Event Reports
Tom Speaks Out
Saylers Creek------------------------------ 
October 2000
Well, since the birth of "little miss Hannah" I haven't been able to attend anything. I have missed two or three school programs and Pelham. The last events I attended were Saylers Creek and Staunton River Bridge, so I guess these reports are a bit outdated but I will give you what I remember.
As usual, we arrived at the creek on Friday afternoon. The order of the day was as usual, set up camp, chat a while, go to the sutlers, etc....Saturday morning we were on the move. We marched through the woods, fought a little, marched some more, and stopped for lunch. Much to our suprise, the yanks interrupted our lunch with a definite yell and a volley or two. We hastily donned our war gear and formed up, as fast as we could, on one side of a small creek in the woods. The battle was intense. The yanks were "dying"(yes, actually taking hits for a change)on one side of the creek, as we were on the other. I will never forget the one yank that eyeballed me, and I him. I loaded and fired. He took a hit, but it only grazed his shoulder. Being low on ammunition, I motioned for him to shoot me. Taking a hit in the chest, I fell to the ground. The battle ended, and both sides marched on to camp.
For those who have done Saylers Creek before, Sundays battle was no different. We fought across the Hillsman farm, crossed the creek, and formed up on the hill. Before we crossed the creek however, we all decided to take an artillery hit. We waited for the right time, and when the yanks fired the cannon, the entire company fell, mortally wounded! It was a site to see. When the spectators passed on, we all arose, formed up on the hill and fought till the end, and of course surrendered. That being done, we went back to camp, put on some dry socks(those who had em)and went home. The event was a good one, although the rain drove a lot of re-enactors away. I'm sure we will return to fight at the creek again.
Staunton River Bridge----------------------------
The living history at the bridge was not as good as it has been in the past. We arrived in the morning, set up a few tents, and waited for orders. We did a ceremony for the local UDC chapter, and after that went back to camp. We waited, waited, and waited for some spectators to arrive, but none showed! After about 2-3 hours of this we investigated. We found that all the festivities were taking place at the museum, not the bridge itself! So, what do we do now? We did what any red blooded Halifax county person would do, we packed up and left!
The best part of the day was the pizza we had at the local pizza pub. We played some music, laughed out loud, and had a grand time! It beat sitting out there in the hot sun! Sometimes this hobby takes a back seat to better things! At least it did this day anyway.
That's all I have to date. Hopefully I will have better reports before the end of the year.
Sgt./Reporter
Tom Ward
