Tessera

 

Volume I, Number 7                                                                                        June, 2007

 

Avete, Comilitiones.

 

News/Events:

            As most of you know, our major event this past month was “Castra Romana-Atlanta,” held at Fort McPherson, GA, in conjunction with the 232nd US Army Birthday Celebration.  All-in-all, it was a very nice event, and we were very fortunate that our great friend, Rusty Myers from Legio VI FFC was able to attend along with a new Legio VI member, Stacey Brodgen. 

            Thursday we set up the castra and participated in the Army celebration along with the US Army Forces Command Band, Airsoft players, a Disc Jockey, and many, many other activities.

            Rusty and crew arrived Thursday evening and we used Friday to set up the rest of the castra (as usual, Rusty brought a great deal of kit/gear and really enhanced the event for us) and spent the remainder of that day relaxing.  Saturday was our biggest turn-out, featuring seven legionaries and one auxiliary (me).

            The public turned out in large numbers on both Thursday and Saturday and we had many visitors to the castra, to include the Commanding General of US Army Forces Command, GEN Charles “Hondo” Campbell.  We also met a very nice local artist, Mrs. Jennifer Cook, who is certain that she will be able to cast brass parts for the legio such as balteus plates, phalerae, etc.  We look forward to working with Jennifer in the future – more to follow on potential products.

            Castra-Atlanta was a super event and we missed those of you who could not attend.  Check out the pictures on the websites! 

 

 

June Workshop:

            June’s workshop was at our optio’s villa, and the focus was on scuta.  Chris had put two scutum blanks in the press prior to our arrival and Chris Stewart, myself, Andrew, Brian, and Chris Damour all worked on these scuta as well as some prep work on Andrew’s balteus.  As usual, Michelle Stewart had some wonderful Roman food for us – and Chris Damour discovered that the Romans really knew what they were doing when it comes to cuisine – I think he’s still licking olive relish off of his fingers!

            By the end of the day, Brian’s scutum had progressed to the point where it was cut into a very nice shape (courtesy of Chris Stewart’s keen eye and steady hand), had the bracing attached to the back, and the handle firmly in place.  He could not stop admiring it once we stopped work.  All that remains is for him to add the linen and leather facings and then he’s ready to paint.  When Brian is ready, we’ll mount a nice brass rim.  Andrew’s scutum was still in the press when we got there and we were concerned that it might not be dry, so we focused on Brian’s.  We’ll cut Andrew’s and mount braces and a handle at the next workshop so that when he returns from his Summer archeological trips he’ll be ready to start painting.

 

Member News:

             Good news – we have a new member, Chris Damour.  Many of you have already met Chris at either a workshop or at an event (he turned out with us for Castra-Atlanta in loaner kit), and he formally joined this past month.  Chris is a Department of the Army civilian assigned to Fort McPherson and brings with him a wealth of knowledge of both ancient and modern military history thanks to his avid interest in historical wargaming.  He is very keen to get started on his kit and we are all looking forward to assisting him.

            Talk about some progress on kit – Brian Lauthen is really getting after it!!!  At Castra-Atlanta, Brian showed up in his new Corbridge “A” segmentata, Gallic “H” helmet, linen tunic, and caligae.   All he needs to complete his Basic Kit is a balteus (in progress), scutum (also in progress), a pugio and a gladius.   That is really fast work and is indicative of Brian’s dedication to the legio – laudes to you, frater!  Check him out in the pictures from the event!

On a personal note, I was able to complete my auxiliary clipeus for my COH I BATAVORUM impression and have posted some pictures of it on the Yahoo website.  I also finished a couple of baltei:  one is a very inexpensive version of a thin, early-1st Century A.D. legionary’s balteus with no apron and the other is intended for my centurio impression, also lacking an apron.  My current project is a tegimen (leather cover) for my clipeus that I am making out of goatskin and which should be finished in time for the July workshop. 

By way of preparation for the July workshop Chris Damour and I worked on the brass for Chris Stewart’s scutum, completing all cutting and shaping less the annealing and forming.  We should have it ready to mount by the July workshop – and our optio is finally going to have a brass rim on his scutum!

 

Loaner Gear and Financial Report:

            The two subarmalii arrived this past month and are very nice – Chris Damour tested one out for us at Castra-Atlanta and it performed very well.  With them, the two initial loaner kits are almost complete.  We still lack two gladii which I will order when we have more sesterces to our name, two helmets (which are on-order – we are at the mercy of Deepeeka here), and we have to finish the two clipei.  Fortunately, Jennifer Cook has agreed to paint these two clipei in exchange for a school visit next school year, which is a great deal for us since she is also a professional illustrator!  Every month, we make more progress on our loaner kits.

So far, here is what we have on-hand:

            2 x hasta

            2 x clipeus (still need to be painted and assembled, to include rims)

            2 x pugio and scabbard

            2 x tunica/focale

            2 x linen subarmalii

            2 x 8mm lorica hamata from Find-It Armory (I have to replace the leather on both like Alex/myself have done with out personal hamatae, and add the buttons/hooks that Matt Lukes donated to the Legio.)

 

            On order, we have the following:

            1 x Imperial Coolus “D” helmet

            1 x Imperial Coolus “E” helmet

 

Financially, we are doing pretty well.  Counting all events to date and member dues, we have earned a total of $1250.00, which means that we owe the fiscus $95.00 that I hope to make up with an upcoming church visit in July (for which we will receive $100) and by member dues coming in.  The more we make, the faster we can buy loaner kit items and materials.  For new members, dues are owed at your first workshop. 

 

Upcoming Events:

            Our next event is scheduled for 18 July at Alex Kyrychenko's church in support of their Vacation Bible School.  Still need to finalize details, but this is scheduled to start at 1900 (7:00 PM), which means we need to get there no later than 6:30 or so and get kitted out.  More to follow as I finalize details.

 

15 September is a Military Timeline Event at the Atlanta History Center.  No firm details as yet, but I will publish detailed instructions later this summer.

            28-30 Sep is the timeline event at the Kennesaw Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw (NW of Atlanta).  Many other re-enactment groups will be present.  Am working the details out with the organizers – more to follow.

             Some of you have noticed that the Pompeii Exhibit is opening at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Birmingham, AL.  The opening weekend is 14-16 October '07, which would be ideal for our purposes and which is the date that I urged the museum to accept our participation.  Unfortunately, the museum directors would prefer that we attend the weekend of 27-28 October, and I have tentatively declined since this weekend falls very close to Castra Romana-Charleston and would virtually preclude participation by Rusty Myers and the majority of Legio VI.  More to follow, but as it stands today this may not happen in October, although I am trying to work out another solution after the first of the New Year. 

             Finally, the last BIG event of the year is Castra Romana near Charleston with our Brothers from Legio VI. I know we all want to be there.

 

Upcoming Workshops:

            Next workshop is scheduled for Saturday, July 14th at my house here on Fort McPherson.  Focus for the July workshop is, again, scuta – Chris’ brass rim, work on Brian’s/Andrew’s legionary scuta, and the auxiliary clipei.  Jennifer Cook plans to attend this workshop so she can pick up the clipei for painting as well as get some ideas from us about other projects we might be able to commission her to do for us.

 

That’s it, Brothers.  This was a great month and I know that we will continue to grow.

 

Valete,

 

Gaius Aurelius Calvus (Edge Gibbons)

Centurio