This Brigade Napoleon event was the second Grande Tactique for 2017, the first being at Ft. Erie in June. Because there were two Grande Tactique events this year, attendance at this event was not as large as previous years. There were 10 cavalrymen, all from French regiments. Unfortunately, the horses provided for the event were not trained to reenactment gunfire. After the Saturday skirmish it was clear to everyone that untrained horses were a danger to both riders and the infantry. In an effort to make the horses more comfortable to gunfire, the 95th Rifles were asked to provide noise at the picket line to determine if the horses could be acclimatized to the noise. It didn’t help. In was decided that the cavalry would not participate in the Sunday skirmish.
Because of the intermittent rain on Saturday, the spectator turnout was very sparse. However, the clear skies on Sunday brought many more spectators.
There was a special unit achievement on Saturday morning for the 95th Rifles. We were able to start a camp fire for cooking using only flint and steel. Fortunately, we made this fire just before the rain came and were able to have a hot breakfast. Attending this event were John Dittamo, Bill Goumas and Jim Tate. John was still recovering from a back injury and was responsible for the mess arrangements and for taking photos.
The skirmishes on Saturday and Sunday afternoon were small events with no more than 10 soldiers in each of the Allied and French forces. The two riflemen were augmented by a Pomeranian Landwehr and a Kiev Grenadier.
The instruction for this weekend was sword exercise. We learned and practiced the seven cuts for a sword using our sword bayonets. At the next event we will continue with sword exercise and learn the guards and parries for sword fighting.
This event was also the annual meeting of the Brigade Napoleon on Sunday morning. Nominations were made for a new slate of officers for the next two years. Nominated for officers were Iain Burns for president, Chris McKay for vice president, Jim Tate for secretary and Bill Buser for treasurer. Unit commanders will vote on the candidates in an electronic ballot in October. I will keep you informed of the results.
Submitted,
Jim Tate, Chosen Man
Rifleman #67