Submitted by Tom Chandel on

Just curious - Do you fellas sing songs around the campfire when you camp out?

If so, may I ask - which ones?

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3rd Maine

Tom,
Your own unit the 3rd Maine has a rich history of singing around the campfire. We have the Caterwaulers which is Scott Scroggins' musical group and we have song mistress/fire goddess Judi Beverage with her 3rd Maine song book. Next summer, you will hear the music at a 3rd Maine campfire near you. If interested, contact Scott if you play an instrument or Judi if you sing.

Pvt/Lt Craig Young
3rd Maine, company A
"I ain't as good as I once was. But I'm as good once as I ever was. I used to be Hell on wheels Back when I was younger man. Now my body says 'You can't do this boy' But my pride says 'Oh, yes you can."

Pvt Craig Young ./. Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum While we have the time, let us do good 3rd Maine, Dirigo Base Ball Club, & 3rd Maine Tobogganeers

If you can call it singing...

Craig is correct about the Caterwaulers, They are excellent! However for your average "Billy" in the 3rd it sounds more like a tone deaf symphony, to which I am no small part. But yes Tom, clear your throat, and make sure your just a bit off key, and you will fit right in!

"Up men, up and to your posts..."

Off key?

I will have no problem being off key, so I hope I will be able to add to the cacaphony there. I fool around with about half a dozen instruments, but I am not good enough to "play out".

I have been reading a LOT about camp life and history during those times, and there is a lot to absorb. Food, clothing, pastimes... ad trying to find stuff that is correct for the period is interesting. That and the Manual of Arms... Hardee's, right? There is enough here to make a whole college major out of.

Koom-Bye-ah anyone....?

Anyone know where I can get a cheapo Concertina? I always wanted to learn how to play one of those thingys... They be good for pirate music makin' as well! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals

2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"

Awww geee

Thanks for the kind words, I'm practically blushing...The Caterwaulers are kind of a free form group, we don't really rehearse, it's more of a "band of gypsies" kind of thing. You never know who'll be playing what or how many of us might be there. We know the same songs in the same key and it just kind of goes from there. As to off key singing en mass, nothing could be more period accurate!!! The idea is to enjoy yourself and each others company!

Major Reeder,
One of the guys plays a concertina, I'll find out how much he payed and where he got it. For what it's worth though, he's an accomplished keyboardist and says the concertina is "the most illogically designed instrument he's ever attempted to play" :)

Keep taking your blue mass!!
Asst. Surg. SD Scroggins

Keep taking your blue mass!! Asst. Surg. SD Scroggins

SWEET!

I should be a natural!!!!!!

Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals

2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"

Concertina

Here is a worn, but nice one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-BUTTON-CONCERTINA-ACCORDIAN-INSTRUMENT_W0QQi...

I used to collect musical instruments, somehow most of them got lost during the turmoil of my divorce (it was just "stuff" anyway,) but I still have a decent collection of various noise-making devices. Not that I can play any of them! One of my favorites is a push-button accordian, that you play like a harmonica.

I'm sure....

...You guys will live to regret Tom telling me this....

Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals

2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"

Bidding wars!

Gee, I was going to bid on that!

Anyway - not buying it saves me some money! :-)

Hey, nice spyglass you got there, Major, sir! A beaut! Looks like the seller didn't know you focus those by pushing the eyepiece forward.

singing

Well at the 29th we don't sing but we have a great time around the camp fire. Patti and I just may have to start making the boys sing for supper befor we throw a log on the Col. Maj. Reeder I am trying to learn to play the dulcermir{did I even spell that right?} Oh well I have a song book that has alot of real old ones in it and Mark with our unit has a wonderful collections of CD that we as a unit keep adding to. In closing fly the Bonnie Blue flag high lift your voices for Dixie and by the way Mark throw a log on the Col. PS Patti Long Live the Nancy Harts and keep the Britts away from my pet turkey. CopperHeadAnnie

Gawd Tom....

That spyglass was the steal of the Century!
The thing is FLAWLESS!!!! By researching the name I found out the guy only made Spyglasses between 1845-1850... which makes it IDEAL for BOTH Mexican & Civil War use!

Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals

2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"

I am trying to learn to play

I am trying to learn to play the dulcermir

I have an Appalachian Dulcimer, Annie, they are a lot of fun to play, and give you that nice bagpipe "droning" sound. "Amazing Garce" is a great one to play on that instrument.

The spyglass you picked up was a beauty, Major, sir, I found a much smaller one, and one in not as nice condition at a flea market last weekend for $25, it is not in 1 tenth the condition of that.

Looks like you were outbid for the concertina by a DOLLAR, though! Bummer!

ARRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

Blast that barnacle encrusted SCALLYWAG!!!!!
I'll get me a Squeezebox ta play at his bloody Funeral!!!!

Sorry.... I get excited at times. I was trying to decide between a concertina and a Mandolin... but I think the concertina is rarer and therefore I can screw up more and folks won't realize it!
The Dulcimer is WAY too difficult for a clumsy old oaf like me Copper!

Intsruments like that are made for delicate hands such as yours...

Major Eric R. Reeder
CSO, 1st Division ANV, Staff
Liberty Hill Signals

2nd Lt Eric R. Reeder United States Army Corps of Topographic Engineers "Hawks and Eagles fly like Doves"

I have a couple of

I have a couple of mandolins, and they are not that easy to play, IMHO. Have to relearn all the chords, etc.

I don't know how the concertina is set up, but I wonder if it is a diatonic scale, like a harmonica. That's the way my push button accodian is set up, so anything I can play on the harmonica translates easily to that instrument. I might know all of 3 songs on it.

Anyway, plenty of time to practice learning the concertina during those long coastal patrols, eh, Major, sir?

Stop it , your scaring me.

all this talk of instruments and the lack of ability to play em is scaring me, as I own a penny whistle, a guitar, and a banjo that has no strings.....also kicking around is a harmonica....and in the back of my mind I keep thinking to myself " I ought to buy a bodrhan, that should be easy to play....."

Seamus (who lacks musical talent, he cant even play a victrola)

"it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifing......nothing"
MacBeth

PRIMA NOCTA