Imminent Elections

We have reached the slow season, but all is not over: the 4th's election meeting will be on Saturday, November 5th.  We will be recruiting/hosting a display at the Puyallup antique show that weekend, with the elections to be held on Saturday.  The positions of commander, civilian leader, and secretary are open.  Mr. Talbot has indicated that pizza will be provided.

The County Election (1852) by George Caleb Bingham

Letters and Stamps

"The practice of inclosing [sic] letters in envelopes is now universal; particularly as when the letter is single no additional postage is charged for the cover. The postage now is in almost every instance pre-paid, it being but three cents when paid by the writer and five if left to the receiver. Therefore, none but very poor or very mean people send unpaid letters. Letter-stamps for the United States post should be kept in a little box on your writing-table. You can get them always by sending to the post-office--from a dollar's worth or more down to fifty or twenty-five cents' worth at a time. In a second box, keep stamps for the city or penny post, which transmits notes from one part of the town to another. And in a third, stamps to go on the covers of newspapers."

--The Behavior Book (1853 ed.) by Miss Leslie

Event: Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad 2016

On Saturday September 10th, several members of the 4th participated in a skirmish and living history event for the Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad.  Photographs courtesy of Messrs. Strand and Walker.

Our boys in blue!

The skirmish in progress.

General Grant enjoys the view from his car. 

General Lee seems to be on the same train.

Event: Fort Worden, Day 3 & Final

The final day of the event saw a return to cool, damp weather.  Though well-suited for marching in wool uniforms, it proved less conducive to drawing an audience.  Wet canvas aside, spirits were high during take-down, and the younger members of the 4th are particularly to be commended for their enthusiasm.  

Monday morning mist over the camp.

Particular thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Strand, who organized the entire event and provided the mess.  Also to Mrs. Talbot for her work with USAS (and making delicious cookies for the group), Mr. Wyland for saving the dance, and to the military vehicle drivers who transported everyone between the two camps.

Event: Fort Worden 2016, Day 2

The mixed-era fun continued to a second day, the highlights of which included numerous Lee and Grant sightings, Civil War trivia, swing dancing, a massive group tintype, and trekking up to the motorcade camp.

General Grant, next to the "deuce and a half" transport which ferried
visitors between the camps.

General Lee meets the Eastern Front.

I count five soldiers, four countries, three centuries, and one saloon. 

Group photo!

Mr. & Mrs. Keyes show visitors the field hospital.

The military vehicle collectors' camp has two things in abundance:
nice people, and camouflage.

Event: Fort Worden 2016, Day 1

We had an exciting day at Fort Worden, with Civil War, Revolutionary War, WWII, and military vehicle collectors all in attendance.    

Sgt. Hick explains soldiers' daily life to the public.

The USS Tahoma's Land Ship. 

Revolutionary War camp.

Fife and Drum Corps.

General Grant's Command Tent

Ladies at the USAS tent.

Miss Ruby's Saloon serves cold drinks.

The fun continued into the evening, with an 1860s dance at the USO hall.

The Dancers and Audience Rest Between Dances.

Dancing the French Quadrille.

Event: Fort Worden 2016, Day 0

The event properly starts tomorrow, but we're here, we're setting up, and we're ready for some fun. So far, there are Yankees and rebels (Revolutionary War Edition) on the parade ground, APCs on the hill, and Soviets in the parlor.  

The Civil War reenactors occupy prime real estate
in front of the Coastal Artillery Museum.

The infantry and navy camps (and a neat cloud formation).

With teamwork, the kitchen fly can be raised!