Bells to Ring on April 9th

APRIL 9 BELL RINGING 3:15 to commemorate surrender of Lee's Army

National Park Service

Press Release

February 2, 2015

Join the National Park Service in Ringing "Bells across the Land: A Nation Remembers Appomattox"

For the past four years, the National Park Service and many other organizations and individuals have been commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War and the continuing efforts for human rights today. On April 9, 1865, Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant met Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee to set the terms of surrender of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

In conjunction with a major event at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, the National Park Service and its partners invite communities across the nation to join in this commemoration. The bells will ring first at Appomattox at 3:00 p.m. on April 9, 2015. The ringing will coincide with the moment the historic meeting between Grant and Lee in the McLean House at Appomattox Court House ended. While Lee's surrender did not end the Civil War, the act is seen by most Americans as the symbolic end of four years of bloodshed.

After the ringing at Appomattox, bells will reverberate across the country. Churches, temples, schools, city halls, public buildings, historic sites, and others are invited to ring bells precisely at 3:15 pm for four minutes (each minute symbolic of a year of war). If you have access to any such organizations, please encourage them to participate.

The beginning of reconciliation and reconstruction, or as the next step in the continuing struggle for civil rights. Curriculum materials are available for schools interested in participating.

Share your story and help us write history!

Schools, parks, and communities from all over the country will be participating in this event. Share how you observed it with on Facebook or Twitter with ‪#‎BellsAcrosstheLand2015‬. Stories will be compiled in one place to see how each one helps build our national story.

Please join us in the historic commemoration. Let bells ring across the land!

150th Appomattox and reenactor insurance

Members and Friends of Birney’s Division,

I hope this message finds you all in good health and comfortable in your winter quarters. It will not be long before we can put on the wool again, greet our old friends and share some new experiences together.

This is an update and information from the promoters of the 150th Appomattox event, please read carefully and register now if you have not already done so. This important event will bring the 150th series to a close and we hope that as many of you as possible will be able to join us for this historic and emotional event ending the civil war.

For those of you who may not be able to wait until April to put on the wool, the 105th Pa. Co. E will be sponsoring a winter camp and drill at Birney’s Division camps in Perryopolis, PA the weekend of February 21th and 22nd camps will open at 5:00 pm Friday the 20th, this event is closed to the public. We invite both union and confederate reenactors who want to come out and stay in the heated barracks and buildings, tramp around in the cold of February to sharpen up their skills before the 150th Appomattox event. You will need to bring your own food and water, as the water supply line has been winterized. Please contact Capt. Rob at the 105th at capt105th@gmail.com for information.

A reminder all, reenactor Insurance monies must be collected and turned in by the end of March this year. Please include a roster of all permanent paying members and a list of any and all events you plan on attending this coming season. Insurance cost per person this year will be $10.00 as was discussed and agreed upon at our annual meeting. Please make all checks payable to Birney’s Division and mail them to, Michael Maffei 1951 Hertford Dr. South Park, PA 15129. I will send out a reminder and information again next month.

Respectfully,
Michael D. Maffei
Brig. Gen. Commanding
Birney’s Division
AoP Middle Division

2015 Birney's Division event schedule

Thanks for everyone's patience. The 2015 Birney's Division Civil War event schedule page is now up to date. Links to the event websites and registration pages have been included where available. We have also updated staff and unit information. Please visit www.birneysdivision.org for the latest information.

Don't forget to check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/birneysdivision or follow us on Twitter @birneysdivision

Looking forward to seeing you all in the field!

Birney's Division mourns General Kelley

I report, with great sadness, that long-time Civil War reenactor and founder of Birney's Division, Major General Edward Kelley has fought his final battle. General Kelley passed away this morning at his home in West Newton, PA after a long struggle with cancer.

To so many of us, Ed was a friend, mentor, leader, Masonic Brother, and sometimes provided a kick in the ass when we most needed it. This is a loss to us personally as well as the Civil War living history community.

Calling hours will be held on Monday with services on Tuesday. More information to follow.

It is hard to find the right words in times like these but I wanted to share some from Colonel Baltzer:


Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that our great leader has passed away today. General Ed Kelly has lost his battle with cancer. His vision of what we could grow into as a reenacting organization, his shepherding of the division from those that would minimize us and his respect by the reenacting community for the impact he made to the hobby is what makes him an icon among the rank and file as well as those leaders of national organizations. His drive and determination is what enabled Birney’s Division to grow into a force to be reckoned with within a few years, when many would take decades. “No nonsense” was his motto and hard fighting was his style on the field.

Yours in reenacting,
Paul Baltzer, Colonel
2nd Battalion
Birney’s Division

150th Bucktails host special November tour in Gettysburg

Major Mike Dallas of Birney's 2nd Battalion and the 150th PVI has invited all Birney's members for a special battlefield tour. The Bucktails will be hosting an event featuring battlefield tour guide Rich Korp. Rich will be giving us a different look at the 2nd and 3rd Corp actions at the Battle of Gettysburg. The tour is free but a hat will be passed for those who what to tip Rich.

When & Where: November 14th, 1 pm - The Peach Orchard.

Civil War Conference registration closing soon

While your company officer is at the Birney's Division Annual meeting on November 1st, we would like to remind you about the Ohio Civil War Reenactor Conference on the same day in Springfield, Ohio at the Heritage Center. This is really more of a mid-west conference for all reenactors. There will be sessions covering a wide range of topics and representatives from events around the region will be on hand to provide information and registration materials.

For more information go to www.facebook.com/OHCWRC or register at www.ohiocwr.eventzilla.net. Registration ends on October 29th.

Reminder: Birney's Division Annual Meeting

Don't forget for those of you attending the Birney's Division Annual Meeting, go to the link below to register and to get all of the details. We would like one representative from each unit please.

www.2014birneysdivisionmeeting.eventbrite.com