Appomattox 150th All, We are winding down the 150th events. Many of us have been looking forward to this important “end.” However, there is much left in the air. All of us wish to participate in something meaningful, that we can tell the grandchildren about. Up until recently, there have been many options on the table. Now, they have dwindled to only a few. Some are excited about Bentonville. But realistically, we cannot expect the entire battalion to travel to North Carolina for a weekend. The Sailor’s Creek, put on by the State Battlefield was going to be a wonderful opportunity. However, some members and units have planned on going gray for this venture. That, coupled with the restriction on numbers of troops allowed (250 per side the last that I heard) has relegated this to the “adjuncts” being the only troops attending. The “Appomattox at Spotsylvania” event has gone tits up. I had originally wanted to spend the anniversary doing living history on the original site, in Appomattox Court House. However, the camping space available has been taken by the National Regiment and Vincent’s Brigade. Another door seemingly closed. Next to last option was the event being planned by the Appomattox Historical Society. Included are the various Societies of Civil War “Generals.” Folks said that it was being held in the middle of an industrial park. It looked to a lot of people like a total farb fest. Then things started happening. In fact, the site is beautiful…about 600 acres of great ground and out of sight of industrial properties. Then the NPS has officially extended the invitation to units who wish to participate in the stacking of arms at Appomattox, to come on Sunday for the finale. The wheels began to turn. Here is my idea. It will not be a “Go” unless most agree, but this is the direction and plan that I am willing to lead. 1) We register for the Appomattox County, Battle of Appomattox Court House. Portrayal shall be the 83rd PA. This regiment was only second in the number of battlefield deaths of any Federal regiment. It also participated in more engagements than any other Federal unit. They had to be rebuilt from the ground up, four times. They were at BOTH the Battle of Appomattox and were present at the stacking of arms. The brigade consisted of troops of the 1st ME SS, 20th ME, 32nd MASS, 1st and 16th MICH, the 91st, 118th, and 155th PA regiments. These were the heroes of Little Round Top, as well as many other important engagements. 2) Impression: Standard Federal Infantry. Good clothes, but a bit dirty from active campaigning. Forage caps as a rule, all other as exceptions. Red 5th Corps badge. Standard Federal everything else. We are working on acquiring correct 83rd PA colors for this. I will make a reproduction of the brigade’s flag. 3) Camping. They had pup tents. However, weather forecasts in early April include rain. If there is a strong chance of rain, I’d rather have you in camp than in a car. Let’s play this by ear. The event: We will establish a standard federal regimental camp, with as much space as is allotted in the regulations. That means wide streets and ROOM for the officer’s row/s. Participation in the morning battle reenactment will be encouraged. It is at 11 AM on Saturday. Not a big deal. The Johnnies need to have a strong beating to end this thing. We don’t get dressed up for nothing. But the battle this time around is secondary to the rest of the event. On the field officer’s row we shall have three “stations” set up. Station #1: Parole Office This shall be run by Adjutant Wickersty. He has reproduction copies of the original Paroles issued to the ANV. He will also be provided with correct ledger books in which to copy the names and regiments of the parolees. Station #2: QM Office This shall be run by our RQM, Tom Burke. All members of the regiment will be asked to provide two dozen hardtack crackers. I don’t think this will be too much to ask. Heck, units can have baking parties over the winter. I KNOW that most of us have hardtack crates. I will ask that everyone bring his, with his name written on the bottom of the crate. These will be stacked up high by the QM dump. Of course, anyone who owns other period QM boxes will be encouraged to bring them. Other ration ideas (oatmeal, parched corn, coffee, etc. may be purchased by unit and placed in period packaging. Station #3: Ordnance collection point. This shall be run by Major Pepe. Over the course of the Appomattox Campaign, units were detailed to collect and inventory captured war material/s. This was especially so following the stacking of arms. This shall be more of a display. If any member has extra rifles, drums, CS flags, accoutrements, etc., please bring them. The intent is to tag these with the owner’s real name and a random ANV regiment. These will be stacked with piles of accoutrements nearby. At night, these will be returned to their true owners for storage. Once on the stack they SHALL BE GUARDED at ALL TIMES during the daylight hours. Here’s the vision…. We will team up with a CS regiment of like philosophy. Saturday afternoon we will have that regiment march up to our camp, stack arms and form by company at the parole station. We shall place a guard on their stacks so that no man shall touch any of their property. We have our own “display.” Each man shall fill out his parole and be recorded in the journal. Once an entire company is paroled, the ADJ gives each captain a ration return to fill out. He will then march his company to the QM and draw rations for his company. The CS troops will then be invited to share our fires to cook their rations or be allowed to return to their own camps. I’ve never seen this done. It would be cheap, authentic, and would go a long way to making some lasting friendships with our CS counterparts. SUNDAY: Here’s another cool part. Darrell Markijohn and staff are working on getting us bused from the reenactment site to the head of the original stage road. This is one of the main roads the US Troops used to march into Appomattox C.H. We shall march just over one mile into the town and be present for the official stacking of arms ceremony at the NPS site. It is scheduled for 11:00 AM. After which, we will be bused back to the reenactment site, pack up and go home. This is a pretty simple game plan. I believe that it would be a fitting end to the 150th Anniversary events. Please pass this on to your membership for consideration. Scot Buffington
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 19:27:30 +0000
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