Company Meeting

July 25th 2010
Danville Museum of Fine Art and History
2:30 p.m.

Company Meeting

Danville Museum of Fine Art and History
Sunday January 31st at 2p.m.

Company Meeting/Drill

Where: Danville Museum of Fine Art and History
When: Sunday August 2nd at 2:30 p.m.

No uniforms required. Just bring your musket!

School of the Soldier Canceled

Due to inclement weather the School of the Soldier Scheduled for March 28th at The Danville Museum of fine Arts and History has been canceled.

Fredericksburg!

Gentlemen,

If you have the opportunity pick up this issue of Blue and Gray Magazine (available at B.Dalton). This is an amazing resource for anyone wanting to tour the Fredericksburg battlefield! If you have been to Fredericksburg then you know modern developement has obliterated the landscape fronting the "stone wall". This issue comes in handy for someone wanting to find points of interest in the maze of Fredericksburg suburbs leading up to the stone wall! In case B.Dalton is out you may be able to order back copies here: http://bluegraymagazine.com/ See you on the field!!

Respectfully,

Gary Elliott

Company Meeting

Sunday, Febuary 1st at the Sutherlin Mansion
2p.m.

Christmas Night of 1862 by William Gordon McCabe (1841-1920)
The wintry blast goes wailing by, The snow is falling overhead; I hear the lonely sentry's tread, And distant watch-fires light the sky. Dim forms go flitting through the gloom; The soldiers cluster round the blaze To talk of other Christmas days, And softly speak of home and home.
My sabre swinging overhead Gleams in the watch-fire's fitful glow, While fiercely drives the blinding snow, And memory leads me to the dead.
My thoughts go wandering to and fro, Vibrating between the Now and Then; I see the low-browed home again, The old hall wreathed with mistletoe.
And sweetly from the far-off years Comes borne the laughter faint and low, The voices of the Long Ago! My eyes are wet with tender tears.
I feel again the mother-kiss, I see again the glad surprise That lightened up the tranquil eyes And brimmed them o'er with tears of bliss,
As, rushing from the old hall-door, She fondly clasped her wayward boy Her face all radiant with the joy She felt to see him home once more.
My sabre swinging on the bough Gleams in the watch-fire's fitful glow, While fiercely drives the blinding snow Aslant upon my saddened brow.
Those cherished faces all are gone! Asleep within the quiet graves Where lies the snow in drifting waves, And I am sitting here alone.
There's not a comrade here to-night But knows that loved ones far away On bended knee this night will pray: "God bring our darling from the fight."
But there are none to wish me back, For me no yearning prayers arise. The lips are mute and closed the eyes-- My home is in the bivouac.

Another Good Book!

From the same author of "Bloody Crucible of Courage"

Danville Grays on Myspace

The Danville Grays now have a Myspace page!! It's still under construction so be sure to check back for updates!!

http://www.myspace.com/danvillegrays

Company Meeting

Gentlemen,
Just a friendly reminder we have a company meeting this Sunday September 14th at the Sutherlin Mansion at 2:30 p.m.

Respectfully,
Pvt. Gary Elliott

IMPORTANT!!

Gentlemen,
The meeting orginally scheduled for Sunday July 20 has been cancelled. The September meeting originally scheduled for the 21st has been moved up to September 14th at 2:30 p.m. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Respectfully,
Pvt. Gary Elliott

UDC Ceremony

Green Hill Cemetery June 1st 2008
Formation at 4:30
Ceremony Begins at 5:00

Meeting/Drill Postponed

Gentlemen,
The meeting/drill scheduled for tomorrow the 16th has been moved to Sunday March 30th. Sorry for the last minute notification.

Respectfully,
Gary Elliott

Meeting/Drill

Gentlemen,
Just a reminder we have a meeting/drill Sunday March 16th at the museum starting at 2:30p.m. No uniforms or cartridges are required, just bring your musket and accouterments. Hope to see you there!

Respectfully,
Pvt. Gary Elliott

Philadelphia Press Article 1862

Check out this article that a researcher sent to me. You can use the link below or you can find it on the members section of our website. http://www.danvillegrays.com/philapressart.html

Another Great Book!!

"The Gettysburg Diaries: War Journals of two American Adversaries." It's a quick read and I'm sure you all will enjoy it!!

Meeting/Drill

Sunday March 16th at the Sutherlin Mansion
Musket and Accoutrements Only
No Uniforms
2:30 p.m.

Company Meeting

Company Meeting
Sunday Feb. 17th 2008
at The Sutherlin Mansion
2:30 p.m.

Longstreets Corps Website Updates

The Longstreets Corps website has been updated. Please visit and notice the new Corps staff as well as new blogs from our Corps Commander Dave Cornett and Chief of Staff Greg Gallion.

www.longstreetscorps.com (you can click the link to the right)

A Must Read!!

Gentlemen,
I have recently started a new book and I would have to say anyone wanting to learn more about the evolution of weaponry and tactics leading up to the War Between the States you have to get a copy of this one!! It's called "The Bloody Crucible of Courage: Fighting Methods and Combat Experience of the Civil War" by Brent Nosworthy.

October 19th Home School Group

We are on for the 19th of Oct. (friday) with the home school group

The gate opens at 8:00 am

The school group will be there from 10-12

Please bring tents and other camp life activities

Cooking may or maynot be done depending on the rains ( may be a burning ban)

We will try to get in the following activities:

Home / Family life during the war

Cooking?? Fatback and skillygullie

Camp Life: Music, blanket inspection

Uniform & Equipment

Weapon Demonstration

Drill (w/ kids?)

Medical Presentation

We will be in Dan Daniel Park go to the far end of the bottom parking lot of the ball park

Hope to see you there we need start setting up soon after 8:00 as we can

Lester,

"They may take our lives,
but they can never take our Freedom."
"Pro Libertate"

Sept. Meeting/Drill

Gentlemen,
The next meeting/drill will be held on Sunday Sept. 30th from 1-7p.m. No uniforms, just musket and accoutrements. The following weekend is the Jeb Stuart event. The website is http://www.jebstuart.org for anyone wanting to look over details for the event.

Respectfully,
Pvt.Gary Elliott

Meeting/Drill

Gentlemen,
We will be having our next meeting on Sunday, July 8th starting at 1p.m. at the museum. Wear uniforms and bring equipment, we will be drilling after the meeting. Look forward to seeing you all there!!

Respectfully,
Pvt. Gary Elliott

UDC Ceremony Reminder

Jefferson Davis Celebration conducted by the Anne Eliza Johns Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
June 3rd at Green Hill Cemetary.
Formation at 4:30 p.m. Service starts at 5 p.m.
Have at least 3 rounds for the salute.

Bedford Directions

Long Way
1. Take 29N to Lynchburg
2. Take the exit 460W to Bedford
3. Once at Bedford take 460 Business (not the bypass).
4. Turn right onto 4th Street
5. Take a left onto Bedford Avenue
6. Turn left onto Ashland Avenue
7. Turn right onto College Street. ( Confederate Camps on the right )

Short Cut
1. Take 29N from Danville (travel roughly 35 miles)
2. Turn left onto Va-43 (drive safely, very curvy road!!)
3. Turn LEFT onto VA-24 / VA-43. Continue to follow VA-43
4. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto VA-43 / TALBOTT ST. Continue to follow VA-43
5. Turn LEFT onto US-221 / US-460 BR / E MAIN ST / VA-122 / VA-43 / N BRIDGE ST
6. Turn RIGHT onto US-221 / N BRIDGE ST / VA-122 / VA-43
7. Turn LEFT onto VA-43 / PEAKS ST
8. Turn LEFT onto COLLEGE ST ( Confederate Camps on left )

If you have any questions email me at g_elliott115@hotmail.com. Also a map is available on the event website (www.livingliberty.org).

Pvt. Elliott

Drill Reminder

Gentlemen,
Just a friendly reminder of the drill scheduled for April 15th from 1p.m.-5p.m. at the Sutherlin Mansion. Please, if at all possible make plans to attend. This is the last opportunity to get some practice in before the Bedford event.

Respectfully,
Pvt. Elliott

2007 Events

Winter Camp- March 2&3
Williamsburg- March16-18
@ Endview Plantation
Cold Harbor- March30-April1
@ Heritage Park in Windsor, Virginia
Drill Day- April 15
@ The Sutherlin Mansion 1p.m.-5p.m.
Program for Home School Students- April 27
@ location TBA
Battle of Liberty- April 28&29 (Company Event, Max Effort!!)
in Bedford, Virginia
McDowell- May 4-6
in Mcdowell, Virginia
New Market- May 18-20
Gaines Mill- June 2-3
@ Dorey Park in Richmond, Virginia
UDC Ceremony- June 3
@ Green Hill Ceremony
Down the Valley- June 16&17
@ Cedar Creek Battlefield
Gettysburg- July 6-8
September Storm- Sept. 7-9
in Boonsboro, Maryland
145th Sharpsburg- Sept. 14-16
near Harper's Ferry
Stanardsville- Sept. 21-23
at Stanardsville, Virginia
Jeb Stuart- Oct 5-7 (Company Event, Max Effort!!)
in Ararat, Virginia
Fredericksburg- Dec. 8-9 (Company Event, Max Effort!!)

Latest Fredericksburg Update

To begin with, we are hoping to change this to more of a living history event than a reenactment. There just isn't room in the city for the 400 reenactors we had last year. Real safety concerns arose and made us decide to scale things back dramatically. We can pull off our plans this year with about 100 reenactors or so. The scenario is "What happened in the city between the street fight and the main assault". We will begin with a small street skirmish of selected units to portray the street fight and then the Union will "occupy the town". This fight and the Union Camp will be on Charles Street. We plan to establish HQ, field hospitals, a period telegraph, and pickets along this street as well. We are looking for units to help portray activities that would have occured in town during the occupation. I even have some home owners willing to help with a looting scene. Civilian impressions interacting with the Federals would be great here.

After the skirmish, Confederates will withdraw to the mall along Washington Avenue to portary camps "outside of the city". There will also be field hospitals, HQ, pickets, and period music by the Camptown Shakers. I would like a couple of units to do a rounders game with spectator particpation further down the mall. Blue v. Gray maybe? This is where registration will be Saturday morning and reenactor parking will be down the street at the First Christian Church.

In between the two camps will not only be the field hospitals, but also some pockets of remaining Confederates that will need to be rooted out by Federal patrols. These groups will be selected and prepared in advance. A lot of this may happen along Prince Edward Street. Units interested in possibly helping with this need to have previous Fredericksburg experience and contact me immediately. While we don't need as many numbers as we had in the past, we do want enough reenactors to come to make our impression meaningful and allow those on picket, ambulance, or other duty to be relieved to get some lunch in town.

On Sunday, the National Park Service and 28th Mass. Co. B take the lead. Frank O'Reilly hosts a wonderful walking tour of the Irish Brigade's march through town from 12-2pm. Units participating, and those wishing to walk along, form up at the city dock on Sophia Street. The tour concludes at the Kirkland Memorial and leads into the Commemoration Service with units from both sides, as well as other organizations. There will be an opportunity to lay wreaths at the end of the ceremony. Contact the NPS if you would like to be placed on the schedule. We would love to have more units participate in this ceremony and honor those that fought in our city 144 years ago. Confederates will form up along Sunken Road at 1pm.

Regarding the cars, spectators, and other logistical concerns. I apologize for any past issues people might have had. While the city does support our efforts, I would not say it is with open arms. They are supportive, but tentatively. We work mostly with the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. (HFFI) and their Candlelight Tour. Our event moves every year to which ever neighborhood they are holding the tour. That is the only way we are able to get some of the streets closed. Without their help, Im not sure we could get any streets closed. For the past few years the director of the HFFI tour has changed, including again this year. This is part of the delay in getting things put together. However, the woman in charge understands our concerns and is working with us to resolve them. The new head of HFFI is a Revolutionary War reenactor. He understands the issues we are facing and is really excited about what we have planned. They have assured me that there will be no cars and that the spectators will be kept at a safe distance from any firing. HFFI is providing portajohns near each camp, there will be fires in designated raised fire pits, water available, BUT there will NOT be any overnight camping this year. However, we do have discounts at the Best Western and Hylton Hotels for reenactors. I'll get maps and information up on the web site as quick as I can.

Fredericksburg is a unique event. It is NOT a powder burner! We hope to provide a one of a kind experience to reenactors free of charge, teach the community about what happened here 144 years ago, and honor those on both sides who struggled through the times. I think that as we develop this into a living history event, it will receive more support and cooperation from the various groups in the community. We hope you'll find it a nice way to end your reenacting season.

YOS
1st Sgt Stowe, Adjutant

Meeting September 17th

The meeting scheduled for Sunday, Septemeber 17th will be held at 3:30pm at the Danville Museum.

YOS
1st Sgt Stowe, Adjutant

August 12 - Sayler's Creek Park Service Living History

The following message was sent from the 59th Virginia:

Where: Saylors Creek Battlefield Park - Amelia Co
When: Saturday, August 12th 2006
Times: Plan to arrive on site no later that 9:30 am
Program times are 10:00am - 4:00 pm
Uniform: Primary Jacket / Mid-Late War (Richmond Depot-II)
Senerio: The time frame will be August of 1864, We will be portraying a confederate infantry unit on the line of march. We are coming from a yet to be determined location either in the valley or western part of the state... now on our way to Petersburg to augment/reenforce the southern forces massed there in what has turned into a seige style campaign. We are to portray soldiers in march in an active campaigner style. this means we will not have a camp, tentage, or any other items that wouldnt have been personally carried on or with us. It will have the appearance and aire that we are making our way eastward and stopped there for a short period of rest before continuing. Full uniforms, leather gear, canteens, haversacks, muskets...the usual field gear items...then also knapsacks and/or blanket rolls. Remember we are to portray troops in line of march in the later war era...so it would be heavy marching order in this manner. what you used is what you carried on your back. We should also have on hand a few assorted entrenching tools, such as authentic axes, picks and spades which was also frequently carried by the troops themselves during this time frame. Select and use the gear that you have that best suits this late war time frame. Cartridges and caps are not allowed, so empty both boxes prior to your arrival. they will be inspected to ensure compliance of park rules, and to keep us out of trouble. Remember that this is a living history event, and you will frequently be up close and personal interacting with the public, thus keep all modern items and unauthentic stuffs well out of sight, or just leave it behind or in your vehicle. This will be a relaxing laid back event...we will be resting around the Hillsman house reading or writing letters, reading newspapers, playing period card games or games of chance...talking of home...or pondering thoughts of the war...the fray thats ahead of us...etc...By this time of the war the days of the primarily volunteer soldiers has run thin...many of the replacements in the ranks now are conscripts (Draftees)...a good time to bring out the little authentic haversack stuffers to display and have things to explain and talk about as well...various other roles and smaller senerios are being developed to have more things to interact with etc...We may do a few short drill sessions just for public display and interest as the weather and the ambitions of the captain may dictate. During lax times we may make use of it for misc teaching or brushing up on things to ourselves as well. Bring along your own lunch if you so desire as there is nothing close by to make a "lunch run" too...so be prepared on your own...period foodstuffs would be better.

YOS
1st Sgt Stowe, Adjutant