December 1998

A posting on large unit maneuvering/authenticity on the field versus individual impressions stirred my brain...
Just wanted to say thanks for the two most memorable 'moments' of my 1998 re-enacting season:
Drill Sergeant 'Herr' Reitz barking out "Bugler, Sound 'To the Colors' ", at Spring Drill, Greenbush, WI.
Major Otis (Bob Braun), Adjutant Dal Bello, and Captain of the Camp (Paul McKee) et al..... at Camp Randall, for the "Return of the 2nd WVI" Sesquicentennial living history, who will ever forget Dom preaching at Tattoo about the sins of drinking in the local Madison taverns !
Just goes to show you that burning powder isn't the only thing going in ACW re-enacting......
The key to these two 'moments' was competent Officer and NCO leadership working with 'kernels' of authentic, well drilled soldiers (progressive authentics). This framework of organization, training through drill, and 'living' the impression results in a damn good 'battalion' impression in a relatively short time. It still amazes me that I didn't know Dom's name for the entire Camp Randall weekend....he was the 'Adjutant', I was the bugler....and we both did our impressions....
Enjoy the holidays and your loved ones!
RJ Samp
2nd WVI and a bugler

RJ--
The 1998 year was a banner year--much excitement and groundbreaking activities. Would really enjoy hearing from the 2d on how we can follow up with the advances made between our organizations a la Madison. Have heard nothing from the 2d since the end of May, except a brief "see" at Boscobel.

It would be a shame to see these great strides come to naught!
Your thoughts? ADIOS!

Robert and Mary Braun and family.
Current email service effective 1 November 1998 is:
braunwis@ticon.net

Personally I enjoyed learning from the Badger Boys, 33rd WVI, MudSills, 104th IL etc. I've only been doing this a year and have MUCH to learn.

Most memorable 'moments' of my 1998 re-enacting season: Well, taking photos on top of that hill in Gettysburg 135 as the 2d marched away on the second day along with the rest of the Black Hat Battalion, the almost endless sea of dirty dusty frock coats and Hardee hats, passed by with the drummer boys and Neil with fife leading the way.

The best event the Madison Parade . . . Just as Maryland the fall before, I felt a touch of history. . . and the thought this is serious business we are about.

Yes !!
The 2nd Wisconsin, was fantastic, everything was perfect...but the
one thing I will always remember is how they all looked coming up the hill to
the capitol.
An awesome sight indeed, powerful, and as I saw them past I was
filled with an awe and a sense of pride. I will never forget that day or that
sight, maybe how I felt that day is how one felt the day that the boys MEN came
home. One thing that was unusual, it started to rain for a bit, when the speeches
were going on. but as fast as it came it left.
No, I will never forget that day, no matter where I go, I will always remember how the Second Wisconsin looked, powerful, majestic ...and a force to be reckoned with, and the awe and the pride I felt as they went by.
Yes, they did very well indeed.
Carlene M Wojahn

My most memorable events of 1998 were bringing Company H "home" to Camp Randall. Literally the best reenactment that I have ever been to and NO GRAYBACKS (in gray anyway).

Bringing Company H into existence was definitely a big thing for us out here and that we could "regiment" with others doing the same was big.

Gettysburg was fun, but I can only look forward to more and bigger for us. I hope that eventually we can bring a company size group to events to participate with the regiment.

My thanks and best to all for a wonderful season.

Steve Bechtold
Company H, Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry

My best event of the '98 season would have to be Gettysburg hands down. It was
my first back east event and was all I hoped it would be and more. I know that
all the members of Company "H" who were in attendance had a blast marching
into battle on the first day with our fellow Black Hats.

Just seeing all those rebs DIE was quite a sight. 'Cause as we all know, rebels wobble they don't fall down. I hope to see my friends from Wisconsin at a back east event
next season. Thanks again,
Sgt. J Dunwoody
Co. H 2nd W.V.I.

My favorite event for 1998 was being able to lie on the ground in front of the Dunker Church at Antietam as a wounded soldier in September. In the eerie light from the torches and hearing the moans and cries for mother drifting among the many wounded laying scattered about. All of this taking place on the Antietam Battlefield.

Second to that was the Homecoming event in Madison in May. I'll never forget sitting in the Tavern Across the street when I was introduced to a fellow named Lucius Fairchild. Namely the chap portraying Ole Lush. I'll never forget him saying to me, I know the background and history but what was he like? We had a lovely conversation and I remember at length telling him, "When you give your homecoming Speech, look directly at the boys and talk to them". Lucius cared very deeply for " his boys" and he would have spoke to them!

December 16,1998
Merry Christmas to all the folks in the 2nd. Wisconsin
from Greg and Mary Rupnow
Co. K
Second Wisconsin

Dang!   Is it really already time for Christmas?   I just got back from
Gettysburg!   Well, it seems like it, anyway.
I enjoyed meeting you all and the rest of the Black Hats from everywhere.

I plan to be back in Wisconsin next summer (end of July-first of August).
As soon as we know when the Boscobel event is scheduled for, we'll be
making our plans.   I'll definately be planning to make that if at all
possible.   I want to track down a few people I've talked to on the 'net
and I hope to see you and the others I met at Gettysburg, too.

Have a happy holiday season!

Glen Allison
7th Wisconsin

To all of our reenactor friends across this country,
We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Peace on earth

Ron and Mike Aronis

Cushing's Battery (Co. A., 4th U.S.)
At the angle at the 135th Anniversary reennactment last July.
The battery portrayed Cushing's Battery during the reenactment of Pickett's charge. 
The gentleman in white is John Northgraves the Great Grandson of 
1st Sgt. Frederic N. Fuger, Congressional  Medal of Honor Winner for the Regiment, 
for his actions at the Battle of Gettysburg.
He is shaking the hand of 1st Sgt. Richard Young who portrayed Sgt. Fuger in the Reenactment.

lst Lt. Ronald Aronis portrayed Lt. Cushing.

In 1998 there was one event that Co C. participated in that eclipsed all others. 
On  the weekend of Aug 28- 30, our unit participated at the Manassas National  Military 
Park's interpretive program. This is the anniversary weekend for the battle of 2nd Bull Run 
and its precursor, Brawner's Farm. The whole weekend was a "hoot" but on Friday,
the 28th, several of us participated in a ranger led tour of the Brawners Farm battlefield.
This had special significance for us because we actually traced the footsteps of the 2nd on the 
exact date and time that the engagement occurred. The Ranger was careful to start the tour at the 
correct time and it conclude after dark. 
Hopefully we will be able to participate in this event annually. 
If anybody from Wisc gets an opportunity to come East and fall in with us I am sure that they 
would find the experience a moving one.

As for my picks of the best events of 1998, I'd have to agree that being able to do a 
living history/encampment near Brawner's Farm ranks as number one.  
Being so close to where the brigade fought its first action and receiving a "Very well done" 
from the NPS are things hard to top!  Ranking a close second was participating in the 
Sharpsburg Heritage Festival in September.  We paraded for the good Unionists of 
Sharpsburg during the morning. Later, in the afternoon we conducted visitors through
 our camp which happened to be in Pvt. Bob Eschbach's backyard. But the topper came 
that evening when we did a living history at the Dunker Church.  We were given a set of 
nasty wounds (I for one had to settle for a head wound because the surgeon had given out 
his quota of sucking chest wounds...) and were told to look brave - don't overact.  
One of the things that I did notice was that many of the people leaving the church 
were shaken and dabbing their eyes.  Having the opportunity to see the inside of the church 
at the end of the tour, it was not surprising that the sights and sounds had moved people to tears.

We returned that night to our camp, had a BS session, and turned in for the night.  
One of the things that I really enjoyed was the night sky in the Maryland countryside - 
it was cold (for September in Maryland) and clear and millions of stars burned brightly.  
The only detraction from this beautiful night was the constant "mooing" of cows when the camp 
was trying to sleep!  Where foragers afoot?

I look forward to our event for 1999 - the South Mountain March and Battle - and hope that some 
of you Wisconsin can come East for this event.

The cornfield, I was there and know what you all experienced.
We happened to be the battalion to follow you in and those rebs that got behind you got
wedged between our 2 battalions and had fire come in from both sides! It was quite an..... interesting scene. I wish I'd be able to do an event like that again but c'est la vie.

Stuart Johnson
Formerly, 20th Me. Co. E.