1st Regiment Illinois Light Artillery

De Gress’ Battery

July 2008

 

 

 

Next Meeting

To be announced

 

 

UP COMING EVENTS

July 26-27th      Long range Match

The Battery has registered teams for the Long Range Match in Grayling Michigan. This is presently the only match that the Battery will be competing with the cannon this year. The Battery will also be competing with both of its mortars. Camping opens on noon, Friday and individual sign up at registration tent at 6PM. There is an officers meeting on Friday at 7 PM that must be attended by a senior officer. Please note that there will be no access to a shower building as in the past and water will be provided by tankers. This is also the same weekend as the annual canoe race so it might be too late to reserve hotels for this event.

 

The mortar matches start at 9 AM on Saturday. Mortars will fire at a stake place at a distance of 255 yards. Shots outside the 200-foot radius of the stake will not be scored. The battery will be fielding two mortars at this event.

 

The long range cannon matches start with the first relay at 10:15 AM. Rifled cannon will fire at targets at 1000 meters as before. They will fire a total of 15 rounds, 12 for score and 3 at demonstration targets.

 

The event will be happening on Range #35 which is just off the North Down River rd . Take Business Route 75 north to North Down River Road, land marked by a large cemetery on the corner. Continue east, cross over I-75 and continue for about 4 more miles and Range 35 will be on your left.

 

So far we have 6 members who will be attending. If you are unsure that you informed the commander you are going please do so at your earliest chance. Members are suggested that they try to car pool to cut down on gas costs.

 

 

 

Aug 16 –17 The 114th Illinois Volunteer Skirmish

 

This is a well-run skirmish with fun events second only by ours. It is being held at the Lefthanders Club near the town of Loami. (Low-am-ee) Again this event takes place during the Illinois State Fair so hotels are going to be difficult to find and expensive. There is plenty of room for camping but in the past beware of chiggers. There will be normal fare of events with the addition to a long range match. Targets will be placed at 250 yards and an individual with a spotter will fire for effect at a paper silhouette 

 

Smoothbore shooters bring your best for the Battery is aiming to reclaim its title as the best in the Western region. Also being that the Battery did so well at Spring Nationals, they have inspiration of “show” in the top teams.

 

Saturday night is the annual big steak cookout. You bring your favorite cut of meat and you cook it on the large grill. You are also asked to bring a side salad or dessert. Make sure you wear your loudest Hawaiian shirt for they will have their “beloved” slurpy machines running.

 

For more details please visit the Western Region web site.

 

Oct 2 – 5th    Fall Nationals

 

Very simple put this is our turn to show that Battery H can clean bathrooms as good as they can shoot mortars. Even though this event is several months away, it will soon be here before we know it. As reported the Battery will not be able to compete at this event. So plan on relaxing by the camp fire, cooking, and laughing with the occasional tour of duty to clean bathrooms. The Sanitation Officer has requested 4 or 5 more recruits to help out, so it will not just be us. Please check your schedule and let the commander know when you will be out there. Accommodations will be made so those that attend will have a chance to visit nearby battlefields for some inspiration.

 

 

2008 Planned Schedule of Events

July 26 –27th               Long-Range Artillery Match, Grayling MI

Aug 16-17th                Springfield Skirmish sponsored by 114 h Illinois

Sept 5th                       Membership meeting

Sept 20 - 21                 Bristol Skirmish sponsored by 1st USSS

A combination N-SSA and ACWSA shoot held just over the boarder of Wisc at the Kenosha County Conservation Club.

Oct 2 –5th                    Fall National Shooting competition Winchester VA

Nov 7th                        Membership Meeting

 

 

 

Reports from the Field

 

Spring Nationals  - May

Seven members challenged the high gas prices to compete in the 117th National. In the typical weather pattern those that went saw rain, mud, humidity, highs in the eighties and a good chance at sunburns. The Battery had its normal luck in Revolver and Musket team events and the mortar team of the two Johns seem to have lost their winning combination or equation. But the other mortar team kept the Battery’s record of coming home with a medal by placing in the top ten.

 

The big surprise came in the Carbine Team event. The Battery was supposed to pick up an extra shooter from a Western Region Team but due to some confusion it did not happen. Because of the price of gas many teams were hard up to field a full team and there wasn’t an extra shooter to be found so the Battery went to the line with only 7 shooters. Many of the members knew that there was something in the air when they were able to finish the pigeon board, a task often unattainable with a full 8-man team. Shooters remained hot as they breezed through the other 50-yard events. All expected it to fall apart at the 100-yard targets but when time was called, less than 2 minutes had passed. To the surprise of the Battery, after the first phase they were sitting pretty on top of the class 3 group and when all the carbine teams were done, they had dropped only one spot. They were disappointed but yet proud and smiling.

 

There were two individuals who had a little more to smile about. Stan took home an extra medal by placing in the top 10 of his classification in 50-yard musket. Our commander took 2nd place with his carbine at 50-yard and shot his best revolver target in his life at 25-yard which gave him his first 1st place medal in revolver.

 

FYI: The Battery has now won a medal in all the team events that they have entered with the exception of Musket team. They have not entered a breach loader team nor a cannon team. For those who were following the Stan Vs. Commander team hits, Stan again fell short but promises to come back with a vengeance in the Spring of 2009.

 

Parades

The Battery participated in three parades this year. The first was the LaGrange Pet parade. There was a good showing of Battery members as well as three members of the 2nd US sharpshooters. It was slightly warm but a pleasant breeze. The Battery earned $600 for that parade with some of that going to the Sharpshooters for their participation.

 

The other two parades were parades held on July 4th in Arlington Heights and Mount Prospect. These parades were poorly attended by the Battery which may effect the possibility of them being invited again next year. If they are invited it may have to be for significantly less.

 

The Commander would like to extend a special thanks to all those who were able to attend any of these parades.

 

5th Annual Matuszek Skirmish

This was held on June 21st and 22nd at Sandy Ford Sportsman Club. This was to be a combination of living history, live fire skirmish, and civil war display. This skirmish was sponsored in part by the Town of Streator and the Battery received help from the 2nd USSS. This skirmish saw one of the better turnouts that they have had in several years. There were 9 carbine teams, 5 smoothbore teams, and 8 musket teams. There was a 30% increase of individual shooters from last year. (21 in 2007 to 33 in 2008) There was even a Gatling gun shooting demonstration. Three guns were brought out but by the end of the weekend, only one was able to fire.

 

Special thanks should be given out to Dan Davis who tried to make this an event to be remembered. He obtained $300 to help with the range fee and brought in wonderfully catered meals. The Skirmish Director feels that through his requesting that there was a stronger showing from Wisconsin teams than in the past.

 

This event also showcased two new events. There were the Stars and Bars in the carbine team event, which very few really enjoyed. And the new individual event of Last Shooter Standing which only 8 people signed up for and only took one round to crown a victor. Seven people missed a mounted pigeon on their first shot and the last shooter took home $25 cash. All the figures have not been put together but the profit line should be higher than last year.  

 

For an updated Schedule of Events please check out our Web site.

http://users.adelphia.net/~spjezior/