The first in a fight… …the last to leave

The next event is the much-famed Battle of Roaring Camp, situated in the beautiful hills of Felton, Santa Cruz. This event is one of the favorites of many reenactors. Even though the camps and battlefields seem to grow smaller and smaller every year, everyone still manages to have fun. This event is fairly cool during the day, with mild night temperatures.

This year the Union Brigade will be located where the Confederates have been for the past several years. Luckily, I talked with Capt. Brian O’Rourke (event coordinator) and he told me where we will be camped. For those of you who are familiar with the CS end of the battlefield, we will be between the old school house and the Rail Road tracks. This area, though it might be a squeeze, is much better than being stuck up on the side of the hill, where the 20^th Maine will be situated. (Editors note-After being promised that location, I received word that we are being moved way on top of the hill, behind the bridge and next to the parking lot, and that the Zouaves are taking our place next to the school house. This makes me very mad as we will now need a guard in camp at all times because we are so close to the parking lot and our camp is so removed from everyone else. Also, very few spectators will go to our camp as it is out of the way, and the 20^th and the bridge will block them out. I will make some phone calls and see if we can get our spot back) At Roaring Camp there are always lots of spectators, so we need to have clean orderly camp. (After meals mess sergeants are responsible for cleaning up or assigning someone to clean up. No dishes are to be left out.)

Saturday evening will be the infamous tactical, it’ll be a riot this year! I also believe that there will be a dance on Sunday night in the large dance hall, between Rebel and Union camps, this is always a lot of fun! On Monday, (Memorial Day) there will be the very touching memorial service over by the train depot and the flag pole.

On Saturday night, Coye is going to prepare a huge feast, including corned beef, with six different pies for dessert! (Since this meal is going to be expensive to prepare Cpl. Coye has asked that non-mess sergeants pay $4 for this meal instead of the regular $3).

Despite the camp screw-up, I think Roaring Camp will be a lot of fun, as it always is!

Ukiah Valley Slug Fest-June 29th

Pretty much everyone who was at Healdsburg showed interest in doing a day of live fire with our Civil War muskets at the Ukiah Gun Club rifle Range, so I’ve set it for June 15^th. This should be a lot of fun, and I hope everyone can make it. Below please find a list of required supplies if you’d like to participate.

Basic plan is everyone will arrive Saturday morning around 10-11 o’clock. We will proceed from there to the range and will shoot for most of the afternoon. We will, in formation and in uniform, fire by volleys and by file. We will also do independent target practice. There are variose metal “gongs” ranging from 100-300 yards, and many different movable targets we can position where we want. The more people we have, the more fun it will be!

Need equipment;

Complete Union Uniform, (leathers etc)

Musket-(M1842 .69, or .58 cal. Musket)

Powder-(I recommend bringing your regular blank rounds that you use at events, that way you don’t have to hassle with a potentially dangerous flask of powder. I also have powder available for $8 a pound to unit members. If you have a ’42 Springfield, a regular blank round is not enough powder. Civil War regulations called for 110 grains of powder for a buck and ball load. For the ’42 owners, I will have a powder measure at the range).

Caps-Be sure to bring musket caps!

For the M1842 Springfield .69 you’ll need;

About 50+ .65-.68 caliber round balls, and 150+ pistol or buckshot balls no larger than .31 caliber. (You’ll need three buckshot pellets for every large musket ball).

For the .58 Cal. rifled Muskets you’ll need;

50+ .58 (.575) caliber minie balls.

Tube of Bore Butter, (a yellow black powder lubricant, keeps fouling down).

Suppliers of shooting Supplies;

Bore Butter-Pretty much any gun shop, Cabelas (www.Cabelas.com) also carries it for about $7 for a tube.

.69 round Balls-Cabelas caries .678 caliber round balls for $7.49/20. Dixie Gun Works also carries the large round lead balls for $20 per hundred. (www.Dixiegun.com You’ll need to call them as the lead balls are not listed on their site) DO NOT get .69 caliber lead balls, they must be undersized! .69 round balls will not fit down the bore due to fouling.

.31 Buckshot-Local Gun shop or Cabelas. Cabelas carries .32 Caliber pistol balls, (actual diameter is .31) for $5.99 per hundred.

.58 Minie Balls-Upper Mississippi Valley Mercantile, (http://www.umvmco.com/) .575 diameter, $7.39 for 25. Also get undersized minies, as bullets that are the same caliber as the bore do not fit after a few shots, due to fouling buildup.

If you need some loaner gear, or have any questions, please feel free to call me up.

Upper M.V.M.- 563-322-0896

Dixie Gun Works-1-800-238-6785

Cabelas-1-800-237-4444

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“Cuzz Sergeant Sezz!”

Attention, Company!

Warm Springs was an awesome event. The weather stayed nice and cool the whole weekend even though the sun was out.

When I arrived after the first battle Lt. Gilbert had already drilled the company, and the work you all had done showed. For the second battle we (for the most part) were able to stay in a semi straight line of battle. We should have been able to, however, stay in step a little better.

When we were drilling Richard Edwards taught us the manual of arms, something that is a must if we want to look good on the field. Though we are far from perfect we are much better than we were.

One thing I would like to add is about the loaner gear. We seem to be missing several pieces that I am unable to locate. If any of you have any, please return it. When any of you need unit loaner gear please do not take it unless I check it out. When you return it make sure I check it in. Don't just dump it in my tent or on top of the loaner gear box. If it does not get checked in I may very well think you lost it and make you replace it. In addition it makes my job of keeping track of it all much easier.

The last thing I would like to address is talking in the ranks. Unless there is something that must be said then, you are to remain silent at all times! (We will discuss this at Roaring Camp. Cpl. Coye, Sgt. Gilbert and myself will enforce a penalty for talking in the ranks at inappropriate times—Ed.) No, a good joke that you are likely to forget does not qualify as something that needs to be said! Chatting in the ranks makes all of us look bad, not just you. When you are in ranks you are a member representing the fighting 69th, and you are expected to act as such. The one and only exception is when we are at in place rest. Then, and only then, can you chat, tell jokes and inform your neighbor that you have a rock in your shoe.

-Sergeant Gilbert.

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Corporal’s Corner

Good day to ya lads,

It’s a shame that I missed the Healdsburg campaign. But some things came up. I will however be making the Roaring Camp Campaign. I have one heck of a fine feast set up for Saturday night. Make sure you leave room for desert. I am also looking forward to drilling and commanding with you. I am excited to meet all the new faces who are joining the ranks. Roaring Camp will be a very fun event. I also encourage everybody to join the twilight tactical. Hope to see everyone there. Erin Go Braugh

Sincerely and Respectfully,
Cpl. Billy Coye
69th NYVI Co. B

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IRISH MOLLY AT ANTIETAM

From: The Story of My Personal Experience at the Battle of Antietam by

Charles A. Hale Co. C. 5th New Hampshire Volunteers

“As our first brigade was forming to relieve them, (Meagher's Irish Brigade attacking the Sunken Road) we saw "Irish Molly", of the 88th New York, a big muscular woman who had followed her husband in all the campaigns, and he a private soldier in the ranks. She was a little to the left of their line, apparently indifferent to the flying bullets, and was jumping up and down swinging her sunbonnet around her head, as she cheered the Paddys on. Our regiment was maneuvering for position at the time, and the bullets that passed the Irishmen were pretty thick, so there was no time for anything else, as we were moving lively, but the glimpse that I got of that heroic woman in the drifting powder smoke, stiffened my back-bone immensely.”

(Submitted by Rob Carter, 69th NYSMHA)

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Report From Major James Cavanagh, commanding officer of the 69^th New York following the battle of Antitam

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HDQRS. 69TH REGT. N.Y. S. VOLS., IRISH BRIG.,

Camp on the Field, near Sharpsburg, Md., September 21,

1862.

               GENERAL: Agreeably to request, I herewith transmit to you the following report of our participation in the late battle of the 17th instant:

               As you are aware, Lieut. Col. James Kelly had command of our regiment up to the time he was wounded and borne from the field, which I deeply regret happened to so brave an officer, the fight being yet, so far as our regiment was concerned, only a short time in

progress. The command thus devolving upon your humble servant, the control of the regiment was in the hands of myself, ably assisted by the adjutant, Lieut. James J. Smith. I may here mention the sorrow I felt, which extended to the whole of my command, when I heard that our acting major, Capt. Felix Duffy, had been mortally wounded in the early part of the engagement. Ably assisted by such of my line officers as had been spared me, we used our best endeavors to maintain our reputation and uphold the prestige of our flag. We remained upon the field in the front line until we had expended the last round of cartridges, and only left it when the fire of the enemy had ceased and the brigade was relieved by that of General Caldwell.

               I hardly know in what terms to express my appreciation    of our regiment, both officers and men, and in making any particular mention of bravery on the field, I speak of those who actually came under my own observation. Capt. James E. McGee, of Company F, most particularly distinguished himself by his coolness and bravery during the whole engagement, and while in the heat of battle, after his command had been almost entirely decimated, picking up the green flag, the bearer of which had been carried from the field wounded, and bearing its folds aloft throughout the battle. Capt. James Saunders, of Company A, and Capt. Richard Moroney, Company I, I am proud to say, acted most bravely, cheering on their men, and encouraging them throughout the battle. Lieut. Terrance Duffey, of Company G, and First Lieut. John T. Toal, of Company H, I am also happy to say, throughout that trying hour did all that could be expected in rallying their commands, which had become so greatly reduced in numbers. Of the many officers who entered the field, the above whom I have mentioned are all that were left me, the remainder having been either killed or wounded during the engagement.

               I cannot forbear mentioning the deep sorrow that has been cast over our regiment by our great loss in officers and men. Those that were of us, and who are now numbered among the gallant dead, I can speak of as having been good soldiers, and an honor to our race--Capt. Felix Duffy, Lieut. Patrick J. Kelly, Lieut. Charles Williams, and Lieut. John Conway. I feel that our regiment has sustained a great loss, and one the recollection of which will be ever green in my memory. For those officers who have been wounded, and are for a time prevented from rejoining their commands, I can only speak as I have of the few that are left with me. Good soldiers, brave men, I cheerfully recommend for your consideration all of them, who in this fight stood nobly up for their country, and only left the field when borne away wounded. Among them I will mention the brave Captains Shanley and Whitty, both disabled for the second time, and Lieutenants Nagle and Patrick Kearney, who, until wounded, did the regiment good service by their gallant conduct.

               Among the non-commissioned officers who particularly distinguished themselves on the field, I take occasion to mention the following as being most worthy of your consideration for promotion to a commission, viz: First Sergts. Murtha Murphy, Company C; Michael Brennan, Company B; Bernard O'Neil, Company C, and Soucoth Mansergh, Company II. Among the privates who also distinguished themselves during the action, I also recommend Patrick O'Neil, of Company C, and John Kelly, of  Company--; and of the non-commissioned staff, Sergt. Maj. Patrick Callahan, who on the field behaved with great gallantry.

               In conclusion, I beg to call your attention to the fact that we had with us in the battle some forty-odd new recruits, who, considering all things, behaved well, and were of great assistance to us.

               Congratulating you on your many narrow escapes from

time to time during that memorable day, I have the honor to be, respectfully, yours,

           -JAMES CAVANAGH,

Major, Comdg. Sixty-ninth Regt. New York State Vols.

DIRECTIONS TO ROARING CAMP