Chatham Artillery's "Washington Guns"
I used to know some good ole boys in the Chatham Artillery.
1st Battalion — 118th Field Artillery Regiment "Hickory's Howitzers"
Posted on 12/04/2003 10:21:38 AM PST by where's_the_Outrage?
According to legend, Saint Barbara was the extremely beautiful daughter of a wealthy heathen named Dioscorus, who lived near Nicomedia in Asia Minor. Because of her singular beauty and fearful that she be demanded in marriage and taken away from him, he jealously shut her up in a tower to protect her from the outside world. Shortly before embarking on a journey, he commissioned a sumptuous bathhouse to be built for her, approving the design before he departed. Barbara had heard of the teachings of Christ, and while her father was gone spent much time in contemplation. From the windows of her tower she looked out upon the surrounding countryside and marveled at the growing things; the trees, the animals and the people. She decided that all these must be part of a master plan, and that the idols of wood and stone worshipped by her parents must be condemned as false. Gradually she came to accept the Christian faith.
As her belief became firm, she directed that the builders redesign the bathhouse her father had planned, adding another window so that the three windows might symbolize the Holy Trinity.
When her father returned, he was enraged at the changes and infuriated when Barbara acknowledged that she was a Christian. He dragged her before the perfect of the province, who decreed that she be tortured and put to death by beheading. Dioscorus himself carried out the death sentence. On his way home he was struck by lightening and his body consumed.
Saint Barbara lived and died about the year 300 A.D. She was venerated as early as the seventh century. The legend of the lightning bolt which struck down her persecutor caused her to be regarded as the patron saint in time of danger from thunderstorms, fires and sudden death.
When gunpowder made its appearance in the Western world, Saint Barbara was invoked for aid against accidents resulting from explosions--since some of the earlier artillery pieces often blew up instead of firing their projectile, Saint Barbara became the patroness of the artillerymen.
Saint Barbara is usually represented standing by a tower with three windows, carrying the palm of a martyr in her hand. Often, too, she holds a chalice and a sacramental wafer and sometimes cannon are displayed near her. The feast of Saint Barbara falls on December 4th and is traditionally recognized by a formal Dining-In or military dinner, often involving the presentation of the Order of Saint Barbara.
The Order of Saint Barbara is an honorary military society of the United States Field Artillery. Both U.S. Marine and Army field artillery along with their military and civilian supporters are eligible for membership. The order is managed by the U.S. Field Artillery Association and two levels of recognition exist. The most distinguished level is the Ancient Order of Saint Barbara and those who are selected for this honor have achieved long-term, exceptional service to the field artillery surpassing even their brethren in the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. The order links field artillerymen of the past and present in a brotherhood of professionalism, selfless service and sacrifice symbolized by Saint Barbara.
I have fond memories of St. Barbara's Day Dining-In's at the FSOOM.
Proud Graduate of the Commanche County Cannon Cocker's College for Confused Cannoneers and Member of SIAMTITAT (Society of Angle Measurers, TrIangulation, Target Aquisition and Trilateration).
Mix the following ingredients together, and then let it stand for two hours to ripen. Pour it over a large block of ice in a punch bowl and serve.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 fifths rye whiskey
1 1/2 fifths claret
6 cups strong black tea
1 1/2 pints dark Jamaican rum
3/4 pint gin
3/4 pint cognac
3 ounces Benedictine
3 cups of orange juice
1 1/2 cups of lemon juice
Another recipe forwarded to us by Major R. Houck of Douglas' Battery in Texas contains not only the ingredients for an Artilleryman's Punch, but also the ceremony and symbolism that must be identified with it. Our gratitude to Major Houck is great indeed for this elegant ceremony that tells the story of Southern artillerymen so well in its composition.
There is a great deal of ceremony involved in mixing the punch, for each ingredient is significant to the artilleryman. Part of that ceremony requires that all good artillerymen wear red socks and red suspenders on St. Barbara's Night, of course, which is when the Artilleryman's Punch is normally blended. An honorary Stirrer is appointed, whose role will be to constantly stir the mixture with his artillery saber as each ingredient is added.
Into a large cast iron kettle, the first artilleryman pours a container of the previous years' punch to remind all assembled of their great artillery Tradition.
The second artilleryman pours in bright red fruit punch, The Official Color of Artillery in every army.
The third pours in dark rum to warn of the Coming Of The Storm.
The fourth pours in deep red wine to keep us mindful of the Bloodshed Of Our Brothers.
The fifth pours in golden-colored rum, our Hope Of Victory.
The sixth pours in peach brandy, courtesy of Confiscated Officers' Stores.
The seventh adds spring water, connoting The Importance Of Fresh Water.
The eighth pours in bourbon, The Southern Gentleman's Drink.
The ninth pours in lime/lemon juice to Ward Off Scurvy.
The tenth drops in some rose petals, evidence of our deep and abiding Love For Our Women.
The eleventh contributes molasses, the needed Axle Grease that keeps the wheels turning.
The twelfth pours in Squeezings From The Sponge - a mixture of lemon juice and brown sugar.
The thirteenth adds dark apple cider to the blend, The Cleansing Water From The Sponge Bucket.
The fourteenth casts in a small handful of coffee and parched corn, Food For The Common Soldier.
The fifteenth adds in Mud From The Battlefields, a mixture of water and brown sugar.
The sixteenth puts in black cake decoration, symbolizing Gunpowder.
To the mixture, the seventeenth adds chocolate-covered cherries, our Canister Shot.
The eighteenth puts in a horseshoe to Honor The Horses.
After all of those ingredients have been added and stirred, the youngest adult member of the group is asked to come forward and taste the concoction to determine if it is suitable for artillerymen to drink. Upon tasting, he grimaces, steps back from the cast iron kettle, and says
"This won't do. Something is missing."
After a few moments' pause so that the group can consider what might be missing from the punch, the oldest member of the group volunteers
"I know what's missing."
He strides to the cast iron kettle with a wool sock in hand, one heavily dusted with powdered sugar - The Dust Of The March. Lightly slapping the sock a time or two above the cast iron kettle to scatter some of the sugar and to show everyone the dust of the march, he then throws the sock into the cast iron kettle.
Now that the missing ingredient has been supplied, the Stirrer stirs the punch once more, and the Commander is asked to step up to the cast iron kettle and taste the mixture to determine its fitness as a drink for men of the artillery. Filling his cup halfway and drinking it down in one gulp, he then exhibits an air of sublime pleasure, and orders all of the men to come partake of the Artilleryman's Punch.
Chatham Artillery's "Washington Guns"
I used to know some good ole boys in the Chatham Artillery.
1st Battalion — 118th Field Artillery Regiment "Hickory's Howitzers"
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