Chuck Wagons, Cattle, Cavalry, Cowboys, and Indians at Fort Stanton Live 2013 .............CONTINUED

The Mescalero Apache War dancers were putting on quite a display with their dancing and chanting along with the group beating the war drums at Fort Stanton Live activities.  There were two young dancers who were dancing equally well with the group.  I don't know the custom of the dances or dancers but it appeared the women sort of did their dance out on the parameter from where the men were dancing.

My wife Linda is also writing a blog about the same event from her perspective and telling a lot about the military ball and other aspects of our outing.  You will find her blog to be quite interesting www.southwestloversblog.blogspot.com.

There were numerous tents set up around the parade grounds with all sorts of interesting accoutrements.

During the times when there were not official duties to be performed by the re-enactors, the men and  women were usually relaxing at their camp and/or carrying out some task.

One I found particularly interesting was the lady who was diligently painting signs for the items she was selling.  Her husband came by and posed for a picture, and they both gave me the nickle tour of the inside of their tent where uniforms were displayed on the sleeping cots. ( Let me add here, if there is anyone out there who can identify any of the people in these pictures, I will be more than happy to add their names.) Hanging proudly at the end of the tent was a picture of the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, for whom this county was named.

There is an amazing amount of pride that is shown by these re-enactors, whether it be men, women or children.  Some of the young people we saw at the dance and around the grounds are some of the kids I have seen personally three, four and even five years ago.  In talking with Larry Pope, who I believe is the camp commander of Fort Stanton, a couple of years ago during the humongous rain storm--he conveyed to me that his children had been coming with him to these re-enactments since they were very, very small.

There were a number of small children in perfect period attire as well many adults who it was plain to see had spent a lot of money in accumulating their attire with authenticity in mind.  As a chuck wagon competition cook and late 1880's to 1927 chuck wagon period re-enactor, I know what it takes to achieve the "look" that is needed at this type of re-enactment. 

Larry Pope with daughter at 2011 Fort Stanton Live

Larry Pope relaxing at his camp at Fort Seldon

It is a passion of gathering, accumulating, acquiring, bartering, ebay shopping, and acquisitions from relatives of anything that will "fit" into the scene we are portraying.  Larry Pope's passion is one that is rarely equaled. He makes a lot, if not all, of his uniforms--including hats- as well as the pom poms that affix to some of the head gear.  He and his camp truly make up a setting from out of the past.

There are two types of re-enactors described by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Tony Horwitz, in his book Confederates in the Attic.  First is the the term  farb, which is a derogatory term often used by historical re-enactor groups to describe hobbyists who are indifferent to the exactness of their attire and participate with a "it's good enough" attitude. Whereas secondly, the hard core, or progressive re-enactor may even go to the extreme of a crash diet prior to a Civil War re-enactment so as to appear like a starved Confederate soldier.  This hardcore re-enactor may even be so steadfast in their beliefs that maybe a fellow re-enactor who has gotten the correct "look," but through a modern means and not "the way it was done back then" would still be a farb.  Some hardcore re-enactors in the Horwitz book had devised ways that would make them, after being "killed," look like they had lain in the field and become bloated. The book Linda and I are doing delves into this fanaticism of re-enactors and uses it as a basis for the plot of our story........oops, sorry.  I said that was for another time. 

What timepiece is it?

Propane, definitely an old rig, but not period.

Almost well hidden

In walking around I notice things that are modern and don't quite fit into the time the re-enactors are depicting.  I point these out to show the difference in hardcore, mainstream, and farbs. So, if there is anyone from the Fort Stanton Live re-enactors who might be reading this; please don't take offense, I am not pointing fingers at what is and is not correct--I am only doing so for the purpose of demonstrating how re-enacting can be looked upon from various perspectives.   I have tried to place myself into one of these categories and find it difficult to do so; for instance, when I am doing some repairs on my wagon I try to follow as much as my abilities will permit  the ways that the particular repair would have been made "back then."  I don't have the abilities of a blacksmith so I have to use modern means and try and make a repair look as if it was done with foundry methods.  When it comes to competition cooking I utilize methods and vessels that will make the job easier when cooking for 50-60 guests, such as using aluminum pan liners, mechanical can openers, potato peelers, bulk oil (instead of tallow), and I can even occasionally be caught wearing a wrist watch instead of a pocket watch.   I guess in Horwitz's' description, I would be categorized as a mainstream farb although writing this blog has caused me to reconsider some areas of my re-enacting.  For instance, if I get invited to participate in Fort Stanton Live next year I think I will try and entice a friend to help develop an aura surrounding Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight with the chuck wagon.  I can depict them delivering beeves from Fort Sumner to Fort Stanton to feed the soldiers.  I have already checked J. Evetts Haley's book Charles Goodnight Cowman and Plainsman to learn about the cattle drives the two men made up into New Mexico when they founded the "trail" that was named for them.  It seems as though Oliver Loving did potentially deliver beeves to Fort Stanton prior to the two ranchers getting together for their later trail drives. It is also true that Confederate Colonel Baylor, who was at one time at Fort Stanton, was also a friend of Charlie Goodnight.   It was on the third trail drive when Loving and Goodnight put their herd together that Goodnight came up with the idea of taking an army wagon and having it rebuilt to his specifications, such as using bois d arc wood and having the axles made of metal instead of wood and adding the all important chuck box which held all of the necessary items to feed approximately eighteen cowhands on the trail for six months.  

Coming up next is the spectacular Apache ambush...................

Chuck Wagons, Cattle, Cavalry, Cowboys, Indians, at Ft. Stanton Live 2013

Kenneth Dusenberry, Artillery Company of New Mexico

I said in the very beginning of the Chuck Wagon Musings that I would take some liberties when writing about chuck wagons.  Well, I am going to invoke one of those liberties and actually probably several so that I may relate to you a very enthralling event that took place on July 13, just outside of Lincoln, NM at Ft. Stanton. 

There was not one chuck wagon on site, but there were plenty of Confederate and Union soldiers along with some Mescalero Apaches,  and army laundresses who washed uniforms and other clothes for soldiers.  We also saw doctors, nurses, and a theatrical troupe that provided entertainment for the troops, soldiers' wives, a military ball, modern food vendors, and lots of spectators.  The weather was beautiful as was the green grass of the fort parade grounds where most of the activities took place.

This used to be an event held every year that would showcase the happenings in Lincoln surrounding the life of Billy the Kid and the happenings at Fort.Stanton, which revolved around its history and the cavalry stationed there.    The fort was operational from the 1860's until the 1890's and has a long history serving in many capacities over the years. Recently Linda, my wife, and I heard that the two locations, Ft. Stanton and Lincoln Days, had decided to have separate festivities and the fort would have theirs on Saturday, July 13, 2013.  We knew from past experiences that there would be many re-enactors who enjoy the pristine setting of Ft. Stanton so we expected to see a lot of soldiers and their ladies who also dress out in period costumes.

The activities at FORT STANTON LIVE were not just a happenstance that we came upon. Linda and I started some time ago on our new book and we wanted to get some more inspiration and photographs to use in the book.  Forts, Farbs, and Phantoms is a fictional travel journal that chronicles a strange adventure in Southern New Mexico. During our travels-in the book, we encounter numerous local citizens who proudly display independent and rebellious attitudes. Fort Stanton is the setting where this group of eccentric Civil War re-enactors, led by an overzealous "Colonel", have crossed the line from re-enacting to reality.  The group is experiencing serious financial difficulties, which may halt an ambitious plot to establish their own government.  The re-enactors' pursuit of “individual freedom" is further compromised by the ghostly appearance of a 19th century Confederate soldier by the name of Albert Brown Peticolas....but that is another story for another time and blog.  

We arrived at the fort area well before the published start time and approached a very full parking lot.  It had recently rained which provided a cool atmosphere and had settled the dust quite well.  We parked our car and followed the directions of the local sheriff to the parade grounds were we were met with  a bang. 

There were two cannons set to fire volleys, another for demonstrations, and a couple of Gatling guns set up as static displays. Kenneth Dusenberry, head of the Artillery Company, took great pains to explain to all who came along the intricacies of firing these huge cannons.  Much of what he explained was how they do what they do and still keep the demonstrations safe for all concerned. 

As we approached the parade grounds we purchased our tickets and entered into a wonderful  world filled with re-enactors.  There were Victorian ladies and their gentleman  

such as the two actors, seen here, of the Spencer & Jackson Theatrical group out of Phoenix, Arizona.  They were elegantly dressed and later we got to see them perform in their troupe, putting on skits that were enjoyed by the public as was evidenced by the attendance and the applause.  Troupes such as these would travel to many of the frontier forts and perform for the soldiers in much the same way that Bob Hope used to perform for US soldiers stationed abroad.  

As a side note:  we were staying at the Wortley Hotel in Lincoln and discovered "the troupe" was staying there as well, and we got to briefly visit with them on Sunday morning following breakfast.

Back at the fort.......I spotted a camp (individual re-enactors call the area of their tent and all of their accoutrements "their camp")  that was set up as the Camp Laundresses i.e., women who did the laundry.  Different classes of women lived or worked at army forts, but they did not always socialize with one another because of the army caste system. In other words, officers’ wives did not befriend other women, such as enlisted men’s wives who often worked as servants for officers or as laundresses for the army. (this explanation taken from a handout we picked up at Fort Davis, Texas)

 

The Washing Machine

Maggie Detavernier

Maggie and Jacob Detavernier

Ann Marie Detavernier, the washing machine motor and mother to the kids.

I met these folks last year at a re-enactment at Fort Seldon when I was there with my chuck wagon and making biscuits etc.  Ann Marie's husband is in the military stationed at Ft. Bliss, Texas.  They are a great family and while we were all at Ft. Seldon the skies opened up and rained about 5-6 inches that night....all night long.  When I got up the next morning my teepee had about two inches of water in one corner and every thing in my little home away from home had some degree of wetness.  The folks like Ann Marie and her kids and many, if not all, of the re-enactors spent the night in the museum.  It was quite an evening with all the thunder, lightening and rain.  The next day turned out beautiful and we all had a great time. 

FORT STANTON LIVE WILL CONTINUE NEXT WEEK.................

Adios Dryden, Texas Adios Glenn R. Benson

...a little light snow falling!

Out here in West Texas you just never know what the weather will bring next.  Last night we could tell it was getting a little colder so this is what we have to contend with now, which is nice since it makes it easier to keep the perishables refrigerated.  Bagged ice is about 40 miles away and 17 of that is dirt road which is pretty low speed except for one of the hunters, Eddie, who always rents a pick up and thinks he is Mario Andretti when he gets on this road.  I'm sure he wouldn't drive like that if it were his truck.....well maybe.

Snow getting a little heavier!

Of course it takes a little warmer temperature for it to snow good so we weren't complaining too much. Glenn of course kept on about how he didn't sign on to this high powered cooking outfit to have to work under these conditions.  He didn't complain too much because his expensive wine was now refrigerated....by the weather.  I forget the name of the wine, but it came in an expensive container......cardboard.

Jeff Norwiki, Rusty Reed, "Bump" Williams

 At times, inside the kitchen, the temperature is real nice.  That is usually around about the time the meals are being prepared.  Once we get the stove roaring it will keep the area pretty warm.  Although sometimes it takes a lot of wood and burning it most of the day to stay warm.  One time we were at this same camp when the temperature hovered around 18 degrees for about a day and didn't get over 23 for about three days.  That is when we stayed pretty close to the fire.  It is funny though when you are cold for a long time and it warms up just a bit, you feel like a heat wave has come in.  In one of the earlier pictures of Skip reading, I think the temperature was around 30 degrees.  

Just a tad chilly.

But like most places in Texas the weather rarely stays the same for very long.  There was a little time here and there when we got to just cool our heals and have some fun.  On one of the hunting trips Glenn brought a couple of black powder rifles that he had made and gave us some basics of how to load and shoot the old rifles that shot round lead balls.  We were getting along fairly well in putting a shot into a paper dinner plate at about 50 yards.  One thing shooting black powder rifles and biscuit making has in common is this.....Don't be talking when you have biscuits in the oven and don't be talking when you are loading a rifle.  Of course, with biscuits, they will burn because of a lack of  the necessary attention.  With black powder rifles, if you aren't paying attention, you might forget to put the powder in the barrel before you ram the lead ball.  In which case you have a problem.  The lead ball is not very easy to get out of the rifle without the help of the powder.  An screw is attached to the end of the ramrod and shoved in the barrel and into the lead ball.  A person then must screw the ramrod into the ball and with great care pull on the rod and withdraw the rod and hopefully the ball will stay attached and come out of the barrel without any damage. 

Not naming names but the guy on the right screwed up. 

 I don't recall all the names but these were some of the hunters we got to know.  A swell bunch of guys.  The guy on the very left is called "Bump" and the way he got the name is hilarious.  Unfortunately I can't remember it, however. Bump if you are reading this blog, email me and tell me the story and I will tell the story of your name in a later blog. 

The Cell Bush

 This is another hunting camp story.  There was this little grease wood bush about 75 yards from the camp which was the only location within a couple of miles where you could get cell phone service.  We got to where we couldn't always find the correct bush so one of the guys marked the location with surveyors tape so everyone would have cell service.  No, it didn't always work but for the most part is was fairly reliable.

We had cooked for Box R Outfitters for about three years and between the third and fourth year I called my old buddy Glenn to see if he was going to come and help us cook again the next November.  Glenn told me he was having some difficulties and the doctors had found some cancer and they were going to operate very soon.  Glenn didn't get to join us that November and grew increasingly weaker.  He died that next year. Skip and I cooked for the outfit again and we all said a prayer around the "kitchen" and even drank a toast to him.  He will be greatly missed.  I would like to close this post and end this blog topic with a poem I wrote and recited at his funeral. 

Ode to a Friend

It was many years ago when I first met Glenn

It was 1958 or maybe 9 and so our journey began.

Our friendship of twists and turns began that year

For Glenn it was onward and upward and never fear.

Just keep trudging forward and remember what’s of concern

This is sort of what he preached and expected “us”…his kids, to learn.

He was a giant of a man to a little eighth grade fart

It wasn’t ‘til later that I found out how big was his heart.

Way back then we were young and impressed

With everything our elders did and would express.

When the lessons in his classroom were done

It was gospel and never questioned by anyone.

As a student it would not have been for the best

To question his wisdom on things related to life’s test.

One eventually found the knowledge he would impart

Was to the point and never wrong, from the very start.

I followed his path in education through Industrial Arts

Many, many kids who like me were just little farts.

I embarked on teaching his lessons day in and day out

About common sense and things needed ‘round the house.

Take care of your brush and it will take care of you

Was a simple ditty but it could and would carry you through.

Glenn never stopped teaching and telling when you were wrong

It was just his way…you take it, or leave it, then move along.

It was a little stronger than just telling you something was wrong

He would like eat on a part of your anatomy ‘til it was gone.

Humor was a lot of what I remember about my friend, and thus

The times and stories he would relate were usually on us.

But one story that Billy (Foster) told about was on Glenn

‘Bout a mean Mexican bull he had cornered in a sheep pen.

The bull was puzzled and not sure what was going down

When Glenn got off the fence and down on the ground.

They both began pawing and making that snortin' sound

Seeing who was the bravest and  would stand their ground.

Glenn knew he could kill the bull and stop this fun

By pulling his 45 caliber six shooter gun.

Only one little thing wrong that Glenn didn’t know

Was Billy had removed his bullets before the “show.”

There was no danger to Glenn during this hoot

'Cause Billy was on the fence ready to shoot.

After a while Glenn stared the bull down and he left on the run

Glenn still not knowing he had no bullets in his gun.

It wasn’t till later Billy got Glenn to shoot at a can or a stick

So he drew his six shooter, pulled back the hammer and let it go with a click.

All hell broke loose and he called Billy everything…which

If you will think was something like you son of a ……… .

He had a very large heart and a large man he stood

Who would readily give you anything he could.

With his many quirks he was unique in his very own way

Something we knew but still learned more about every day.

As Andy once said he meant many things to many people each in a different way

I think this is why we come together on this special day.

To remember Glenn and the memories we all share

The man meant much to each of us is why we care.

Let us take our hats off and give a salute to our friend

Because his equal will never be among us again.

Wayne Calk

September 25, 2010

Glenn Rex Benson RIP

Cooking for cowboys and hunters who became friends..(changed the post title)

Friday began a whole lot better than the day before.  We made a little toast to the weather gods last night, so maybe the wind event will be all over with.  It was still pretty nippy, and it was really noticeable when you tried to get dressed around 4 am and before there was any fire in the stove.  Once the stove was warmed up the tent became nice and toasty.  We again provided burritos and empanadas as requested, and the hunters took them on the run since they missed their early morning start yesterday.  Lunch was leftover brisket sandwiches and homemade cookies. What was especially fun was working with Glenn and Skip doing all the stuff getting ready for the meals.  There is a tremendous amount of work involved but in the end it was worth it just hanging out in such an environment. 

Notice the coffee pots have a bungee strap to keep the lids on and already mentioned was the use of the horseshoes.

However, we weren’t thinking it was so much fun when we spent about 2 ½ hours picking up everything that had blown away.  We collected everything that was scattered and clinging to every creosote bush for 100 yards.  The biggest mess was that the wind had managed to neatly take a couple of rolls of paper towels and carefully separated each one and placed them in a separate bush.  Most of the heavy stuff like Dutch ovens, didn’t go very far, but things like gloves, jackets, coffee pots, towels, enamel pans, and the like were scattered here and yon. Skip found both of his heavy gloves hanging on a nearby fence. 

Glenn Benson, Eddie Goynes, Rusty Reed,  and Bump Williams inspect a buck.

After the lunch was over and we had a little time to relax we needed to go to the sheep pens to fill up our water barrels from Wayne Sutton’s tanks, but first we put a pot of beans on for supper.  He wasn’t especially interested in us using his water because it is so difficult to come by.  He has the water piped in from somewhere.  Lord only knows where because there aren’t any windmills to be seen in close proximity to this camp.  So we got only what we needed plus we felt that it would be advantageous to use a little extra to try and somewhat take a bath using a hose from the enclosed tank.  Try and consider how cold that water was.  The daily temps were usually hanging around the mid to high 30’s.  The sunshine was nice but the water was damn cold. I am sure the hunters were glad that their cooks were somewhat more hygienically presentable than they had been the last two days. While we were at the sheep pens a couple of the hunters brought in a nice mule deer and hung him to be gutted and skinned.  Skip was interested in preserving the skin for a Native American friend of his who had asked him to bring him one if the chance presented itself.  Skip busied himself getting the skin real clean and rolled it.  There was no fear of it spoiling before we got it home because of the temperatures. 

Skip says.....Ahhhh, a little time to relax.

Once the water supply was restocked we headed over to the camp and began preparations for supper. Tonight’s meal was to be enchiladas, frijoles, tostadas, pico de gallo, lettuce & tomato salad, followed by sopapillas and honey for dessert.  It goes without saying that there was always coffee on the fire.  We joined the boys around the fire pit for a while and joined in on the hunting stories of the day and swapped a few lies with the best, then took an early leave and went to bed about 9 pm.

He puts jalopenos in everything...this time...onions.

Saturday was a pretty good day.  We started off giving the hunters breakfast by 5:30 am so they could get to their site before the deer got there.  After breakfast, Skip and I took off on a hike towards the Rio Grande. We found an “alien” trash site of a flashlight, plastic bottle, clothes, jacket, and some condoms.  Go figure that one out.  Anyway the stuff had been there a while.  This is some pretty rough country to be hoofing it through.  I guess it happens all the time because the main road is well used all the way to the river with a lot of trash.

 

Rusty, the outfitter is telling everyone "how the cow ate the cabbage".  No one seems to be over whelmed.

Mesquite grilled hamburgers.

Lunch was hamburgers and French fries and a pineapple upside down cake. After lunch we were able to sit outside in the sun and read a while.  The temperature was somewhere in the 30’s but quite pleasant in the sunshine.  A person doesn’t get much time to relax so it wasn’t long before Glenn started making the salad while I prepared the two inch rib eye steaks (prime) that Eddie Goynes purchased.  I was a bit concerned that it would be a fiasco if the rib eye steaks weren’t done to perfection because, after all, these were prime cuts of meat and very expensive.  Glenn finally came up with a way to rig a grill and a way to cover the steaks to conserve the heat.  He pulled it off really well and the steaks were perfect. We served them with baked potatoes, green beans, and tossed salad and made a  Banana Creme Pie for dessert.

 

I think Glenn is correct....you really can put jalapenos in anything.

Hummm as I recall, along about this time it starts to get colder....................to be continued....

.