The Long Hunter's Journal
The newsletter for the Utah ALRA
Grant Davis, Lieutenant
James Chandler, Sergeant-at-arms
Rex Ward, Scribe
October 2004
Lieutenant's Message:
I have a couple of items of business this month that have been pushed down from the national organization. We live in a very litigious (sue crazy) society today. Legal matters have become an issue for every organization either in dealing with them or trying to prevent them. Someone recently pointed out to me that there are 44 pages of restaurants in the Salt Lake Yellow Pages and 88 pages of lawyers. This proves that people would rather litigate than eat. The ALRA National Leadership has advised that we have all members who wish to participate in any ALRA sanctioned event to sign a hold harmless letter that states you won't sue the organization if you are injured. In short it asks that each of us take responsibility for our own actions. A letter will need to be signed each year and kept on file with the Lieutenant or Scribe. Please be aware that if you refuse to sign the hold-harmless letter you will not be allowed to participate in ALRA events. I will start obtaining signatures at the next meeting. The second item is regarding kicking the authenticity up a notch. The new ALRA National Captain Mick Askew has asked that we leave non-period items home. He threw down the gauntlet that if we attend national gatherings and bring non-period items we could be challenged to produce documentation for the said item. The intent is not to become the authenticity nazi's, but rather to ask the ALRA membership to take the high road and leave non-period items at home. You can read Mick's entire posting on www.longrifle.org in the open forum section. I support Mick in his endeavors to further the authenticity level of the group. The bylaws provide a list of those non-period items that have been okayed such as cameras, water filters, etc. If you have any questions or concerns about any of the above please do not hesitate to contact me.
September Meeting Report:
The September meeting was held on Saturday, September 4th at Fort Bridger in Quiet Camp #2 area. Attendance was outstanding, with a few interested visitors also. The food, as usual, was excellent and more than we could finish, and the company superb. Items of business included an upcoming Feast of the Hunter's Moon and service project at Fort Buenaventura (see below for more details), and the annual Christmas party, which will be hosted on Saturday, December 18th at the Wards' home in Tooele (details forthcoming).
Fort Bridger Flag Raising:
We had a good turnout for the flag-raising, and despite the cool, damp weather, our firelocks performed admirably. Special thanks to Drill Master Hansen & company for obtaining a fine performance out of such a motley militia group. The drummer and color bearers were indispensable and are to be commended.
Fort Bridger Clothing Contest:
The Utah ALRA was well represented in this year's clothing contest. Little Croydon Davis is off to a good start, as he won first place in the colonial children's division. Dave Morby's son (sorry I don't know his name) took second place in the colonial boys. Maria Frazier took first place and Kim Davis took third place in the colonial women's division, and YH&OBS took first place and our illustrious lieutenant took third place in the colonial men's division. Jenny and Crystal Frazier receive honorable mention in the colonial women's division, but the consensus is that they should also have won prizes. The suspicion is that the judges did not want to give all the prize money to one family. Good job to one and all!
New Utah Patriot:
We would like to congratulate Steve Gish for being awarded his patriot status with the number 231. I understand that Steve did a fantastic job on his bibliography and is to be commended. To the rest of you candidate members, get crackin'!
Feast of the Hunter's Moon, Service Project, and October ALRA Meeting:
This is a co-sponsored event by Cody Wright, Brock Cheney, and the ALRA. It is going be on Friday, October 29th at Fort Buenaventura. Hopefully each of you has received an invitation. RSVP's (That's French for tell us whether your coming or not!) are due to Wendy Frazier by the 20th. The schedule is as follows:
Friday, October 29th
The fort will be available for overnight camping for all who wish to spend the night.
Saturday, October 30th
Upcoming Elections:
The offices of Lieutenant, Scribe, and Sergeant are up for election in January. Any who wish to make their intentions known of running for office and want to submit an article to the journal, please send your submissions to Rex Ward.
Fort Des Chartres 2005:
The Lieutenant is planning on driving back to the national gathering at Fort Des Chartres, Illinois. The gathering is typically in March. The exact dates will be forthcoming. It would be great if we can get a contingent together to attend the gathering and to share in travel costs. Please contact the Lieutenant if you are interested.
From the Primary Sources:
"An officer in the opposing army, Captain Pouchot, in this Memoir upon the Late War in North America (Hough's edition, vol. I, p. 110) gives some particulars [on Lord Howe's light infantry]: 'He had induced all the officer to put themselves on a level with the common soldier, through fear of the event of Braddock's defeat, where the officers were fired upon by preference. He induce the army to cut their hair short, leaving it not more that two fingers' breadth long, and all the officers and soldiers were supplied with a kind of gaiters like those worn by the Indians and Canadians and called Mituzzes. Their haversacks were rolled up in a blanket, which they carried as did the Indians and Canadians. They had each thirty pounds of meal, a pound of powder, and four pounds of balls, besides their cartridge boxes full, so that an army thus supplied would need no magazine for a month. Their canteens were filled with rum. Both officers and men mixed their own meal with a little water, and baked it in cakes, by putting it on a flat stone under the ashes, an arrangement which did very well for a light expedition. The soldier thus found everything necessary for his use, and was no more loaded than ordinarily. The officers and men had only one shirt a piece, which doubtless was of cotton, and well made. Lord H. set the example, by himself washing his own dirty shirt, and drying it in the sun, while he in the meantime wore nothing but his coat.'" [Journal of Captain John Knox, vol. 1, pp. 185-186, ftn1, upon the news of Lord Howe's death]