Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Birney's Division goes to Antietam(s)

Good morning everyone. On behalf of General Kelley, thank you for giving us your unit feedback on the two different Antietam events this September. There has been much debate but based on your feedback, it looks as if the desire to go to one event over the other is pretty much split down the middle. This is also true of our sister organization, the Federal Volunteer Brigade (FVB) at least from an infantry standpoint. Their 1st Battalion has chosen Sharpsburg and their 2d Battalion will be attending Maryland, My Maryland.

As General Kelley has said, units are free to attend either (or both) events. Birney’s Division will be there to support you with a command structure either way. Our organization is large enough to support two major events and create a great experience for all of us as reenactors. So here is the plan…

The 150th Anniversary Antietam/Sharpsburg Reenactment
Sept. 14-16, 2012
Location: Near Sharpsburg, MD
Federal Commander: Rick Dussinger, USV
Confederate Commander: Brian Gesuero, PACS
http://www.150thantietamreenactment.com/

Colonel Rohrbaugh will be the commanding the Birney’s infantry at the Sharpsburg event for those units attending. His relationship with those in the Gettysburg reenacting community that are involved in putting on the event is of great benefit for our members. The Birney’s artillery and cavalry will also be attending this event under separate commands. Birney’s will be working with the 1st Battalion of the FVB at this event.

As information and logistics are available, Colonel Rohrbaugh will send out emails. Please respond in a timely manner.

Maryland, My Maryland: The 150th Battles of South Mountain and Antietam
Sept. 7-9, 2012
Location: Boonsboro, MD
Federal Commander: Mike Lavis, Army of the Ohio
Confederate Commander: Jake Janette, ANV (update to web site)
http://www.marylandmymaryland.org/

Colonel Chris Smith will be commanding the Birney’s Infantry at Maryland, My Maryland. Chris has a great relationship with both Federal Commander Mike Lavis from the Army of the Ohio and Confederate Commander Jake Jennette of the ANV. Many of the people 2d Battalion works with in Ohio and Western PA will be in attendance. Birney’s will be working with the 2d Battalion of the FVB at this event.

IMPORTANT!! Make sure you register for the CORRECT event your unit is attending. DO NOT accidently register for the wrong event. If you have a question, check with your company commander or 1st Sergeant.

If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to email either Denny Rohrbaugh (cpldlr160@comcast.net) or Chris Smith (clsmith@5thohio.com). September is still a way off. We are looking forward to seeing all of you in the field soon as the 2012 reenacting season kicks off!

Monday, January 23, 2012

1st Battalion Spring Muster

Spring MusterCamp Slifer, Chambersburg
April 14th and 15th, 2012

First Annual Spring Muster at Chambersburg!

The 22nd Pa. Vol. Cavalry Co. A and 17th Pa. Vol. Cavalry, Co. F in partnership with Birney's Division 1st Battalion Infantry are hosting this Spring Muster and Living History encampment at the Antique Steam Engine Grounds at Twin Bridges, 1501 Criders Church Rd, Chambersburg, PA 17202.

Authentic Camping only, (no hookups, but, Twin Bridges Campground is next to the property). Firewood, port a-johns, water and Saturday night steak dinner will be provided.

We will be doing School of Soldier, Company and Battalion/Division. We have planned a Saturday Tactical (to apply what has been learned) and will have a Sunday Battle (a Shiloh vignette with our Confederate friends who will be on site with their PACS muster)

Pre-registration donation of $10 is required (includes all combatants and non-combatants, including children over age 3 years). Walk on donations of $15 NO EXCEPTIONS. Sutler fee is $30. By Approval Only From the Commanders of the above units. No refunds available. Pre- registration cut-off date is March 17th, 2012. Please be sure to include a copy of your units Certificate of Insurance with the registration...the Antique Engine Assoc. requires this form from us for all participating units. This is a requirement. Contact for registration:

Rick Stoy or John Brindle
9568 Circle Drive
Chambersburg, PA 17202
(717) 369-2327

• Yes, the $10 bucks covers the Steak (a big one...probably 12-14oz. done the way you want it) and all the trimmings (baked potato, veggies etc.) plus all amenities for weekend and gives the landowner a few bucks
• For Friday night the local Chambersburg Pizza Huts will provide Pizza free of charge on site!
• We have a cooker (actually about 5 or 6 helpers) there for the weekend with a full kitchen(commercial) for other times...example eggs, bacon or sausage, toast,home-fries, coffee for $3...lots of other stuff on menu as well, Italian Sausage, kraut dogs, cheese nachos..etc... We have local support from markets and businesses that contribute items for the cooker. And we also have field rations for the guys if they want them included in the deal!
• The cooker area has a large pavilion with tables and so forth probably seats 150...is a good meeting area under roof.
• Is a great site(100+ acres) and we can get a lot done and have a lot of fun. We will have field music and evening music string band...and games...tug of war between companies and between us and the Confederates on other side of property, horse shoes...etc.. and prizes for the winners. We will also have silent auctions to raise funds for battlefield preservation and a 50/50 cash pot for anyone interested.
• I will have a Firearms/Leathers/ authentic items Sutler Mike Klinepeter there who works with John Zimmerman...John may even show up for it. so, anyone having issues with their rifle...he can fix it! and has an extensive amount of parts for repo’s and originals plus other reenactor items.
• I think we can have an effective Drill as well as a interesting mock battle with the corn feds there...they are PACS guys(a max effort for them.
• This will be advertised locally in print and on radio so may be a couple spectators/visitors there at times and we will get visited by the folks at a local campground.
This is a great opportunity to kick the 1862 season off with a great early season encampment!

Friday, January 13, 2012

Important information on the 150th Antietam

Greetings to all members of Birney’s Division!

As many of you know, there will be TWO reenactments this September commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. Since even before our Division meeting in November, there has been a lot of heated discussion about which event Birney’s Division should support as a whole. Everyone on staff has their opinion which is also reinforced by personal relationships with a number of the people in charge at either event. There has even been discussion about splitting forces and sending some units to one and some to the other. To be honest with you pards, that would not be the desirable approach. We have regional operations as an organization, but our strength should be in our numbers at a national anniversary event and we should be determined to come together as a force infantry, cavalry, and artillery.

I know that many of you have your final 2012 event planning meetings this weekend and next. As we are knocking together the final information to present to everyone (for a group decision), please block out these two dates for September and one of them will be our event.

Maryland, My Maryland
September 7-9, 2012
Boonsboro, MD

150th Antietam Anniversary Reenactment
September 14-16, 2012
Location still to be determined

On behalf of General Kelley, General Maffei, and Colonel Rohrbaugh, we thank you for all of the hard work everyone is doing out there and we look forward to a great season this year!

Your Servant,
Christopher Smith, Colonel
Birney's Division, 2d Battalion