Just an FYI for everyone. Though your muskets are obviously permitted during the parade, PLEASE REMEMBER to leave them in your car while we are at the 5th monument and the National Cemetary. The Park Service has specifically instructed us to follow this regulation during our two wreath ceremonies.
Thanks,
Chris
Monday, November 07, 2005
Gettysburg Remembrance Day update
Saturday, November 19th will be the annual obeservation of Remembrance Day in Gettysburg. The 5th is participating this year in several ceremonies in addition to the parade.
At 9:30 am, there will be a wreath laying at the 5th OVI monument by the Army of the Ohio. The location is Culp's Hill (across from Pardee Field). I will be bringing the unit Colors for this ceremony and hope there will be a volunteer from the 5th present to carry them.
At 10:15 am, the Army of the Ohio will be laying a wreath at the Ohio section of the National Cemetary.
The last event for the day will be the parade itself. It kicks off at 1 pm. Members of the 5th should meet at the National Wax Museum on Emmitsburg Road no later than 11:30 am. We will then move to the stagging area.
As mentioned in the newsletter by Ken Hillegass, there are rooms available in Chamersburg. Most members are heading out EARLY Saturday morning. I will be leaving right after work on Friday night and hope to coordinate with some of you at the unit meeting this Thursday.
Once the weekend get's going, you can try to reach me on my cell at 330-620-2311.
Boys, Keep the Colors Up!
Chris
At 9:30 am, there will be a wreath laying at the 5th OVI monument by the Army of the Ohio. The location is Culp's Hill (across from Pardee Field). I will be bringing the unit Colors for this ceremony and hope there will be a volunteer from the 5th present to carry them.
At 10:15 am, the Army of the Ohio will be laying a wreath at the Ohio section of the National Cemetary.
The last event for the day will be the parade itself. It kicks off at 1 pm. Members of the 5th should meet at the National Wax Museum on Emmitsburg Road no later than 11:30 am. We will then move to the stagging area.
As mentioned in the newsletter by Ken Hillegass, there are rooms available in Chamersburg. Most members are heading out EARLY Saturday morning. I will be leaving right after work on Friday night and hope to coordinate with some of you at the unit meeting this Thursday.
Once the weekend get's going, you can try to reach me on my cell at 330-620-2311.
Boys, Keep the Colors Up!
Chris
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
Brunswick Heritage Days
Hello All,
I was wondering if you know of anybody heading out to Brunswick this weekend? I will be heading out on Saturday. I'm just going to "Day Trip it" on Saturday. I'm not going to overnight camp.
I know that they are looking for rifles especially for the the Union side. This is what the host unit's (1st KY Cav) website says:
The City of Brunswick invites you to participate in the 3rd. Annual Heritage Days at the beautifully restored Heritage Farm. All branches of service and civilians are welcome. Throughout the day we will have ladies activities, skirmishes, living history, and a battle both days. Cash bounty for the first four pre-registered pieces of artillery.
Amenities include supper on Saturday night, breakfast on Sunday morning, firewood, straw, hay for horses if requested and running water. No powder ration this year for various reasons. Tents and overnight camping are encouraged. Sutlers are permitted.
Registration fee of $5.00, but will be returned with a signed waiver of participation form. For more information and a registration form please contact Ralph Widowski at 330-273-3085 .
Pre-registration required before September 1, 2005 for amenities. I think that a walk on fee would be $5.00.
Let me know if anybody else is planning on heading out.
Take Care,
Brian S. Herchek
P.S. The 5th Rocks!!!
I was wondering if you know of anybody heading out to Brunswick this weekend? I will be heading out on Saturday. I'm just going to "Day Trip it" on Saturday. I'm not going to overnight camp.
I know that they are looking for rifles especially for the the Union side. This is what the host unit's (1st KY Cav) website says:
The City of Brunswick invites you to participate in the 3rd. Annual Heritage Days at the beautifully restored Heritage Farm. All branches of service and civilians are welcome. Throughout the day we will have ladies activities, skirmishes, living history, and a battle both days. Cash bounty for the first four pre-registered pieces of artillery.
Amenities include supper on Saturday night, breakfast on Sunday morning, firewood, straw, hay for horses if requested and running water. No powder ration this year for various reasons. Tents and overnight camping are encouraged. Sutlers are permitted.
Registration fee of $5.00, but will be returned with a signed waiver of participation form. For more information and a registration form please contact Ralph Widowski at 330-273-3085 .
Pre-registration required before September 1, 2005 for amenities. I think that a walk on fee would be $5.00.
Let me know if anybody else is planning on heading out.
Take Care,
Brian S. Herchek
P.S. The 5th Rocks!!!
Monday, October 03, 2005
5th Ohio Corps Badge
The corps badge worn by members of the Army of the Potomac's 12th Corps was one of the most easily recognizable employed by troops during the Civil War. A simple five-point star, the badge was most commonly made of cloth, colored red for the Corps' first division and white for its second. More expensive corps badges were made of metal, and ran the gamut from stamped brass to solid silver and gold. Others were simply manufactured of a metal alloy and plated with silver or gold. These metal badges were usually the work of talented jewelers and were almost always finely engraved with the soldiers name, unit, and battle honors. The exquisite badges were normally worn on the soldiers uniform coat, fastened securely by a T-bar pin.
Because they were fairly expensive to have made, most silver or gold corps badges were purchased and worn by officers, especially those that were quite elaborate in design. However, there are many exceptions to this rule, photographic evidence showing that many enlisted men wore them too. This is especially evident in photographs made of soldiers serving in the 12th Army Corps, which when merged with the 1th in April 1864, became the 20th Corps.
Many men of the hardfighting 5th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, wore a gold 12th/20th Corps badge of interesting design. Like all standard 12th/20th Corps badges it was a five- point star, but what made it different than most was that the numeral "5" was cut out of the solid center, making for a very distinctive badge. The men of the Fifth Ohio were proud of their military record, which saw them fight with honor at Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Gettysburg, and then in the western theater beginning in September, 1863.
Lookout Mountain, Resaca, New Hope Church and Kennesaw Mountain, where added to the Fifth's roster of battles in the year ahead. When mustered out in July 1865 the unit bore a reputation as one of the finest in the Union Army.
Colonel John Patrick commanded the 5th Ohio Infantry in some of the Civil War's bloodiest battles, including Cedar Mountain, Antietam and Gettysburg. A Scotsman, born in Edinburgh on March 11, 1820, Patrick came to the United States in 1848 and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. Patrick began his wartime service with the 5th Ohio as lieutenant colonel and by September 1862 had risen to colonel. The regiment went west in September 1863, and with Patrick at its head fought in the battle of Lookout Mountain and in the early stages of the Atlanta campaign. At the Battle of Dallas, GA on May 25, 1864, Col. Patrick was killed when a canister ball pierced his abdomen.In the above portrait, Col. Patrick wears an extremely fine gold medal presented to him at a banquet held in his honor in Cincinnati, Ohio. Patrick's gold medal was inscribed with these battle honors: Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, Antietam, Dumfries, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Battle on the Canal a huge success
I don't think we could have asked for a better weekend than the one we just had at the reenactment in Zoar Village. Soldiers and familys enjoyed a good turnout. Between the 5th, 4th, and 21st, our company was comprised of 22 men. This made for some good camp life, and even better fightin'.
Friday started off humid and wet. Rain came and went. Then came again. But by Friday evening, the humidity gave way to cool air, and the rain just plum went away. Though 50 yards apart, we traveled between the military camp and family camp with ease. And why not. The Tavern was right next to our family tents!
Our military street started off in a tree-covered lane that led to the battlefield. I would say it is one of the best spots we have had in some time. With a continual pot of coffee on the fire, and the Company fly in front of my tent to provide us a little more shade, it would have been a great place to stay for the entire week (as long as we could get a shower somewhere on Sunday night).
Saturday morning came early (and I mean EARLY). The bugle woke us at 5:45 am for the tactical. We 'cootered up in the dark and did the traditional battalion formation for the next hour (weee). Once we moved, it was a mile out... a hot fight in the woods... and a mile back. Breakfast never tasted so good. My thanks to Bill and Matt for coming down to help Mike K. get the military fire going so we could wake up with some fresh java.
The rest of Saturday was a gift. NO DRILL! Instead, we suttlered and the three units making one company sat around getting to know one another. I would be more than happy at any time to partner up with the 4th and 21st. They know their stuff and are good to have in a donnybrook.
The battle in the afternoon took us out to a very scrappy looking field that was just perfect. The trenches were already dug and muddy. A great Civil War setting. After the lines moved back and forth (and our front rank got it's share of the mud), the armys (300 yanks to 100 rebs) stood their ground and the fight concluded. No victor.
Back in camp, we cooled down and got back to gabbing, smoking, eating, and laughing. Truly, the best part of any event. Saturday night, continued much of the same and we spent some good times with our new pards from the 4th and 21st.
Sunday morning started off with an early dress parade and, SURPRISE! Drill. We thought we were going to luck out.
After the usual pre-packing, we moved off to the battle.
The long and short of it is, we were flanked and the Company moved into the woods to hold them off. I would say, this was one of the hottest fights we have been in. The Company held the flankers from the rebs for a bit, just long enough to get the rest of the battalion into the woods to support us. What I saw there was the old aggressive 5th that made the grey bellys stop in their tracks. Without real rounds, it is hard to push and hold. It is only aggressiveness that wins the day. In my experience, the rebs are the ones who use this piss and vinegar to their advantage. I could not have been more proud of the Company for having its blood up. The Battalion Commander from Western Brigade, Mike Lavis, said we did an outstanding job and that he knows few units who could have done what we did. When the spring drill comes, I would like to refine our tactics and keep this aggressive attitude going. The rebs don't expect it. And it is why in years past the 5th has been put to the front to hit the enemy hard.
This has been a great season and I am have been honored to serve as your commander. I will continue to do so at your discretion.
Your Servant,
Capt Christopher Smith
Friday started off humid and wet. Rain came and went. Then came again. But by Friday evening, the humidity gave way to cool air, and the rain just plum went away. Though 50 yards apart, we traveled between the military camp and family camp with ease. And why not. The Tavern was right next to our family tents!
Our military street started off in a tree-covered lane that led to the battlefield. I would say it is one of the best spots we have had in some time. With a continual pot of coffee on the fire, and the Company fly in front of my tent to provide us a little more shade, it would have been a great place to stay for the entire week (as long as we could get a shower somewhere on Sunday night).
Saturday morning came early (and I mean EARLY). The bugle woke us at 5:45 am for the tactical. We 'cootered up in the dark and did the traditional battalion formation for the next hour (weee). Once we moved, it was a mile out... a hot fight in the woods... and a mile back. Breakfast never tasted so good. My thanks to Bill and Matt for coming down to help Mike K. get the military fire going so we could wake up with some fresh java.
The rest of Saturday was a gift. NO DRILL! Instead, we suttlered and the three units making one company sat around getting to know one another. I would be more than happy at any time to partner up with the 4th and 21st. They know their stuff and are good to have in a donnybrook.
The battle in the afternoon took us out to a very scrappy looking field that was just perfect. The trenches were already dug and muddy. A great Civil War setting. After the lines moved back and forth (and our front rank got it's share of the mud), the armys (300 yanks to 100 rebs) stood their ground and the fight concluded. No victor.
Back in camp, we cooled down and got back to gabbing, smoking, eating, and laughing. Truly, the best part of any event. Saturday night, continued much of the same and we spent some good times with our new pards from the 4th and 21st.
Sunday morning started off with an early dress parade and, SURPRISE! Drill. We thought we were going to luck out.
After the usual pre-packing, we moved off to the battle.
The long and short of it is, we were flanked and the Company moved into the woods to hold them off. I would say, this was one of the hottest fights we have been in. The Company held the flankers from the rebs for a bit, just long enough to get the rest of the battalion into the woods to support us. What I saw there was the old aggressive 5th that made the grey bellys stop in their tracks. Without real rounds, it is hard to push and hold. It is only aggressiveness that wins the day. In my experience, the rebs are the ones who use this piss and vinegar to their advantage. I could not have been more proud of the Company for having its blood up. The Battalion Commander from Western Brigade, Mike Lavis, said we did an outstanding job and that he knows few units who could have done what we did. When the spring drill comes, I would like to refine our tactics and keep this aggressive attitude going. The rebs don't expect it. And it is why in years past the 5th has been put to the front to hit the enemy hard.
This has been a great season and I am have been honored to serve as your commander. I will continue to do so at your discretion.
Your Servant,
Capt Christopher Smith
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Zoar looming this weekend
Hey all: Just a word from the ol' skipper here. Zoar Village (THIS WEEKEND) is to be our last official event for the year. Our numbers look very good, as does the weather. We will have a family camp and military street as we had two years ago.
This is an Army of the Ohio event, but our friends from Birney's will be there as well. I plan to get down there in the late afternoon on Friday. Remember, The History Channel will be filming background footage this weekend so please make sure you stay in the period duds and all modern "stuff" is hidden and stowed at all times.
Looking forward to a great weekend with you all!
Chris
The guy with the sword
This is an Army of the Ohio event, but our friends from Birney's will be there as well. I plan to get down there in the late afternoon on Friday. Remember, The History Channel will be filming background footage this weekend so please make sure you stay in the period duds and all modern "stuff" is hidden and stowed at all times.
Looking forward to a great weekend with you all!
Chris
The guy with the sword
Friday, September 09, 2005
D-Day Museum Report
A report from friend on the gound in New Orleans comes this update on the status of the National D-Day Museum:
The Museum's web presence will be back shortly. Steve G. from I-55.com was just up here to fetch some rails for the server. He reports that the Museum took minimal storm damage but was broken into by looters. Somehow the exhibits were not infiltrated though.
The Museum's web presence will be back shortly. Steve G. from I-55.com was just up here to fetch some rails for the server. He reports that the Museum took minimal storm damage but was broken into by looters. Somehow the exhibits were not infiltrated though.