Officers, Ladies, Men & dependents of the 2nd Kentucky, White River Guard, 5th Indiana Territorials and 1st US Light Artillery attended the Stone’s Trace Regulators’ Fall Rendezvous 6 – 9 September. The gathering, hosted by the Regulators, is held in conjunction with the Stone’s Trace Historical Society Pioneer Festival annually the weekend after Labor Day. The event is always well attended and a wonderful way to shift into gear for the fall season and schedule of events.
The rendezvous opened for setup Thursday. Friday plays host to well-organized set of school visits, broken into morning and afternoon sessions. Each school is broken into groups that travel to individual stations, which include blacksmithing, longhunter/frontier life, primitive archery, hawk & knife throwing, black powder shooting, woodwork/cabin building and gunsmithing. Several of the 2nd Kentucky and White River Guard assisted with stations as well as herding groups to and fro.
Saturday saw the start of the Pioneer festival; after breakfast, the day started with a morning formation and short march to the central flagstaff for morning colors. After, all Southern Division personnel were placed on liberty for the day (huzzah!) and left to take advantage of the numerous opportunities and activities the day offered. Among the daily program: live fire shoot on the primitive range, shopping and dickering with the multitude of blanket traders and camp vendors, hawk and knife contest as well as the daily program of the Pioneer Festival. Several folks assisted with selling raffle tickets for the first-ever 4-draw raffle, which is held Sunday afternoon.
After the conclusion of the duty day Saturday, the officers of the 2nd held a brief, informal, open mess for all Southern Division personnel present. A ration of good bourbon was enjoyed and the proper toasts raised. Saturday Night also featured a camp-wide pitch-in dinner, after which the weekend’s rain made an appearance but luckily subsided so the night’s council fire, open to all camps, was held once night fell. After the council fire program concluded, door prize drawings were held; each participant received a ticket and several unit members and friends were among the lucky winners.
Sunday started the same as Saturday with breakfast and a morning formation for colors. One of the many little treats of the rendezvous is the Regulator’s Coffee House, which had coffee, tea & hot chocolate available daily starting at 6 am, as well as biscuits and gravy, pastries and baked goods available throughout the day. After the final cannon-shot at 4 pm, the raffle drawings were held. This year’s prizes included a hand-forged knife and sheath, a hardwood bowl turned by the 2nd’s own Sgt Major Gabbard, a set of hand-turned bowls from The Master’s Potter and a full set of fire irons and hanging grille made by Racoon Forge.
The rendezvous officially drew to a close after the conclusion of the raffle drawings, after which modern items were allowed to be out in camp and vehicles allowed in. Camps came down in relatively short order, with most load outs being completed just before the drizzle started.
On behalf of the Southern Division personnel present, heartfelt thanks to the Stone’s Trace Regulators, including Capt Thad Stern (Club President) and QM Sgt Nelson (Founding Member) for their generous hospitality throughout the weekend.
Next Stop? Mississinewa 1812 – 30 days and counting!
2nd Kentucky Regiment of Volunteers 