A Promotion and Change
- Jason A. Sumner
- Jan 24
- 6 min read
2026 is off to a quite interesting beginning as I transition to a new rank and new role within my living history journey. The change is not quite one that I expected to unfold in the manner in which it has and there have been challenges on my part in adjusting to the circumstances now before me.
Sometimes change can be a difficult undertaking, especially for someone like me who is quite accustomed to developing habits and perfecting norms. Serving as the Captain of the 31st Alabama is quite representative of a role and task that had become very much a part of who I am and was for these past six years. It was a huge honor for me to have had the faith and admiration as well as continued support of my company for so many years. However, change is an inevitable part of life and one that I am not immune to.
Looking back
The company transitioned from the 1st Division of Southern Reenactors Association to the Hardee Guard Battalion at the conclusion of 2023, hoping for a better experience and having found that the Battalion’s approach to historical accuracy, quality of impressions, and quality of preferred events, better suited our own approach. Upon entrance to the Battalion, I was nominated to serve on the Battalion’s staff, a nomination I declined given the needs of my company. Our Bylaws were re-written at the time of our redesignation from Company F to Company E, and quite clearly reflected a position of separation between company officers and that of Battalion staff officers. It was written in this manner to protect our company from influence and bias in the selection of events and for other reasons. Given this circumstance and the fact that we had just undergone a major transition from one parent organization to another, I felt that it was unnecessary to serve at the Battalion level and chose to focus on the needs of the company. Further, I had been elected to a two-year term as Captain of the company.
The following year, again I was offered a nomination within the Battalion, in which I accepted a nomination to serve in an administrative capacity as the Battalion’s Adjutant and was elected. This particular role and its function did not conflict with our own company’s Bylaws, as the position was not a command position. There was concern from some that I had a bit too much responsibility to tend to; however, I am quite the administrator, not to brag, but aside from a master’s degree within Public Administration, I enjoy administrative tasks and would challenge that the added role was a pleasure for me to undertake. The past year went quite well, and I never felt that the additional role precluded me from focusing on my normal responsibilities as my company’s commanding officer.
Skirum Creek
It was at Skirum Creek this past year that I was approached by some of our company members in conversation regarding the upcoming year and the Battalion’s meeting. It was mentioned to me that I should accept a command if nominated to serve on the Battalion’s command staff as I had put the company first and several felt that I shouldn’t be held back from serving in a higher rank. This was an encouraging conversation and I was quite excited to have the support of my company; however, I knew that we would effectively need to amend the company’s bylaws in order for me to maintain my rank within the company, as I was up for re-election and as I knew the company attended non-battalion events on occasion in which it would need a commanding officer. The company seemed to be on the same page and so I understood that the company would make the necessary changes to the bylaws to allow me to serve and maintain my role and capacity within our own company.
January’s Battalion Meeting
The holidays and Fall season concluded, and the new year dawned with expectation and excitement as we have the 162nd Anniversary of Franklin to look forward to in October. The Battalion’s annual meeting was scheduled for the 10th of January and we made a day of it, attending the meeting at the “Lee and Gordon Mill” in Chickamauga, Georgia, followed by a visit to a local store “The History Company” located just north of the Chickamauga Battlefield and visitor’s center, of which we also made a point of visiting. At the meeting I received a nomination to the rank of Major within the Battalion, and with the encouragement of my company, I accepted. I was then elected by the Battalion to serve in this role for the 2026 season. Of course, I was excited to have this opportunity, it's one that I felt would create an opportunity for me to further grow in our hobby and further develop my leadership skills.
Company Meeting
A week after the Battalion Meeting, our company held its bi-annual winter meeting in Oxford, Alabama. This meeting is often the more important of the two we have each year, as this meeting serves as the meeting in which we conduct the business of our organization and it's the meeting in which we elect our own officers. Prior to meetings of the company, I prepare agendas and compose necessary information to be considered by the company members. For this meeting, as agreed upon by the company, I composed a simple amendment to the company Bylaws, which would have given provision for me to serve the Battalion as Major in the field at Battalion events, and as Captain, or the commanding officer of the company at all other times. However, upon hearing discussion of the proposed amendment at the meeting, unfortunately, it was met with resistance and not adopted. Given the circumstances of the argument made against its adoption, I had to concede to the will of the company and conclude my tenure as its commanding officer.
A Lesson Learned
In anything we seek to do, there are lessons in which we must endeavor to learn. Though we suffer the circumstances of those times in which we do not find either agreement or satisfaction, we must have the capacity within to understand why, and to press onward. For me, this has been a painful and trying episode. I was quite hurt by the outcome of the meeting, but also made to remember that the company’s will was more important than that of my individual desire. I was reminded by members of the company, that they believed me both deserving of the promotion to Major and quite capable for the role, and that they thought the change would be good for me in the coming year, and perhaps that is true. We shall certainly see as the upcoming months pass by. Regardless, though my role within the living history community is changing, I will still endeavor to support the company when able. Will the company be ok without me? Most certainly! The new company leadership is more than capable of leading the company and continuing to build from the foundation we laid together. I am encouraged by the eagerness for them to achieve great things in the coming year. I further understand and appreciate the opportunity for new leadership skills to emerge from the company’s younger membership. It is my hope that I leave behind a solid legacy upon which they can continue to build.
Major
In my new role, I will serve the Hardee Guard Battalion, this will effectively separate me from my company in a physical sense, given the outcome of the company meeting and a number of other unforeseen circumstances which have followed. In this role, I will be tasked with a field command consisting of the left wing of the Battalion when formed and deployed in the field. At other times, I am uncertain as to what role I shall have and what I will be responsible for. I have been assured that I will learn from the experience; further, I will have more time for myself at events, which honestly, is perhaps my least favorite part of this transition, as I very much enjoyed my service to the company as its Captain.
Other Undertakings
I have recently volunteered for the Artillery Crew at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Kennesaw, Georgia. I am looking forward to the opportunity to explore this aspect of our hobby and attend the training provided by the National Park Service at the end of February. Further, I have purchased a Infantry Impression for the Revolutionary War, as I have wanted to additionally explore this era within living history. What better time to begin than on the 250th anniversary of our nation’s independence.
I am looking forward to an exciting year of living history, and new experiences, as I embark into a new role, and new aspects of the hobby.
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