Spring Campaign

Gallant and Brave Men of the Corps;

First, I would like to apologize for my not being able to be with you in the field at Endview. I received a telegraph from the event organizers praising the Corps for your efforts! Because of your dedication the event turned a handsome profit. Captain Tim Smith and those of the Corps who made it possible are to be commended for an outstanding job well done!

Secondly, I am thrilled beyond description at the excellent turnout for the Bentonville event! I look forward to being in the field with such a Noble gathering of proud, dedicated soldiers such as the men of Longstreet's Corps! It is indeed an Honor and a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead such a determined and strong spirited band.

Lastly, as we begin this campaign season, let us resolve to remember our ancestors who made this journey before us. May we strive to constantly endeavor to bring Honor to their gallant efforts. Let our actions in the camps and on the field make them proud of our efforts. Until we meet on the field of Honor, I remain,


Your Most Humble Servant,
Maj. Gen'l. D. H. Cornett
Longstreet's Corps

Merry Christmas!

Greetings to All!

On this Christmas Eve, I wish for each of you and your families to enjoy the most wonderful of Christmas seasons. While this is the season to enjoy the company of friends and family, it can also be the most hectic of times as we prepare for this Holiday Season. May you all take the opportunity to relax and merely enjoy the company of family and friends and remember what this time of year means to us all - the celebration of the birth of our dear Lord and Savior. please take time from your busy schedules to thank the One who gave us all the gift of eternal life with Him.

Please, join with me in remembering one of our own, Reverend Buddy Wheat, at the passing of his mother recently. Although we all know that the dreadful day is coming when we lose our parents, it is never easy. Buddy, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers at this time of sorrow.

Let us also take the time to remember our troops in the field during this Christmas season and offer up a prayer of protection and comfort wherever they may be serving. May they know how much they are appreciated and how thankful we all are that they are on guard for our freedoms.
May God bless and protect our troops! I remain,


Your Most Humble Servant,
Maj. Gen'l. D. H. Cornett
Longstreet's Corps

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Corps;



As I set to share a word with you, many thoughts pass through my mind - thoughts of the past as well as thoughts of the future. Where have we been? Where are we going? What does the future hold for the Corps? And finally, where does the Corps want to go?

General Hillsman and the early founders of Longstreet's Corps set the mark for what the Corps should be and what it stands for - a family oriented community where re-enactors could experience the Civil War soldiers' life in the field while giving Honor to their ancestors and sharing those experiences with their families. General Hillsman had a way of making the common soldier want to present the best possible impression - and he did! That is what set Longstreet's Corps apart; we could talk-the-talk and walk-the-walk.

General Maupin inherited a Corps that was on the threshold of embracing the future of the re-enacting world. Greater emphasis began to be placed on the "big" events by the event organizers. This began a change in the way the re-enacting world operated. During this time, the Corps experienced some "growing pains" and was made stronger for the efforts.

We have reached another crossroads in the existence of the Corps - where do we want to go from here? Whatever we find the answer to this question to be, I believe first and foremost that we must hold to the vision of the earliest days of the Corps. Without that, we are not the Corps. I also believe that, as your Corps commander, any and all decisions concerning the Corps should be based on what is in the best interest for the Corps. Not all decisions are going to be easy or popular - I know from experience. Anybody can make decisions based on pleasing people, but that is not the basis an effective leader employs when keeping with the best interests of the whole.

Any organization is only as strong as its people who share in the vision of the organization. For the organization to flourish, its people need to support that organization and at times, put the needs of the organization above their own. I would challenge each of you in the days to come to, as I continuously challenge myself, to do our part in supporting the Corps as a whole.

Who knows what the future may hold for the Corps, but let us all work together to ensure that the Corps will be in a position to lead into the future and not follow - let us work together to ensure that the future of the Corps will be for the better of the Corps while on our watch. I remain,


Your Most Humble Servant,
Maj. Gen'l. D. H. Cornett
Longstreet's Corps

The Past and the Future

Gentlemen of Longstreet's Corps,

I fear I have been too long away from my duties of keeping in touch with you. Even though the campaigns have been few in number this year, many things have kept your Corps Staff busy. Bare with me as I update you on some of the changes that have occurred and the plannings we are at work with.

Some recent changes on the Staff have seen Major Tim Fogarty fill the vacant position of Adjutant for the Artillery branch. I trust you will join with me and wish Major Fogarty well in his new duties. He has served the Infantry Staff well for many years and I trust he shall serve the Artillery well for years to come.

With Major Fogarty accepting this assignment, Captain Les Switzer, who has been serving on Staff as my Aide, will now assume the duties of Quartermaster. Captain Switzer has been working diligently since Spring at organizing the Quartermaster Department to ensure that adequate needs will be supplied in future campaigns. I would ask that when you see Captain Switzer welcome him to his new assignment and let him know of your needs through your respective Company officers.

Many of you may remember Karl Meadows who has served on Staff in the past. I am Honored that Karl has accepted the position of Aide to the Corps Commander. His service in the past has been most admirable and I do look forward to his services once more.

As I have shared with you the new alliances with the ANV organization and with Cleburne's Division from the West, a great deal of work has been accomplished with more to come. I have shared with you that my role as your Corps Commander is to look to the welfare of my men. I continue to see that as my objective. I have also shared with you that I would not seek overall Confederate command if it took me away from my task to see that the Corps was taken care of. I still intend to Honor that commitment. I must tell you now that many event organizers and localities are even now making plans for the 150th anniversary events. It seems like a long time away but, 2011 starts the 150th events.

Our comrades-in-arms in the ANV are already on board and taking the lead with 1st Manassas and Bentonville. Our western alliance in Cleburne's Division is also working on key events like Franklin and Chickamauga. Your Corps has been approached to take the lead with Spotsylvania, Gettysburg, and possibly Cedar Creek, Sayler's Creek and Appomattox.

The leadership of your Corps, the ANV, and Cleburne's Division work well together with no egos or hidden agendas. Our goal, as an Alliance, is to provide ALL re-enactors with good, quality events. Many of you will remember the once in a lifetime experiences of the 125th Anniversary events. Gentlemen, the 150th Anniversary events WILL be the once in a lifetime experience! That is why this alliance of the Corps, the ANV, and Cleburne's Division is so very important.

More than 22 years ago I joined this family of re-enactors because I believed in what you do - give Honor to our anscestors that their service and their memory not be forgotten. We must band together now to do them proud! I ask you to join with me in this endeavor to do what is best for the Corps. Your Corps Staff is hard at work, along with the ANV and Cleburne's Division, laying the groundwork to support each other during the 150th Anniversary events so that we may give you a truly personal experience while doing our utmost duty to Honor our ancestors who made many sacrifices for what they believed in.

I would hope that more of our Corps units will support the Corps Staff in the campaigns to come. I must tell you that I am somewhat disappointed that our numbers in the field have not been what I had hoped for. I know that there have been some difficulties in the past and I trust we are working to put those behind us. We all need to lend our support and efforts to the Corps as a whole. We are family and family supports each other. There are events that your Staff is obligated to attend and beginning with the next Corps meeting I will share with you what events the Staff is obligated to attend in the year to come. My fondest hope would be that your Corps Commander could know that his Gallant men would be there in support.

It is indeed an Honor to serve as your Corps Commander. I still feel that while we move forward to the future, we must keep ahold of the vision of the past. While our course has changed over the years out of necessity, our goal must still be to do our utmost to give all due Honor to our ancestors so that their memory will remain long after we are all gone. I remain,


Your Most Humble Servant,
Maj. Gen'l. D. H. Cornett
Longstreet's Corps

Reflections

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Corps;

As we enter this Holiday Season, let us pause a moment to reflect on the true meaning of this time of year. For if it were not for the arrival of our Lord and Savior, none of us would enjoy true peace and happiness within our souls. Many things of this world detract from our taking time to remember and reflect upon what the Christmas Season means to each of us personally. My Christmas wish for each of you is to find the time to share a moment with your Redeemer on this, His birthday.


As I reflect back on this past year I have mixed emotions. First, whew...what a year! Trying to fulfill the expectations that you have of your Corps Commander is a tall, all-encompassing task. I feel that we have made some progress in the morale of the Corps, but we still have much work to accomplish in making the Corps the best that it can be. I look forward to working with each of you and the Staff in the coming year to take the Corps where you want it to go. I would solicit from each of your Company Commanders ideas and suggestions on how this goal can be accomplished.

I have my own thoughts and ideas on what I think will enhance our portrayal in the field and as well our own learning experiences as Confederate soldiers. I would challenge each of you as I am challenging myself to answer two important questions that I think will motivate each of us to look to the new year in a more serving way:

• Why am I doing this? What purpose do I serve in being a Confederate re-enactor?
• How can I do my utmost to demonstrate and educate the public on what it is we do and why we do it?

I think that if we all can give an honest assessment to these two questions, we can enhance our own dedication and enthusiasm to giving Honor to our ancestors while enjoying the hobby that we love and giving the public the best possible historical portrayal that we possibly can.

This upcoming year presents opportunities to better ourselves and the Corps. I know there are some areas where I and the Staff need to attend to - and they are on my wish list, if you will. There are many things that I would like to accomplish and we must assess which tasks take precedence and work on one at a time. New challenges face us in the coming years and we must look to the future of our Corps, but let us not forget to look to the past on occasion lest we forget why the Corps was formed and what the Corps stands for! I remain,

Your Most Humble Servant,

Maj. Gen'l. D. H. Cornett

Longstreet's Corps

Looking to the Future

Gentlemen of the Corps;

It has been a some time since I last addressed you through this communique, and I apologize for the absence. The preparations for our recent Gettysburg and Chicamauga campaigns have left me a little worn for the efforts. However, there is a hint of fall in the air and I seem to always get invigorated with the coming of fall.

I have had an opportunity to study the AARs from the Gettysburg campaign that some of you have supplied - some good comments were made as well as some concerns. I encourage your participation in these AARs as I assure you that they are read and I use your comments to improve our enjoyment of this hobby that we all share a passion for.

The overall issues that seemed to have been expressed the most in the Gettysburg AARs include:

• SAFETY - a reinforcement of safety procedures, ie: loaded weapons at the half-cock, ensuring that the NCOs are properly training the new recruits in basic skills, reminding soldiers not to take hits or "charge" the enemy with loaded weapons, reminding the NCOs to instruct proper weapons safety procedures such as the proper way to clean, inspect, and load weapons. It is easy to become complacent with the simple tasks, but we should remember that we are constantly adding new people to our ranks and we must not take it for granted that they know what we know. Company commanders should be ensuring that their NCOs know what their respective "job descriptions" consist of.
• CAMPS - overall, many were pleased with the way the camps were laid out. Keep in mind that this is not a perfect world and we cannot have the camps always as we would like them, but understand that the efforts are there to ensure that adequate space and amenities are available - the key word here is ADEQUATE. We will strive to provide the best that we possibly can at each event. One concern that was brought to my attention is the possibility of having multiple entrance and exit points from the camps to help alleviate traffic congestion. This is a concern that we will look to address in future events where the Corps is in overall command. Another concern that was shared was the amount of participants in the camps who were not in period attire throughout various times of the day and the amount of "above average carousing" after dark. As has been the practise for the most part (which I admit probably needs reinforcing) once you have set up your camp and parked the wagon, participants should place themselves in period attire form that point on to the conclusion of Sunday's battle. We all participate in this hobby for the love of the American Civil War and an opportunity to experience in a small way what our ancestors experienced. It is difficult to do in shorts and T-shirts. After a hard day of drilling and fighting we all like to kick back and revel in the day's events. However, we must remember to respect our fellow comrades and limit our activities to a respectable hour. If you read the event rules they publish a "Lights Out" time for this purpose.
• REHAB STATIONS - while you were pleased with the ice and water deliveries during and immediately after the battles, suggestions were made that these rehab stations be placed a little more off the travel paths back to camps to avoid congestion on the roads. This is an excellent suggestion that we can implement.
• STAGING for BATTLES - soldiers seemed to be pleased with marching from the camps to the battlefields and having little time to wait before engaging the enemy. This is something that was discussed in the planning stages and agreed upon by members of the staff.
• MAIL CALLS - the soldiers seemed to enjoy the mail call that was prepared by many of the ladies of the Corps. Some concerns were expressed that some units who did not support the efforts benefited from the rewards while those that did received none of the rewards. These activities are planned by many of our ladies for the benefit of the soldiers in the ranks and in order for it to work properly all should participate.

These are the main comments garnered from the AArs that will be taken into account. Other suggestions were made as well that will also be taken into account that deal with improvement of Artillery and Staff operations. Gentlemen, I hope that we all can see areas of improvement for your Corps - not that we are in "bad shape", but if we become content with where we are then we cannot grow. We should strive to improve ourselves and our Corps in order to enhance our learning experiences.

We are about to enter into the Cedar Creek Campaign. The numbers from the Corps look like we will have a good turnout. I hope to have a breakdown of our command structure very soon along with general information which will come from our Adjutant. I know you all will give your best to the Corps! I am constantly impressed with the dedication and professionalism that each of you demonstrate - from the Privates all the way to the Officers who lead them. Your hard work has given the Corps the reputation that it has and that it deserves! God Bless the men and officers of Longstreet's Corps! I remain,

Your Most Humble Servant,

Maj. Gen'l. D. H. Cornett

Longstreet's Corps

"To Your Post"

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Corps;

I have just completed a finalized report solicited from your After Action Reports (AAR) submitted from the Endview Plantation campaign. Your comments and concerns have been shared with the Corps Staff as well as the Staff at Endview in hopes of making next years event more enjoyable. Your comments and concerns are taken seriously by your commander and the Staff. As an example, due to the recent unfortunate fire incidents, the Staff has discussed these concerns and Major Nick Syropolos, as your Corps Safety Officer, has implemented a directive that no camp fires remain unattended and that an adequate supply of water be maintained near all campfires for emergency use.

I envision the responsiblity of this Staff as one to provide the rank and file the most enjoyable experience at each event while lending a hand to make that experience do Honor to his/her ancestors. To that end, much planning and preparation has gone into the scenarios for the 145th Gettysburg. Our focus has been to not only portray specific units for these scenarios, but to also enter the field of combat much as they did in July 1863. We will try to employ multiple routes to the battlefield which will call for great coordination between commands. Each soldier must be willing to follow commands without fail. commanders must be prepared to move when the order is given. Timing is everything.

I have served for more than twenty years with the men and women of Longstreet's Corps. I know the meddle of which you are made. No task is too difficult for you to accomplish. You consistently rise to the occasion - no matter what it is. To that end, I am asking each of you, in the days ahead - prior to the Gettysburg campaign - refresh your memories as to the accounts of the actions around Willoughby Run and McPherson's Ridge on the First Day. Remember the fight of Early's and Rhodes' Divisions at Cemetary Hill on the Second Day, as well as the struggle at the Klingle Farm and the Peach Orchard by Barksdale's Mississippians, and relive the hell of Armistead, Garnett, and Kemper as they assault the Federal line in what has become infamously known as Pickett's Charge on the Third Day.

From my own experiences, I have found that as you re-read accounts prior to a recreation of the event, you enhance your opportunities to experience what your ancestors must have felt as they experienced the actions first hand. You have a deeper respect and admiration for what they did. I challenge each of you now, make this Gettysburg the best of your re-enacting experience! "Up men, up and to your post!"


Maj. Gen'l. D. H. Cornett
Longstreet's Corps