1st Regiment Illinois Light Artillery
De Gress’ Battery
Next Meeting
2009
At the Home of Bob Brown
Buffalo Grove, Ill
UP COMING EVENTS
It appears that most of the shoots have found a place on the 2009 calendar. These dates are subject to possible changes but most likely will not. Rumor has it that there may be one more Skirmish that may be added but it may be doubtful.
April 25-26 Sandy Ford Range - Streator, Illinois, hosted by 46th Illinois;
May 15 – 17 Spring Nationals, Winchester Virginia
June 27-28 Sandy Ford Range - Streator, Illinois, hosted by Battery H 1st Illinois Artillery and 2nd U.S. Sharpshooters;
August 15-16 Lefthanders Gun Club - Loami, Illinois, hosted by 114th Illinois
Sept 19-20 Bristol range - Bristol, Wisconsin, hosted by 1st U.S. Sharpshooters.
October 2-3 Fall Nationals, Winchester Virginia
The annual membership meeting was held with some minor changes for the upcoming year. The 2009 Battery Officers are the same as last year with John M as Commander, even though he is now the WR Commander. Either JT or Bob will represent the battery at regional meetings.
The biggest of the minor changes will be in the area of team events. In the past the battery paid the registration fee for all the team small arms matches. It was decided that this practice be postponed for this year. This means that it will cost you more to participate in team matches. The more you shoot the more you pay. This hopefully will relieve some of the pressures to participate in parades through out the year. This will not eliminate the need for a parade. The income from parades will be used for artillery supplies, artillery registration fees, and the transportation to and from artillery events.
The Battery will again be co-sponsoring a Regional Skirmish with the 2nd USSS. This will be a much scaled back event than last year. Actually it should be just a normal skirmish. No displays, or gattling gun firing. This does not mean that the Battery cannot use some of its unique targeting.
Meetings
The next important meeting will occur in January out in Virginia. This is the National Board winter meeting. No agenda has been received but it should be interesting or scary to see how things are ran. It is an all-day meeting. Did you know that the N-SSA pays for the boarding of all those that attend and the Region pays for the transportation/air flight tickets?
The WR winter meeting will follow the National meeting. The dates of the skirmishes will be confirmed. One topic that will need to be voted on is the purchase of a portable defiberator. As the average age of a skirmisher gets up there in age, many feel that this could mean life and death if some one goes into cardiac arrest.
It Happened in November and December 1863:
Nov 3, Mosby guerrillas strike outposts near Warrentown
Nov 4, Brownsville Texas is evacuated by the confederates, leaving the way for a Union foot-hold on the Mexican boarder.
Nov 10 A two-week bombardment of Fort Sumter ends during which 9306 shots are fired.
Nov 23-25 Armies engage in fierce action at Orchard Knob, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge resulting in the Confederate loss of Chattanooga.
Dec 21 The CSS Tennessee, an ironclad is reported finished and ready for arms and men.
Christmas Night.
Twas a night before Christmas, through the cold Chicago land
Not a marksman was stirring, not even Stan
The small arms we cleaned and oiled with care
In hopes that skirmishing soon would be there.
The cannoneers were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of metals pranced in their heads.
With John in his red flannels and Bob in his cap
Had just settled in for a cozy winter nap.
When within their dreams, fog formed solid matter
Possibly caused by too much food on a platter.
The command for safeties, green flags they show
Clay birds tied to cardboard, lunar shadows below.
Snap caps, check ammo and confirm 50 yard sight picture
Not a single thought of eight flying tiny reindeer.
With nerves of brass and eyes of a hawk
At any moment, horn, no time for small talk.
Stay relaxed, keep calm, breath, heart rate to tame,
Then the horn, shoulder, squeeze trigger, joyous reframe.
Targets hit the ground with each muzzle flash
All shots were on, like black on Johnny Cash.
Thirty-two clay birds on a backer or cardboard wall,
One by one they started to fall.
First Scott then Dick, JT, and Stan
Ralphie, Mazor, even John, every man.
As cheap shingles before the wild hurricane fly
So did the event end surprising to mystify
Events happened and the time did just flew
With a little skill and luck, they claimed number two.
So at night weapon cleaning finally was done,
Time to sit boasting , a warm campfire, some fun.
With gastronomical delights found in a book,
Stan with experience, things started to boil, to cook.
After bragging of heroics, man with gun.
Had cups filled with commander’s hot buttered rum.
Was this a dream, a ghost of a skirmish past,
A ghost of future glory, Victory at last.
What about St. Nick, with his little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
That chubby and plump, that right jolly elf
Deliverer of presents to people like your self.
Must be artillery, after all he wears red.
Visits buffets, Golden Corals, very well fed.
His elves are making rag dolls and wooden train toys
For all those well behaved little girls and boys.
While Santa is visiting Lodgewood, for a Smith rear sight.
So I say Merry Christmas to all, to all a good night.