1st Regiment Illinois Light Artillery

De Gress’ Battery

Dec 2007

 

 

 

Next Meeting

January 2008

7:30 PM

Whitehall Court, Buffalo Grove, Ill

 

Due to the busy schedule both membership and personal the Battery did not have a November Meeting. With the Holidays upon the land, it is presently deemed that it would be too difficult to get the membership together for an official meeting. This does make for an odd situation. We were to elect new officers for the 2008 season. After asking all that are eligible for office, there were no offices that were under contention. Presently the officers who have stated that they would fill positions are as follows.

 

Commander                            John Matuszek

Secretary                                 Bob Brown

Range Safety Officer              John Thatcher

Asst. RSO                               Matthew Koch

Paymaster                                Richard Koch

Quarter Master                        John Thatcher

Historian                                 John Matuszek

Board Members                      Frank Matuszek

                                                Richard Schimdt

Web Master                             Stan Jezior

 

These are the proposed officers that will be the acting body until they can be approved by the Volunteers or voting body at the next meeting. A mail vote may be taken but it limits the chance for nominations off the floor and the chance for verbal discussions. I thank you for your understanding.

 

 

Matuszek Memorial Skirmish

As reported the Battery has offered to run the 5th Matuszek Memorial Skirmish. They are doing this with the help of the 2nd US Sharpshooters. The Battery is taking care of the targeting and most of the other skirmish logistics. To make this skirmish more memorable, there will be some slight changes to normal shooting events.

 

The first big difference is the addition of a Gattling gun demonstration. This will be a one-day event on Sunday after the Musket Team event is completed. Richard said we could use his Gattling Gun in the event that he is not there. Presently the Skirmish director is planning on three events. These events will be based on a point system instead of time. There will be no other firearms involved. Targeting will involve plasterboards, clay pigeons and 2 liter bottles. We will need 60 bottles. Bottles should be clear and labels removed and with caps.

 

John Thatcher and John M are working on some unique targeting for Carbine and Musket team events. There will be the standard 6 X6 Tile at 100 yards and the pigeon board and 4 X 4 tile at 50 yards. The stake event will return for smoothbore competition with the exception that it will be a 5-minute event and a prize will be offered by the Skirmish director to the fastest team who breaks the stake in less than 3 minutes.

 

Another special event will be the Sharpshooter elimination match. Using a carbine, musket or breechloader, individuals will pay a one-dollar registration fee. They will line up on the firing line and shoot one at a time at breakable targets. If they miss, they will be eliminated. This will continue and targets will get smaller until there is one person standing. This winner will get a cash prize and maybe something else to remember their victory.

 

While all of this shooting is going on at the main range, the smaller range will be used for any visitor who wants to try out a period weapon. This will be run like it was two years ago. An individual who is 13 years or older will pay a fee to fire 5 rounds at a variety of targets.

 

Unlike last time the Battery will not be hauling the cannon out for show and tell. We will try to recruit new members at this shoot. It sounds like it will be a fun event and as things get solidified, new things may be added.

 

Recruitment

Early this year, several of the Battery members took time and helped answer questions at several Kane County Sportsman Shows. The cost of these tables were donated to the Battery in hopes of recruiting new members for the Battery. Again in the early months of 2008 there is talk of doing the same. There are shows on the following dates. Jan 13th, Feb 10th, Mar 16th and May 11th. A minimum of two people are needed to run a table. Three is preferred; four makes it a little crowded. The benefits are you get into the show for free and get to do some shopping. You get to talk to individuals about our sport and maybe help bring a new member into the organization. If you are interested in helping, please contact the commander.  

 

 

Sick Call

Jack Hubbell’s  daughter, Jini, who is the 4th youngest, gave an update on his health. He is doing okay but between all that he has been through, it is very doubtful that we will see him on the firing line again. His mind wonders and his memory lapses now and then. Yet with this being known to him and his family, they are not giving up hope. Jack wants to hang on to his equipment. Several members have offered to help them sell it. They thanked us for the offer of assistance and will let us know when the time is right.

 

Hits per Seconds

Have you ever wondered why we keep records of your hits in the different team events? Is it to give you the chance to let the other members of the team know just how good you did on that event? Or is it to let your teammates know how bad of a day you are having? Well it serves a few purposes. In the event that there are extra shooters for a team event, it helps determine who will shoot on the A-team and who will shoot on the B-team or gets farmed out. For some it may inspire them to shoot a little better, after all you are competing with yourself, your team members and the other teams. Friendly honest competition can make for a more enjoyable shoot. Does Stan stay up late disappointed that again John out shot him? No, it just makes him want to go out and practice. Does John stay out late celebrating his victory over Stan? Yes and it also makes him want to go out and practice so he can continue to do his victory dance. Also at the end of the year the Battery likes to acknowledge the top shooters in the team events.

 

Not every one can make every shoot. Not every one shot on a Battery team. Some times and scores get lost. So it isn’t the perfect method or report. For “Top shooter” of the Battery one must compete in a majority of the events. So who are the top shooters and how did you fair? Well here they are. Please note that the top four shooter’s hits per second will be given. The time is how long it takes them to hit one target, be it at 25, 50 or 100 yard.

 

Musket Team Event                                            Carbine Team Event

1. John V. M   =.         65.0                                         1. John V. M.  =          38.0

2. Wayne B     =          71.0                                         2.John T.         =          56.6

3. Frank S. M  =          79.2                                         3. Wayne B.    =          66.0

4 Stan J.          =          83.0                                         4. Stan J.         =          82.4

5. Matt K.                                                                   5. Matt K.

6. Jon M                                                                      6. Dick K.

7. Dick K                                                                    7. Scott C.

8. Scott C.                                                                   8. Bob B.

9. Bob B                                                                      8. Jon M.

 

Smoothbore Team Event                                            Revolver Team Event

1. John T.        =          54.3                                         1. Bob B.

2. Wayne B.    =          56.3                                         2. John T.

3. Stan J.         =          57.8                                         3. Scott C.

4. John V. M. =          58.8                                         4. Stan, John, Jon, Wayne

 

Are you happy with your standings amongst your team members? You will notice the members on top have either been shooting for a long time and/or go out and practice. Like with most sports the more you practice and compete the better you will get. See you on the firing line.

 

  

Sanitation Crew

Our commander has been elected as the 118th National Sanitation Officer. This means that we will be in charge of preparing the privies at the Fort Shenandoah. We will then keep them clean and tidy during the skirmish. This also means that the Battery will be unable to compete during the week as a team and as an individual. Each team takes its turn in helping run a National and our number came up. Actually the rumor has it that because we did such a great job last time that we were requested to fill this position again. As some of you know there are many jobs that need to be done. Sanitation Crew is one of the more desirable tasks. It allows for a more flexible schedule and can be made into a more enjoyable task. Other wise you can find yourself standing on the line from 8 to 5, or locked in a room scoring targets. The sanitation crew goes out and cleans and then can go back to camp for a few hours and rest. Then they head out again. We will be  spending plenty of time sitting around the fire.

 

 

Did you Know…

 

Great Scott!

“The first known use of the phrase was in a Civil War soldier's diary entry on May 3, 1864. Private Robert Knox wrote: "Great Scott, who would have thought that this would be the destiny of the Union Volunteer in 1861-2 while marching down Broadway to the tune of 'John Brown's Body.'"

But exactly who was Scott, and why was he so darn great? World Wide Words goes on to explain Scott may have been a reference to an American general named "General Winfield Scott." This makes a lot of sense -- soldiers of this era often took the "name of then commander-in-chief for an oath." It's also worth noting that General Scott was a large man, weighing around 300 pounds. The word "great" would have served as a suitable (and polite) adjective.

Nobody knows for sure if "General Scott" and "Great Scott" are one in the same. But of all the possibilities, this seems the most likely.”

 

May the time of the season fill your heart with joy to the human race and all the other creatures on this planet. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Years to one and all.