Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag...
The 53rd P.V.I. attends several battle reenactments and living history events throughout the year. Some of the reenactments we've attended include Sailor's Creek, Gettysburg, Burkittsville, Bentonville, Spotsylvania Court House, "Gates of Washington" (Monocacy), Cedar Creek, Antietam and other reenactments of battles. Our unit is a member of the National Regiment, a regimental-sized formation that embraces more than twenty Union infantry groups. At the larger events, the National Regiment acts as a single unit, giving its members a special thrill as we recreate a Civil War regiment, complete with a band and mounted officers.

We pride ourselves on the "living history" aspect of the hobby. Civil War soldiers did not fight all the time. More often than not, they spent lots of time in camp drilling, cleaning their equipment, cooking, and then drilling again. In this capacity, we seek to educate the public how the Civil War soldier lived on a daily basis. We regularly have living history encampments at Gettysburg National Military Park as well as Berks Heritage Center near Reading, Pa., Landis Valley State Historic Site near Lancaster, Pa., Eckley Miners' Village near Hazleton, Pa., Fort McHenry at Baltimore and many other state and national historic sites. We also participate in many other interesting and unusual events including background artists in movies and documentaries. Several of our members participated in the movies Glory, Gettysburg, Gods & Generals, and numerous television documentary programs. We are also active in campaign marches, whether it is a march from South Mountain to Antietam or a march into Gettysburg, we get the feel of what a "hike" was like for the typical soldier. The 53rd also engages in tactical events, similar to a simulated war game where the officers must use their skill and knowledge of tactics to maneuver the men. Whether making an assault on a fort or protecting your flank against the enemy, anything can occur at a tactical!!Some of our members also specialize in speaking about the life of the soldier and Civil War medicine for schools, youth groups and other organizations. Contact us for further information and availability.

We always wrap up the year with a festive holiday Christmas dinner. Members dine at a different establishment every year, always choosing a place that recreates the ambiance for a mid-nineteenth century feast.

In essence, the 53rd Pennsylvania usually attends at least one event every month of the year. We meet over the winter to roll cartridges, drill, and integrate new members. The $30 per year dues are used to offset the cost of our monthly newsletter as well as buy company equipment such as powder and percussion caps.

2010 Event Schedule

January 9-10, 2010: Winter Hut Encampment
Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts. Bring firewood and rations with extra blankets and arrive before 10 AM on Saturday.

February 20-21, 2010: Winter Hut Encampment
CANCELLED 2-12-10 DUE TO SNOW CONDITIONS NEAR THE SITE.

March 6-7, 2010: National Regiment Officer's and NCO school in Gettysburg.
Open to all NCO's and officers in the 53rd PVI. Additional information forthcoming. (NR Event).

March 12-13, 2010: Winter Hut Encampment
Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts with members of the 4th Texas Infantry. Bring firewood, rations, full cartridge boxes, etc. Arrive Friday evening if possible or before 9 AM on Saturday.

April 3, 2010: Spring "Adopt a Position" Day at Gettysburg National Military Park.
Work clothing and boots. Bring rakes, grass seed and garbage bags. Also bring your hiking boots! We'll work at the 53rd PA and 95th PA Monuments at 10 AM and then visit a part of the park to find out more about the battle events in that area.

April 17, 2010: Cartridge Rolling Party and Meeting
Our yearly get together to get cartridges rolled and packaged for the upcoming campaign season at Kleinfeltersville. Be at Mark's home before 9 AM and come prepared to work on rolling and packing! Let Mark Fasnacht know by April 1 if you will be attending.

May 1-2, 2010: Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation Living History
A living history weekend and drill for the Boy Scout Encampment at Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation near Pottsville, PA. More information forthcoming in newsletters.

May 15, 2010: Military Through the Ages, Carlisle, PA
One day encampment and drill at the U.S. Army Heritage Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Additional information forthcoming.

May 31: Memorial Day Parade, Hummelstown, PA
A parade hosted by Hummelstown to honor America's war dead. More information forthcoming in newsletters.

June 19-20, 2010: Living History at Gettysburg National Military Park
A cooperative living history weekend with Company K, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves. Camp at the Pennsylvania Monument on Hancock Avenue. Bring your shelter half, personal living history items for knapsack inspection and show and tell for park visitors. Demonstrations for the public as well, so bring the usual compliment of cartridges. On Saturday afternoon, the Reserves will retrace the brigade's route in the charge through the "Valley of Death", so bring dry socks as well! All members should be at the Pennsylvania Monument by 9 AM Saturday morning and help support Company K, 1st Pennsylvania Reserves (the "company that fought at home") for the weekend.

July 10-11, 2010: Living History Weekend at Antietam National Battlefield
Weekend encampment and drill at Antietam National Battlefield near Sharpsburg, Maryland, with the 8th Ohio Infantry and 7th Pennsylvania Reserves. Bring your shelter half, personal living history items for knapsack inspection and show and tell for park visitors. Demonstrations for the public as well, so bring the usual compliment of cartridges. Please arrive no later than 8 AM on Saturday! Additional details forthcoming in newsletters!

July 24, 2010: Living History at Landis Valley Museum and Historic Village near Lancaster, PA (tentative date)
Company-size living history event. Camp in the historic village with shelter tents. Bring your personal living history items for ration issue, knapsack inspection, and show and tell to the site visitors. Demonstrations for the public as well, so bring the usual compliment of cartridges. Additional information forthcoming.

August 7-8, 2010: Living History Weekend at Governors Island, New York
Weekend encampment and drill at Governors Island. Additional information forthcoming. (NR Event)

August 28-29, 2010: Return to Manassas Reenactment, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Weekend encampment and battle reenactment. Additional information forthcoming. (NR Event)

September 11-12, 2010: Living History at Gettysburg National Military Park. (date to be determined)
Camp at the Pennsylvania Monument on Hancock Avenue. Bring your shelter half, personal living history items for knapsack inspection and show and tell for park visitors. Demonstrations for the public as well, so bring the usual compliment of cartridges.

October 16-17, 2010: Cedar Creek, VA.
Large battle reenactment near Middletown, VA. The regiment will portray the 95th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for this weekend. (NR Event) Registration information will be available through the Cedar Creek Foundation web site at www.cedarcreekbattlefield.org and in upcoming newsletters.

November 6, 2010: Fall "Adopt a Position" Day at Gettysburg National Military Park.
Meet at 10 AM at Brooke's Brigade tablet on Brooke Avenue. We'll take an afternoon trek over another lesser known portion of the battlefield afterward, so wear comfortable boots!

November 20, 2010: Remembrance Day Parade and Ceremony, Gettysburg
Dress parade- dress coats, white gloves, shined brass & blackened leathers. The company will gather with the regiment at the Gettysburg Middle School complex on Lefever Street off of Baltimore Street, at noon. The parade steps off at 1 PM and will end up on Hancock Avenue in the park. (NR event)

December 11, 2010: Regimental Meeting
Location and time to be determined.

January 15, 2011: Annual Holiday Dinner
Location and time to be determined.

 

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