The Moorpark Rotary Club Presents...
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The Moorpark Rotary Club Presents...
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November 8-9, 2008
Tierra Rejada Ranch
Moorpark, California
Unit hosts
The Richmond Howitzer Battalion
The Largest and Grandest Civil War
Event
in Southern California!
Three Battles on Saturday (12:00, 3:00, & 5:15)
& Two on Sunday (12:00 & 2:00)
Public Admitted at 10:00 AM Both Days
All Reenactors
Welcomed
Authenticity Standards Apply
Rain Date: November 15-16, 2008
Disclaimer: The Fort Tejon Historical Association, which provides this web page, is not affiliated with this event
in any other capacity, but still encourages its members to attend.
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2008 Flyer For the Event
Safety Rules and Event Regulations
Reenactors:
Col. Ed Mann
Howitzers1@aol.com
Spectators:
Moorpark Rotary
Club
The Richmond Howitzers, the unit hosts for the event, in action.
2008 Event Schedule
Saturday, November 8th Sunday, November 9th |
Schedule for Combatant Reenactors
(Military and civilian Living History presentations/demonstrations will be listed on the Spectators’ Schedule.)
Saturday, November 8th Sunday, November 9th |
2008 Event Information
My Fellow Reenactors,
It's the time of year for reenactors to once again start thinking, at least a little, about "the climax" of the reenacting season, the Moorpark Rotary Club's "The Blue and the Gray" on November 8-9--Southern California's largest and grandest Civil War event!
On behalf of the sponsor, the Moorpark Rotary Club, and the host unit, the Richmond Howitzers, I take pleasure in saying that you are all cordially invited to attend.
This year's theme is "The Seven Days' Battles." At this point, we are looking at the following battles: Seven Pines, a Confederate victory, Oak Grove, a Union victory, Mechanicsville (the night battle), a Union victory, Gaines's Mill, a Confederate victory, and Malvern Hill, a Union victory.
We're going to do the event even bigger and better this year!
Two distinguishing features have set the Moorpark event in a class by itself in Southern California reenactments.
The first feature is the night battle. No other show battle event offers a battle that matches this battle. It's not for lack of desire to have a night battle. For most of the other events, the simple truth is that the sun just won't cooperate by dropping below the horizon early enough. The night battle at Moorpark has become the "signature feature" of the event, for both the reenactors and the public. That's why the event was moved from the first weekend to the second weekend in November last year. The extension of Daylight Savings Time would have required that the battle be delayed until 6:30 p.m. for it to be dark enough on the first weekend in November, and starting a battle at 6:30 just wouldn't work.
The second feature that distinguishes the Moorpark event from the others is the pyrotechnic aspect. Last year we finally were able to return to the excellent pyrotechnics at the first few events, and the pyro even took a great leap forward to a new level. This year, the plan is to make it even more awesome. What we're hoping for is an experience that will make each reenactor feel he has gotten as close to "Saving Private Ryan" as it is possible to (safely) achieve at a Civil War reenactment.
Based on early reports, and as a result of the great word-of-mouth, reenactors will be coming from farther and farther away to swell our ranks this year. The results should be quite obvious on the field.
In case you missed it, here is the YouTube video of the 2006 event:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqkN5oXt9VA (And, yes, I know that Lincoln was the 16th President, not the 13th President!)
This year, we will be making an effort to expand the Living History aspect of the event by scheduling more demonstrations for the public. If you have a particular demonstration/presentation you would like to have added to the schedule, please let me know.
As something new this year, I would like to form a cadré of non-combatant reenactors to help with certain aspects of the battles and other functions. If you would like to volunteer, please let me know.
The Friday school program will return this year. Your help with that will be greatly appreciated.
Friday arrival is permitted. Thursday arrival is permitted for those helping with the school program.
As anyone who has been to Moorpark knows, we have more sutlers at this event than at any other event in California. Sutlers, your participation is appreciated! Please contact me regarding attendance this year.
As usual, firewood, hay, and straw will be provided. Dry RV camping is available. "Mainstream" authenticity standards will apply in the period camps and on the battlefield.
Food, of course, is always plentiful for those of you who do not want to cook. I expect that the Rotary will offer its "ever popular," inexpensive Saturday night dinner again. Saturday and Sunday breakfasts will be available, too.
A reenactor swap meet will be held again Saturday morning in the sutler area, so gather your unwanted items and find a "good home" for them.
We can expect many of our actor friends to re-join us this year, and possibly see some new faces, too.
As a side note, did you hear that the Moorpark High School Academic Decathlon team finished first place in the National Academic Decathlon earlier this year? The subject was--what else?--the Civil War. The team was at our event in November. Maybe we inspired them (just a little) in their remarkable achievement.
Sooner or later, our luck will run out, and we will be rained out. If this happens this year, the following weekend, November 15-16, will be our rain dates.For those of you outside Southern California and who have not attended the event in the past, Moorpark is at the west end of Simi Valley and the north end of Thousand Oaks. Here are the directions to get there:
FROM THE CENTRAL L. A. AREA : Take the 101 Freeway to Thousand Oaks. Go north on the 23 Freeway to Moorpark (perhaps 5 miles) to the Tierra Rejada exit. At the end of the ramp, turn left (west). About three hundred yards, turn left (south) onto Sunset Valley Road and proceed approximately 1/2 mile to the site which will be on the left, Tierra Rejada Ranch, 3370 Sunset Valley Road.
FROM VALENCIA AND NORTHERN SAN FERNANDO VALLEY: Take I-5 to the 405 Freeway. Take the 118 Freeway (west) to Simi Valley. At the west end of Simi Valley, the 118 Freeway will turn into the 23 Freeway as it passes through Moorpark toward Thousand Oaks. Exit at the Tierra Rejada exit. At the end of the ramp, turn right. About four hundred yards, turn left onto Sunset Valley Road and proceed approximately 3/4 mile to the site, Tierra Rejada Ranch, 3370 Sunset Valley Road.
FROM SANTA BARBARA: Take the 101 Freeway to Thousand Oaks. Go north on the 23 Freeway to Moorpark (perhaps 5 miles) to the Tierra Rejada exit. At the end of the ramp, turn left. About four hundred yards, turn left onto Sunset Valley Road and proceed approximately 3/4 mile to the site, Tierra Rejada Ranch, 3370 Sunset Valley Road.
As I end this message, I think that it is appropriate to note that the Moorpark Rotary Club has made this event the "reenactment jewel" of the West Coast. By refusing to cut corners, the Rotary Club has established the benchmark against which all other reenactments in Southern California are judged, and the reenactor community has greatly benefited as a result. Thank you, Rotarians!
Remember that all profits from this event will go to charity. I hope that you plan now to join with us and participate on November 8-9 in this great fundraising effort. If so, you will "do good while having fun!"
Ed Mann
14 September 2008 Update
My fellow reenactors,
We are inside the 60 day window and things are coming along splendidly!
I am happy to report that we are very fortunate to have been promised a dramatic increase of Northern California reenactor participation this year. This unprecedented influx of our brethren fin the NCWA, ACWA, RACW, and CWRS will add greatly to our event, no doubt producing record numbers of men on the field. Welcome!
Expected Northern California reenactor participation had increased even before gas prices began to drop, but with the recent decline in gas prices and with the decline that is expected to continue, the expense of getting to the event will become even more affordable. (Gas on Ventura Boulevard, for example, is currently available for $3.65 a gallon, a dollar a gallon decrease from prices only a few months ago.)
We will ratchet the pyrotechnics upward this year. It’s “Shock and Awe!” for 2008. If the fire marshal approves, we will have greatly improved aerial bursts during the battle, as well as the excellent ground charges we had last year. As I said in my last message, this event will be as close as you can get (safely) to “Saving Private Ryan” at a Civil War reenactment. In thinking further about it, for the night battle, perhaps the attack on Fort Wagner in “Glory” would be a more appropriate reference.
With the expected increase in attendance, the Rotary is increasing the number of spectator bleachers this year, and it is expanding the size of the bivouac areas. As an example of how far we have come since we began, the entire bivouac area for the event fit in the walnut orchard in the first year, 2001. Now we are expanding two separate camps beyond the walnut orchard and the grassy lawn Given the steady increase in reenactor and spectator participation, the Rotary Club must be doing something right that both spectators and reenactors appreciate.
Bruce Boxleitner and Melissa Gilbert expect to attend. Also expressing interest in attending are Marty Kove ("The Karate Kid," "Rambo: First Blood Part II", "Wyatt Earp"), Andrew Prine, (General Garnett in "Gettysburg"), Patrick Gorman (General Hood in "Gettysburg," "Gods and Generals"), Peter Sherayko ("Tombstone" and "Wild West Tech"), and Phil Spangenberger ("Wild West Tech"). I expect to be able to add others in the next couple of weeks.
We’re looking for participants in the Friday school program. Those of you who want to participate should let me know.
Thursday arrival after noon is permitted for those involved in the Friday school program. Friday arrival is permitted for everyone else. Hay and firewood will be provided at the event.
If you want to be part of the Living History demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday, send me a message and let me know what you want to do.
The Rotary Club is interested in obtaining as much reenactor participation as possible for the Moorpark Country Days Parade on October 4. Moorpark is proud to be celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Participants should plan on arriving around 9:30. Come on out and join us, and send me an email if you can participate.
For those of you who did not receive the first event message I sent out this year, see the web site, www.forttejon.org/moorpark. While you are at it, see the YouTube video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqkN5oXt9VA.
Remember that the rain date for the event is November 15-16. Let’s hope that we don’t need it.
I hope to see you in Moorpark on November 8-9!
Ed Mann
15 October 2008 Update
My fellow reenactors,
The “Largest and Grandest Civil War Event in Southern California” is only a little more than three weeks away. On behalf of the Moorpark Rotary Club, the sponsor, and the Richmond Howitzers, the unit host, you are all cordially invited! I certainly hope that you are planning on ending your active reenacting season at Moorpark on November 8th and 9th.
Interest continues to increase. This event may well be the largest event west of the Rockies this year!
This message is intended to provide you with some last minute details that will reduce any uncertainty you might have about the event and make it more enjoyable for you.
The event will begin with the Friday school program. If you are participating on Friday, you may arrive after noon on Thursday. Otherwise, plan on arriving no later than 9:00 a.m. on Friday. A couple of thousand school kids will be divided into groups and will make the rounds to the various stations where reenactors will present demonstrations for them. The kids, mostly 8th graders, seem to get quite a bit out of our effort. Let me know if you will participate.
For the rest of you, you may arrive anytime after noon on Friday. Hay, firewood and straw will be provided. Above ground fires will be required. Union forces and civilians will bivouac in the walnut orchard. Confederates will be on the grassy lawn.
Food will be plentiful throughout the weekend for those of you who do not want to cook. The Ladies Fortnightly will offer $5.00 breakfasts and lunches again on Saturday and Sunday. Dinner on Saturday night will be available for $7.00. I apologize, but I cannot remember this year whether the Ladies Fortnightly or Chuy’s Restaurant will be providing the dinner this year. In any event, you will need to buy a dinner ticket by 10:00 on Saturday morning.
Minors who will be participating without a parent present need to download two copies the release at http://www.48ovvi.org/ReleaseMoorpark.pdf and have a parent sign them before leaving home. One copy will be turned in at registration and the other copy will be kept by the minor on his person at all times during the event. Commanders, please make sure that this information is passed on to the minors in your unit so that they are not disappointed when they arrive.
Adult reenactors, you may save time at registration by downloading the release form from the same web site and bringing it with you. Please do not bring release forms from other organizations or other events. They are not legally effective.
“Thank You” letters from the Moorpark Rotary Club will be available at the site for those of you who need to document your participation as a volunteer for this charity fundraiser.
Dry RV camping and modern camping will be available. However, no one will be permitted to park or camp on the asphalt runway that has been installed on the airstrip this year. Parking to the side of the runway on the ground will be fine, however.
No one should park behind the trees along the eastern end of the field near the hill where the barn is located, nor should they park on the side of that hill that faces the battlefield. Vehicles parked there will be too visible to the public.
The Posada Royale Hotel & Suites, www.posadaroyale.com, is supposed to be offering special reenactor rates that weekend. I dimly recall that it is a little over $100.00 for a very nice room. The address is 1775 Madera Road, Simi Valley, CA 93065 584-6300. If you need any other referrals, just send me a message.
A pistol inspection policy that began last year will be continued this year. Each pistol at the event must be taken to the Cavalry HQ and inspected before it can be carried at the event, regardless of whether it is intended to be fired. The same goes for spare cylinders. This is a requirement for which there will be no exceptions.
The registration fee for all participants will be $2.00, just as it was last year.
Lt. Col. Bill Schurmann is once again hosting the Marine Corps Birthday Celebration. He invites all Marines. Other veterans are invited, as well. He writes:
The Annual United States Marine Corps Birthday Celebration at Moor Park will be held at 2000 Hours, or 8PM for the Air Force, at Lt. Col. Bill Schurmann's mess area of the Second United States Cavalry Regiment, in the Union camp just like last year. Bill makes the following requests:
Please RSVP to Bill at billschurmann@sbcglobal.net to reserve a spot. We were very short of chairs last year, as we had over 40 Marines and guests from the other services. Please bring a chair so everyone may be seated. Bill's unit gave up their chairs last year, and therefore had no place to sit in their own camp.
Guests of Marines are welcome from other services. If you are a veteran, and do not know a Marine to bring you, come anyway, and you be among friends immediately. We will also celebrate Veterans' Day for all veterans present, and again, they are all welcome. As you may remember, we were short of cake last year, so RSVP so Bill knows how big of a cake to buy. We went through half a sheet cake last year, and we may need two this year.
Many Marines brought their favorite libation with them, and they are asked to do so again…port wine is the accepted libation of proper toasting.
The celebration will include honoring our fellow Marines, those not with us, and the oldest and youngest Marines among us. We had a great time last year, and we are looking to a bigger celebration this year. The celebration should last until about 2130 hours.
If, God forbid, it rains that weekend, remember that the rain dates are the following weekend, November 15-16. If you have received this message directly from me, I will be sending emails if the weather is threatening. If my message was simply forwarded to you, then you will also be able to see how the weather is affecting the event on the same web site above.
By the way, if you are not on my reenactor email list but want to be, just let me know. Likewise, if you want to be removed, just let me know, too.
Now let’s all go out there and have a great event this year!
Ed Mann
3 November 2008 Update
My fellow reenactors,
Only a few days away!
We dodged the weather bullet once again with the bad weather, fortunately for us, arriving this past weekend. Our weekend appears to be beautiful! Weather.com currently shows a high of 72 and a low of 52 on Saturday. Sunday's high will be 65. Both days are supposed to be sunny. Hallelujah!
The reenactor turnout for our event should be excellent, to say the very least! Confederate commanders have projected attendance at between 350 to 380. If we hit 400 Confederates, which is entirely possible, that is essentially the same number of Confederates in 2008 that we had for both sides for the first event in 2001. We have certainly come a long way.
While I don't have the projections for the "boys in blue" yet, we are hoping for big Federal numbers there, too! Hey, it takes two sides to put on a great reenactment! Otherwise, all we have is an encampment.
Tens of thousands of Civil War event four page inserts in The Acorn, the local "freebie" newspaper, were delivered to homes in Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks this past week. TV commercials are currently running on Time-Warner Cable. We all hope to reap big benefits in spectator turnout from the PR efforts. For those of you with friends or relatives attending, discount tickets are available on the Rotary's web site, www.moorparkrotary.com.
The Rotary will have more parking this year than at anytime in the past. When you arrive, please follow the signs about where to park. The parking has been completely changed since I last communicated with anyone about it. We will now park on the left in the large area as you pull into the site. This area has been reserved for the public in previous years. And please, no parking on the "real" barn hill.
For those of you participating in the school program on Friday, you can arrive anytime after noon on Thursday, but please try to arrive before 9:00 on Friday. All others can arrive anytime on Friday.
You can see the event camp layout courtesy of Reed Settle at http://www.hartsengineers.com/Events/Moorpark2002/2008/Moorpark%20Camp%202008%20006%20.pdf The layout was planned for Confederates, thus the greater detail on the Confederate side, but everyone, Union, Confederate, and civilian can get a good idea of where they will be set up at the event.
The Saturday evening meal will be provided by Chuy's Restaurants. For $7.00, you can have a complete chicken or tri-tip dinner, a real bargain. Of course, the Ladies Fortnightly, a local charity, will be serving meals all day, including breakfast, so no one will starve at Moorpark.
The Tejon Heritage Players will perform at the free dance on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Ginger Alberti will serve as the dance caller.
The full spectator schedule, along with the combatant schedule, is now posted on the web site, www.forttejon.org/moorpark. This schedule is very extensive. Those of you who have asked to do Living History presentations should check out the site for the specific time allotted to you.
Everyone at the event will be required to register, not just the combatants. The fee is "a whole $2.00." Everyone should keep their registration ticket on them at all times, even civilians. No exceptions, please.
The free reenactor raffle will take place after the last battle on Sunday. You must be present to win.
The new pistol check policy will be in place. The proposed procedure has been modified. Stickers for each pistol and spare cylinder will be placed on each reenactor's registration ticket, rather than on the pistol and the cylinders. Even if the pistol is simply a prop, and even if you are a non-combatant, you must deliver the pistol to either the Union or Confederate cavalry HQ for the inspection.
Something new for this year is that "fresh fish" will be required to take a safety test. It is not involved, but having it will ensure a safer event.
There are new artillery and mounted cavalry rules. By Tuesday evening they should be posted on the event web site, www.forttejon.org/moorpark and the 3rd Engineers' web site, www.hartsengineers.com.
I hope that you are planning to make the Moorpark event the "big finish" to your reenacting season, and that you will join us on "the field of honor" this weekend! With the pyrotechnics planned and the number of combatants and civilians who will be participating, if you miss it, you will no doubt hear from your pards, "Ya shoulda been there!"
And, very importantly, your participation this weekend will help the Rotary do good in the community while you have fun.
Ed Mann
Confederate infantry emerges from the cornfield
The thunder of hooves...
...and the crash of musketry
...hundreds of reenactors
Dramatic battle after dark
Ground charges add realism to the battles
(Photo by Nikolai Sklobovsky)
Those who have not been to a previous year's event may find it interesting to view the UCLA film student's video project that was done at the first year's event. This five minute video, plus a minute or so of "bonus footage," can be downloaded at:
Movie: http://homepage.mac.com/lechner/.Movies/gettysburg.mov
Bonus: http://homepage.mac.com/lechner/.Movies/bonus.mov
Actors from "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals" in the
Richmond Howitzers' camp at the end of the day, November, 2003.
Front row, left to right: Landis Potter, Ed Mann, Chris Desamito, Mike Foxworth. Second row: David Carpenter,"Col. Devin" and "Chaplain Lacy", Kathy Felter, Matt Lindquist, "Major von Borcke," Bruce Boxleitner, "General Longstreet," Stephen Spacek, "Capt. Smith," Fred Griffith, "General Rodes." Third row: Willy Hoult, John Hayes, Simon Dalseme, and Chuck Schulthies (pyrotechnician).
(Carpenter, Lindquist, Boxleitner, and Spacek all took part in the battles. Also attending the event and visiting with reenactors were Patrick Gorman, "General Hood," C. Thomas Howell, "Captain Thomas Chamberlain," and Joseph Fuqua, "General Stuart." Peter Sherayko of "Tombstone" also attended the event. )
Photo courtesy of Chuck Mayper, 2002 Event
Photo courtesy of Carol Patterson, 2006 event
Daily News Coverage of the 2003 Event
11/13/2008 - DDW
