In the weeks from early August through mid-October,
America, and the world as a whole, decended into
a universe of chaos. In urban America, life went
from difficult to impossible to down right deadly.
Food, fuel, and patience ran out. The confusing
situation with Washington and the military just
brought on the inevitable.
Random violence soon took on a deliberate nature.
Vigilante groups fought it out with gangs of
hoodlums. What police that were left tried to
defend small pockets where they brought their
families. Once the military retreated from it's
roadblocks, the masses began their exodus. Most
headed for warmer climates as Larry predicted.
Those who had someplace to go tried to get there.
Once the wage and price controls began, shortages
of gasoline became common, then chronic. Those
who did not leave prior to the unrest were stuck.
By mid-September, when it was now obvious that
Washington lost control, refugees had no choice
but to travel on foot.
Meanwhile, the situation in Huron County had
firmed up. Roadblocks had been established and
the militias were formed. Most of the training
was done on the job. The rotation worked well,
especially when it came harvest time. Fuel was
allocated from reserves as needed. As much was
done by hand as could be. An Amish community
north of Bad Axe helped out where they could.
Larry spent alot of time with them.
Armed with an instant camera, notebook, and various
measuring devices, he was busy learning what he
could about their horse-drawn equipment. The
county-wide survey of beasts of burden showed a
fair number. While they estimated to have enough
fuel for this season, next year would mean a return
to farming the old fashioned way. With luck, they
would be able to fabricate some of what they needed.
Afterwards, Larry met with the engineers and managers
of the few factories there were in the area. They
looked over Larry's data. None were optimistic, but
they did agree to give it a go. The area's electrical
power plant only had enough coal for six months at best.
Rationing would begin with power on for only a few
hours a day. Natural gas was also a problem. But
Michigan did have sources for it further upstate.
Not to mention oilwells. Some form of barter would
have to be developed.
The Governor of Michigan had set up a headquarters
near Grayling. There was a large National Guard
base there. One of the county commissioners and
one of the militiamen familiar with HAM radio
(both of whom were bachelors) were selected to fly up there in
late September. Other representatives gathered there
from across the state and even some from other state
to coordinate their efforts. Just because the
Federal government had taken a powder, didn't
mean that everyone else did.
The situation was indeed shaping up. While it
would be a long time before things returned to
pre-chaos conditions, the level of fear was
subsiding in Huron County. Other places were not
as well off. To the south, St. Clair county was
having a rough time with refugees and looters.
They begged for help. Most of their better
trained people were lost. They had the numbers,
but were low on experience and leadership.
Hank DeWitt volunteered to help whip things into
shape. An former Army officer with infantry
experience, he felt obligated to have a go at it.
Many of those who had been killed and were militia
people from before were friends of his. He and
a dozen others packed up and headed south on
the 25th of September.
With the harvest in full swing, and man-power getting
tight, the militia needed to recruit new people.
Larry, who had been more valuable with other
matters, decided to lend a hand. His buddy Al
also signed up. Not wanting to leave his
home defenseless, Larry choose to leave the shotgun
and .38 there. He took with him his trusty M1 Garand.
For a sidearm, he did have a .44 black powder
pistol. Many saw this as a joke, but Larry was
actually quite good with it. He had trained before
with the help of Uncle Pete. They'd tape paper
targets to the sides of tires. Pete would then roll them down
an incline. Larry would draw and fire when they
came into view. He wasn't exactly a trick-shot,
but he could hit anything within 25 feet.
Larry and Al borrowed two horses from Pete and set off
to the roadblock at M-53 on the 27th. They were only
to stay for 3 days, but packed 5 days worth of food
and water. Larry borrowed a mule from his next
door neighbor to carry the grain for the animals.
It may have been only thirty miles, but it took most
of the day to get there. Every hour or so, they dismounted and walked
a spell. After 6 hours, they stopped for lunch
near a creek, so the horses and mule could get
a drink.
They arrived three hours later, a tad past 4pm.
About 20 people were there. Some coming on foot
or with bikes. Two others used horses, too, but had
less distance. Introductions were made of the
new replacements. The sheriff's deputy had yet to
arrive, but the militia officer was there, Captain
Kevin Harper. Larry, Al, and three others were
new recruits. Kevin gave them a brief orientation
of the roadblock.
A shallow creek ran east to west across the area.
There was a small bridge over it. M-53 was just a two
lane paved road here. Drainage ditches along either
side of it. About 50 yards south of the bridge,
a row of dirt-filled 55 gallon drums, brightly
painted blocked the north bound lane. Another 10 yards
was row, this time blocking the south bound lane.
Two more staggered rows led up to the bridge itself.
On the south bank, 3 drums were set on either
end, giving only enough room for a vehicle to pass
in the center. A long, brightly painted 2 x 10
stretched across the gap. Supports held it up
about waste high and one side had a pivot with a
weight attached. This made for a nice lever that could
be handled easily by one man.
The bridge itself was only about 40 yards in length.
In the middle and at the north end were the same
set-up of drums, but no barrier. On either side
past the ditch were earthworks. These were about
nine feet high and formed an 'L' with the short end
about 20 feet across the creek and about 40 feet
along the road side.
Kevin explained that the routine was for 2 men
to be at the first row of drums south of the
bridge. The other two men would be at the 'gate'
on the bridge's south end. A buzzer was enclosed
in a box there, with wires run back to the house
and tied into an alarm bell. As soon as any traffic
was sighted, two short rings would be the signal.
This would be if the traffic appeared non-violent
from a distance.
The four men not on duty, but awake, would then be on alert
to provide support. Back out on the road, the
forward team would stop traffic and after an inquiry
and possible search, they would then pass the traffic on to
the bridge. If the people were not known, one
representative would be escorted back to the house
where he/she would be asked if they owned property,
or had family or friends in Huron County. This
information would be checked on the laptops the
sheriff's office provided.
If the traffic were total strangers, then clearance
would have to be recieved from headquarters in Bad Axe.
With most refugees being on foot, transportation
would be arranged. The county had set-up two
sites in state parks for people. Someone with
needed skills would be taken to an alternate
location where they were needed. Anyone with a
criminal record was arrested on site.
Kevin then explained what the drill was if the
approaching traffic looked like trouble from afar.
In this case, a the alarm would be continous. All
men, awake or alseep would head directly for the
earthworks. The outer patrol would retreat and with
the bridge detail, also head for the earthworks.
On the north end of the bridge was a box of calthrops
which would be spread out, to bust any tires and
maybe some feet, too. A signal would be sent to
headquarters and one man would bring a small
2-meter radio for maintaining contact.
So far, they had yet to have such an event, but they
would be drilled on it from time to time. Kevin
would also drill the raw recruits in other matters
while not serving on the roadblock itself. He
stressed that while here, they always have their
weapon within an arm's length away. He also advised
each man to have a ruck sack with one day's food
and water. First aid kits and other gear would
be helpful. He handed out lists of what each
member should have by their next tour of duty.
The material you have just read is a chapter in the on-line fictional story, "When Autumn Leaves Fall" by Andrew Zarowny, copyrighted 1997. All characters and circumstances are fictional and are not intended to bare any resemblence to actual people alive or dead. You have the author's permission to copy or reproduce this material so long as you charge no money for it's reproduction or distribution.