeing a few engagements now, that she is the glue that keeps these events running smoothly.  Please thank her and the ladies for their help on the events and when asked upon to help out, chip right in. 

  • The Marines have the best runner in the whole confederate army. Thanks William you're great.

Actions:

  • Action Saturday:  The rain started before the action.  We started on the right of the mortar as the dismounted Calvary was covering the left of the cannons (Rice's battery).  We eventually moved out to the fence line and were trying to engage the dismounted Union Calvary with Henry repeaters.  They held their ground.  Corky's brigade finally took the field and we join on their right flank.  The whole brigade fought tough but the Union must have brought in re-enforcements.  Corky was driven back and the marines were eventually all killed off.  The mortar was finally taken out before the end of the battle.  Overall a good battle, even though we lost.  The mortar worked flawlessly.  19 out of 20 rounds were fired.  They just could not get the last shot off.  It was great hearing the thump of the mortar as it went off.  It looks great from the field too.  I took a peek while laying dead.

  • Action Sunday: Well the day started off raining.  Bummer.  The site of Co A and Milton's standing in the woods while the rain soaked thru the wool can only be described in one word.  Sucks!!  Anyway, the rain stopped and the sky cleared just before the battle started.  The announcer pointed us out on the field which was kind of neat. During the battle we were on the right side of the battle field and were told reinforcements were on the way, well they took their time and we were quickly out numbered by the time that arrived. Several members thought Lt. Stimac was running to use the bathroom but he was actually doing a Reconnaissance mission. He quickly summoned the marines to the wooded area to the right flank of the Union Army. We needed to take the battle to the Union Calvary. They started to fight us but I guess they just would not commit. We fought the Union army in the woods to the left and the Union Calvary to the right at the same time. We chased them through their camps and almost into the spectators. There were several civilians in the Union camp that were using toy guns to shoot at us while we were running through it. Fighting in the enemies camp was really neat, it brought back memories of the recent Civil War Movie “Gods and Generals”, Where the Confederate Army caught the Union Army off guard while they were in camp.

Members (no particular order, *Fresh Fish):

  • Sean & Eileen Wells
  • Joe Stimac
  • Ronnie Strott w/ Cole, Maddie & Sarah
  • John & Krystyne Bateman
  • Will Bateman
  • Frank & Judy Strott
  • Jim & Annette Burke
  • Roger & Patsy Scott
  • Steve Fowler
  • Ira Fogg & Zack
  • Michelle Crook
  • Rob, Tyler*, A. J.* & Alea (spelling?)

24 folks total: 14 troops, 1 runners, 9 in camp folks.

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