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Eight years ago, in 1997 after 135th Sharpsburg,
members of Taylor's Louisiana Brigade, California Column visited
Camp Moore, near Tangipahoa, Louisiana. The place is of interest,
as it is the last remaining Camp of Instruction from the Civil
War, left in its pristine state as it was in 1861.
Camp Moore contains a cemetery for Confederate
Soldiers (over 700 of them) who died while there, mostly from
the two outbreaks of measles but some few are soldiers killed
as a result of the two cavalry raids on the Camp, by US Cavalry
in 1863 & 1864. There is also an exquisite museum there
which in and of itself, is worth the visit.
We learned that the museum is entirely staffed
by volunteers and is open 5 days a week. The volunteers include
some who make the museum almost a full-time unpaid job. Two
men in particular, Mr. Wayne Cosby and Mr. Dennis Neal are
the real driving forces, who's vision and energy keep the
place alive as a living testament to the courage and valor
of the soldiers who passed through, were trained and who then
went off to join the ANV or the AOT.
Those of us from California who passed there
8 years ago, have now made this an annual trek, not only to
go there for their annual reenactment and fund raised in November,
but also, more importantly for us, to donate money to Camp
Moore to keep the doors open.
A happy confluence of ideas occurred 4 years
ago, which led not only to bringing enjoyment to our reenactor
pards here in California, but also to bringing financial support
to Camp Moore in ever larger amounts.
Chris Benintende of Co. B, 1st LA Spec.
Batt., had the idea for a traveling pub to be named The Cock
& Pullet, which we could take to events to provide evening's
entertainment for the reenactors. Philip Gallanders carried
the ball a bit further and organized the pub sign which he
had painted in England and shipped over. The $1000+ cost of
this pub sign, was underwritten by the C & P "Plank
Owners": Chris & Stevie Benintende, Joe Benintende,
Sam & Anne Frankl, Philip Gallanders, Dale & Bobbe
Jacobs, Matt Kremer, Kevin Miller & Jim Tebbetts. Philip
& Chris, the proprietors of the pub, now take the pub
to about 5-6 events every year. The clients do not buy beer.
Rather for $10, they buy one of the special mugs we have made
up for each event. They are then able to fill up the mug as
often as they wish, with free beer. The mugs are often taken
to be refilled by our bevy of "Floozies" who dress
the part and vamp around, chatting up the marks, er, customers.
We are blessed by having the following ladies who participate
so: Joan Bell, Dawn Beresevoy, Anne Frankl, Bobbe Jacobs and
Charlene Zankich. All money raised, after deduction of the
costs for the mugs and home-brew beer, beer-barrels, etc.,
are designated to Camp Moore. This averages about $6.24/Mug.
At the same time as the C&P was getting
underway, Kevin Miller, Capt., Co. B, 1st LA Spec. Battalion
had the idea to establish an after hours Gentleman's gaming
establishment. Thus, Maverick's Gaming House was formed. The
games played, are games of skill, played with 19th Century
style cards (no numbers) and period clay chips. The two games,
5-Card Stud and Blackjack are played with period rules. All
players come to the table by making a donation to Civil War
Site Preservation, aka Camp Moore. They then play with the
chips they are given and when the leave the table, their chips
are turned into raffle tickets for the drawing held the following
day. Maverick Miller is ably supported by his dealers, "Busted
Flush" Gallanders, Dale "One Eye Jacobovich"
Jacobs, Sam "The Enforcer" Frankl, Matt "Honest
Job" Kremer, Joe "Halfbagged" Benintende, Karen
"Quick Hands" Harriott, Jim Tebbetts and last but
not least, "The Spoon Lady." All the dealers buy
their own period chips and cards, chip boxes and table felts,
donating the costs. Thus, 100% of all money donated by the
players is passed through to Camp Moore with no overhead.
As the efforts of "Maverick" Miller,
Brewmaster Chris Benintende, Publican Philip Gallanders and
other members of either establishment become more known and
supported, so too has the donation paid to Camp Moore increased.
In 2002 we gave about $150, which rose in 2003 to $560. This
amount skyrocketed in 2004 to $1500 and this year, climbed
again to $2000. This donation for the last two years, has
been a substantial fraction of the total funds Camp Moore
has to operate, at approximately 15%-20% of the total. Part
of this year's total gift to Camp Moore, were handsome contributions
made by the Washington Artillery Reenactors and 1st
Sgt.Scott & Donnalee Simmons of the WAR.
This year, money was raised in Northern
California, at the ACWS events at Gibson's Ranch and Tres
Pinos. We also operated at the CHAS event at Duncan's Mill.
In Southern California, we operated the C&P and Mavericks
at the WBSHA event at the Orange Empire Railway Museum, at
the ACWS event at Wooden Nickel and the Huntington Beach event
hosted by the HBHS.
Next year, we are targeting 8 events, 4
in No. Cal and 4 in So. Cal, all to the better ability to
raise money in support of Camp Moore.
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