remembrance day, saturday, november 21st.volume 15, issue 3 “we are but few in number but...

November 2009 Volume 15, Issue 3 “We are but few in number but formidable.” -Pvt. James Shelton, 7th Md. Co. B

Remembrance Day, Saturday, November 21st .

Soldier’s Letters 4

Civil War Medicine 6

Ladies’ Knapsack 7

Inside this issue:

Picture this, Saturday night at Cedar Creek... The rain is coming down hard and steady. Many have gone to the ball. Eight or so members of the Seventh Maryland are gathered un-der the company dining fly. Musician Chris Oler is sit-ting out next to the rip-roaring fire. Someone calls out to him, “Chris, come in here where it’s dry.” Chris replies, “I can stay out here and be wet and warm or I can go in there and be dry and cold. Those are my only

options. I’d rather be wet and warm.” Pretty heavy stuff, for a young man of Chris’s age. And so it went at the 145th Cedar Creek event. Friday night proved cold but dry, and Saturday morning dawned to a frosty chill that send all from their tents to the ring of the blazing fire. Souls found their mettle dur-ing the weekend and it wasn’t from the battles. It seemed that the bat-tles took a second-place to the survival in camp. Troops were mustered out for drill following the Inspection, with each com-pany allotted time to hone their drill until they were combined into their battal-ion. Then each battalion was combined into the regi-ment and skills tested for

(Continued on page 5)

First, I want to thank the latrine detail at Cedar Creek. I specifically want to thank them for their under-standing and quite frankly for their sense of humor. Thanks also to the Bush and Hart families for invit-ing Robert and Tracey Her-

riotts and Patrick and Allen Ring to fall in with us. It was great to see fresh fish in our ranks and I hope that they enjoyed themselves and will come out again to Re-membrance Day. I was also great to see the Parkinson family. I hope to see them out in the field again soon.

I’m look-ing for-ward to seeing everyone at Remem-brance Day. This is the most important event of the year for civil war re-


1st Sgt. Pat Ellis President

Left, Col. Jay Henson and Adju-tant Lt. Steve Wagner wait for the Inspection to begin on Satur-day morning. Above, Pvt. Steve Blumberg and Pvt. Scott (or is it Mark) Blumberg huddle around the fire with new member Miss Melanie Garvey after the rains abated on Sunday morning. Sweet chestnuts roasting over the fire added to the ambience.

Remembrance Day Reminder!

No caps or cartridges

are allowed on the Get-tysburg National Mili-tary Park. Please check your boxes for the carts

and caps and leave them at home. Please be on time, 7:30 AM, at the National Wax Museum parking lot.

November Saturday, 21st

Remembrance Day Ceremonies and Parade

Gettysburg, PA (Company)

Join the company and regiment for morning ceremonies in the National Cemetery, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Maryland Monument. Parade then forms up at Gettysburg High School and steps off at 12:00 noon through the streets of the town. Join the members of the 7th Maryland for a din-ner at The Cozy Inn in Thurmont follow-ing the parade and ceremonies. Meet behind the National Wax Museum, on Steinwehr Ave. at 7:30 AM. Additional details and directions to come.

December Saturday, 5th

Antietam Luminaries Antietam National Military

Park Sharpsburg, MD

(Individual) Help to set and light some of the 23,000 luminaries that are place on the battle-field to signify a casualty during Amer-ica’s bloodiest day. This is a most mov-ing endeavor. Volunteers will be help-ing the Boy Scouts and other volunteers set and light candles in the sand-filled Bags. Details to come to participate in the preparation.

January 2010 Sunday 10th

15th Annual Meeting Mason-Dixon Discovery Center

Emmitsburg MD (Company)

Mark your calendars NOW to attend our 16th Annual Meeting at the Mason-Dixon Discovery Center on southbound Rt. 15 in Emmitsburg, MD. Association officers will be elected for the 2010 sea-son. A short drill will be conducted for members of the military. Plan to bring a covered dish (once again, with something in it) and the company will supply the meat platters.

enlarged as I now have to look out for eight to ten companies of soldiers and civilians during the course of an event.

Regimental News

I am welcoming Maj. Jim Cobb, for-mer Captain of the 138th PA, to the ranks of my regimental staff. Maj. Cobb will be in command of the 3rd Battalion, and he hopes to grow the ranks considerably during the winter months. He joins Lt. Col. Rob Wingert and Maj. Don Swope as battalion com-manders. It was also good to see Col. Frank Ruiz, 2nd Regiment commander, at the event as well. During the course of many meetings with the General, the 1st and 2nd Regiment, along with the 1st Regiment of Cavalry and the bri-gade staff renewed their intentions to re-double their efforts to make the Fed-eral Volunteer Brigade a formidable alliance of like-minded reenacting companies. General Ron Palese has many ideas and hopes for the coming year. I have been called to attend a staff meeting on the Friday evening prior to the Remem-brance Day ceremonies. I am looking forward to offering some ideas and in-novation to the camp life and events for the coming year. Each company in the

Yes, Cedar Creek. Cold enough for ya this year? I think I have been through the entire gamut of weather for this event. However, I seemed to enjoy this year’s event more than those in the past. Why? I’m not sure. As I was setting up on Friday af-ternoon, I knew for sure that it was going to be cold, but I hoped it would not be wet. Well, it was both, though more cold than wet. We got the canvas up so folks coming in would have a dry place to huddle if it was raining, and we got the fires go-ing, so we could warm ourselves in be-tween tasks. And you know what? That planning helped. It made the weekend bearable, and for those of us who made it through the event, we came out with a new appreciation of what our ancestors must have endured for “three years or the war”. It’s hard to imagine enduring that for more than two or three days. More so, we found in ourselves new tolerances and endur-ances many of us never knew existed. I was finally glad to meet several new members of the 7th Maryland, voted in during the event. Being back on the regimental line, with my new duties, takes me out of the sphere of the 7thh Maryland. However, my world has

1st Regiment is urged to send a representative to the meeting. The purpose is to hash out the events that the en-tire BRIGADE will be attending in 2010 and

to reinforce the di-rection that our Bri-gade will take.

Remembrance Day And finally, the Remembrance Day event itself. If you have not attended one event this year, then Remembrance Day is the event for you. If you’d like to call yourself a re-enactor, prove it and attend the morning ceremonies and parade. There is no other single event that so honors our ancestors and sol-diers of the Civil Was as does this day.

As President Lincoln noted in the final paragraph of his address;

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Be there.

PAGE 2 OUR CAMP JOURNAL 15 , ISSUE VOLUME 3

Col. Jay Henson

VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3 PAGE 3

engage. We ob-served as our own cavalry rode for-ward to search out the enemy’s posi-tion and strength. We also observed as our very own Sarah and Melanie were escorted back through our lines under guard, having been detained as suspicious civilians in an enemy area. After several cycles of picket guard, we were gathered together, formed up and marched off down trails, up trails, and through the woods. Although never lost, we could have taken routes that were not as long as those we followed.

We were at last brought to a large meadow on a plateau, in time to become famous for the skirmish which took place there. General Palese was already present with two other companies of troops. We were dismissed to take a break and sample the contents of our haversacks (especially enjoying that good Northern cornbread from the J. Bush Bakery) but the rest was brief

and too soon we were moved out to re-sume our military activities. We marched across the meadow and then along a track through the woods, then off the track and into the woods amongst the trees where we found good defensive breastworks already thrown up. We did not stay long however, and were marched out of the forest and back to the trail we had come in on and countermarched to the meadow and returned to where we had taken our meal.

The accompanying map is drawn from memory, is not to scale, and only repre-sents how I saw the engagement de-velop. Others will have seen it differ-ently and perhaps more accurately. The numbers on the map are keyed to num-bers in the text that refer to the inci-dents described.

A trail came up out of the woods onto the plateau at this point and we were dispersed around the trail head in am-bush. Now we waited. Now we had the leisure to relax and dig into our haversacks. There was ample time for rest and conversation, the main topic of which was whether the rebels would come up the trail or not. They did.


Brittany’s Hope was a personal first for me. The first time I participated in an all-day tactical event. (It would have been an all-weekend tactical if not for the weather.) The expansive grounds with a variety of terrain features in-cluding woods, fields, swamps, ravines, ridges, road cuts, and so forth created an excellent area for the action of the day.

This is familiar to all who were there, but for those of the 7th who were unable to attend, here’s a brief recap of how it went. Up and out on Saturday morning, coffee, reveille, and breakfast. Then, after mustering our augmented com-pany, with extra personal about dou-bling the contingent from the 7th, we formed up under acting first sergeant Coleman and marched out of camp to perform picket duty. We were divided off and some were assigned posts by Captain Boyle with the advice and as-sistance of his scout while the remain-der remained at the forward picket camp.

The rebs felt out our positions with fire, but as instructed we refused to

It seems just like yesterday that we were starting the season and here we are with one event left in the year. Remembrance Day is November 21, 2009 and I hope that everyone will be able to make it out. We will be march-ing through the cemetery and paying respects to the soldiers that fought and died during the Civil War. We do a second cere-mony at the Maryland Monu-ment, then breakfast, shopping, and finally, the parade. Do not forget to empty your cartridge and cap boxes before that morn-ing; they are illegal in the park. Do not forget to knock the dirt

off your uni-form and shine your brass. It time to start to look over your kit and think about any upgrades or impression changes you might be consider-ing. Do not forget to put some of those items on your Christmas list. The off-season is a great time to update and to start re-pairing your kit. This also al-lows time to get the holes either sewn or patched, and do not for-get to get buttons to replace those that are missing. The

leather goods also need to be treated so that they do not dry out. Use mink oil, neatsfoot oil or the like to keep them supple. It is also time to start looking at events for next year. If you find an event that you think is interesting, print it out and bring it to the company meeting in January. The more research we do, now means the more events we have to decide on for next year. I just wanted to let everyone know that with me working mid-nights, the best way to get ahold of me is by email. If you send me an email I will be back in touch with you a lot faster than if you call me. See everyone at Remembrance Day.

OUR CAMP JOURNAL

Capt. Rick Boyle

Pvt. Bill Hart Vice President

VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3 PAGE 4

The following letters were among several provided by my brother-in-law, George Blood. They were written by his first great grand-uncle, George Furman, to his parents. George Furman was an enlisted man with the 4th New York Heavy Artillery. He was taken prisoner by the Rebels at Reams Station on the Weldon Rail Road on August 25th 1864. He later died, January 31st 1865, in a Rebel prison camp at Salis-bury, N.C.

(Saturday evening)

Fort Ethan Allen, Va, Oct. 18th 1862 Dear Parents

Yours of the 12th inst, was gladly received in the afternoon of the 17th. I tell you it was quite a treat for me to hear from home again. My health has so much improved since I wrote you last, that I shall go on guard tomorrow, during the day and night and after that try and do regular duty such as drill, police, dress-parade, etc. I can bundle myself up with my over-coat and rubber blanket in the night, so as to prevent taking cold for I shall only have to be on my beat twice during the night, two hours each time and we have a good tent for the guards to stay in when off their patrols. I appeared at "roll-call" tonight for the first time in three weeks. A few mornings since while I was yet quite weak I started from my tent to join the ranks at roll-call, when one of the Lieut's told me to go back to my tent and not try to come out till I got my strength again. The officers of the Co. have been very kind to me during my protracted illness in excusing me from all duty etc. The present appearance of things here, seem to indicate that we shall stay here dur-ing the winter, although it is reported that one of the three companies sta-tioned here (Co's. C, D, & E.) will be

ordered to "Staten Island" to spend the winter. And it is supposed by the different compa-nies that it will fall on our com-pany to go, as the Col takes quite a shine to it think-ing it a little ahead of any other Co. in the Regiment it being the Co, that carries the colors, and is by far the best drilled, and makes the best appearance on

dress-parade which takes place every day about sundown unless it is stormy or something of the kind. They have their accouterments and clothes the cleanest and in the best condition and they all have white cot-ton gloves which adds much to their good appearance, while the others do not have them at all. But of course we know nothing about which company will go. Co. C went there last winter, and since the Cols. home is in New York, and our Co. is his favorite we will stand as good a chance of going there as either of the other companies.

The other day our Co. moved their tents outside of the Fort, and we have a much better place to set our tents than we had in the "Fort". We have got our tent stockaded with small pine logs and banked up with the "sacred soil of Virginia" and have placed our (wedge) tent on top of it thus not only giving us more room, but making it warmer in our tent.

Most of the boys have small sheet iron stoves in their tents which adds more to their comfort. We have made bunks in our tent, of small poles, covered with pine boughs which we picked from the limbs of the small pines which grow in abundance near the Fort. When covered over with a blanket, it makes a bed equal to a straw mattress. We have no stove yet and do not intend to be in any hurry about

getting one until we are pretty sure that we shall stay here this winter.

I recently received a letter from Grandmother stating that they were all usually well etc. She seems to think that my constitution is not suffi-ciently strong for a soldier. She says that John McKee and Willie are keep-ing house alone. The other children being among friends and he says that if he is drafted he will not go if it costs him all his possessions and his life too. That sounds exactly like him, but she thinks that he would change his mind if he was once drafted. Uncle John Furman & Aunt Janes husband have together bought a threshing machine, and are away to work with it. I also received one from Charles March today in reply to one I wrote him a few days ago, stating that they were well also, and would be glad to see me too.

I received a letter from R. Green about a week since stating that one of their sons was dead, He died in Hannibal of the typhoid fever. The rest of the family were well. I hear from Mrs. Clement frequently. She says that she is all alone, and is very lonesome. Sarah (the little girl that she had) is now living with R. Green. I have not heard from Mr. Snell’s people only by way of your letter when at Conf. I don't see why they do not write to me as they agreed to do. I guess they do not care anything about me, What do you think about it?

Oct. 20th 2 o'clock P.M. have just received yours of the 17th contain-ing P. stamps enough to keep me in trim for correspondence for two month (only). I was fearful that you would leave your old charge ere you had re-ceived my letters that I worked so hard to write being very weak at the time. But as good luck would have it, you did not it appears. The "papers" your spoke of did not come with the letter, but will probably come tomorrow. We get none but "New York dailies" brought into our camp now, and I suppose you can get them where you are cheaper than I can send them to you. The Philadel-phia Enquirer does not make its ap-pearance among us any more at present. When it comes again I will send you a copy occasionally.

Yesterday afternoon, a new


OUR CAMP JOURNAL

George Furman

Part 4 By Pvt. Jim Johnson

It is usually a brisk, sun-drenched day in mid-November, when the soldiers and civilians of the 7th Maryland, along with the entire regional reenact-ment community, descend on Gettys-burg, Pa. for the annual Remembrance Day parade and ceremonies. For the 7th Maryland, the morning begins with a march through the cemetery where Abraham Lincoln spoke his famous words, and where all the Union graves are forever giving a testimony to the deeds performed not only on the very grounds they sleep beneath, but throughout the four years of blood and strife. It is altogether fitting that we do this. That this is the least we can do to

honor those we portray on the field goes without saying. Each state is honored by their respec-tive reenactment community, including Maryland. Upon the conclusion of the cemetery ceremony, the Maryland boys pause briefly for a ceremony unto

themselves at the Maryland Monument at the Visitor’s Center. The parade then snakes along the usual route from the school down Steinwehr Avenue. The long lines of Blue and Gray stretch through the town. The soldiers sporting their very best in honor of the occasion. The whole day is drenched in solemnity from start to finish. The trek along the route may seem to get a bit dreary with the usual cadences

of " 1....1....1..2..1," espe-cially since the music from the bands ahead are drowned out by crowd noise. But....as always, the 7th Maryland chimes in with their own march-ing tunes, thanks in large part to our singing sol-diers. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," “A Drop of Nelson’s Blood” and "The Battle Cry of Free-dom" are the most popu-lar and keep all occupied until, before we know it, the trek is over.

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 3 OUR CAMP JOURNAL PAGE 5

regiment (the 169th N.Y.S.V. from Troy) came in here and encamped just back of our fort. And when we came out on dress parade several of their offi-cers and men who were present, were heard to remark that they thought we were Regulars on account of our fine dress, upright posture, and promptness in obeying commands, etc. I was not put on guard to day as I expected, the "Orderly" told me that after having been so sick, I might suffer a relapse by being out in the night, and he would

(Continued from page 4)

enactors as it is the only event that is solely dedicated to remembering the sac-rifices that were made for us almost 150 years ago. Clean up your equipment from Cedar Creek and I hope to see you all at the National Wax Museum parking lot Sat-urday morning in Gettysburg.


excuse me until my turn comes next time, which will be one week as we come on guard once in that length of time. So you can see for yourself how I am treated by "officers". I suppose you are all much pleased with your new appointment and are there now, it may be "on the town" as you term it, for you certainly have not had time to get to keeping house, if you did not leave Cambria until Friday. I hope for your sake that you have got on a good charge this time.

Samuel Smith received your letter

three days after it was mailed (as that is the time it takes all your letters to come) and handed it to me to read which I done. You must have forgotten to state that you were sent to S. for you said nothing about it. But two or three days after I saw the list of appoint-ments for your district in an Albion paper received by one of the Albion Boys, and there found that you were sent to S, and I felt glad, for one of my tent mates who lives in Rochester say the people about you are mostly


future use. “By the Right of Compa-nies and to the Front” was used with precision. Compliments were passed down to the Brigade by the overall Federal Commander, Gen. Ted Bren-nan, who observed the maneuver as the Federal Volunteer Brigade was crossing the small creek near the Heater House. Even in the short amount of time that the Brigade practiced, it proved important to our success in limiting the snafus that occur during a quick retirement of the lines. We can expect to practice maneuvers that we know will be included in future events. And, by moving without arms, it warmed us up a bit! Alas, just before the battle, the rains started. Lightly at first, but by the time the engagement was over, troops were pretty wet. The fires were stoked high in camp and though the rain was a modest drizzle, some were able to



officer’s uniform. On October 2, 1863, he

was com-

missioned Regi-mental Surgeon of the Seventh U.S. Colored Troops. Augusta was brevet-ted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on March 13, 1865. Mustered out of the service in October of 1866, he accepted an assignment with the Freedmen’s Bureau, heading the agency’s Lin-coln Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. While serving there, he encour-

aged black self-help, and urged the freedmen to support independent insti-tutions, and gained the respect of the city’s white physicians. Augusta was the attending surgeon at the Smallpox Hospital in Washing-ton D.C. in 1870, he also served on

staff at the local Freedman’s Hospi-tal. He taught anatomy in the re-cently organized medical depart-ment at Howard University from

November 8, 1868 to July of 1877. He became the first black man appointed as a faculty member to that or any other medical school in the United States. Augusta received honorary de-grees of M.D. in 1869, and A.M. in 1871 from Howard University. Despite all his accomplishments, Augusta was re-peatedly refused entry in to the local society of physicians in the city. Alex-ander Thomas Augusta died in Wash-ington on December 21, 1890. He was buried, with full military honors, at Arlington National Cemetery. Sources for this article: The Black Abolitionist Papers. By: C. Peter Ripley, UNC Press, 1992, pg. 204.

Surgeon A.T. Augusta to Major General L. Wallace, January 20, 1865, A-63 1865, Let-ters Received, ser. 2343, Middle Dept. & 8th

Army Corps, National Archives & Records Administration RG 393 Pt. 1[C-4147.], Last Accessed November 15, 2007.

Howard University Medical Department, Washington D.C. By: Howard University School of Medicine, Reprint of the 1900 ed. Pgs. 110-111.

A Short History of the Howard University College of Medicine, last accessed November 14, 2007.

Alexander Thomas Augusta was a surgeon, Professor of Medicine, and veteran of the War of the Rebellion. Augusta was born on March 8, 1825, to free black parents in Nor-folk, Virginia. He be-gan to learn how to read and write, while working as a barber, though it was forbid-den by law to do this in Virginia at the time. He moved to Balti-more, while still young, and began to pursue an education in the field of medicine. He mar-ried Mary O. Burgoin, a Baltimore native, on January 12, 1847. Augusta attempted to enroll at the University of Pennsylvania to study medicine, but was unable to due to racial discrimination. He did though take private instruction from a member of the facility. He traveled all the way to California to earn the funds necessary to pursue his goal of becom-ing a licensed physician. Sensing that he wouldn’t be able to enroll in a medi-cal school in the United States because of the color of his skin, he traveled to Canada, and enrolled at Trinity Medi-cal College of the University of Toronto in 1850. Six years later Augusta re-ceived his degree in medicine. Alexander went to Washington, D.C., after the outbreak of hostilities, and wrote President Lincoln, offering his services as a surgeon. He was given a Presidential commission to the Union Army in October of 1862. On April 4, 1863, he received a major’s commission as surgeon for black troops. This made him the United States Army’s first black physician, out of eight in the Union Army, and it’s highest-ranking black officer at the time. Some whites reacted with violence at the thought of him having such a high rank, and he was mobbed in Baltimore in May of 1863. Augusta was mobbed again in Washington for publicly wearing his

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 3 OUR CAMP JOURNAL PAGE 6

By Hospital Steward Charlie Gossard

Surgeon of the 7th U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War, he was the first black Major in the United States Army. He died on December 2, 1890 at the age of 65 and was buried in Section 1 of Arling-ton National Cemetery. His stone reads; "Commissioned surgeon of colored volun-teers, April 4, 1863, with the rank of Ma-jor. Commissioned regimental surgeon of the 7th Regiment of U.S. Colored Troops, October 2, 1863. Brevet Lieutenant Colo-nel of Volunteers, March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services. Mus-tered out October 13, 1866

Alexander Thomas Augusta was the highest-ranking black officer in the Union Army during the Civil War .

It’s hard to imagine that another sea-son is almost at an end. I’m not going to start reminiscing just yet, seeing as I need something to write about for the next few newsletters. No, this article is going to take a brief glance back at Ce-dar Creek, and a closer look at what we have in front of us in the near future. Adding the Cedar Creek weekend into my calculations, this season consisted of about 90% rain. Am I complaining? Maybe a little. Did I still have a good time at Cedar Creek? Why yes, yes I did. Trips to the sutlers and other camps in between rain showers pro-vided an opportunity to talk to people and to network. I think for all us, the ball was the highlight of the weekend. Thank you to those 7th gentlemen who escorted us, it’s always nice to have some Union boys there to dance with. And I must say, Miss Emma looked absolutely stunning in her new ball gown! Hopefully it didn’t get too muddy. And, thanks to the Music Teacher to the Civilian Coordinator, I learned how to play a few easy songs on the violin. I’m looking forward to more chances to practice, as long as no one minds hearing a few screeching notes. (Who am I kidding? I’d keep playing

even if some one did complain about screeching notes.) Even though our activities were some what limited, our discussions were not. We have already started planning for next season because we came to this realization: we cannot hope to recruit more civilians unless we have more activities planned. I think we have lucked out with the civilians that we have already, but if we want to add to our ranks, we need to generate interest. The soldiers can dress up all fancy and go up to the sutlers, so we should create our own version of that. As of right now, I am not going to list any of the ideas that we discussed, but I am going to encourage the current civil-ians of the 7th MD to come to our an-nual meeting in January. It is my hope, and goal, to create a civilian calendar to parallel the company calendar, and I would like to have as many voices pre-sent as possible. We also have a tenta-tive meeting/get together set up with the ladies of the 3rd MD for some time in February to discuss some joint activities for next season. Remembrance Day is this month as

well, and I would also like to encourage our ladies to come to this as well. Rizzi and I have made plans to bring chocolate and flowers to hand out during the parade, and any extra hands to help with this would be greatly appreciated. It was also my great hope to go exploring Get-tysburg after the parade, but another engagement will call me away soon after. BUT! I will be returning to enjoy evening entertainment and fun, which I hope others will be able to join us.

Ladies, I urge you to look ahead; look ahead to both Remembrance Day and our company meeting. Between now and then, the Researcher to the Civilian Coordinator will be looking up infor-mation, and I will be making lists of activities to consider when we get to-gether. If you have any ideas that have been floating around in your head, please feel free to email me; the more ideas, the more we have to look forward to next year.

PAGE 7 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3

Miss Sarah Harris Civilian

Coordinator

For those of you who weren’t present at Cedar Creek, you missed our monthly meeting. Among the many things we discussed was the fact that we would not be having a company meal at the Cozy Inn, this due to the fact that we did not have enough num-bers to be able to rent out a room as we have in the past. A suggestion that was brought up was that we attend a Re-membrance Day Ball together. The following is a listing and description of events for you to consider possible at-tendance. Before Remembrance Day, an email will be sent out to get a feel for who would like to attend a ball, and which one.

1. 10th Annual Remembrance Day Ball (8:00 – 11:00 P.M) Held at the Lutheran Theological Seminary Refectory Admission: $20 (Attendance will be limited. All tickets were sold in ad-vance in past years) Lights refreshments will be served. Period or other formal attire re-quested. Gloves required. Spurs, swords and firearms prohibited in the ball-room. 2. The President’s 7th Annual Re-membrance Day Dinner & Ball Social Hour begins at 6:00P.M Three course dinner begins at 7:00 P.M Ball will follow dinner Held at the Gettysburg Hotel Admission: $55

3. Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War National Civil War Ball 9:00 P.M – 1:00 A.M Held at the Eisenhower Conference Center Period dress is encouraged but not re-quired, however, proper dress is re-quested. Snacks provided, cash bar available. Admission: $20 for advanced purchase (Must mail out check for purchase of advanced tickets and include self-addressed and stamped envelope. Tick-ets for checks received after November 14th will be distributed at the door.) $25 at the door

For each event, all proceeds will go to a charity as determined by the sponsors of the individual event.

Their skirmishers discovered us, but we hit the main body hard nonethe-less.

The rebels were present in force, how-ever, and began to push us. We fell back slowly, firing all the while and formed an arc in the middle of the meadow. Then firing commenced from our rear. Several men were detailed to check out the threat from that quarter. The three men picked counted two, three, and four enemy in the woods. Total disagreement, but whatever the correct number, the en-emy were not present in large numbers and the three skirmishers kept them at bay.

In the meantime, the rebs in our front seeing that we were being taken in our rear decided to push us hard and com-mitted themselves fully. At this time, one of the other companies was or-dered to take them in the flank. The presence of this company was totally unknown to the secesh and its attack took them by total surprise and dis-rupted their attack. They fell back in total disarray and soon were fleeing in total panic with our boys in hot pursuit with the intent of chasing them all the way to Richmond, yes by God, Richmond!

That threat disposed of, the company changed fronts to go after the few rebs who had been harassing our rear. They began fleeing to our right and we be-gan a chase to get ahead of them and trap them. As we moved along a paral-lel road, we came face to face with a dozen or so rebs blocking our way. We exchanged several volleys and they fell back. We were slowed by this ex-change and the rebs we had been pur-suing were fleet of foot and eluded capture.

Now, as the small force of insurrec-tionists fell back, they withdrew around a corner in the road and out of our sight. Our officers, wisely reading


the situation, halted us and had us re-form. Skirmishers were sent out to gain a view of the situation around this cor-ner and beheld a large company of 30 or so drawn up in line about fifty yards ahead with a welcome prepared. We did not accept the invitation, but instead the skirmishers commenced a hot fire on the formation to maintain their interest. All the while, the third com-pany that was with us had entered the woods on our right and worked their way toward the enemy. They suddenly opened with a fire on the rebels’ left flank which caught them totally un-awares. The rebs quickly reacted by refusing their left but that was not suf-ficient to deal with the fierceness of the attack on their line. Therefore, they changed front to face this attack. Now, our skirmishers were firing on their right flank and the captain was form-ing our company to go forward. As we readied, the attack became too much for the rebs and they fled the field before we could become engaged.

With that, the engagement here ever after known as the Skirmish at Palese’s Meadow came to its conclusion with the forces of treason soundly thrashed and driven from the field. I need to give credit here to our cavalry. They scouted, they screened our movements and pro-

tected our flanks and rear during move-ments. Their actions enabled our suc-cess. Our work concluded for the time being, the three companies formed up and marched back to camp. This time we had no need for countermarches and took a direct route which got us back in good time.

After a brief respite in camp, the com-panies were reformed to move out again. I was played out. It would have been fine if we’d have remained in the field, but once back in camp, I was done. I was the only one however. Eve-ryone else fell in as ordered and marched off again.

The troops were not gone long, but they returned in high spirits. They had taken a contingent of rebels by surprise and bagged the most of them. The num-ber of troops captured was reported variously as numbering anywhere from four to 29. Hard to tell what the actual count was as it is common knowledge that we have problems with any num-ber over two. The number does not mat-ter in any event since everyone was elated. Except the rebels. Reports from those who took the captives said that they were pretty dispirited. They could not engage us when and where they wanted to and when they did, they were inevitably defeated.

The General was feeling very satisfied


PAGE 8 OUR CAMP JOURNAL ISSUE 15 , VOLUME 3

with his performance. He spent nearly an hour visiting with us under our tarp and recapping his view of the day. He was most pleased with how everything went. And well he may have been. His plan was good and this was an engage-ment in which the plan survived the initial contact with the enemy.

I haven’t yet mentioned the rain. It began on Saturday afternoon and be-came heavy at times. (This is written on the Thursday before Cedar Creek while predictions for a seriously wet event are being forecast so this may seem trivial, but at the time it was not.) As I was saying, the rain came on hard at times. Stakes pulled out of the com-pany fly on three separate occasions as the ground softened and the wind had its effect. Most members of the com-pany who were not in tents elected to spend the night in a dry barn. I decided


to sleep under the fly and sergeant ma-jor Bush determined to stay also and stand watch over the old guy. Sometime during the night, a stake pulled out for the fourth time and the fly collapsed on us. The way it fell, the edge came across our waists covering our legs. In the tired state we were, for about 10 seconds it seemed like a good idea to just pull the fly up over our shoulders or maybe our heads and continue to stay right where we were. That bright idea quickly passed.

Major Swope, who was among those who left to spend the night in the barn, had earlier offered us the use of his tent. We rose and began to gather up our gear to take advantage of this gen-erous offer. As I bent down to bundle up my blankets, I had a sudden cramp in my calf. As I limped and gimped and hopped about expressing myself in strong words, Steve suffered a cramp in his stomach which he endured in a less theatrical manner. We eventually made it to the Major’s tent.

When morning came, wet was the only word for the area. After breakfast, we were informed that Sunday’s schedule

was cancelled. Only 16 Confederates were left. The cancellation was widely blamed on them, but if the truth be told, several Federal units and a good number of individuals had or were in the process of departing as well, so the cancellation could just as well be laid on the side of the National forces.

The last bit of excitement occurred when the teamster mired the company wagon in the mud. Its horses could not pull it out and the troops had to gather round to heave, push and pull. Finally, he unhitched the team, we turned the wagon about and after some more pull-ing and pushing, got the team har-nessed up once more and finally pushed it free.

It was a good event. I got to be involved in a variety of actions carried out in full, not constrained by schedules, audi-ence, or other outside restrictions. I got to see maneuvering on the field to gain advantage and observe combined arms in operation. It was different for me and a lot of fun. I look forward to the opportunity of participating in other day-long tactical events in the future.

PAGE 9 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3

keep dry, and warm! The annual morning tactical was can-celled due to the field conditions and in the distance, a light frosting of snow coated the tops of the nearby mountains. The rain suddenly stopped after the brief flurry and a breeze picked up, ever so slowly drying out equipment and canvas.

Following the morning Dress parade and Church Call, the pitched battle on Sunday proved to be fairly taxing, with both sides offering a give and take in the small valley near the Heater House. The engagement raged for nearly an hour until the Con-federates were pushed back, thanks to the rallying cry of Gen. Phil Sheridan!


Above left, General Palese and his staff watches the action. Left, Cpl. Ron Riotto serves Cpl. Steve Giovannini breakfast during breakfast Sunday morning in camp.

Above, Sgt. Maj. Steve Bush sets the FVB line, and below, after making sure it is set, returns to his position in line.

Around her was a fairy scene A wilderness of flowers,

Where slowly deepened day's soft hues As came the twilight hours.

The beech-tree's brown and gnarled stem A rustic sear had made;

Its swaying foliage lightly east A soft and emerald shade.

They wove for her a dewy wreath Of buds and blossoms bright,

To crown her, at the festival, Their radiant queen that night:

The maidens hear her mandolin, As lily bells they twine;

And softly whisper, " Isadore, What heart as light as thine ?"

But when they stole, with noiseless steps, Across the shaded lawn,

The joyous melody was hushed, The merry smiles were gone;

And tears had dimmed those lustrous eyes

From which the smiles had fled, As closer to the sheltering tree

She leaned her drooping head. The perfume of a favorite dower,

A song of by-gone days, Recalled a voice whose lightest word

Was worth all other praise. 'Twas thus the smiles gave place to tears,

Though none her secret guessed, Or knew whence came the quivering sigh

Her trembling lips repressed

that were laid in loose on top and be-came pretty well smashed up by then they got here, although they done no damage to the rest of his things. He had a vast amount of fried cakes, cook-ies, pies, etc, and among the rest a fine fruit cake which he is saving to eat when the rest is gone as it will keep the best. Nearly every one has butter sent them which is considered the greatest treat of all as we have excellent bakers bread, and some of "mothers butter" as the boys call it, with the bread goes "tip top". Most of them also have a small bottle of sweet oil to rub over their gun barrels when they get them clean and bright, to prevent their rusting for they gather dampness very fast whenever it rains, also...

Written along side of page ; (Well I don’t see but what I shall have to tackle the third sheet) ...when they stand guard in the night, for we have very heavy dews, quite equal to a shower. It works like a charm, those that have it to use, have but little trouble in keeping their guns bright. Some of them have had a little bottle of varnish sent to smear the wood work of their guns which you know improves their looks wonderfully.

Civil War Re-enactors; America’s Living Historians.

wealthy, especially the farmers. I was much pleased with the idea of your send me a box of things as you inti-mated in yours of the 14th. Our sutler goes to Washington with a team every day and brings more or less express boxes for the boys every time nearly, for 25 cts a box say nothing about its size. I tell you what when they once get them everything else is laid aside until the box is opened and rummaged. I presume I have seen a dozen of them opened and some of them have come safe and sound while others have not. In the first one I saw opened was sent a box of honey what sides were glass and had been broken and everything else in the box was well sweetened. In an-other, was sent some preserves in a large glass bottle which also was bro-ken and the contents of the box "preserved". Another, had honey, pre-serves, and such like liquids sent in tin fruit and oyster cans sealed up, and all came safe and sound. My tent mate from Rochester (Monroe Bills) re-ceived a box (sent him by his wife) a few days since which came through all right with the exception of a few grapes


Seventh Maryland descendants Jill (Mullinix) Batey, Phil Hankins (Francis Mullinix) Pvt. Steve Hoffman, and Col. Jay Henson, whose decedents include the John and Thomas Baltz, Co. A, and Elias Poffenberger, Co. G, who served in the 7th Maryland Regiment are pictured at the 145th Cedar Creek event.

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK Philadelphia, April 1850

remembrance day, saturday, november 21st.volume 15, issue 3 “we are but few in number but...

Documents