150th Gettysburg Ccompany Streets

On behalf of General Palese, Commander of the 1st Division, please be informed that the company streets for the Gettysburg reenactment on July 4-7 will be laid out prior to the troops arrival. The streets will be numbered from 1-30 and stakes will be placed to designate each street. The streets are assigned as shown below:

• 1st Regiment, FVB will have streets 1-11 (Musicians will have street 12)
• 2nd Regiment, FVB will have streets 13-19
• Birney’s Division battalions will have streets 20-30

Please inform your troops accordingly!

Staff Opportunity at Gettysburg

I think we can all agree that the events being held for the 150th Anniversary of Gettysburg will be a once in a lifetime experience for us as reenactors. During the 140th Antietam, I was given the opportunity to serve as the Sergeant Major of a large organization at the event. It was hard work but it was also an honor and privilege to do so. I will never forget the experience.

With that in mind, I want to reach out to our folks in 2d Battalion. First to say thank you to a wonderful group of reenactors. We have always had a lot of fun together and Gettysburg will be no different. Because the of this unique benchmark, I would like to give one of you the same opportunity that I was given by Mark Melroy and Duayne Anderson at Antietam years ago. I am taking "applications" (for lack of a better term) for someone who would like to server as the Sergeant Major of the 1st Division's 2d Battalion at the 150th Anniversary Gettysburg Reenactment on July 4-7.

A sergeant major was a battalion staff member responsible for keeping reports for the battalion and maintaining order within the ranks. In battle, he advanced on the left, behind the line of battle, to help guide troop movement.

 You will need to have a solid grasp of the job. Experience as an NCO or officer is good but not required.  You need to have good understanding of the appropriate paperwork, safety, and how to form the battalion. Information can be found all over the web. I had no experience in the Sergeant Major roll when I was asked to do it only three weeks before Antietam. I sewed on the stripes and hit the books hard! Confidence is a plus!

YOU are the senior NCO in the battalion! You will be a team player with the Battalion Adjutant Capt. Strichko. Your new name will be Johnny-on-the-spot.

If you are interested, please email me at clsmith@5thohio.com or message me on Facebook. This will be the thing that all of your pards will never hear the end of around future evening fires.

Boys! Keep the Colors up and follow me!!

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

Five Beneficiary Presentations on Sunday

The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee had previously announced that $5 of every reenactor registration fee will be donated to 5 local beneficiaries on behalf of the 150th Gettysburg National Civil War Reenactment. They are the Adams County Historical Society, The new Gettysburg Civil War Museum At Seminary Ridge, Land Conservancy Of Adams County, The SGT MAC National Wreath Project and Preservation and Improvement Of The Eisenhower Iron Bridge and Sachs Mill Covered Bridge. These significant contributions will be made on the field Sunday afternoon prior to Pickett's Charge.

Seminary Prelude Event

The Seminary Prelude Event is close to capacity with Living History closed and room for more Confederate military and a few more Federal. Please contact Generals Baldwin & Gesuero for more military information.

Excitement is building for this 150th National Reenactment Event prelude event "Historic Seminary Ridge Experience". This community event is a very unique and limited opportunity to provide living history, engage in two First Day skirmishes and camp on the historic grounds of the Gettysburg Theological Seminary both Saturday & Sunday. There will also be an opportunity for campaign style camping around Schmucker Hall. There will be concerts both Saturday and Sunday evening. Schmucker Hall with its famous cupola overlooking the town and battlefield is the most significant privately owned historic building in Gettysburg. Registered participants may camp until Tuesday morning on the seminary grounds. The Grand Opening of the newly renovated Gettysburg Museum on Seminary Ridge (Schmucker Hall) will be at 10:00 Monday, July 1. Schmucker Hall has going through a year-long $17 million renovation during restoration and conversion into a world class Civil War museum. This is Gettysburg's most important addition. Inquiries for military should be directed to Generals Baldwin & Gesuero, gac3@comcast.net while living history participation information and all event registration should be directed to Kirk Davis alhes1776@yhoo.com 717-338-1776. There will be a $5 registration donation fee with all proceeds being donated to The Gettysburg Museum on Seminary Ridge. It has been announced that registered Reenactors for this event will be given an opportunity for special tour preview privileges from 2-5 on Friday, 1-4 on Saturday and 11-1 on Sunday. You may select your time at registration which begins at noon on Friday in the lobby of Valentine Hall next to Schmucker Hall. There Will Be Hell To Pay...at the historic Lutheran Seminary!

Gettysburg Reenactor Registration, Walk-Ons and Cars In Camp

General reenactor registration closed June 3 for the purpose of preparing on-site registration check in materials. Living History closed May 15 and will not be open to walk-ons. There are now approximately 10,000 registered reenactors, 135 cannon including several horse-drawn and approximately 400 horses. The living history area will be 700 strong. Final numbers before walk-ons are still being entered. Military walk-ons will be accepted at the event registration beginning Tuesday July 2 at 8:00 AM. Walk-ons not belonging to a recognized registered unit will be assigned to a provisional unit with no exceptions. Walk-ons must show identification and sign all the necessary waivers and safety acknowledgements before being allowed to enter the camps. All reenactors will receive a Reenactor Information Sheet with a variety of useful information at registration.

Some participants voiced concern regarding Thursday and Friday arrival. We heard their concern and cars will be allowed in camp to unload both Thursday & Friday until dusk. After unloading, the vehicle must be removed from camp immediately to Reenactor Parking. Your cooperation promptly removing your vehicle is appreciated out of respect for your comrades and for the integrity of the event. Military Command will closely monitor this policy. Friday evening will conclude vehicles being allowed in camps - until horse trailers are allowed back in camp after the morning cavalry battle, to avoid horses sitting in the heat at the site or on the highway. Absolutely no other vehicles will be allowed in camp until the final battle is completed on Sunday afternoon. Each reenactor in the vehicle entering camp must have their own Reenactor Pass to be allowed into camp. If any of the occupants do not have their pass the vehicle will be sent back to registration. Registration is open until 10PM each evening. Please plan you arrival hours accordingly. After 10 pm reenactors will be staged near registration until the next morning. Attempting to drive in and set up camp in the dark is dangerous and disturbing to your comrades already there. Horse and artillery registration is beside the command center and will be well marked. This is an area abut 1/4 mile from general registration with more room for the rigs and allows horses to be taken out of trailers and watered if necessary after a long journey. There will be food service available in the CSA Camp and near the Living History Area for the Federal Camp after Tuesday at 12 pm.