Mossy Creek Mess

Bummers AAR

(The story of Butler’s Bastards)

Mossy Creek members Jamie and Steven rode with me down to Molena Georgia at Camp Thunder for the Bummers event November 13-15, 2009. Mess members Clint and Kevin met us at the event. We arrived on site around 3:30 in the afternoon where Kevin already was and then Clint met us around 6.

We changed clothes, met with old friends and then headed down to registration where we registered and plopped down to await orders. After an inspection, officers meeting, and meat issue we formed up to finally move out on our foraging mission. About the time we go lined up we were notified that 1^st Division didn’t get there meat ration so half of our men were required to give up their meat to help them out. After some grumbling and cussing we reluctantly gave up our meat. We then lit our torches and watched them burn out about as quick as we put the match to them so we headed off into the Georgia countryside in the pitch black dark.

We turned down the river road only to be halted. We then eased forward 5-10 feet at a time halting every time. Then shots rang out to our front and we knew 1^st division had ran into the militia. They made quick work of them; however, as we passed the gate to the road we saw one fellow with his neck slit dead by the side of the road letting us know what was in store for us if we weren’t on our toes. We made our way down the road a tenth of a mile or so and headed up the hill to the top of a small ridge and made camp for the night. The men gathered firewood and got two fires going where we cooked our bacon and tried to get some sleep. 2^nd Division was further up the hill watching the ridge and our pickets were watching the road below us. That night was uneventful except for the pickets that fired at some of their own men.

We awoke Saturday morning to a seasonable warm morning. The men made coffee and ate any of the bacon they had from the night before. Lt. Butler had procured some oats that we added some dried apples to for the “officers mess” for the morning. We formed up on the road and filled our canteens with visions of all the plunder we were going to find later that day.

3^rd Division was third in line of march. We started down the road only to find that the swollen river was washing in on the road and we would have to take an “alternate route.” Up and out and down the mountain we went, skirting rock ledges and trying not to slide off the side of the hill and into the river. The men passed the time when we were stopped by the accordion action of our march by kicking rocks down the hill and seeing if they could get them all the way to the river. A march of around 1 mile total distance took us almost 4 hours. We had one last obstacle to climb before we got to stop and take a break. We climbed up a couple hundred foot almost vertical path that was slick as ice by the already 250 sets of feet that had climbed it before we got there. When we got to the top we stopped to rest proud of what we had accomplished so far.

We sent a canteen detail to the top of the mountain, but due to limited supplies of water at the top of the hill they were sent back down with only ½ canteen for everyone. After a 30 minute stop we headed down the trail with hopes that we would soon be in the land of forage to quiet our growling bellies.

Around two o’clock we had arrived at our first foraging spot. We divided the division on each side of the road and headed off to find our plunder. What we found was another hill to climb with nothing in return as no plunder was found. Then Lt. Butler and Lt. Giddens decided that we should head off on our own to see if we could find anything before the other foraging parties had a chance to find it. We came to a T in the road and headed down the right path for about a half mile or so only to be disappointed and empty handed. We turned around and headed back down the road and met up with the rest of the division who had come up. We then headed down the left road with the rest of the division with renewed hopes of finding forage.

We came to a ravine where the plunder was rumored to be. We again were sent to the left up a ravine but again found nothing. By then the situation was getting more serious. It was around 3:30 by then and most of the men were without water and none of us had any food. Corporal Grafwig and Private Sherrin volunteered to go out and scout ahead to find a route that would lead us to food. Within 20 minutes they were out of earshot and we heard some firing off in the distance and we were left wondering if they had become captured.

Our guide was no where to be found so the foraging party leaders met with our Division commander to hash out a plan. After some discussion about where we were on the “map” we made a decision to back track to where we knew the other groups had gone. About that time our guide returned and told us of another route. We moved out and followed a creek for 500 yards or so and then crossed it and headed up the mountain. We finally arrived at the top of the mountain about 5:00 or so in the afternoon. With light fading we filled our canteens for the first time since morning and gathered firewood and found some apples, corn, and sweet potatoes and the men ate for the first time during the day.

We did a head count and realized that we were missing a Corporal. With visions of him lying at the bottom of the hill bleeding or with a broken limp Terry Sorchey and I headed back down the hill to look for him. We arrived at the bottom of the hill about the time that the last light faded. The march back to the top of the mountain was interesting to say the least as you couldn’t see more than 5 feet in front of you and most was done by feel of the feet because as long as you stayed on the path it was hard and once you got off the trail the leaves were soft and thick. I did a lot of backing up and feeling my way. I knew we had crossed the creek and after about 10 minutes of searching we happened upon the creek crossing and knew that the only obstacle ahead of us was the ½ mile track back up the mountain.

Captain Sorchey and I arrived back at the top of the mountain, said our goodnights and I headed back to the men to try and catch some sleep. After some food and water the men were in good spirits and we listened to stories of home and their tales of the day. Despite the hard days marching and food in my belly, sleep was hard to come by. I kept waking and wondering what was going to happen in the day to come. I woke a couple of times to get the fire going again to keep everyone huddled around it warm.

We arouse around 6:30, packed up our things and formed up on the road to march out. About 10 minutes into the march Wilson, our company mascot made from a head of cabbage, was thrown to the side of the road and put out of his misery by Pvt. Merrit much to the entertainment of the men. We shortly there after came across some refugee’s alongside the road. I know I shot them some dirty looks for making us come all of the way down to Georgia to try and end the war.

We encountered our first cabin soon after that and the men cut loose on those poor souls letting out their aggression. We filled our bellies and haversacks and left with the cabin boards torn off and smoking in the background.

A short distance up the road we encountered the militia who put up a pretty fair fight of it, but when pushed were quick to turn and run. We pushed them back several hundred yards before we saw a store building off in the distance. The militia broke and ran as we came up to the store building. About that time around 20 federal prisioners came running out of the woods freed by the retreating militia. The men tried to plunder the store but inside was a young lady giving birth. A couple of our men made it into the cabin before a federal officer took his position at the door and wouldn’t let anyone in the store or let us burn it down. Pvt. Merritt took a blood soaked rag and a plate to the head for checking on the lady giving birth.

We reformed up to the right of the road and the 48^th IN pushed the rest of the militia back to their artillery position pretty much single handedly. We were soon off in the front with no support but the men held their position until support was brought up. We found some militia stash of food and tobacco and helped ourselves.

The rest of the division captured some militia and sent them out in front of our lines as a buffer. One last charge by the militia was repulsed by 3^rd Division and mainly our foraging party. We released the militia and they were gone. We then marched down the road and headed toward the next town.

Thanks to the SCAR for coming and making up the two best foraging parties at the event. It would be hard to find better men anywhere to serve with. Thanks to Mess#1 and the AG for putting the event on. This one will be hard to top.

2^nd Lt. Sean Cooper

48^th Indiana

Butler’s Bastards

Mossy Creek Mess