The first in a fight… …the last to leave

Fort Point was a success. The 69^th had a record attendance, with about ten to twelve members present and attending in the drill. Privates Piazza and Hesterberg for their first time attended an event in uniform. (Both of them and their families are fully paid members of the 69^th and ACWA. Hesterberg has even already purchased a musket!)

For drill the 69^th brushed up lightly on most of the maneuvers we use on the field. Everyone, (myself included), are very rusty after a long winter of inactivity. We will work to change that at future events.

Private Edwards has spent many long hours studying the manual of arms and is very proficient in it. At the fort I had him demonstrate the correct way to go about it. At future events we will be spending more time devoted to learning the drill. I believe that this is very important for our impression. If we can do the drill and manual of arms correctly, professionally and without hesitation, we’ll look very sharp and snappy! Learning the drill is not hard; it just requires a little time at each event to work on it.

At Fort Point we had our official unit meeting, where he held out elections, (Joe Gilbert, 2^nd Lt, Matt Gilbert, Sgt. And Billy Coye, Cpl). We also took the ACWA safety tests and the unit voted its approval for the purchase of a unit fly, (which recently arrived).

Flag Update

Yesterday, (the 5^th) I received our green 1^st Regiment Irish Brigade in the mail. It is absolutely stunning, extremely well done and looks very VERY nice! As you all know, I will present this flag to the unit on the 17th prior to our departure in the St. Patrick’s Day parade in San Francisco. Make sure you come!

Saint Patrick’s Day

We are #52 in the first division in the SF Saint Pats parade. We need to report to our formation area at 11:15 AM on the 17^th. For more information go to our web site, (www.69thNewYork.com), there I have posted a map and other information.

The current head count for the parade is around 19 or 20. I would like to encourage every single one of you to attend. This is a tremendous opportunity for publicity for us. The United Irish Societies is going out of their way to accommodate us.

Knight’s Ferry

From the head count I received from Corporal Coye last night the attendance for the 69^th NY at Knights Ferry is going to be extremely small. Partially due to that and partially do to the fact that I, (unfortunately), can’t make it, the 69^th will be falling in with the 20^th Maine. The 20^th has very graciously offered to accommodate the 69th. They just need an accurate head count so they can allow enough space for the 69^th’s tents to make sure the 20^th’s commissary will bring enough rations to feed everybody. (20^th Maine meals are $3 each). If you would like to go or think you might go, contact cpl. Coye ASAP.

Cow Mountain Campaign

As you may have noticed on the 69^th NY event schedule, I have down what I call the Cow Mountain Campaign. This is not an ACWA event, it is a unit event. It is also completely voluntary; you are not required to attend at all.

Cow Mountain is 20,000 acres of public land belonging to BLM located here in Mendocino County. This land is open for hiking, horseback riding, hunting etc. They also have a public rifle range, (with 50, 100, 200, and 400 yard targets). A group of us expressed an interest in doing a campaign march, and I thought this would be a good location.

Basically our goal is to try to experience the life of the Civil War foot soldier for four days. We will be wearing our uniforms, carrying period rations, (and various “foraged” food items). We will also be issued 40 rounds of live ammunition each, with which we will do some target and rank firing at the rifle range. We will march between 8-12 miles each day on pre-made dirt roads and trails. Everyone who wishes to participate will arrive at the Gilbert’s house in Ukiah on the afternoon of April 2^nd, (a Tuesday). There we’ll issue rations and ammunitions and load our packs up. Wednesday morning we’ll drive to Cow Mountain, (fifteen minutes from the Gilberts house.) We’ll then march into the area following predetermined trails.

On this trip safety will be very important! Cpl. Billy Coye will be participating with us. Coye is the head lifeguard at the San Jose public swimming pool. He is also an Eagle Scout. Lt. Gilbert, (who will be going as Sgt for the march) will be carrying a 1^st aid kit and cell phone. Several members will also be carrying backup water in case of dehydration even though there are potable water taps along our marching route.

For anyone that is interested in participating, please contact me and I’ll send you a flyer with more information.

June Unit Event

Last year some of the 69thers attended the Pollock Pines event in June. In my opion the event was a flop. Over looking the heat, incredible dust, being charged admittance, ban on camp and cooking fires and incredibly few spectators, the battles were downright dangerous. What was being used as a battlefield was basically a gravel parking lot in front of some western style false front buildings. I was hit in the shoulder with a small rock that had managed to get down someone’s rifle barrel. I don’t want to blast the Pollock Pines event to pieces and discourage anyone from going, but I don’t want anyone to go and be disappointed.

I know that all of the 69thers who attended last year will not be going this year, myself included. So I was thinking of instead of the 69^th attending Pollock Pines that we have a unit event instead. This unit event, (separate from Cow Mountain) does not have to be on the same weekend as Pollock Pines incase anyone wants to go to both.

What I’d like would be fun for a unit event is a live fire day followed by a BBQ. Live fire is something I think every reenactor should do. It gives you a greater respect for your gun and for what the Civil War Soldiers went through. As we, (the Gilberts), are members of the Ukiah Gun Club we have access to their rifle range. After shooting for awhile we could then come to the Gilbert’s house and have a BBQ. (We have a large patio and BBQ. This is just an idea. Send any you may have to me, we’ve got three months to plan something if we want to have a unit June unit event.

For Your Information

For you Springfield owners out there you know how hard it is to keep your barrels shiny and polished. I have tried many different polishing compounds to see what works best for keeping your gun in that “armory bright”.

Private Dick Edwards recently uncovered one polishing agent, which works incredibly well. It’s called “Mothers Mag and Aluminum polish”. You can get it at most car parts stores. It’s meant for polish the chrome on cars, but works extremely well on all metals, including bayonets, buckles and buttons. It’s very easy and quick to use. Smear some of the white paste on the barrel, with a soft rag rub it around until it turns a dirty gray. The lightly wipe it off and you’ll find you have an almost mirror finish. It also contains something that helps keep the metal from tarnishing. Dick polished his ’42 before Fort Point and it has yet to tarnish.

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Corporal’s Corner

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Welcome to a new season everybody. I would like to introduce my self as newly elected Corporal Billy Coye. I am looking forward to serving in the ranks with you as well as serving as your Color Guard. I am looking forward to meeting all of you fresh fish as well as greeting all you returning veterans. This should be a fantastic season. I hope see all of at Knights Ferry.

Your obedient servant

Corporal Billy Coye

69th NYVI Co. B

Erin Go Braugh!!!

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“Cuzz Sergeant Sezz!”

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Fort point was very good for us. Not only did we welcome into our ranks Ken Piazza and Karl Hesterburg, but we also drilled. This is something that even the best regiment must do. Of course we know that we are the best unit in existence, now we just have to prove it. To do so I think we should continue drilling at each and every event. In particular we must learn the flank and oblique marches better than we know them. When a regiment has them down perfectly they look really impressive from the sidelines. Besides this they help the commanding officer get the regiment into position with the least possible delay. This means we spend less time marching and more time shooting; something that will help everyone live through each reenactment.

Sgt. Matthew Gilbert

69^th N.Y.V.I

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Knights’s Ferry, Oakdale

March 23^rd & 24^th

Info from the 20^th Maine’s web site

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Knight's Ferry is a beautiful park located in the foothills of the Sierras, about halfway between the S.F. Bay Area and Yosemite. It is roughly 12 miles east of Oakdale on highway 108 and located on the Stanislaus river near the Tuolomne/Stanislaus County border. The park is a state recreation area that features the longest covered bridge west of the Mississippi, many historic civil war era buildings and plenty of camping in a "Wilderness" type setting.

General

The event will involve ongoing hostilities between the Union and Confederate camps from 9am until 6pm punctuated by 2 battles a day (12pm and 4:00pm on Saturday and 11am and 2:30pm on Sunday). The Confederates will be camped on the visitor parking lot side and the Union will be camped around the mill. Reenactor parking will be only in the meadow parking area down the road from the mill. Reenactors will NOT be allowed to park in the public areas. Public should park in the main entrance parking lot, or the overflow lot across the street, and a per car donation will be requested. The public is welcome, and encouraged, to tour the camps during the days activities and participate with questions regarding our living history portrayals of Civil War life.

To keep ongoing hostilities, it is our responsibility to contact another CSA unit and email Ray Bober (Event Coordinator) ASAP to reserve a skirmish time slot before the event. The commanders of the skirmish details will also be responsible for keeping the public safe

Denise Judd will be organizing a pre-event publicity event on March 16th in Oakdale. Volunteers are requested to contact her (get her number through the webmaster). Other school events before Knight's Ferry are March 19th in Escalon and March 22nd at Mae Hensley Junior High in Ceres.

Schedule

SATURDAY

7:00 Reveille

7:30 Call to the Colors

8:00 Breakfast (Jones' squad)

9:00 Camps open to the public (LH with Rehmus' squad)

9:30 Brigade Formation (inspection, check club cards)

10:00 Skirmish: Iron Brigade guard vs. 2nd SC and 43rd VA

10:00 Company Drill

10:15 Brigade Commander meeting

11:00 Officer's Call

11:00 Living History - Clark's squad

11:30 Battalion Formation

12:00 Battle

1:00 Dinner (Rehmus' squad)

1:30 Independent Company Drill

1:30 Living History - Jones' squad

2:00 Living History - Brill's squad

2:00 Brigade Commander meeting

2:30 Ladies Tea in the old mill house

2:30 Skirmish: 20th ME vs. 9th LA

2:45 Officer's Call

3:15 Battalion Formation

4:00 Battle

5:00 Evening Formation / Retreat

5:30 Union Brigade meeting

6:30 Supper (Brill's squad)

8:00 Tattoo

10:00 All quiet in camp / taps?

SUNDAY

7:00 Reveille

7:30 Call to Colors

8:00 Breakfast (Rehmus' squad)

9:00 Camps open to public

9:00 Church Call

9:30 Living History - Clark's squad

9:45 Brigade Commander meeting

10:00 Living History - Jones' squad

10:00 Skirmish: 7th VA vs. 69th NY and 79th NY

10:30 Battalion Formation (inspection and formation for battle)

11:00 Battle

12:00 Dinner (Clark's squad)

12:30 Skirmish: 33rd VA vs. 114th PA

12:30 Living History - Brill's squad

1:00 Living History - Rehmus' squad

1:00 Brigade Commander meeting (if necessary)

1:30 Officer's call

2:00 Battalion Formation

2:30 Battle

3:15 Assembly / Retreat

3:45 Break Camp

♣ April 20-21, Warm Springs Dam, Healdsburg

♣ May 25-27, Roaring Camp, Felton, Santa Cruz

♣ June 22-23, Pollock Pines