Shingletown
Located east of Redding, Shingletown is a small community nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Sierra Nevada's. On August 2, 2008, the Shingletown Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting its 35th annual Fun Day. There will be lots of activities, music, entertainment, food, and most importantly, a Civil War reenactment.
Mitch Kranig, of the RACW’s 42nd Virginia, is inviting all reenactors to attend and participate in a one day (maybe 2 day) event of fun, fighting and comradeship, and to share our living history with the general public. There will be several battles on Saturday, and if there is enough interest, the RACW will have a private (no public) skirmish on Sunday morning.
Please read the following information carefully.
Location: From Redding, take Highway 44 East toward Lassen National Park. The drive is approximately 35 miles from I-5. The battlefield and camp site will be at the Shingletown Volunteer Fire Station which is located approximately 1 mile from downtown Shingletown (think Pizza parlor, gas station and market), and is on the left hand side of the road when heading east. If you are coming from the Susanville area, turn left at Old Station where Highways 44 and 89 intersect, and stay on Highway 44 approximately 40 miles. (map below)
Set up: You can come and set up on Friday afternoon and stay until Sunday afternoon. Note that this is a one day event, and the Sunday skirmish is optional. The area where we will be camping in behind the ball field located to the east of the fire station. Generally speaking the Union will set up in the area of the horseshoe pits and the Confederates will set up just south of them. Civilians who are camping can set up anywhere near the brigades that is convenient. Note to all: you do not have to camp out for this event, if you just want to show up on Saturday morning and leave Saturday night, that is fine.
Camping: The best overall camping area (flat, soft, shady ground) is exactly where the CSA camped last year. There is plenty of ground there to meet our needs. However warm it is, that ground will be very comfortable. Hopefully we will have some signs up or have someone on site to sort out the camping stuff. Because many people are coming for Saturday only the brigades won't camp very far apart and may even intermix. Brigade staff will probably not be on site until late Friday.
Water: Hosts have a water buffalo coming and fire halls tend to have water available through hoses.
Facilities: As this is an ongoing event (apparently about their 8th year) the hosts have that covered.
Firewood: Plenty of dry deadfall in adjacent woods. However, read the next item.
Fires: Always subject to local fire Marshall instructions this time of year. However, as we are camping next to the fire hall I'm guessing we'll get the benefit of the doubt. In an abundance of caution people should throw in Coleman stove stuff just in case. There are food vendors on site and in adjacent town.
Artillery Access: Artillery access will define the battlefield.
There is only one area with a road and turning area sufficient to address the needs of trucks and trailers supporting the section of Federal artillery attending. It will require backing the gun trailers in about 50-75 feet over level, unobstructed ground or manhandling the guns that distance over forest duff, etc. from the good, gravel road. However, it is definitely doable either way. The downside is that this area is not adjacent to the best camping area, although there is a great albeit small, shady camping area adjacent to where the gun line would probably be. Mitch will need to mark the area with a sign to identify it as Major Osborne typically likes to arrive on site early Friday.
The CSA artillery can be unloaded about 75 feet from it's likely deployment point and manhandled down some moderately rough, down sloping ground to a good firing position. Should pose no problem if we get 6 folks working on it as Bill's gun is not heavy and he is bringing an excellent supervisor.
Site Access: Highway 44is brand new/redone and completely in operation but watch for traffic controls and work areas. Very smooth highway. We should all be so lucky as to have such good highways in our community.
Weather: Site is considerably higher than the valley floor at Redding with forests that include both oak and pines/conifers. Temperatures through the mid 90s should be reasonably comfortable for us in full leathers; once we strip leathers and coats we'll be very comfortable in the abundant shade.
RACW Trailer: We won't be bringing the trailer or split rails unless someone identifies a need for this, in which case we'll bring whatever items are necessary. Mitch didn't mention whether he wants a sound system and narrator. He'll let us know so we can insure that such resources are available.
This will definitely be a fun event and everyone is encouraged to attend. Contact your unit commander for any additional information.