Conner Prairie was a blast. For those of you who missed it **COUCH**ken**COUGH** you should really try and get up there just to see the site. This place, in my humble opinion, blows Shakertown at Pleasant Hill out of the water. For those who have been to Shakertown in Mercer County you remember the electric lighting and somewhat respectable attempts to conceal the AC units and other modern amenities required to run what in essence is a bed and breakfast. There is no such thing at Conner Prairie in the 1836 village. No electricity whatever. No signs of water lines or anything else approaching modern stuff is visible even upon a close careful inspection. You fill the place with reenactors and it was very easy to lose yourself in the period.
The 7th Kentucky rolled in on the afternoon of Friday to discover our camp for the weekend was in the former pig pen. Some will say it was appropriate I’m sure. With rain and storms threatening the veterans of the 7th we took out after some more respectable shelter than our gum blankets. We found the town kiln that was well covered and had makeshift walls made from the kindling to be used to fire the kiln. Perfect spot to ride out the storms. Kudos go to Mr. Elijah W. Cox for finding this place. Your humble correspondent was prepared to run the Soldier’s Aid Society out of one of their buildings but the Captain didn’t think that was such a good idea. We woke up Saturday morning to find the place soaked with heavy rain. Many of the men in our battalion were wet while we were bone dry except for the light mist of blowing rain which served more as refreshment than anything approaching a discomfort. Our company drew guard detail on Saturday and apparently the relief from 2nd Battalion never came resulting in our detail staying for most of the day. None of us who were familiar with 2nd Battalion were too surprised at their lack of duty. ahem.
Around 2pm or so we heard first call and began kitting up for whatever had befallen our piece of ground. We soon learned a small group of secesh infantry and cavalry had taken up along the river. This was a strange battle. There were significant delays in the flow of the fight. To illustrate the length of the delays, one of the General’s aides went into the fight as a Captain and emerged from the fight as a Colonel! The secesh finally withdrew from the field in an orderly fashion and sent couriers to the General explaining they would be back. General Dunfee reportedly sent a note back with the courier explaining if they showed their face near us again we would destroy them. This news spread through the camps like a fresh breeze (very welcome in our pig pen home by the way). The men’s hearts filled with excitement for what the next day would bring and belly’s full of fine rations we relieved the guard…with more men from 1st Battalion…and the army settled in for the evening.
Sunday morning rolled in after a peaceful night’s rest. We finished off saturday’s ration issue for breakfast and fell in for inspection and all the things we typically do on a Sunday morning. Soon word came that the secesh had in fact returned for the promised butt kicking. This time the only delay in the action was for a real world injury to a horse. Once the vet had attended to the animal the fight was back on and there was no stopping General Dunfee. We pressed them hard with two charges on their positions putting few of them to flight and capturing, killing, or wounding the bulk of them. We saw no more of them after this soire.
The trip home was full of all kinds of excitement. I blame EW’s map. 
Of the infantry members, we had our Captain Lemons, and Privates Cox(Eaton), Woodward(Woford), and McGuire(yours truly). Made for a fine mess. Mr. Cox’s find of the kiln should earn him a medal. Mr. Woodward’s day long tour on the guard detail Saturday was met with approval by the Colonel of the Western Brigade. It is unfortunate that such a long detail was necessary but Woodward did his duty for the Battalion as always without griping or complaining.
Gents we have the Brass Band Festival coming up on the 13th of June. EW will be issuing another note on requirements for the Parade. Please do your best to black your boots, polish your brass, and clean and brush your uniforms. I’ll probably show up in my customary blue sweats and dark blue T shirt. It’s up to you guys what you want to wear I think…if we don’t hear from EW on this anyway.
Also, I’m going to Renfro Valley this weekend for a recruiting effort. I’ll be setting up a fly and doing the period recruiting thing. All are welcome to join me at the Renfro Valley Music center. Take I75 south to the Renfro Valley exit, turn left off the exit, and look for the Brush Arbor village on the right. You should see folks setting up tents and otherwise milling around. I’ll be the guy in blue under the fly ranting on about preserving the Union. Things should kick off around 10am.
