Archive for July, 2010

By now all my readers know that I am heavily involved in the Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC), a not-for-profit educational corporation dedicated to telling the Marine Corps Story. This past weekend, as we do every year at this time, our Marines were at the Manassas National Battlefield Park, doing just that – telling the Marine Corps story. Many of our Marines who attended are active duty, with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our display was simply what the Marine in 1861 wore and carried at First Bull Run, compared to what the Marine wears and carries today. We also did presentations of the firing and drill of a Marine of 1861. The following photographs speak for themselves.

Left to Right - Steve Bochmiller, Historical Interpreter, USMCHC; Beth Miller, Dep Dir/Materials, USMCHC; GySgt Tom Williams, Director, USMCHC

I am not a “wargamer,” so the Historicon event on 8-11 July, 2010, at King of Prussia, PA, was totally new to me, and I had no idea what to expect. I was surprised, pleased, amazed, and pretty much blown away. Apparently there are three of these wargaming events each year on the east coast: One I’m not quite sure about I believe called “Cold Wars” in the April timeframe, Historicon in July, and an event called Fall-In, October 29-31, 2010. The major focus of these events is on wargaming various military battles in history on large tables.

The dedicated participants use small figures of various sizes to depict companies of troops, regimental units, or even armies – depending on the battle. Very detailed and elaborate sets are constructed on which to fight – from Medieval castles, to Viking raids on villages, to desert warfare, and, yes, even the skies over Britain for the battle thereof – using model aircraft, flying and fighting at different altitudes no less. This is an over simplification, but combat movements, engagements, confrontations, and the like, are decided by a roll of the dice. These folks really take their work seriously, and one movement or confrontation might take an hour or more to accomplish while they move the various pieces measured distances around the table.

Wargaming Hall

Historicon this year was located at the Valley Forge Convention Center, and it needed the space. They filled two major hotels, and rooms were scarce throughout the entire area. There were three primary features to the event. The foremost was the wargaming activities not only in a huge room full of tables, but in smaller rooms, passageways, and even various hotel rooms. The second feature was an enormous vendor area, sectioned off, which included sellers of everything one might need to wargame from miniature soldiers, to tanks, to planes, to set construction materials, to military history books, and on and on. To my delight, this area hosted such fine historical military artists as Keith Rocco, and Peter Culos, as well as sculptors like Terry Jones. The third activity at Historicon was the “War College.” This was an on-going series of talks by military historians throughout each day of the event and into the evenings.

Notice the detail in this Viking ship

Actor and military consultant for the film and TV industry, Captain Dale Dye, USMC (Ret), was Guest of Honor speaker. The quest speakers included such notables as Rene´Chartrand, former Chief Curator, Parks Canada; Colonel David Glantz, renowned expert on combat studies; and Angus Konstam, former Senior Curator of Weapons, Royal Armouries, London. There were numerous other speakers – including your humble servant. I was asked to give a presentation on the Battle of Balaklava in the Crimean War. When I did so, I discovered, again to my delight, that the folks who enjoy wargaming are not only gaming enthusiasts, but extremely precise and accomplished historians in their particular historical period of interest. My audience asked some excellent questions, and their interest was intense.

All in all, Historicon was a first-rate experience, and I look forward to attending next year. The theme for next year is the American Civil War, and I have been asked to give possibly two talks. One on the impact of the Crimean War on the American Civil War, and the other on Lincoln’s personal security, comparing it to personal security provided modern leaders.

I should also mention that I’ll be busy at the wargaming event in October (Fall-In at Lancaster, PA). The theme there this year is the US Marine Corps, celebrating its 235th Birthday. The US Marine Corps Historical Company will be setting up a massive display to illustrate the theme with uniforms, equipment and weaponry from the Revolutionary Marines to the Marines fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq today. In addition, GySgt Tom Williams, Director, USMCHC, and I will present talks on the Marines at Harpers Ferry and the Marines at First Bull Run.

The Theme for this year's Historicon was 17th Century Warfare

Battle of Isandlwana - January 1879

Keith Rocco - Historical Artist and good friend.

Tate Farm - Today

I was on my way early Thursday morning to ride “Sunny” at my stable in Hunterstown, looking forward to a cool morning’s horse ride.  I passed the Tate Farm, at the old square in Hunterstown, and saw that there was an encampment and lecture tent set up in the yard.  I had forgotten about this neat program.  Last year The Gettysburg Conspiracy was not published in July, and I missed out on this event.  I decided to try to set up an impromptu book signing, because the Battle of Hunterstown figures prominently in the novel. The folks there from the Hunterstown Historical Society welcomed me, and my riding went by the wayside.

Friday through Sunday is the annual Gettysburg Reenactment of the major battle, and folks here tend to forget that there were engagements outside the town of importance (Ref my blog:  http://willhutchison.com/blog/2010/01/24/custers-unknown-and-ill-fated-charge-in-the-gettysburg-campaign-2-july-1863-part-ii/ ).  It was a beautiful sunny, yet coolish day, and quite enjoyable meeting and talking to folks about the battle.

Beautiful Horse (Root Beer) and a good authentic cavalryman