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Old November 18, 2005, 03:14 PM   #26
Old Dragoon
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I was on a cannon crew re-enactors in Colorado. We played the cannon's for the 1812 overture in a concert in Government Park in Denver, also at he 4th of July celebration at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM in the summer they found the Conferderate bodys at Glorieta pass. Glorietta Pass was the further most West battle of the Civil War. There is a book called Blood along the Rio Grande that chronicles the Reb's and their trek to the gold fields in Colorado. The Reb's were trying to take over the Gold fields in Colorado to turn the tide of the war. they were stopped at Glorietta Pass.
On our trip home we stopped at the excavation site. I was within 3 feet of all the bodies stacked head to toe 3 or 4 deep and about 4 or 5 wide. I think there were 17 bodies all but one in a single grave. All of the clothing save the part behind the buttons had decayed away, but they all had Spanish boots on. They had stopped in Taaos and Sante Fe and finally gotten new boots.

They were found when a guy was digging a footer for his new log Cabin. University of New Mexico Anthropology Dept was doing the dig. The university kept the bodies until they could be re-intered in Texas. I thiink they were the 7th Texas, but I'm not sure on the correct Texas group they were.

I do remember that the guy that worte the book was ridiculed as to the number killed as no one had found the bodies....his count was correct. the one lonely grave was an officer buried in his coat. the double row of buttons were still there, alnog with his boots too.

We also took the cannos(mountain Howitzers, 6 Lb, ers) to Philmont Scout Ranch to the Dragoon station that is located on the ranch. We played 1855 Dragoons for a few days. (how I got my nickname). I got to parcipate in a Hall Rifle drill. That was most interesting. When we were Dragoons nothing newer than 1955 was allowed on the station. Lots of fun we had horses drawing the limber and the cannon. We live fired into a hill.

I miss being on the cannon crew.
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Old November 18, 2005, 04:19 PM   #27
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Here's a good Don't Do.

Got out of a pickup to open a gate, Fine TC .50 rifle in hand, loaded but not capped. (Never capped in truck). Decided to fire old sweet lips at something. Pulled hammer back, capped with a slightly too small cap and gave the cap a push and twist with right thumb. Barrel was pointed upward in a safedirection.

Kaboom! Physics lesson taught two things, never use caps that fail to fit the nipple, and that friction can cause a cap to do what the hammer usually does.

Nice BP tattoo on ball of thumb to remind me and others tp only purchase correct sized caps and dont push and twist same. Only damage, hurt pride for being stupid and slightly roasted spot on thumb. Could have been terribly
serious. Use good sense and be safe!
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Old November 18, 2005, 07:22 PM   #28
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Cuate, Your the second person to say that there cap went off just from thumb preasure. The other one wasn't as lucky as you.His thumb was just about blown away.
In all the years that I have been at this I have never had a cap go off by acccident.I have shoved caps home with a stick so hard that it dented the back of the caps and they never went off.Also had to set the hammer spring heavy due to caps not going off even from the blow of a hammer.
Maybe I have just been lucky and the old saying is "It only takes once"
Thanks for the warning!, Mike
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Old November 19, 2005, 07:45 AM   #29
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Good advice...

I had heard that thumb pressure could set off a cap, but have never had it actually happen. I used to use a capper with my pistol for just that reason, but it was just aggravating and I ended up losing more caps on the ground than actually made it onto the nipples of my gun Now I just put them on by hand, very carefully. Hopefully there will be no accidental BOOM!
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Old November 19, 2005, 03:08 PM   #30
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Old Dragoon, Now that would be something to see. I wonder how many weapons they dug up also. I think I would have been out there night and day with my metal detector
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Old November 19, 2005, 06:17 PM   #31
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Well We didn't have time and I imagine the land owner would have something to say. Someplace I hope to return to one day. This was a Sunday afternoon and no College kids or Dept heads were there. Just the land owner and his wife that kindly gave us permission to come and see the dig. I do not remember any weapons on them at all, could have been under their coats?

Yeah I wished at the time that I'd gone to college to be an Anthropologist or at least to volunteer. I think theburial detail salvaged the weapons from the dead before they buried them . They were a pretty rag tag outfit when they got to Glorietta Pass. The Battlefield is a national monumnet I think, maybe State?? It was sure a pretty cool thing to see. I almost could reach out and touch the closest corpse. I did say a prayer for them these hundred years later, and a prayer of thanks for allowing me to be able to see some history first hand.
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Old November 19, 2005, 06:56 PM   #32
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well you can tell I wasn't thinking to good....Of course they would not bury them with there guns,powder and ammo! You can bet that If anyone else had buried them you would not have seen there new boots either.
Saying a prayer for them is a great thing to do. Shows how much you respect them and the kind of man you are. Your welcome at my camp fire anytime.
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Old November 19, 2005, 07:17 PM   #33
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Mike,
That means more to me than you will ever more.

Yep I'm the kinda guy that'll leave tobacco and such at John Johnson's grave in Cody Wy. and did the same there and at Washakie's grave and try to do it at all the graves that I visit. I used to be a devout Civil war nut when in high school,

Need to verify my great grandfathers participation. He was in one of the infantry units from Southern Ohio, awarded a battlefield comadation for leading a charge with nothing but the flag. He is mentioned several time in the Articles of the rebellion. He was later in the Cavalry unit that caught John Hunt Morgan and escorted him to prison in Columbus, Ohio. He was also at the end when John Hunt Morgan escaped into Kentucky or Tenn. and was chased down and killed. I have it pinned down very close but not certain sure yet. Another Great Great Grandfather on my mom's side was with an Indiana regiment and missed Morgan by two days when he came thru Indiana. He was infantry the whole time.

My Great Great Grandfather John A. also had brothers from your area. All my dad's family Came from Pendelton County Virginia. (West Virginia since the start of the late unpleasantness with the North). G,G Granddad had brothers that fought for Virginia. I don't think they ever came face to face or were in the same battles, but I have not researched that.
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Old November 19, 2005, 08:32 PM   #34
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Now thats interesting stuff for sure.There was allot of indian battles in my area and where i lived before in St. Marys , WV (pleasants county) was right across the river from a town called New Port and just down the road from Marrietta ,Ohio. They have a big museum in Marietta that I'm sure you would like to see. One of the St. Marys school marms was hung as a trader during the war and then they learned that she was not a trader after all.
When you walk though any of these mountains you can still find the old remants of settlements. Hand dug wells in the middle of no ware is a hazard all kids are tought around here and up in St. Marys too. Some of the old stone walls and parts of the old homsteads are still standing with no roads in or out now. One of my friends found a 14 gage caplock shotgun at one of these places. It wasn't shootable , just a piece of rust but you could tell what it was.
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Old November 29, 2005, 08:59 AM   #35
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New here and loving all of the info (and to have a place online to chat about firearms. Been shooting 22's since I was a kid with Ol' Grandad. The last 8 years I've been involved heavily in the NMLRA/NLHA doing pre-1840's "rendezvous" reenactments. Been real lucky in that I have many people I am close with now who know far more than I about shooting, hunting and care of the firearms; I've learned a great deal and enough to know I still have lots to learn.


(Me on left)

After living in envy of the meat-providing buckskinners, I went on my first hunt this year and took a spike buck with my 50cal half-stock percussion rifle at 75yrds. He managed a kick-up and four steps before falling.

(50cal BP percussion on top and a "lever-action" single-shot Stevens 22 patent 1918 on bottom)



Just getting into more modern firearms and working on a Ward's Western Field model 60 (sbp620a) as my first shotgun (It was Grandad's pheasant gun).

Anyway, real glad to have found this place and happy to pick up more tricks and info along the way.

Thanks for the welcome!
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Old November 29, 2005, 09:23 AM   #36
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Welcome aboard DM!
Glad you found this site. There is a wealth of knowledge here.
I see you are a Hoosier. I was born and raised at Redkey, near Portland, northeast of Muncie. Lived in Muncie for a time.
Cut my Muzzleloading/Buckskinning teeth at Friendship from '68 to about '76. I remember the primitive range before the cabin and there was only one tipi there in the spring of 1968.
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Old November 29, 2005, 09:40 AM   #37
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I'll be at Friendship this weekend for the open of ML season.

Got any favorite spots?

Heading out with a couple of Friendship old-timers, so I'm looking forward to it.
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Old November 29, 2005, 04:02 PM   #38
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dm,same here.welcome.you'll find a lot of knowledge and kind folks here.you have a question just ask and i bet someone can and will give you an answer.
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Old November 29, 2005, 05:44 PM   #39
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DM, welcome to a great site with people in the know. You wont get much BS from any of us because If we don't know the answer to your question we will help you find it but none of these guy's will lead you astray. We are all still learning new things every day and anything you have to share will be appreciated.
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Old November 29, 2005, 07:46 PM   #40
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DM,
I know some of the really old timers that frequented the primitive range in the late 60's and early 70's. I used to camp with the 63rd Virginia Volunteer infantry guys from Ewing Virginia, OMG that was so long ago..

I haven't been to Friendship ind. since 1976. I did however attend the very first Eastern Rendevous that was held at Friendship. It was in the hills behind the office and barn. we had to walk in from the primitive range it was late fall and it snowed the last morning. As I walked down the hill behind the office on my way out I could see the whole town, the smoke rising straight up from the chimney's and snowflakes that were really big and fluffy. There was no wind Just a great way to remember Friedship and that rendevous. Absolutely beautiful walk.

I'd think anywhere back of the primitive range would be great, I don't know how many acres they have now but they own more now than when I was there last.
I never realized that one could hunt on the NMLRA property either. COOL

I did attend the Western Rendevous in 1978 at Emigrant Peak Montana and the other Rendevous that was held in the Big Horn Mountains just outside Sheridan Wy. the next week.
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Old November 30, 2005, 10:57 AM   #41
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Dang, that sounds like a whole lot of history. Been doing the rendezvous scene for 8 years now, so I have nowhere near the history with the place as you do, but I'm working on it. Hit at least two national 'vous each year and another dozen or so smaller, local 'vous. I never have been able to camp friendship, just for the cost. Not to mention the primitive isn't really seperated from the non-primitive and that sort of spoils it some for me. I still hit Friendship about twice a year just to shop for the 'vous season and now for parts as well.

I'm not sure that Freindship has always had hunting, but I know you have to be an NMLRA member and request a permit through them and sign in when you are on-site. The hunting there is only open to black powder and primitive archery; keeping with the whole history of Freindship and the NMLRA.

Looking to have a blast. We'll we prowling in in the early morning hours and sitting/stalking for the better part of the day.

Good to be here all, and thnks for the warm welcomes.
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Old December 1, 2005, 02:37 AM   #42
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Hey everyone, just want to say thanks to every one for all the great info you share. I'm a new member, but I've been reading your posts for quite a while. Thanks for your time. God Bless.
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Old December 1, 2005, 02:42 AM   #43
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Ren,
Welcome Aboard!! There Are Some Great Guys Here And All Are More Than Willing To Chat With You And Share Info.if You Have Any Questions Just Feel Free To Ask.
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Old December 1, 2005, 05:54 AM   #44
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Welcome to the group ren!
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Old December 1, 2005, 08:21 AM   #45
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ren219,
Welcome aboard. There's a bunch of great guys here. If you have a question, just ask and we'l do our best to answer it or lead you to the answer. I've learned alot in the month or so I've been here.
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Old December 1, 2005, 10:47 AM   #46
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Welcome. One of the things I find on the black powder site at TFL is you don't seem to have the flaming and name calling like on some elsewhere.I could probably call Mike (Remington Kid) an old geezer or Kevin (MPP1423) shorty and they would know I was just kidding and not send a hit man to my place. I hope.

Steve
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Old December 1, 2005, 12:02 PM   #47
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Steve,your Right .its All Fun Here.there Are Some Good Guys Here.
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Old December 1, 2005, 12:26 PM   #48
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Steve, What is your address by the way?
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Old December 1, 2005, 02:41 PM   #49
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See what I mean? Don't try this at home, kids, we're professionals!

Steve
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Old December 1, 2005, 05:19 PM   #50
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Lol, :d
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