Phil Holmblade was our speaker this morning. It was a very informative presentation about Civil War Reenactments.
Civil War time period is defined as beginning in 1860 and ending in 1865. South Carolina seceded from the Union on December 20, 1860 and in the next six months eleven other states seceded. They were in order – Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
The first engagement was the assault on Fort Sumter by the Confederates on April 12 of 1861. The next four years would see the bloodiest and most devastating war fought on this continent. More Americans lost their life in the Civil War (650K+) than in WW1 & WW2, Korea and Vietnam combined. The Confederacy surrendered at Appomattox on April 9 of 1865. Virginia is the state with the most battles fought during the four year period. The most westerly engagement of the war was at Picacho Peak in Arizona as the Confederates were on their way to California to get gold to help finance the war. The Union forces won & the Confederates turned back.
The Civil War soldier ranged in age from as young as eleven to thirty-five or forty. There were some that were older. A soldier’s uniform consisted of two pairs of drawers (underwear), two shirts, a wool vest, trousers (wool) & braces (suspenders), wool sack coat, two pair of wool socks, and brogans (leather boots). Over the uniform was his cartridge box sling, his cap box and bayonet belt, his haversack which he carried is extra clothing and other necessities, and his canteen. Lastly was his musket, which was either a .58 caliber Enfield or Springfield or a .69 caliber Springfield. The muskets earlier in the war were smoothbore and fired a round ball. Muskets later in the war were rifled and fired a conical projectile. Both were very effective at creating a lot of damage to whatever they hit. The musket weight varied from eight to ten pounds depending on make and model.
You can Google their Facebook page by entering 4th Michigan Co A Volunteer Infantry. For more information contact Phil Holmblade at 810-869-2904. Some upcoming reenacting events throughout Michigan should anyone be interest in attending one to see what takes place are:
- Hastings – July 17 to 19
- Port Sanilac – July 31 to Aug 2
- Jackson – Aug 21 to 23
- Historic Ft. Wayne (Detroit) – Sep 11 to 13
- Wolcott Mill – Oct 9 to 11
Our next board meeting will be July 9 at 6:00 pm at the Bridge.
The Flint Olympian Golf Tournament will be July 24 at Brookwood. The cost is $80.00/player or $320/4 man team.
31 Day Raffle Winner’s names are not being posted to our website (we didn’t ask their permission). The winning ticket number and the person that sold the ticket are being posted. Click here to view the page. If you have any questions about the raffle then contact Jeff Dennings.
- 31 Day Raffle has started so turn Money and Ticket Stubs in ASAP
- Board Meeting 6:00 PM July 9th @ The Bridge
- Flint Olympian Golf Tournament July 24th @ Brookwood