Report from Gettysburg

For all of you who didn't make it to Gettysburg this past weekend for Remembrance Day, you probably missed the best weather this event has ever seen. The temperature was comfortable, sky was clear, and the sun made the colors on the battlefield all that more vivid.

The Annual Birney's Division Meeting was held Friday evening on the East side of town. General Baldwin visited with us and gave us the run-down on a special series of events to kick off the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War all during the month of April, 2011. This will conclude with a special event at Gettysburg with camps, activities and skirmishes on part of the actual battlefield.

The rest of the schedule was discussed and several new units were welcomed to the family.

Saturday morning started with our traditional Masonic ceremony at the Friend to a Friend monument near the National Cemetery. Thank you to Brother Captain Bill Andrews for organizing this.

Later in the day was the Gettysburg Remembrance Day parade ending on Cemetery Ridge. Thank you to all of the organization's members who turned out. Excellent job.

From there it was shopping and exploring the battlefield. Capt Van Meter lead a walk across Pickett's Charge so our folks could understand what the southern troops had to go through to reach the Union lines. I encourage all of you who have not done so, to take the time and make the walk at your next visit.

For your correspondent most exploration would be done on Sunday due to a sore foot encountered the day before. As luck would have it, I ran into Mike and Frank from History Channel's "American Pickers" on the streets of Gettysburg. Friendly guys. They are going to have an upcoming program on Civil War memorabilia.

I did make it out to the 5th OVI monument on Culp's Hill. So much of the woods has been cut away you almost wouldn't recognize it. My father and father-in-law helped me clear away a large branch that had fallen over the stone with the owl badge. I may be writing a letter to our new governor to see what can be done to give our beloved marker a little "love".

I highly recommend that you try and get to Remembrance Day next November. For those of you who have never been, it is a great way to wrap up the season.

For a complete list of Birney's Division 2011 events, go to http://www.birneysdivision.org and visit the EVENTS SCHEDULE page.

Have a great Thanksgiving!


Your Servant,

Christopher Smith, Lt. Col
2d Battalion, Birney's Division
5th OVI, Company H

Birney's Division Annual Meeting

November is here already and the Division will hold it's annual planning meeting in Gettysburg, Remembrance Day weekend on November 19th, 7:30 pm, at Hoss's Steak House (1140 York Road, Gettysburg, PA - Click HERE for a map).

We will be discussing events for 2011 which will be the first year in the Civil War 150th commemorations across the US.

DON'T FORGET, the Division will be marching in the Remembrance Day Parade Saturday through the streets of Gettysburg. We encourage all members and units to attend. We will be forming behind the high school starting around 11 am.

Members of the Division will also hold a Masonic presentation at the "Friend to a Friend" monument near the cemetery at 10 am Saturday morning.

Photos of the 5th from Hale

The following link is a great set of photos from Rodney Johnson taken at Hale Farm this past weekend. Lots of the 5th. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/rudyj58/10HaleFarmReenactment

AAR - Hale Farm 2010

Read the Birney's Division After Action Report on the NEWS page at www.birneysdivision.org

Max Effort event at Hale Farm

This is just a reminder to get your registrations turned in for Hale Farm, August 14-15 in Bath, OH. At our annual meeting last year, the Division chose this as a max-effort event. Things are looking good but we need to get the registrations turned in (especially from the units is PA). We want to have a 100 plus man battalion on that field. If there any cav and artillery units who wish to come, please contact me as soon as possible prior to registration.

The Federal Army will be made up of units from The Army of the Ohio, USVs, Vincent's Brigade and Birney's of course. The Confederates will consist of Medich's Battalion and the ANV.

For those of you in the Ohio who have not had the change to meet our commanding general and chief of Staff, both Maj Gen Kelley and Brig Gen Maffei will be there.

There will be a large engagement on Saturday and Sunday for the public that will introduce several new elements to what we have done before, and the much anticipated tactical has returned to the event just for the reenactors.

This will be the largest Hale Farm in years and for those who have never been to the facility, you are in for a treat. There is so much to see and do at this historical village and farm. Plus, the event holds what is considered the best Saturday night dance at any reenactment in the region.

CLICK HERE for registration information: http://www.wrhs.org/index.php/hale/augustdrumspage

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lt Col Smith at clsmith@5thohio.com

First Call: Argus Park

This weekend will be the bi-annual Civil War reenactment at Argus Masonic Park in Canfield, Ohio. At this time I would like to as for the following information from any Federal units attending...

1. Name of unit and affiliation if any.
2. Number of military personnel attending.
3. Will your unit have an officer/nco in charge?

Please email this information to the Federal Commander Lt Col Christopher Smith at clsmith@5thohio.com.

When you arrive on site PLEASE see Maj Don Van Meter before you set up.

Help a fellow reenactor - used reenacting goods now listed

As I mentioned last week, I am helping a fellow reenactor and Freemason who has fallen ill. He is also a 30 year veteran of the US Army.

There is a wide variety of items for Rev War, F&I, Civil War and WWII reenactors. More will be going up next week. Especially the Rev and F&I goods. There will also be some weapons going up in the next few days.

Please visit www.ddayquartermaster.com and click on the link for USED REENACTING ITEMS.

Thank you!

Christopher Smith
Commanding, Birney's 2d Battalion

Information on Perryopolis in October

A Birney's Division event, this is a great way to end the reenacting season at a location built specifically for Civil War reenactors.

Located in southwest Pennsylvania, features include five period buildings including headquarters, barracks for the troops, and quartermaster's store. The full-scale trenches and breast works, along with motion picture level pyrotechnics, help complete the Cold Harbor scenario.

For registration and contact information, click here. You can also visit the event Facebook page.