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:

•   Background Artists (extras) - Occasionally, members are used in movies and documentaries, including the movies Glory, Gettysburg, Gods & Generals, and numerous television documentary programs.

•   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 these men.

•   Tacticals - We engage in a simulated wargame 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.

•   Programs - Some of our members also enjoy speaking about the life of the soldier for schools, youth groups and other organizations.

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 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.

2008 Event Schedule

January 5-6, 2008: Winter Hut Work Weekend
Work weekend at the winter huts in uniform. Bring tools and a positive attitude to get some final touches done on the first cabin and we'll get some work done on the second. Bring firewood and rations with extra blankets and arrive before 10 AM on Saturday.

January 19, 2008: Annual Holiday Dinner
Once again at the Dobbin House Restaurant in Gettysburg, beginning with the social hour at 5 PM followed by dinner at 6:30, with additional activities planned. This year's dinner is $20 per person. Get your money into Dave VanBomel before January 10!

February 2-3, 2008: Winter Hut Encampment
Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts. Directions to the site are in the January newsletter. Bring firewood and rations with extra blankets and arrive before 10 AM on Saturday.

February 16-17, 2008: Winter Hut Encampment
Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts. Directions to the site are in the January newsletter. Bring firewood and rations with extra blankets and arrive before 10 AM on Saturday.

March 1-2: National Regiment Officer's and NCO school in Gettysburg.
Open to all NCO's and officers in the 53rd PVI. The drill will be held at the Bonneauville Fire Hall in Bonneauville, PA, six miles east of Gettysburg on Rt. 116. Schedule forthcoming, NR Event.

March 8: Cartridge Rolling Party and meeting at Kleinfeltersville
Our yearly get together to get cartridges rolled and packaged for the upcoming campaign season. Be at Mark's home before 9 AM and come prepared to work on rolling and packing! Let Mark Fasnacht know by March 15 if you will be attending.

March 21-22: Winter Hut Encampment
Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts. Directions to the site are in the January newsletter. Bring firewood and rations with extra blankets and arrive before 10 AM on Saturday.

April 5: 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 19-20: Fort McHenry Living History
At historic Fort McHenry in Baltimore, always a unit pleaser for those who attend. More information forthcoming in newsletters.

May 3-4: Spring Drill and (tentative) Live Shoot
Cancelled.

May 26: Memorial Day Parade, Hummelstown, PA
A parade hosted by Hummelstown to honor America's war dead. More information forthcoming in newsletters.

May 31-June 1: 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.

June 7-8: Spring Drill and Live Shoot
This is a one-day event to include drill and a live shoot at the winter huts. Directions to the site are in the January newsletter. Bring firewood and rations and arrive before 10 AM on Saturday. Members are welcome to stay overnight if they wish so plan accordingly!

July 4-6: Battle of Gettysburg Reenactment at Gettysburg, PA
The 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, held on the Redding Farm north of Gettysburg. This is the big, commercial event hosted every year by a Gettysburg organization and features several thousand participants, artillery and cavalry. Members can bring fatigue uniform with shelter halves and personal items for camp set up. Be prepared for knapsack inspection and a minimum of 80 cartridges for the usual show for the public battles. Registration information forthcoming in newsletters.

July 26-27: Living History at Landis Valley Museum and Historic Village near Lancaster, PA
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 23-24: Living History Encampment at Gettysburg National Military Park
Company-size living history event. Camp at the Pennsylvania Monument 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.

September 13-14: Battle of South Mountain near Burkittsville, Maryland.
Campaign march and skirmishes to commemorate the Battles of South Mountain in 1862. Light marching order with full boxes and light rations. Be prepared for skirmishing along the route and near the town. Registration and additional information is forthcoming.

October 4-5: Fall Drill and Work Weekend at the WInter Huts
A non-uniform work weekend at the winter huts. Directions to the site are in the January newsletter. Bring firewood and arrive before 10 AM on Saturday.

October 18-19: 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 is available through the Cedar Creek Foundation web site at www.cedarcreekbattlefield.org

November 1: 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 22: Remembrance Day Parade & 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 6: Regimental Meeting

January 2009: Annual Holiday Dinner
Location and details to follow soon!

 

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