“We are but few in number but formidable.” -Pvt. James Shelton, 7th Md. Co. B Volume 15, Issue 1

Br it t a ny ’s H o pe E v ent , S ep t . 2 6 -2 7 , 20 0 9 ww w . h o p e sc a mp a ig n. c o m

Civil War Medicine 4

George Furman’s Letters Home, Pt. 2

5

Ladies’ Knapsack 7

Inside this issue:

One of the biggest issues with a tactical situation is the fact that often both sides start with a full knowledge of the property and all of their troops ready to go when the event kicks off. It is just plain not authentic. Most everyone knows the event property somewhat, so what will be at-tempted is to con-trol the feeding of the fight, to make the scenario more of a "meeting" engage-ment.

Troops coming off the march often dictated what the commanders could do, and the scope of their objec-tives. This year’s plans call for the following;

Use of a “Head Controller”. Todd Harrington has volun-teered to control “the feed-ing” of the fight from Com-mand central which will be located at the barn. There will be two additional con-trollers, one with each force commander, all connected by radio. How it works. Friday night each force com-mander, will upon muster-ing their forces, turn into Todd Harrington, an Order of March for their respec-tive commanders. This is the order in which troops will be fed into the fight. Since both sides are camped fairly close to one another, each day one force will move out to “Base 1” on the far side of the property, blue on Saturday and gray

(Continued on page 6)

September 2009

For those of you who missed Renfrew, it was a pretty relaxing weekend. As our annual “campaigner event” we had pretty minimal equipment to carry in and zero set up. We also had the entertaining experience of having a few new privates in our ranks, Steve and Jeff Bush. Not only did they bring back their familiar air of “brotherly love,” Steve brought his own special impression to our ranks, one that we have been missing on our civil war weekends. “Can I borrow a dollar?”

Thanks Steve for adding one of our missing impressions on the field. For those of you who do not know, Steve’s impression was right out of “Hard Tack and Cof-fee.” If it has been a while since you’ve read it or have-n’t read it yet, I’d highly recommend it.

Also, I want to give a Thank You to Melanie for hanging in there for the whole week-end. Future events should be a bit more exciting for you. Thank you to Sarah for showing Melanie around

too, unfor-tunately Renfrew didn’t offer much for our civilians to do.

This past week I attended a staff ride through Gettysburg. It was a great experience and was one of the first times that I’ve really understood more about Gettysburg than just the “fish hook.” What would eve-ryone think about doing an annual battlefield tour as a

(Continued on page 8)

1st Sgt. Pat Ellis President

The stone bridge at Brittany’s Hope event.

Register NOW! For Brittany’s Hope

Event. Fee $15.00 per adult.

Register by Sept.

10th. Contact Col. Jay Henson

CoA7MD@aol.com To participate in this

great event. All proceeds are donated to

Brittany’s Hope Foundation

September 12th-13th

19th Annual Lebanon County Civil War Weekend

Twin Grove Park, PA (Individual)

Morning tactical, battles both days, living history, and evening entertain-ment. Saturday evening meal. $6.00 per person registration by Sept. 1st. Hosted by the 93rd Penna, 13 Mississippi and Twin Grove Park. Contact Capt. Dennis Shirk, 717-933-4294 or dshirk93@comcast.net

26th-27th

Tactical Weekend Brittany’s Hope / Hope’s Cam-

paign Elizabethtown, PA

(Company) This event is to benefit the Brittany’s Hope Foundation. Held on several hun-dred acres of pristine ground, this is a “tactical weekend”. The site features or-chards, open fields, a stone bridge resem-bling the “Burnside Bridge” at Antietam Creek, and numerous trails, hills and cuts. Hosted by the 95th PA, the event will have a scripted battle for spectators this year. The event fee of $15.00 is a donation towards Hope’s Campaign. De-tails, directions and additional info to come.

October

16th-18th 145th Battle of Cedar Creek

Middletown VA (Company)

145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek on the original battlefield in Middletown. Express regis-tration $15 by August 3,2009, a signed waiver must be included. Regular regis-tration $20.00, Aug. 4th through Sept. 7th, late registration, after Sept. 7th through Oct. 4th, $25.00. Walk-on fee $30 (may be limited). Sponsored by non-profit Cedar Creek Battlefield Founda-tion. Visit www.cedarcreekbattlefield.org for addi-tional information.

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. 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 15th 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. Plan to bring a covered dish (again, with something in it) and the company will supply the meat platters.

Matt, currently in the USMC, started out in reenacting as a youngster, and is now one of the best buglers in the hobby. Congrats!, Matt and Kristin. There has been some small contro-versy regarding the “Corporal’s Curse”, where-by, once the stripes are sewn on, the attendance drops off. Let me firmly state that the 7th Maryland has such depth that if an NCO or two cannot make an event, his shoes are aptly filled with a knowledgeable volunteer. The

continuity is amaz-ing, and I appreciate each NCO and mem-ber and are grateful for their attendance WHENEVER their schedule allows!

The coming Brit-tany’s Hope event

may provide our company with one of the most interesting experiences in some time. Please see the front page for the details of the weekend tactical on some of the most pristine ground seen in some time. REGISTER NOW! See you there...

PAGE 2 OUR CAMP JOURNAL 15 , ISSUE VOLUME 1

Col. Jay Henson

I would like to extend my deepest sym-pathy personally, and on behalf of the 7th Maryland, to 1st Sgt. Patrick Ellis on the recent loss of his grandmother. Though her light here has flickered out, the star of her love shines brightly in the heavens. Keep the memory of her alive in your heart, just as we strive to keep the memory alive of those we por-tray. Congratulations to Matt Piston on his recent marriage to Kristin Content.

farm buildings, fences, woods, crop lands – essentially a wide variety of ground to maneu-ver and battle on featuring a sturdy stone wall espe-cially erected this year for the rebs to hide behind and to shoot over, under and through. The crowds were large and friendly and we had the opportunity to interact with a good many people over the weekend. I hope we’ll be hearing from at least a few of them in the future.

Private S. Bush found another way to act the fool and he excelled at it. I don’t know if he’s a natural or if he spends all month at home practicing for the role. We’ll have to check with Cheryl to see what the truth of the mat-ter is. Whatever the case; he really shines in the character. We enjoyed his routine and joined in as best we could. Putting on a performance as Steve did provides entertainment for all of us even more than for our visitors. It is

appropriate, is in keeping with our im-pression and enhances the enjoyment of everyone. I recommend that each of us try to do something like this at least once during an event even if we aren’t able to keep it up for the entire week-end as Steve did.

Nothing ever goes totally smoothly and Renfrew was no exception. It was hot, but then it was August so what can we expect – we all survived. Addition-ally, a couple of issues came up over the weekend, but nothing serious. The first was that supply of wood became slim towards Sunday, but we had enough for everything we needed so although the event coordinator apologized, it was really a non-issue. The second was that planning for the sinks came up shy of what was necessary. There were enough in number but either there was no pro-vision for cleaning them, or the plan fell through so they were shut down and we were asked to use the less primi-tive facilities; those in the barn with running water and flush toilets. That was a hardship, but one we became ac-customed to.

Next year is an anniversary year for Renfrew and the organizers are

(Continued on page 6)

This was my first time at Renfrew and I see it as another triumph for the 7th in all regards. I reckon the recent commentaries by Pat and Jeff about going light have had an effect. We had one “A” frame tent, one dog tent and one single shelter half shebang. Those accommodations provided refuge for specifically, one civilian, two riflemen and one bugler. The rest of the company spread out gum blankets and used the leafy crowns of sycamores and black walnuts for protection from the ele-ments. We fell asleep accompanied by the burbling of Antietam Creek (when it could be faintly heard above the roar of several serious snorers) as a lullaby. I guess I know that we’ll have acres of canvas again and appropriately, but it was fun to have so many troops rough-ing it this go-round.

As I said, this was my first trip to Renfrew and it is everything I’d heard and more. The camping area is pastoral and bucolic as advertised, soft grass beneath large trees alongside the upper reaches of Antietam Creek. The grounds are expansive with open fields,

Renfrew was a good event as always and we missed those that could not make it. We again camped under the stars and carried in very little camp equipment with most people only bring-ing what they could carry. The spot under the trees along the creek is al-ways enjoyable, nice, and cool. It seemed like we had quite a few people walk through camp and even had some visitors. We had the pleasure of having Ms. Melanie Garvey in camp for the weekend. We had people visit, handed out brochures and chatted with many people. The battles were good with an even distance between the Rebs and us (well for at least most of the battles). The sides were pretty equal, with about 65

on each side. The temperature was not too bad except for the last battle, you could just feel the mugginess in the area when we en-tered the battlefield. With the start of the school season upon us, I would like to encourage all of our students to study hard and do well. Our members who teach school, I wish you luck as you try to form your students’ minds and teach them. I wish the best of luck for those that will be going away to school to also study hard and be safe and careful as you travel. I would like to ask that the members to pray for me as I start my masters degree. I will be pursing a Masters of

Divinity – Chaplaincy for the next cou-ple of years. I am not completely sure what the Lord has planned for me in the future but I believe that it is some form of military ministry. I was com-missioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Maryland Defense Force as a Chaplain Candidate. I will be supporting and ministering to Maryland National Guard soldiers that will be attending leadership schools such as Officer Can-didate, Warrant Officer Candidate and Non-Commissioned Officer schools. Additionally, I would like to make a correction to my article last month. I wrote that the place of the rifled mus-ket should be near the left toe, which was incorrect for a rifled musket with fixed bayonet. I have pasted the correct procedures from Casey’s Drill Manual below:

424. If the rifle musket be used and it (Continued on page 8)

PAGE 3 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 1

Pvt. Bill Hart Vice President

Capt. Rick Boyle

Dr. Abbot received nu-merous commendations, and became quite popular in Washington society. Abbot was one of only eight black surgeons to serve in the Civil War; this fact fostered a friendly relationship between him and President Abraham Lincoln.

Dr. Abbot was among the

group who stood vigil inside the Pe-terson House, at the bedside of the mor-tally wounded Lin-coln in April of 1865. He kept “minutes” recording Lincoln’s condition through the night before his death on April 15, 1865. Mary Todd Lincoln later presented Dr. Abbot with the plaid shawl that Lincoln had worn to his 1861 inaugu-ration. In 1866, Abbot resigned from service in the Union Army and returned to Canada. He established a medical practice, and was admitted to the College of Phy-sicians and Sur-geons of Ontario in 1871. He married the daughter of a suc-cessful black barber

on August 9, 1871. They together had three daughters and two sons. From 1873-1880, he fought against racially segregated schools as president of the Wilberforce Educational Institute. He was appointed coroner for Kent County, Ontario in 1874, the first black man to hold the office. In 1889, he was elected a member of the local GAR post, and was known as “Captain Abbot”, a rank which showed the respect and good

standing he had in the GAR, rather then his actual rank during the Civil War. In November 1892, Abbot was appointed aide-de-camp “on the Staff of the Commanding Officers Depart-ment” of New York. It was a great source of pride for Abbot and his fam-ily, this was the highest military honor ever bestowed on a black person in Can-

ada or the United States.

In 1894, Abbot was appointed surgeon-in-chief at Provident Hospital in Chicago, the first training hospital for black nurses in the United States. He became the hospital’s medical superinten-dent in 1896, but resigned the following year, to return to private practice. He also wrote for various publications on subjects such as Medicine, Black History, the Civil War, Darwinism, biology, and po-etry.

By the turn of the century, Dr. Abbot became embroiled in the debate between W.E.B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington over social change. Abbot sided with Du Bois, believing that black access to higher education was essential and should not be compromised. Believ-ing that blacks would be culturally as-similated, Abbot wrote, “It is just as natu-ral for two races living together on the same soil to blend as it is for the waters of two river tributaries to mingle.”

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbot died on December 29, 1913, at the age of seventy-six. He is buried in the Toronto Necropolis.

Sources:

Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online

Anderson Ruffin Abbot: First Afro-Canadian Doctor

University of Toronto Biography of Abbot

David Herbert Donald and Harold Holtzer, Lincoln in The Times: The Life of Abra-ham Lincoln, as Originally Reported in the New York Times (Macmillan 2005), pg. 252-253.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anderson_Ruffin_Abbot

Anderson Ruffin Abbot, M.D., was the first black Canadian to become a licensed physician. His remarkable life and career included participating in the War of the Rebellion, and at-tended the deathbed of President Abra-ham Lincoln.

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbot

was born on April 7, 1837, in Toronto, Canada. The Abbots were a well-known black family in Toronto, who had left Alabama as “free people of color” after the store they owned was ransacked. Dr. Abbot’s family relocated to Canada in 1835 or 1836. Abbot’s father owned 48 properties in and around Toronto. His father eventually be-came active in politics in 1871.

The family’s

wealth, and prosperity enabled Anderson to re-ceive an excellent educa-tion. He attended both private and public schools. He was an honor student at the Toronto Academy, and later attended Oberlin College in Ohio. Returning to Canada, he graduated from the Toronto School of Medicine in 1857. Abbot received his license to practice from the Medical Board of Upper Canada in 1861, thus becoming the first Canadian-born black doctor.

After the out-

break of hostiles, Abbot applied for a commission as an assistant surgeon in the Union Army in February of 1863. The application was eventually re-jected. In April of 1863, Abbot applied to be a “medical cadet” in the United States Colored Troops, but was finally accepted as a civilian surgeon under contract. He served in Washington D.C. from June 1863 to August 1865, first at the Contraband Hospital, then at the Freedmen’s Hospital. He worked also in a hospital in Arlington, Virginia.

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1 OUR CAMP JOURNAL PAGE 6

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott, ca. 1865, Photographer unknown

Anderson Ruffin Abbott (1837-1913), the son of refugees, became a medical doctor in Toronto. He volunteered in 1863 to serve as a surgeon in the United States Army during the American Civil War. He returned to Toronto after the American Civil War, practiced medicine and became a coroner for Kent County.

By Hospital Steward Charlie Gossard

The following letters are two of 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 Re-bels at Reams Station on the Weldon Rail Road on August 25th 1864. He later died, January 31st 1865, in a Rebel prison camp at Salisbury, N.C. This letter was written from Fort Corcoran in Arlington, Virginia just prior to the Second Battle of Bull Run.

Fort Corcoran August 28th '62

Dear Parents, We arrived here night before last quite late, I should have written sooner but I was quite tired and had to help put up tents. And now after we had everything fixed nice about here for our comfort, we have received marching orders to go somewhere but we know not where. The Rebels are so near us that we can hear their fire, and it is generally believed that we are going to meet them under Jackson. The boys are packing up their things now as we ex-pect to leave within an hour or two. They all feel first rate and are anxious to go. I have drawn part of my Bounty and will send it you by the American Express if not in this letter. I shall send $50 and you can deposit it in the Savings Bank at Rochester if you have no better place. I can not tell you where to direct a letter to me till I find out where we will stop. Wherever we do go I calculate to do my duty in all places and every time. Yours truly, George

As certain that there is no safe way to send my money home just now we are in such confusion. I will retain it and write you again. George I understand we expect to march to Chain Bridge. The Union troops have torn up its planks today to prevent the Rebels crossing it.

The following let-ter was written at

Fort Ramsey on Uptons Hill, Virginia where George and his regiment moved from Fort Corcoran.

Fort Ramsey Sept 2nd '62

Dear Parents, Doubtless you are very anxious to hear from me again especially if you received my last. I wrote in such haste that I hardly know what I did write as we had just received marching orders and did not know where we were going. Our pickets had been driven in and we were ordered out with our siege guns (6 in number) and marched all night ar-riving at day break at Fort Ramsey where we now are. It was amusing to see how suddenly some of the new re-cruits were taken ill with the same complaint when we got marching or-ders. There were 4 or 5 of them that were left behind on that account and as soon as we were fairly gone they were quite smart again. Showing that their sickness was the result of fear more than anything else. Fort Ramsey is situated west of Fort Corcoran in fair view of Falls Church (where they had a skirmish a short time since) Meunsons Hill. Ft. Skedaddle and other forts the names of which I have not yet learned. We are about 15 miles from Manassas and heard heavy cannonading in that

direction all day Saturday and part of the day yesterday the result of the battle we do not know but it is rumored that we got rather the worst of it. Gen. McClellan was here last Sunday and expects to make it his headquarters at a house about twenty rods from our fort. So you see we are favored with the Big Bugs. We saw Col. Doubleday at Fort Cor. and stopped there only 45 hours. We are enjoying ourselves here fine and are well and hearty and in good spirits and anxious to meet the enemy with our big guns. As I write it is rain-ing tremendously with heavy thunder and the most terriffic lightning I have witnessed this season. The water stands 3 or 4 inches deep before and under our tent. We have boards laid over the bot-tom of our tent upon scantling that raise us from the ground about 6 inches with hay spread over and it makes us quite cozy. Some of the boys are out digging trenches about their tents to draw off the water that is in them. One fellow just said that there was 4 inches of water in his tent, and still it rains as hard as ever. There are five of us in one tent. Alva J. Smith is the only one of them which you know. he sends you his compliments. We are agoing to see if we can’t get the other boys to change places with some of the other village boys with whom you are acquainted. We have not got fairly settled yet and I don’t see as there is much prospects of it. When we do I shall write oftener if I can. I cannot send my money home now with any safety excepting by letter and that I will not do unless you think best. Direct your letter to Washington D.C. Co. C. 4th N.Y. Heavy Artillery, Care Capt Barnes, From your soldier boy,

George P.S. (Since writing the above we have been called out in the rain and mud to receive orders in case of an attack. As we expected one before morning but fortunately we were not attacked. Cap-tain says that Jackson is cornered up so that he cannot get away unless he pass by us. We are prepared for him and expect him daily.) George

PAGE 5 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1

George Furman

Part 2 By Pvt. Jim Johnson

on Sunday. The remaining force at the barn will stay in “Base 2”. Each side will have maps showing Base 1 and its limits and Base 2 and its re-spective limits. Within those bounda-ries either commander can move any-thing at any time. But nothing goes into “no-mans land” until the control-lers authorize the movement. For each maneuver element each side has, a chit will be placed in a hat. Once the action is live, the controller will pull chits to notify who can move what. It is their determination that will decide how often chits are pulled. The main goal is to draw out the meet-ing portion, use cavalry as they should be used, and to urge each side use small unit patrols to scout and establish grand guards rather than just rushing into the fight. Mr. Harrington could draw three blue

(Continued from page 1)

planning a number of items to com-memorate the event, a special church service, a medallion, and something else that was announced but which I don’t recall. Anyway, the intent is to make something exceptional of it. Everyone should look ahead to next year’s Battle of Renfrew and plan to make their way to Waynesboro, Pennsylvania and at-tend if they can. It is one of the few events you’ll have the opportunity to see the captain and his drummer without their two wagonloads of equipage. They were among the troops who slept under

(Continued from page 3)

the stars with only a wool blanket for cover. Outstanding yet again!

With swiftest speed, years hurry on Like zephyrs light, Like arrow's flight-

They pass, they leave us, and are gone. Naught's eternal under heaven.

Destiny claims all below; Swift the fatal bolt is driven-

Death, remorseless, strikes the blow.

In Heaven alone peace sheds her light; There reigns pure bliss,

Calm happiness, And one long day undimm'd by night.

PAGE 6 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 15, ISSUE 1

units (or gray) in a row to start, or a mixture, as the chits will all be the same, just be labeled with "blue or "gray" The scenario could end up lopsided at any time, and commanders would have to make realistic military decisions as to what goals can be accomplished with what troops. It is in the Head Controller’s hands to maintain the feeding, the Company Officer's work with what they have in play, and the troops will have a great time. To make this work, at least two controllers will be needed, one with each side, to stick with the Commanding Offi-cer and pass along in-formation received from Command Central. Controllers could also be with each maneuvering element as well. If four

controllers were allotted per side, the following may also come into play. Casualties would be pulled out as combat occurs. These casualties would necessarily be walking wounded, and must return to their respective base areas. They would then be fed back into the fight as “ad hoc units”, not just go back to their original ones, so that unit Company Officers who botch their assignments and get their folks killed off, well, would pay for it. Chits would continue to get drawn to recycle the ad hoc units back into play. And the end of the day, After Action Reports from this ought to be more realistic than could be imagined. Controllers do not stop the skirmishes, but rather make bodies. If there are not enough controllers to make casu-alties, then the existing controllers would be used to feed the fights.

The orchard, where troops camped at previous events. Ripe apples for the picking.

Above, a stacked-stone wall. One of many repli-cated features on the Brittany’ s Hope event property.

The railroad cut.

GODEY'S LADY'S BOOK Philadelphia, November 1850

ODE. (FROM THE LATIN.)

EARTHBORN roses are but brief,

Fugitive earth's flowers, Even as the withered leaf,

Honors that were ours.

First off, I must apologize for the short length of this article, with the end of August comes the start of school (for those of us who actually go to PUBLIC school), and my life becomes almost non-existent for a few weeks. I can inform you that I did mean well, I thought about researching the curricu-lum for schools during the 1860’s, or what the normal day for a teacher was like, but all of that has gone to the way-side. So, I would just like to make a few, but important, points during this article.

A big congratulation to Melanie Garvey, our newest civilian member of the 7th MD; she survived her first week-end with the company. Though it was a small event, those members who were present at Renfrew would be the ones that some may consider ‘the big hitters’; those who aren’t afraid to hold back around anyone. Melanie came out early Saturday morning, even beating our Captain to the event. She was pretty much bombarded the rest of the day with different types of information and advice from every one around the camp-fire. With promises that she would return Sunday morning, Melanie left for the night (a tent is a pretty expen-sive and large piece of equipment to be able to get for the first time). Well,

Sunday morning rolled around, and no Melanie. Turns out, while the rest of us were at church service, Melanie had snuck into camp and was being watched over by the protective, if snoozing, Bill Hart. I really look forward to seeing Melanie at the next event, which she has promised to attend, with tent in tow.

And I’m starting to learn that it

can never be a complete event unless there is a visit to the ladies of the 3rd MD. They are always willing to stir up some excitement, and they always do it with an artistic flair. Having each other around, the 7th MD will never be without fruit, and the 3rd MD will al-ways have firewood available.

A personal point of celebration for

myself – my mother has finally agreed to come out to an event. Though this is a happy day for me, there are some con-ditions that come along with this agree-ment; 1) it must be during cold weather and 2) it must be a short event. The Remembrance Day Parade is a good time for her to come out, but what she would REALLY look forward to is a 7th MD Soiree. So, for my own personal benefit, but also for that of all of us, I want to urge people to really be think-ing about the possibility of a soiree in the upcoming months. We have a loca-tion that has generously been offered to us, we just need to discuss this as a group and get things moving. I am more than willing to help out with the organi-zation of things, but I believe we need the blessings of the entire 7th MD to get things going.

Also with the end of the season we find ourselves looking at the 145th Cedar Creek. I know there have been talks of a ration issue for this event, but I do not know if that has progressed any. On the civilian end, there have been ideas tossed

around at Ren-frew of having a civilian camp at Cedar Creek. This would be VERY beneficial, as the civilians would be able to create more scenarios in the freedom of our own camp (I already have promises from several upstand-ing officers and

soldiers who would assist in these sce-narios). But, we can’t have a civilian camp if only 3 show up; so this is my call to all of the civilians of the 7th MD, and any other civilians who read our newsletter: COME JOIN US! My email is bellefille137@yahoo.com, feel free to email me if you are interested in join-ing our civilian camp. We’ll still be able to walk back and forth to our re-spected companies, and we’ll be able to cook for them if needed, but I think there is a great opportunity to not only get to know each other, but have some fun that we would not be able to have while in camp with the soldiers (secrets would stay secret in our camp). With the event being two months away, we have plenty of times to plan things and gather the necessary supplies.

So I leave you with these things to think about, and I look forward to see-ing everyone at Brittany’s Hope. Don’t forget to let me know if you will be participating in camp meals! The dead line to email or call me is September 19.

PAGE 7 OUR CAMP JOURNAL VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 1

Miss Sarah Harris Civilian

Coordinator

Left, Pvt. Philip Giovannini has some pas-sengers on his forage cap, as some tired sol-diers cool their heels under a tree, above.

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

aspersions on my character. Contrary to the charges previously stated, I was not hypocritically counseling our enlisted men against the evils of gam-bling. I was counseling them against putting their reputations at risk so close to the elephant; that the mere presence of gambling paraphernalia in the event of their untimely death on the field, would be not only a detri-ment to their own personal character, but would be a great additional burden on their families who would already be grieving at their loss. I’d also like to address the charges of hypocrisy. Though I may have previously partici-pated in games of chance for profit, it was at a time when I was merely a cor-poral whose understanding in life was insufficient. While I still do not con-sider games of chance to be inherently evil.

Instead of looking to create contro-versy in our ranks, the men of the com-pany should look to Private Bush as their example. As it is written in the official reports, not only did he take initiative to leave our ranks in battle to ensure that our wounded brothers would be cared for, but he single hand-edly saved our very own captain from certain death.

of the two other bayonets. He will then abandon the piece to his file leader, who will receive it with the right hand under the middle band, bring the butt to the front, holding up his own piece and the stack with the left hand, and place the butt of this third piece be-tween the feet of the man next on the right, the S plate to the rear. The stack thus formed, the rear-rank man of every odd file will pass his piece into his left hand, the barrel turned to the front and sloping the bayonet forward, rest it on the stack. I hope to see everyone on the field for Brittany’s Hope. God bless and see you all soon.

is required to stack arms with the bayo-nets fixed, the following will be the method.

425. At the command stack arms, the front-rank man of every even-numbered tile will pass his piece before him, seiz-ing it with the left hand above the mid-dle band, and place the butt behind and near the right foot of the man next on the left) the barrel turned to the front. At the same time the front-rank man of every odd-numbered file will pass his piece before him, seizing it with the left hand below the middle band, and hand it to the man next on the left; the latter will receive it with the right hand two inches above the middle band, throw the butt about thirty-two inches to the front, opposite to his right shoulder, inclining the muzzle toward him, and lock the shanks of the two bayonets: the lock of this second piece toward the right, and its shank above that of the first piece. The rear-rank man of every even file will project his bayonet for-ward, and introduce it (using both hands) between and under the shanks

(Continued from page 3) company or just getting a few of us to-gether to tour some battlefields?

Before ending this month’s newsletter article, I want to put to rest a certain controversy. I feel as though my actions as First Sergeant at New Market are being misrepresented in order to cast

(Continued from page 1)

Not used to being a lowly enlisted private, sometime-Sgt. Maj. Stev Bush enjoys his new found freedom as he takes the oath of allegiance from Capt. Rick Boyle during the Renfrew event.

Capt. Boyle kept the troops in check with his firm hand and steady de-meanor...right.

A reminder to register NOW for the Brittany’’s Hope event. Don’t miss it.