Tennessee observed Patriots Day weekend with a special partnering with the Light Company, a Revolutionary War Living History Group from Maryville, Tenn.
The living history group st up an encampment behind the rifle range Friday night. They participated in the opening ceremony and helped in all of the three strikes. They also explained many of the major muskets and rifled muskets used in the American Revolutionary War, including showing a vintage 1750s Brown Bess. They participated in the opening Redcoat firing a Brown Bess and scored several hits. The also did a live fire drill to demonstrate getting off 3-4 well aimed shots a minute and participated in the afternoon memorial fire with their replica flintlocks.
We had a sold out event with 30 shooters all but two were new to Appleseed and more than 2/3 were from the same church with their pastor in attendance.
Despite a cold windy day we got a lot done the first day, including all three strikes.
The instructor meal was prepared by the ladies of the Light Company in dutch ovens over a Wood fire on site. About 18 reenactors took part in the event. We are already discussing plans for their whole unit of 50+ to attend next year and possibly bring cannon with them.
A large contingent of Tennessee National Guard troops were on some of the other rifle ranges in the complex so we had m4, machine gun, pistol shotgun and grenade launcher firing all around as a sound backdrop. A lot of curious Guardsmen visited the Appleseed and the reenactor encampment.
TN_Dadx5 is completing his third SBIT. It will be nice to have another active Shoot Boss in Middle Tennessee.
Special thanks to our host Rifle Club, Arnold AFB's Highland Rim Shooters Club. They provided wood and bales of straw for the living history group and iced down bottled water for the participants. More to come after we finish day two.
TN_DadX5 Welcomes shooters to Patriot Day Shoot in Manchester, TN April 21, 2012
Lieutenant of the Light Company - Prof. Chris Milne explains vintage flintlocks
Tennessee National Guard Troops compare equipment with members of the Light Company. The Living History group is wearing the uniform of New Jessey Light Infantry in the Continental Army. The Living History group was part of Tennessee's Patriots Day Appleseed held at Manchester, Tenn. (Arnold AFB Rifle Range Complex). The event was hosted by the Highland Rim Shooters Club (NRA/CMP Affiliated rifle club located at Arnold AFB).
Captain of the Light Company Living History group, Bill Christine, talks to a Tennessee Army National Guard Chaplin at the Manchester Tenn. Patriot Day weekend Appleseed (April 21, 2012).
Member of the Light Company Living History group from Maryville, Tenn. at the 2012 Manchester, Tenn. Patriots Day Appleseed April 21-22, 2012 explains 1770s flintlock. He is wearing the uniform of the British Fourth Foot Regiment as worn on April 19, 1775 when they marched on Lexington and Concord
Day two at Manchester, Tenn. The Light Company broke camp and was on the road East around 9 a.m. The day started off partially sunny and low 40s. The day only warmed slightly and was very windy, by late afternoon it was mostly overcast with showers just after we finished closing the range.
Initially only two shooters then a little later four more shooters returned after church the numbers swelled to 19.
Three new Riflemen, all first time Appleseeders.
TN_Dadx5 was promoted to Shoot Boss with the completion of his third SBIT. WE now have two active Shoot Bosses in Middle Tennessee and a growing cadre of Red Hats and IITs.
Middle Tennessee's newest Shoot Boss - TN_Dadx5 with his wife and five Children.
Congratulations!
HH
Wow, looks like an incredible event! What a neat addition to an Appleseed to integrate a living history group. Are they a company from a national group? Or are they just based in TN?
Congratulations to a great Appleseed family with a dad who will make a great Shoot Boss.
This was one of the best Appleseeds I have been to! The shooters were all great and listened and put our advice to work right away! Yay to my Dad for getting his Green hat!!!!!! He's worked REALLY hard for it!
YAY!!!!!!!!! ..:..
Appleseed events held the weekend of Patriots day are not usually typical Appleseeds, but when an Patriot Weekend Appleseed is opened by a Color Guard in Revolutionary War period regimental outfit you know this no typical Appleseed.
Thirty Patriots signed up to spend this weekend learning marksmanship and more about the history of their country. I'm sure most got more than they imagined. O0
Our first Redcoat target showed us that the Instructors had our work cut out for us :(. At best about 1/3 were 100 yd marksman. But they persisted, listened well and applied what they had heard. At the end of the day they had advanced to 300 yd marksman with 8 getting the shingle and 2 cleaning the target ^:)^.
It wasn't but a couple square targets after completing the 6 Steps to Firing the Shot that I noticed that 20 of the 30 had groups smaller than 6 MOA. That sure does make an instructor's heart glad.
For the History, we got all of the Three Strikes told and extra history lessons from the live history re-enactors from Maryville, TN. These intrepid folks really know their history and can pass it on well. They set up camp and fed us on tin & wooden plates. A couple even shot the Redcoat target with us using musket. Imagine retelling the North Bridge Battle while it being played out live! It was a great treat for the instructors as well.
Three cheers for our three Riflemen! ^:)^ ^:)^. Josiah, John and Micah were able to put it all together and exceed the 210 score. We also had several knocking on the door with better than 190. We even had several people getting 49 on stage three. Now that's an accomplishment!
I think that you all know what you need to do before next time; lots of dry-firing and practice getting into steady positions. I look forward to seeing everyone of you at a future Appleseed; with a friend!
Now, on to the pictures!
The Whole Line!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/WholeLineApr22.jpg)
Stage 1
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/Stage1.jpg)
Family Time!
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'Nuff Said!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/NuffSaid.jpg)
A brother and sister study their first AQT!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/AQT.jpg)
A Unique Demo Stock!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/P1020125.jpg)
Luther Blanchard Award Winners!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/Persistance.jpg)
Rifleman Josiah!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/Rfileman_Josiah.jpg)
Rifleman John!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/Rfileman_John.jpg)
Rifleman Micah!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/Rfileman_Micah.jpg)
What's Missing Here? YOU!
(http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb396/cbmangum/AS-Manchester%20April%2021-22/WhatsMissing.jpg)
;D'See You Next Month!!! ;D
What a great Patriots Day weekend! The line was full of Great American Families and we were blessed to be on the line with each and every one of them. Thank you all. Congratulations to our three new riflemen John, Micah and Josiah. To all those who came so close you just need to put it all together. Many, many of you had the scores needed on each step you just need to focus and get it all on one sheet.
The living history reenactors were fantastic. They really brought history to life. They are very knowledgeable of the history and there willingness to interact with the group was priceless. I am so happy they could be with us on this special weekend.
Congratulations to Charlie on becoming Tennessee's newest Shoot Boss. Well deserved and well earned. We are proud of you.
Armalite
See newspaper story from the Sunday Tullahoma News at - http://www.tullahomanews.com/?p=4711
Front page coverage in the Coffee County (TN) Saturday Independent