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.

2012 Event Schedule

January 14, 2012: Annual Holiday Dinner in Gettysburg.
Once again in Gettysburg, PA at the Dobbin House Restaurant and this year celebrating our 32nd Anniversary. Greetings and meetings begin at 5, dinner at 6:30. Get your payment into the unit treasurer before January 10 and we'll see you there!

January 28-29, 2012: Winter Hut Encampment and Drill
Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts. Bring firewood and rations with extra blankets and arrive before 9 AM on Saturday.

February 4-5, 2012: Winter Hut Encampment and Drill (secondary date)
Alternate weekend to January date. Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts on the Viable estate. Bring firewood, rations, full cartridge boxes, etc. Arrive Friday evening if possible or before 9 AM on Saturday.

February 18-19, 2012: Winter Drill at Fort McHenry with 3rd Maryland InfantryA chance to hone our skills and let loose the cobwebs with the 3rd Maryland Infantry on the grounds of historic FOrt McHenry in Baltimore. Additional information forthcoming in newsletters.

March 3-4, 2012: National Regiment Officer's and NCO school in Gettysburg.
Open to all NCO's and officers in the 53rd PVI to held at the Gettysburg Volunteer Fire Company Station. Additional information forthcoming in newsletters. (NR Event).

March 3, 2012: Cartridge Rolling Party and Meeting
For those not attending the NCO School, meet to get cartridges rolled and packaged for the upcoming campaign season. Be at Mark's home in Kleinfeltersville before 9 AM and come prepared to work on rolling and packing! Let Mark Fasnacht know by Febuary 26 if you will be attending.

March 10-11, 2012: Winter Hut Encampment and Drill
Weekend encampment and drill at the winter huts. Bring firewood and rations with extra blankets and arrive before 9 AM on Saturday.

April 14, 2012: Adopt A Position Day at Gettysburg NMP
A few hours working at the 53rd PA Infantry monument site and a chance to provide the park with some solid volunteer time. Meet at the Brooke's Brigade tablet on Brooke Avenue at 10 AM. We'll also take a while to tramp over the battlefield and enjoy a meal in Gettysburg. Please let Harold or John H. know by email if you plan to attend.

May 4-6, 2012: 150th Anniversary of McDowell Reenactment, McDowell, VA.
A full scale reenactment and encampment at McDowell, VA. Additional details forthcoming in newsletters. (NR Event)

May 19-20, 2012: Military Through the Ages, U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA
Two day encampment and drill at the U.S. Army Heritage Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Additional information forthcoming.

June 2-3, 2012: Living History Weekend at Gettysburg National Military Park
Two day encampment and drill at the Pennsylvania Monument. Bring your full kit, shelter halves and living history items to show and tell, along with the usual compliment of cartridges and caps for firing demonstrations. Arrive Friday night after five PM or before 9 AM on Saturday.

June 15-17, 2012: Lee Takes Command- 150th Anniversary of the Seven Days Battles
A living history and tactical weekend to commemorate the bloody end of the Peninsula Campaign before Richmond in 1862. Bring your shelter half, personal living history items for knapsack inspection, and min. sixty rounds. Additional details forthcoming in newsletters. NR Event)

July 7-8: Living History Weekend with the 3rd Maryland at Monocacy National Battlefield, Frederick, MD
Two day encampment and drill with the 3rd Maryland on the historic 1864 battlefield. Additional information forthcoming.

July 28-29, 2012: 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. One of our most enjoyable events of the year so we'll see you there!

August 2012: Living History Weekend at Great Falls, VA, (C&O Canal)
To be arranged.)

August 25-26, 2012: Living History at Huntington Fairgrounds.
Additional information forthcoming.

September 8-9, 2012: "Maryland, My Maryland" - 150th Anniversary of Antietam
The 150th anniversary observance of the Battle of Antietam (Sharpens) near Booings, Maryland. Additional details forthcoming in newsletters. (NR Event)

October 13-14, 2012: Work Weekend at Winter Huts.
Work Weekend at our winter huts located on the Vaupel Estate. Additional details forthcoming in newsletters.

November 3, 2012: 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 17, 2012: 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 8, 2012: Regimental Meeting
At Sgt. Fasnacht's humble home in Kleinfeltersville. The meeting will begin at 10:00 AM sharp with food items provided by everyone attending. We will need paper plates, plastic ware, drinks, veggies and desserts. No alcoholic beverages, please. All members are encouraged to attend this very important get together!

January 2013: Annual Holiday Dinner

 

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