The Moorpark Rotary Club Presents...

Frontal Assault!


 

 

November 10-11, 2007
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

All Proceeds Go to Worthy Causes

Firewood, Straw and the Usual Amenities Provided

Rain Date: November 17-18, 2007

 

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.

 

 Directions to the Site

Moorpark is at the west end of Simi Valley and the north end of Thousand Oaks.

FROM CENTRAL L. A. AREA : Take the 101 Freeway to Thousand Oaks. Go north on 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 the 118 Freeway 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 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.

Follow the signs to reenactor parking.

 


PHOTOS OF THE 2007 EVENT

PHOTOS OF THE 2006 EVENT

PHOTOS OF THE 2005 EVENT

 

2007 Flyer For the Event

 

Reenactors Release of Liability
(PDF format - requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

  Safety Rules and Event Regulations

 

For more information, contact:

Reenactors:
Col. Ed Mann
Howitzers1@aol.com

Spectators:
Moorpark Rotary Club

 


The Richmond Howitzers, the unit hosts for the event, in action.

 

2007 Event Schedule

Saturday, November 10th
10:00 Event officially begins.
10:00 Cooking Demonstration (Oak Street, Civilian Camp)
10:30"A Moment in Time with the Picketts" (Reviewing Stand)
11:00 Evans & Rogers perform (Reviewing Stand)
11:00 Civilian School-Northern (Oak Street, Civilian Camp)
11:00 2nd U.S. Cavalry Brass Band (Stage and Dance Floor)
11:30 Presidential Press Conference - Presidents Lincoln and Davis (Reviewing Stand)
12:00 GRAND REVIEW FIRST ENGAGEMENT: "Antietam-The Bloody Lane" (Battlefield)
1:00 Artillery Gun and Team Demonstration, 3rd U. S. Artillery (Battlefield)
1:30 Civil War Ballroom Dance Class (Open to the Public) (Dance Floor)
2:00 Infantry Demonstration (Reviewing Stand)
2:00 Civilian School, Southern (Oak Street, Civilian Camp)
2:10 Abolitionist Rally (Civilian Camp, American Anti-Slavery Society)
2:15 Cavalry Demonstration (Reviewing Stand)
2:30 "A Conversation with General Grant" (Reviewing Stand)
3:00 SECOND ENGAGEMENT: "Shiloh, The First Day"
(Preceded by "Cavalry Clash!" and immediately followed by the Gettysburg Address) (Battlefield)
4:00 Medical Demonstration (Reviewing Stand)
4:00 Social Time in the Parlor (Oak Street, Civilian Camp)
4:00 Historical Clothing Presentation (Dance Floor)
4:30 A Conversation with the Presidents and the Generals
5:00 THIRD ENGAGEMENT:"Cold Harbor" (Battlefield)

 
Sunday, November 11th
10:00 Event officially begins.
10:00 Cooking Demonstration (Oak Street, Civilian Camp)
10:30 2nd U.S. Cavalry Brass Band (Stage and Dance Floor)
10:30 Evans & Rogers perform (Reviewing Stand)
11:00 Historical Clothing Presentation (Dance Floor)
11:00 Cavalry Demonstration (Battlefield)
11:00 Civilian School-Northern (Oak Street, Civilian Camp)
11:30 Presidential Press Conference-Presidents Lincoln and Davis (Reviewing Stand)
12:00 FIRST ENGAGEMENT: "Antietam-Burnside's Final Assault" (Battlefield).
(Followed immediately by "Moorpark Rotary Club's Salute to Veterans." and "The Grand Review"
1:00 Artillery Gun and Team Demonstration, 3rd U. S. Artillery (Battlefield)
1:30 Infantry Demonstration (Reviewing Stand)
1:30 Civil War Ballroom Dance Class (Open to the Public) (Dance Floor)
1:45 Medical Demonstration (Reviewing Stand)
2:00 Civilian School, Southern (Oak Street, Civilian Camp)
2:10 Abolitionist Rally (Civilian Camp, American Anti-Slavery Society)
2:15 "A Conversation with General Grant" or "Surrender at Appomattox" (Reviewing Stand)
2:30 SECOND ENGAGEMENT: "Battle of Franklin,"
(Preceded by "Cavalry Clash!" and immediately followed by the Gettysburg Address) (Battlefield)
4:00 A Conversation with the Presidents and the Generals

Schedule for Reenactors

Saturday, November 10th
8:45 Reenactor swap meet begins.
9:00 Officers' Call: Federal and Confederate Staff and all unit commanders(Confederate Division HQ).
9:30 Officers' Call (At each Division HQ).
10:00 Event officially begins. All vehicles out of camp.
11:00 Scenario Officers' Call - Division and Brigade Commanders only - Battlefield.
11:15 Assembly, Safety Briefing, Weapons Inspection.
12:00 First Engagement -- Antietam "The Bloody Lane"
        Preceded by The Grand Review
12:45 Living History throughout camps.
2:00 Scenario Officers' Call - Division and Brigade Commanders only - Battlefield.
2:30 Assembly aand weapons inspection.
3:00 Second Engagement -- Shiloh "First Day"
        Preceded by "Cavalry Clash" and immediately followed by the Gettysburg Address
        Scenario Officers call to follow--Division and Brigade Commanders only-Battlefield.
4:30 Assembly and weapons inspection.
5:00 Third Engagement, "Cold Harbor"
7:00 Dance.
10:00 Taps -- Quiet in camp. 

Sunday, November 11th
7:00 Reveille.
8:30 Church call.
9:00 Federal and Confederate Brigade and Battalion Commanders Meeting (Federal Division HQ).
10:00 Living History throughout camps.
11:00 Scenario Officers' Call--Division and Brigade Commanders only-Battlefield.
11:15 Assembly, Safety Briefing and Weapons Inspection.
12:00 Fourth Engagement - Antietam "Burnside's Final Assault."
1:30 Scenario Officers' Call--Division and Brigade Commanders only-Battlefield.
2:00 Assembly, Safety Briefing and Weapons Inspection.
2:30 Fifth Engagement - Franklin.
        Preceded by Cavalry Clash, and followed by Gettysburg Address.
        Raffle for reenactors to follow battle.You must be present to win!

 


2007 Event Information

My Fellow Reenactors,

We are now in the final stretch, and the Moorpark Rotary Club reenactment, "The Blue and The Gray--Frontal Assault!" on November 10-11.

Things are coming together very, very well! Based on unit projections, combatant turnout at this event will be unsurpassed in California this year! So far, 16 full-scale cannons have been registered! From current projections by unit commanders, we expect the number of horsemen on the field this year to break all prior records. What reenactor would really want to miss an event like this?

You have heard about the fake but amazingly realistic breastworks that we will use for the Battle of Cold Harbor, the spectacular night battle, and the Battle of Franklin. When the wall below from the History Channel production is disassembled and made one-sided it will extend about 110 to 120 feet.

I am also happy to report that in addition to this new aspect of the event, if the fire marshal agrees, the pyrotechnic ground charges will pale by comparison. Nobody will have seen anything like them at a prior California event.

There have been some late breaking developments. I make this next pledge with all due deliberation. Although it has not been absolutely nailed down yet, if all goes well, you will see startling things happening on the battlefield at Moorpark that you have never seen at any other Civil War reenactment--anywhere, anytime. I will keep my fingers crossed.

One good thing about moving the event to save the night battle this year is that many people will be off work on Monday, November 12.

Remember, this event is a charity fundraiser for the Rotary. With that in mind, the Moorpark Rotary Club will present to each reenactor a letter at registration that acknowledges the reenactor's contribution in time and effort to this charity event. This letter should be of interest to your accountant when tax season starts.

Breakfast will be available on Saturday and Sunday morning. Food vendors will, of course, be selling food throughout the rest of the day, as well. The ever popular Saturday night dinner provided by Chuy's Restaurant will again be available. The price is a very modest $6.00, not for some spaghetti or chili dinner, but for chicken and tri-tip. Tickets can be purchased in the food court area on Saturday morning, so don't forget to buy your ticket at that time. Of course, the free dance provided by the Fort Tejon Heritage Players follows the dinner.

We have an excellent turnout for sutler row. This will no doubt be the best turnout of sutlers at a California event this year. The sutlers who have already registered are:

Two Flags Sutlery
The Yankee Reb
Consider the Lilies
Valley Forge Sutlery
G & M Mercantile
Fall Creek Suttlery
Timeless Stitches
Brodiaea's Fashions
Z'Etiquette
Reunion Antiques
Hawk Woman and White Feather
Don Jolley Historical Art
Kansas Mercantile
TJ Hadland Woodworking
Turtle Run Sutlery
Desert Crafts (Custom hats)

The bottom line is that you will be able to find more items and merchandise on this sutler row than at any other event you attended in California since the last Moorpark event.

As a safety issue, all pistols used at the event must be produced at registration and checked by the respective Adjutants or personnel designated by each Division Commander. No musket may be substituted after the safety inspection in formation without the respective branch commander's or his designee's approval and only after it is demonstrated to be ready for the field.

For those who are concerned, every reenactor on the field will be insured at this event. Nevertheless, please make sure that you have the correct release. Each year, some people produce other organizations' releases and expect that they will be accepted. Minors, a mistake on your part regarding the correct release, if your parent is not present to sign the correct form, will result in your being barred from the field. A form that releases another organization is useless at this event. Here's the correct release: http://www.48ovvi.org/ReleaseMoorpark.pdf The registration fee is $2.00.

The school program is Friday, November 9. If you want to participate and haven't let me know yet, please do so. We are expecting a couple thousand school kids.

Those reenactors participating in the school program can arrive on Thursday. Others can arrive anytime after noon on Friday.

We obtained the bleachers that we wanted, so there will be better seating, and more of it, this year for the public. The Rotary's unprecedented PR blitz in the newspapers and on television this year should help fill "every seat in the house." I heard from someone today that he saw one of our event's commercials on TV in Leona Valley. That's got to be at least 50 miles away. And for the first time, a major LA network TV affiliate has expressed interest in broadcasting from the site.

Two television production companies have contacted the Rotary about filming at the event. Negotiations continue. Mounted cavalrymen, one thing that was mentioned was doing a scene between battles that involved a cavalry charge. If you have a blue and gray uniform, bring them both.

TV and movie notables who will be there at this point are Bruce Boxleitner ("Babylon 5," "Gods and Generals" and who knows how many more), David Carpenter ("Lonesome Dove," "Gettysburg," "Gods and Generals"), Marty Kove ("The Karate Kid," "Rambo, Pt. II"), Peter Sherayko ("Tombstone," "Wild West Tech") and Phil Spangenberger ("Wild West Tech"). One actor with a very notable role in both "Gettysburg" and "Gods and Generals" will let me know in a couple of days if he can make it. Stay tuned for other possible attendees.

Here's some more good news: we will expand the bivouac areas for each side this year.

Don't forget that we have added the Reenactor Swap Meet on Saturday morning at 8:45. There has been considerable interest expressed in this addition to the event. Dig out the unused items in your closet and pick up some spare change in the process, or just come and take advantage of the bargains.

It is always the case at this time of the year that rain becomes a worry. The rain date for our event is the following weekend, November 17-18. If the weather appears to be "iffy," you can check the web site for any cancellation. However, if you are receiving this message from me by email, you can expect that I will be sending you the latest "bulletins" based on weather developments if that becomes really necessary.

In case you missed it. Here's that great YouTube video of last year's event: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqkN5oXt9VA or just search for Moorpark Rotary Club.

Check the event web site for the reenactor schedule and the public schedule for the event. Note that the public schedule has been "tweaked" a bit.

Please pass on this message to your personal reenactor email list! Other reenactors who may be interested in this event may not be getting it.

I want to thank the members of the Richmond Howitzers whose assistance always helps greatly in making this event possible.

I would like to end this message by thanking the Moorpark Rotary Club for making possible the "reenactment jewel" of the West Coast once again this year. Other event sponsors might cut corners and get by, but the Rotary Club knows how to do it right and to treat reenactors right. We all benefit by the quality that is inherent in this event, quality that has raised the bar and set the standards for other events to be judged.

I hope that you are planning to be with us and that you will join with the Moorpark Rotary Club in making this event the climax of the 2007 reenacting season! "Do good while having fun!"

Ed Mann

 

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 

 


Confederate infantry emerges from the cornfield


The thunder of hooves...


...and the crash of musketry


Dramatic battle after dark


Ground charges add realism to the battles
(Photo by Nikolai Sklobovsky)

 
5,000 spectators in 2003, even with poor weather!
 
Hundreds of authentically uniformed and equipped reenactors
 
Tours of the soldiers' camps
 
Many sutlers selling Civil War era reproductions
 
Period dances and music
 
Civil War hospital and surgery demonstrations
 
Historical personages
 
Authentic terrain
 
Mounted dragoons...
 
...and officers.
 

 

Bruce Boxleitner and Melissa Gilbert joined the event again in 2006
.
Bruce's many TV and film credits include "Babylon 5," "How the West Was Won," and "Gods and Generals," in which he played General James "Pete" Longstreet.
 
In addition to serving as President of the Screen Actors Guild, Melissa Gilbert's many TV and film credits include one of TV's most successful series, of course, "Little House on the Prairie."

 

"Reenactors and Generals"
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. )

 
Bruce Boxleitner, "Gods and Generals,"  and Martin Kove, "The Karate Kid," share a moment with Scott Peca and Andy Webb of the 2nd Ky. Cavalry.


Many thanks to Bob Duncan of Santa Barbara for his wonderful photographs of the 2002 and 2003 events!


PHOTOS OF THE 2007 EVENT

PHOTOS OF THE 2006 EVENT

PHOTOS OF THE 2005 EVENT


Photo courtesy of Chuck Mayper, 2002 Event


Photo courtesy of Carol Patterson, 2006 event

Daily News Coverage of the 2003 Event

11/17/2007 - DDW