Report:
Ft. Washita in 2005

MINI-MUSTER:
THE FOLLOWING LETTER IS FROM DON GROSS TO STAN PRATER
 

Stan,
 
Without a formal muster scheduled this year the 77PA joined the 1st at Ft Washita last weekend.   We had 45 men present for duty.
 
We formed one company with two platoons for the weekend.   This allowed us to use a full complement of officers and NCOs.   We operated with a Cpt, 1Lt, 2Lt, and five Sgts.   The goal was for the men to see how a CW sized company really operated.   This was especially good training for the NCOs as there was a lot of movement for them.   Wheels were interesting to say the least.
 
Drill focused on Skirmish.   We deployed both on a file and by the flank, as platoons and as a whole company.   We used a building block approach by walking through each method several times on the parade ground and then did it at the double quick.   We also went to the field in the morning and afternoon.   This allowed us to maneuver through broken ground and trees.   We even tested ourselves by going through heavy brush with a pretty significant ditch in it.   Officers and NCO's had their work cut out for then on that part.   Of course we also ran through all the standards of maneuvering a company as part of a battalion, going over all the ways to get into and out of a line of battle.
 
Near the end of the day the men were "tested" on how well they learned skirmish drill.   On the way back to the fort we were "attacked" by four partisans.   A few key casualties set the stage and really added to the confusion.   I'm sorry to say that initially the men were running around like chickens with their heads cut off.   It was easy to see why ambushes of small details were so successful and the attackers hard to catch.   The men did eventually form a skirmish line to locate and capture the enemy.   Even then, as experienced guys took a few hits the men, as should be expected I guess, got further and further away from procedures.   It was a lot of fun though.   Of course marching by the left flank and getting hit from the left was just about as hard a starting point as they could get.
 
I did not parade the troops but we spent Sunday doing the full up guard mount procedures which is in effect a mini parade.   The men were at least exposed to the full procedures for guard mount although the newer corporals still need some work.
 

 
In addition to the field training we had three classroom sessions:
     1. 1860s etiquette, care of Mrs. Julie Thomas.   This was quite an eye opener for all concerned.
     2. Rolling authentic/correct rounds.
     3. Marking the blanket.   All had an opportunity to at least start on applying the US to their blankets... some even finished during the class.
 
The men were well fed for $10.00 each.   High light was fresh gingerbread - baked on site!   We even had money left over to make a contribution to the fort.
 

 
OUR SCHEDULE WAS:
     0700 revelie, breakfast
     0800 drill
     1200 lunch
     1300 class
     1400 drill
     1630 company meetings
     1800 dinner
     0700 revelie, breakfast
     0830 church
     0930 guard mount/classes
     1230 dismissal
 
Don