14/10/2015
It has been brought to my attention that in the
E. Tennessee Confederate ranks, the First Tennessee Cavalry is considered reckless and dangerous. That is Union for being aggressive and bold. The unit has been accused of breaking scenario's at most of the events we attend in E. Tennessee, regardless of the fact that we were following the orders of our Army commanders. I guess the order to reek havoc whenever and wherever you can does not apply to the Confederate ranks. I guess the sight of seeing a 1200 pound animal coming at you in a full gallop just makes their specter muscles spasm and they don't like the idea of being flanked, or attacked from out of nowhere, or capturing their artillery or entering the field from behind the spectator line. It is however amazing to me that in over 25 years of participating in this hobby, neither I or any of my men have ever accidentally or intentionally hurt a spectator or fellow reenactor by our actions on the field. Oops, I will have to take that back, as I have accidentally in the past peppered two individuals with black powder, once when I was a Confederate Infantryman with my rifle and once as a Union Cavalryman with my pistol. Yes, they were accidents and were not intentional, and immediately my concern was about them.
Yes, I guess you could consider this a Rant as I am going to cover some other issues as well.
How many times has the Confederate Infantry seen the First Tennessee Cavalry take a "hit" off their horse during an event. In case you haven't, there have been numerous occasions over the years. I personally, have reached that point in my life where my body will just not let me do it anymore, but the younger riders in my unit do. That means a man is going to drop to the ground from a
height of from 56 inches to 68 inches and do it without injuring himself or his horse and maintain control of his horse. Yet the E. Tennessee Confederate Infantry can't take a "hit" standing on their feet. Mainly because they are wearing their "Reblar" coats which makes them invincible.
Another thing, in case most of you have forgotten, or maybe didn't learn it to begin with, the flag bearer was a position of HONOR. Please do yourself and the public a favor, give the Flags to a grown person and NOT the little boys. Yes, we need to educate the young ones as they will hopefully one day take our place on the field, but find something else for them to do other than carrying the Flag. Buy them a drum or teach them the fife, anything but carry the Flag.
So, the bottom line is this...an event we have done for the past several years here in E. Tennessee, we have been asked that we do not attend it in 2016. I was not angry or upset when this request was made to me and after giving it some thought, I have decided the First Tennessee Cavalry will not do any events in E. Tennessee that involves Confederate Infantry units from E. Tennessee. I hope you boys have fun shooting at each other and hope your spectators don't fall asleep. Now, if any of my fellow Union reenactors want to join me in this, I would be obliged.
I will also make the offer to any of the Confederate Infantrymen in E. Tennessee, that if you can really ride a horse and want to try your hand at being a cavalryman, I am willing to completely outfit you for an event and give you a different perspective.
Respectfully
Colonel T. Michael Cheaves
Commanding 1st Tennessee Cavalry, US
Past Commander of AOT Federal Cavalry
Current Commander of Army of Mississippi Cavalry
Current Commander of the Division Cavalry Brigade, FFD
Current Co-Commander of the Federal Cavalry Association
