Story and Photographs by Ruben Gusman Of all the activities planned for the Carthage weekend, the Cricket Game listed on the schedule didn't seem to be an activity that would be one of the highlights of the reenactment. Little did we know that what would transpire would be a such a classic struggle of rivalries, pride, and intense competition.    Event organizers enlisted the help of noted Historian Tom Melville to organize the weekend's cricket games. An historian of American cricket from Milwaukee, Tom has been conducting recreatons of early American cricket games at many living history events for over the last ten years. (Read a brief History of Cricket in the Civil War written by Mr. Melville)   With ominous cloudy skies and certain rainstorms lingering on the horizon, another type of storm was brewing between two rival Southern Battalions. It became apparent early on that something was "afoot" as we watched the Arkansas Battalion executing their late morning drills. There was an unusual amount of loud yipping and yapping that drew us to the scene. We learned that there indeed was a rivalry that began over two years ago between the two battalions. A challenge from the Arkansas side was issued to the "Show Me State" But what started it all? THE ORIGIN OF THE RIVALRY We asked Cpl. Rick Gath of Crowley's 3rd Missouri Infantry. "The challenge actually began over roadkill of all things. The Arkansas Battalion has created a mascot out of a stuffed possum which they named " Mary Todd " and have been bringing it to events for the last year or so. The Missouri Battalion not be outdone managed to find a dead skunk which in turn was stuffed and nicknamed, of course, " Abe ". There has always been a good natured rivalry between the two battalions, which has involved everything from us kidnapping Mary Todd and binding her little hands , to them attacking us during drill at a wonderful Bentonville event two years ago. So at Carthage the rivalry continued and was caused by " Mary Todd's " absence from the event." GIV'EM THE BAYONET! To our surprise, we saw the Arkansas Battalion suddenly wheel around and promptly advance into a full bayonet charge against the unarmed Missouri boys! What was up with that? Cpl. Gath continues, "Sunday morning Willie Huckabee and his Battalion did some wonderful drill in front of our Battalion with crisp volleys and the like in every effort to show their superiority. As they were from Arkansas and obviously the weaker part of the brigade, our fine Col. Doug Moody strode out to remind them of their place. With trusty " Abe " in hand he interrupted their drill and began taunting Col. Huckabee about Mary Todd's whereabouts. Our unarmed Battalion was forming along side Col. Moody just as the cowardly Arkansan boys made a bayonet charge directly at us, stopping just short when they realized they were facing their betters, unarmed or otherwise." The Arkansas Battalion charges the unarmed Missouri Battalion We asked Lt. Col. Rob Sanders of the 1st Arkansas Infantry Battalion his take on these events. "Well it is obvious that the honorable Col. Moody is clouded in his recollection of the events that transpired on the field of honor.  I will now try to set the record straight on these events.  First, while we were minding our own business on the drill field we were called out by Col. Moody and a band of hoodlums that we failed to recognize as his men.   We immediately thought a band of abolitionist had come to give us some trouble.  Upon realizing who we were dealing with we simply were going to go on about our business until they brought out a filthy varmint and started to discredit our own Miss Mary Todd.   Soon the gauntlet was thrown down and challenge made to a game of cricket.  THE CHALLENGE Explain how the challenge was hatched. Rick Gath continues his version, "A vigorous debate began among the Colonels' over whose men were truly the best and Col. Huckabee issued a challenge to settle the matter. Col. Moody was so confident in his men's abilities that he deferred to Willie as to what struggle the men would compete in. Thus it was on that fine Sunday morning, that Col Huckabee challenged us to an 11 on 11 cricket match. Governor Jackson (pictured below photo on left with black coat and hat) did come by during the debate and as he was from Missouri, he obviously threw his support behind us and gave his blessing." Sergeant Major Gary Sutton of the1st Missouri Battalion added, "A challenge cannot be thrown away. The Missouri boys were happy to accept the challenge, for we truly believed we would show our Arkansas brothers we were on their side." The Challenge is Hatched THE GAME  With that background, the boys were ready to start the game. Who started first? We asked Rick again. "The Arkansas folks took the field first and we proceeded to run up the score to a goodly amount and established an insurmountable lead. We then felt obligated to take the field, or perhaps we would still be thrashing the lads."   There was plenty of action and everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives. It wasn't long before the teams got creative and spewed out taunting remarks to their competitors. The Arkansas team came up with these cleaver chants,   "WHOLE HOG, HALF HAM, ARKANSAS BY DAMN!" "OVER THE BARN AND OVER THE WELL MISSOURI MULES CAN GO TO HELL!" Not to be outdone, the First Missouri Battalion team replied to the Arkansas chant with an original chant formulated by Colonel Doug Moody himself.   "PERCH, CARP,CRAPPIE, BASS, ARKANSAS CAN KISS OUR ASS!"   ("This is of course what is primarily on the Arkansan mind most of the time, Fishing!" added the Colonel)   Athough perhaps not realizing it and not representing Missouri, Lt. Col. Sanders of the Arkansas Battalion did his best impression of K.C.Wolf (the mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs Football team) by running with the flag whenever they scored ! But the fun was just begining or heating up depending on your perspective. Keeping it Close to the Best, the score was 34-32 before the surprise Ending The Boys from Missouri ------------------------------------The Boys from Arkansas THE CONTROVERSY BEGINS The 1st Missouri Battalion had indeed built a sizable lead scoring 34 points. But What started the controversy? Cpl. Rick Gath, "Col. Huckabee had been coming out onto the pitch throughout the game to influence the outcome, and finally came out one too many times. Col. Moody and his staff went out to force him off the field after he began protesting an out he thought unwarranted. An argument began and the ensuing brawl was, I believe, started by our Sgt. Major Gary Sutton.( pictured below being restrained by Willie Huckabee)   We asked Lt. Col. Rob Sanders of the Arkansas side if he felt there had been any cheating going on? "In good faith we took the challenge not knowing that our Missouri brethren had already bribed the umpire into helping them in every way possible.  As the game began with a two headed coin in which of course they called first and naturally won the toss and batted first.   Then we realized that their number changed several times after each batter they still had 10 more to bat.  The umpire continually gave them help by telling them when to run and when not to.  Also, when they did occasionally get the ball out of the playing field they got credit for six runs and when we hit it out several times we only got four runs.Then as the pictures show, the Sgt. Major of the MO battalion repeatedly ran out on to the field protesting and otherwise making a spectacle of  himself.  As Col. Huckabee came out on the field to restore order he was accosted and our bench cleared in his support. A few of the Mo. battalion came out but I think only to watch as many of them knew they were cheating.   After this we were scoring and about to win the game with three batters left and one point behind. The MO. battalion suddenly walked off the field! And after discussing their behavior with the umpire, he declared the 1st Arkansas Battalion the winner by default and rightly so.  If you will look at the pictures you will see that just because we defended ourselves doesn't make us the aggressors.   We conducted ourselves with great enthusiasms that might be misunderstood as bad sports but it was much to the contrary. We would very much like to meet them on the cricket field again under a new umpire." You Missouri boys have been accused of cheating. What's your reply to who was cheating? Sergeant Major Gary Sutton had this to say, "The Arkansas Battalion commenced to cheat in any way possible. I could not, as a proud member of the First Missouri Battalion, and a supporter of all that is good, stand silent to all the outlawish behavior of the soldiers from Arkansas. My move to the middle of the field, ney, not once, but twice, was to disagree with the play of the other team. My only thought was to make sure the gallant referee was calling the game fairly, and the response, even, I believe, from the actions of Colonel Huckabee, was to attack myself and Colonel Moody. After our gallant Missouri Battalion played one of the most pleasant, and fair games of cricket ever played, the other team chose to inflate the score with changing of the score, and unfair disturbances, as to make sure they "won" with the most points. I was following orders from our Colonel Moody to remove our team from the field, not only to protest the play of the other team, but to insure the safety of our fair and just players. The First Missouri Battalion won the contest fairly 34-32 and just because we removed ourselve from the field, it in no way should be considered a forfeit"   Cpl. Matt Emde of the 22nd Arkansas had this to say, "We had four batters left and were one point behind. (we would have won the game easily) when The Missouri boys left the field. But the ref called it a forefeit, and awarded victory to Arkansas."   Colonel Moody would you like to respond to that?   "I too spoke personally to the referee after the match. He assured me that it was perfectly acceptable and proper to walk off the field under English Cricket rules to Protest unsportsmanlike conduct, poor manners and brigandish behavior. He declared the Missourians the winners by protest default! We won! "(Colonel Doug Moody, 1st MO. Battalion) THE REAL WAR BETWEEN THE STATES! ALL OUT BRAWL ENSUES Like the rolling snow ball effect, more and more players from both sides entered the fray and soon we had an all out anything goes brawl in full force! Headlocks, tackling, flipping, sucker punches, et all. Hats went a flying in the air, bodies were tossed to and fro, and perhaps some pride and egos were damaged in the melee, but in the end it was all in good, clean fun and frolic. THE AFTERMATH-NO HARD FEELINGS? "After the Missouri boys forfeited, we all (Arkansas) paraded through their camp yelling "Arkansas! Arkansas!" and when we passed the Missouri commander's tent, the Missouri officers turned their backs to us. That was a great time, the kind that can't be planned ahead of time.  It really helped to make the event one of the best that I've been to yet!" Cpl.Matt Emde 22nd Arkansas.  "I haven't had so much fun since my little brother got ate by the hawgs in 42.  We must have a rematch as now both battalions have had their honor challenged.  We will be ready any time that Missouri feels up to the task."      Lt Colonel Rob Sanders (Arkansas Battalion) A REMATCH?   Both sides now seem ready for a rematch to settle the score once and for all, when and where such a match will take place only time will tell---STAY TUNED! (Special thanks to all those who contributed to this article--much obliged gentlemen!) EDITORS' COMMENTS: The rivalry between the Missouri and Arkansas Battalions and now the infamous game of cricket has certainly become a highlight for many, including now some of the spectators. An "Advertised Rematch"  between the two might be a good selling point for a future event. The Cane Hill Reenactment event in Arkansas in November immediately comes to mind. Since that is apparently where the whole rivalry started a few years back, it might be appropriate to settle the score there. it could be a big media event. Midwest Civil War Reenactments Illustrated will be on the site to cover the event and will look forward to any rematch or other challenges that may occur. Just a thought.