Masonic Service at Gettysburg Remembrance Day

To all of our Masonic friends:

We are holding the annual Masonic ceremony at the Masonic Friend to a Friend Monument on Saturday in Gettysburg during Remembrance Day weekend. The official start time at the Monument off of Steinware Avenue is 11:15 am. This will still give us plenty of time to form up for the parade at the high school. The service is open to the public. All Masons and non Masons are welcome. Hope to see you all there.

Benefit for the Lawson Family

For those not going to Gettysburg, a benefit spaghetti dinner for the Lawson family will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Damascus Friends Church, 28857 Walnut St.

Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased in advance by calling Tracy Prendergast at 330-685-4072.

All money raised will go to the Lawson family for care of Braden, 14 months, son of the late Michelle Lawson.

Birney's Division Annual Meeting and Remembrance Day Parade

November 18, 2011 - 8 pm
Gettysburg Fire Hall
35 N. Stratton St., Gettysburg, PA

All members of Birney's Division units (infantry, artillery and cavalry) are invited to attend the organization's yearly meeting the weekend of the annual Gettysburg Remembrance Day Parade.

Birney's command officers will be leading discussions on 2012 events and other information that impacts all of the members. Each unit is encouraged to at least have one member attend if possible. This year, we will be holding the meeting at the Gettysburg Fire Hall (see address information above).

The organization will also be marching in the parade the following day (Saturday the 19th). We want to have an large showing this year as we begin the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

First Call for Perryopolis

The annual Civil War reenactment at Perryopolis, PA is this weekend!

There will be a combined Battalion Command under Col Rohrbaugh. If you are coming, please send the following information immediately.

1. Name of unit

2. Number of military personnel attending

3. Will your unit have an officer/NCO in charge

Please email this information to the 1st Battalion Adjutant Capt Mike Murphy at ltmurph54th@yahoo.com. For more information on Perryopolis, visit http://perryopolis.webs.com/.

Zoar a Success!

Thanks to all of the reenactors who came out this past weekend to make make Zoar 2011 the huge success that it was.

Breaking down the numbers, there were over 1200 reenactors. Some even came in to register Sunday morning!

There were well over 3800 spectators. Right after the battle on Saturday, you almost couldn't get into the camps for the sea of people.

Most importantly, the fund-raising efforts to help our friend John Sutliff and his family raised over $5000.00. My thanks to Heather Nichols and her team for making this happen. If you are interested in more information on how to help, please visit the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BenefitForJohn.

For those of you who missed the event, here are a few highlights:

STUDENTS - Traditionally on Friday morning, Zoar's Civil War weekend hosts a number of grade school students and put on a demonstrations from camp life, to infantry, cavalry and artillery demos. This year, because of the 105th, we had over 1100 kids from school systems around the state. It was amazing.

THE TACTICAL - Though there are some issues to work out for next time (battle OUTSIDE of town), I think everyone enjoyed themselves even though one of the judges tagged our entire battalion "out" for 5 minutes because we stood toe to toe and hammered at the Rebs. We did rack up a bunch of points that put us far ahead of the Confederates even though they had taken the Union artillery park right out of the gate. Finally tally, Union 280 points, Confederates 170. Check out some of the photos HERE.

THE BATTLES - Saturday was a bit like your typical reenactment battle, but Sunday's "Manassas Skedattle" make it worth while. To save you the blow by blow commentary, let's just say there were PLENTY of empty cartridge boxes.

I want to thank everyone on the Battalion staff, Bob Penix on the Wing, Dave Strichko on the Adjutating, Andy Kaminski on the Sergeant Majoring, Bill Andrews on the Double Secret Adjutating, Nick Barto on the horn, and Kevin Skaggs from the USVs for being the other Wing-Dinger. We had over 100 men in the Battalion comprised of Birney's Division, the US Volunteers, and the 66th OVI from Vincent's Brigade.

Another big thank you to Bob Minton and the guys from the Army of the Ohio. We have such a great working relationship that it is beyond enjoyable working with Bob and the gang to put on an event like this.

Lastly, thanks to all of the guys from the 51st OVI and 6th Ohio Cav (that covers a lot of names) for the work they did to put things together. They did a great job for the Zoar Community Association and the reenactors!!

Your Servant,
Chris Smith
2d Battalion, Birney's Division

Students Coming to Zoar - Help Needed

For the last few years, school systems in the region have been busing students to Zoar during the reenactment weekend for several special living history educational programs on the Civil War. This year, on the morning of Friday, September 16th, over 1000 students will be coming to Zoar again. We are looking for people who can assist in doing demonstrations such as weaponry, cooking, field living, and so on. The programs begin at 9 am.

If you can help, please contact Mark Gaynor ASAP at mark@indianrivergraphics.com.
Please help us educate these kids on the real history of the Civil War.

First Call for Zoar!

The largest Civil War reenactments in Ohio is now upon us! This is a maximum effort event for Birney's Division and we are looking to have a strong showing from all units. If you have not registered yet, DO! Walk-ons will be permitted.

At this time, I would like to get basic numbers from everyone who is attending. Please provide the following information:

1.  Will your unit be attending
2.  How many military personnel
3.  How many civilians
4.  What number of tents and type

Please email this information to clsmith@5thohio.com. Looking forward to see everyone there!!

www.zoarcivilwar.com