Event Reports
Tom Speaks Out
Manassas------------------
October 2001
Talk about being hot. Manassas was a scorcher! I don`t know what the exact temperature was, but when some 180 people are falling out, it`s hot! The heat couldn`t be helped, but some things could.
Manassas was one of the worst events we have been to. Being as hot as it was only added to the agony. First of all, we had to walk about a half a mile to get to the water (a mile to the sutlers, as usual). Longstreet`s corps finally demanded that water be put on our side of the field Saturday evening. When we awoke Sunday morning, it was gone! Although we got the water back, some people said they would rather drink from a mud puddle than drink the water handed to us.
One of our Ladies of Dixie had a bout with the heat as well. Wendy was one of the many who had to be taken to the rescue squads. She stayed there about an hour. It was then decided that she be taken to the hospital, where she stayed for about 2 hours. She`s doing fine now, but has vowed never to go to any more events put on by Don Warlick.
When it came time to leave, they would not let us out! We were in our cars, when word came down that we could not leave for another 2 hours! That was the straw that broke the camels back. We then decided to take matters into our own hands. We got out and surrounded the guy at the gate and demanded that he open the gate. A mob of about 100 re enactors surrounded him. He got on his little walkie-talkie and sent out an S.O.S.! Things changed in an instant. They let us out in about 15 minutes! But that isn't all. We got to the main road leading out, and traffic was stopped again! There were so many stories floating around about why we couldn`t leave, that no one knows what was going on. Finally after about 20 minutes or so, we left that God forsaken place!
Sorry for not mentioning the battle, but other issues overshadowed the battle. Everyone knows how the battle goes: Confederates burn powder, and yankees never die! Say la vie-------
- Sgt/Reporter Tom Ward
