As many of you have read in our Historical Sewing Society posts, the focus of this event will be to depict what  civilians in Lake City would have been doing in preparation for the wounded being transported there from the battlefield.   Records reflect that the Cathey House on North Marion Street was used as a hospital after the Battle of Olustee and that the wounded from both armies were cared for by citizens of Lake City.

So..........now that the stage is set, we would like to ask for a favor AND also invite any "Soldiers" who happen to passing through Lake City en route to the battlefield to visit the Museum!  We could sure use a stream of candidates for care by our skilled, civilian staff!  We will be actively hustling around the Museum on Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th from 9:00 AM - 5:00PM.  It would be wonderful to have some walking wounded stagger in for some attention and nourishment!!!  Seriously - if you are going to be in town for the parade and can come participate in this part of the Olustee Event - it would really add to the level of authenticity we are so seriously trying to present.

Now that the invitation has been extended,  - the favor we seek:  The clotheslines surrounding the porches of the "hospital" would have been filled to capacity with laundered bedding, bandages and UNIFORMS.  We are making bandages and have created bedding - but we lack UNIFORMS!!!  If anyone has uniforms - parts of uniforms, tattered or torn uniforms - WE DESPERATELY NEED THEM for display purposes. We will be careful with them and guarantee that they will not be lost or taken if entrusted to our care.  In addition, in exchange for use of these precious possessions - we will offer our skills as "Historical Sewing Society" members and we can mend and make whatever minor repairs might be required before returning you uniforms!  I will gladly pick up and deliver the uniforms and sign whatever you would wish to have to insure the safety of your property!

The event at the Museum will compliment the activities at the battlefield by displaying another aspect of life at the time of the Battle of Olustee.  Please help us with our first effort to present an authentic and memorable living history experience.
We thank you.  

Most Sincerely,
Pat McAlhany
Should you wish to email me privately - Edisto1@alltel.net
 
Ride To, From Or Meet At Hunley Service........Some reenactors have been emailing me asking about riding with or meeting someone at the Hunley Funeral services.  I will post your request for a ride to the service but I will not act as a contact person or make arrangements for those of you who wish to carpool.  I will not be responsible in any way for problems that may arise from posting your request in the News Magazine.
 
Ladies.........Is there a contingent of ladies from Florida going to the service?  David and his family will drive up but he will be marching with the men and would like to know if there are any women his wife and daughter could fall in with at the service.  If so contact davandsam@worldnet.att.net
 
Carpool...........If you have room for someone, email me and I will post your information and email address.
 

David is the kind of man that is nothing short of a big teddy bear underneath his seemingly tough exterior.  David is the sort of individual that you have to love like a brother, get frustrated with when he is being stubborn or want to slap when he is "pushing your buttons", only to melt when you see the look in his eye and silly grin on his face when you realize he is kidding.  My husband Jack and I have known Davie and his family since the mid-90's.  We feel we've known him forever because David made us feel at ease immediately.  We love him dearly.  We met his wife Sharon and daughter Amber a short time after we met him.  About 6 years ago, we had the thrill of meeting his grandson, Casey, when he was born.

It is because of David Rose that my husband Jack is a member of the 7th Florida Co. B.  At Davie's urging, Jack signed on as a Pvt. at the Markham Park reenactment in South Florida in January 1998.  We watched the battle and couldn't wait until our first reenactment - Olustee 1998.  It's because of David Rose that we have the privilege of having met so many of you we call friends.  As I've stated above, Davie is one of the original members of the 7th Florida Co. B. He was in the unit when Ewald Kockritz commanded it.  He was in the unit when Mike Crane took the helm.  He was in the unit when Mike Crane turned the command over to Bob Todd.  Davie will always be Sgt. Maj. David Rose, 7th Florida Co. B.  Sgt. Maj. Rose has been in several movies about the American Civil War, his most famous role, at least according to Davie himself, was in the movie Gettysburg.  The last reenactment Davie attended was Hunsader Farms 2003.  He dressed out the entire weekend, but wasn't able to take the field.  He was too sick.   I remember sitting under my motorhome canopy with Davie, laughing and reminiscing about the fun he, Jack and I have had since we met.  He got quiet, looked down at his hands and said to me in a small voice, "Kathy I know I've told you this before, but would you make sure that when I die, they play and sing "The Vacant Chair" at my funeral?"   My reply was, "Of course I will."  Davie had tears in his eyes.  So did I.  I've included a photo I took at Hunsader Farms back in 2002.  I chose this particular photograph because there is a funny story behind it, but I won't go into that.

For years, Davie was a member of Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds.  He was the committee head of the Old Veterans Home Civil War Museum building just inside the Archway Gate entrance on the north side of the Village.  Many items inside the Museum were articles from Davie's private collection.  Up until the night before he went into hospital two weeks prior to his surgery, he was helping the South Florida Fairgrounds ready the passenger shuttle for the South Florida Fair scheduled to begin shortly after.  He never stopped.  He took great pride in regaling everyone with stories of the ghost he called "Ugly Man" that roamed at will in the Old Veterans Home Civil War Museum.  Each time we saw Davie, it seemed that Ugly Man was up to his usual bag of tricks.  I think Davie developed a sort of affection for the old geezer.  Ugly Man wasn't the only story Davie had to tell.  He could keep you enthralled or in stitches for hours with stories of this foray or that experience he'd had.  He especially liked to tell the story of "Wild Man" up in Georgia close to where the infamous Civil War train "The General" was housed.  When Jack and I would return, one of the first things Davie would as was, "Did ya see Wild Man?"  David's  middle name is "Stories".

David is also a proud Southerner.  He is one of the original members of the James Patton Anderson Camp #1599 Sons of Confederate Veterans in Palm Beach County, FL.  He participated in many activities hosted by the Camp, even picked up trash on the side of the road when the Camp was called upon.  He helped Compatriot Larry Powell with his S.C.V. display at the Olustee, FL and Ft. Pierce, FL reenactments and at various Yesteryear Village events.  Davie participated in annual Confederate Memorial Day ceremonies at Woodlawn Cemetery in West Palm Beach, FL.  He helped clean and decorate southern soldiers' graves in cemeteries around Palm Beach County, FL.  David is and always will be a proud Southerner.

A few days ago, the Yesteryear Village Council Chairman contacted me about a fund raiser that will be hosted for the Rose family in Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds.  It's hoped that flyers and tickets will be printed soon.  As of this writing, the original date has been pushed back one week to March 28th from 10 A.M. till 4 P.M.  There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, etc.  Village Volunteers will have their respective buildings open to the public.  There will be pony rides for the children.  My husband Jack will be giving train rides with the miniature train he built.

If you would like to get a card or a note to Davie or his family, you can give it to me this weekend at Olustee.  My motorhome will be parked directly behind the sutlers on the south side as you enter modern camping.  Just look for the flamingos...can't miss 'em (smile).

For those of you who believe in the power of prayer - for those of you who believe miracles still happen, please pray.  Please pray hard.  Please put the Rose family on prayer chains and in prayer groups at your church or synagogue.  For those of you who are not subscribers to such, please do whatever you think best to help the Rose family through this time of trial.  Even if you did not know Davie, let him and his family know that, as fellow reenactors and living historians, you are behind them.  They need all the encouragement we can give them.  We need to be faithful and diligent in our daily life to get Davie the miracle he and his family desperately need.

Thank you.  See you at Olustee!

Kathy Heitman
 
A Job Well Done........Col. Joe Pizzimenti (Alabama Volunteer Battalion) wrote the letter below commending our Lt. Col. (Doc) Riker for his first response medical attention during the Mt. Dora reenactment.  Col. "Corky" has put into words the respect and gratitude we all have for our Hardy Brigade medical personnel.  Read on........
 
I would like to extend a large and heartfelt thanks TO the Hardy's Brigade and Brigade Doctor also known as Doc Riker, for his prompt and expert response to my Battalion Camp in the late hours of Jan 31st at the last event we attended (Townsend Plantation Raid).

Several days prior to this incident, I had developed a lingering cold that was akin to a slow burning forest fire in its intensity and complimented by the wet and cold/humid atmosphere, that  was a time bomb awaiting to explode...which it indeed did.

At approximately 8 PM I retired for the evening and was exhausted due to the underlying illness....this "Cold" simmered and chest congestion followed and grew so severe that I could not draw a single breath and coughed so hard I threw up and fought for each breath...I was on the edge of passing out for lack of air. Each breath seemed like my last, and may have well been.   My wife called for help and Doc Riker arrived...he triaged the situation and calmed an otherwise less than calm patient and patient's wife.  He did determine that the extent of my distress was severe and reasoned that a 911 response from Rescue was required.  He remained with me until Rescue arrived and assisted them.

I was treated by Rescue, administered oxygen and given drugs to assist my breathing.....transported to Waterman Hospital and treated at the ER.....Diagnosis.......Severe airway obstruction and lack of air exchange..meaning I was drowning in my own fluids.   After several hours, I was treated, determined to out of immediate danger and released with an armful of drugs and some sore lungs and airway( not to mention a large bill for Ambulance and ER treatment and ER Doctor treatment..thank God for insurance).

The ER Doctor did tell me that a short while longer and I may well have developed pneumonia and could have passed out causing my airway to close off and may have well died in my sleep if not for the quick determination of the first responder....Doc Riker being that responder.

Doc...THANK YOU more than I can ever relate and when I say I owe you one..I mean it from the bottom of my sometimes seemingly hard heart.   Throughout the entire situation, one thing seems to stand out in my fogged and cloudy mind that late evening..that Doc was barefoot in the cold and nasty weather and responded so fast he never had a chance to care for himself before caring for me.

Allow me to bring to your attention the caliber of person that stands by to treat us at these re-enactments and his dedication to that effort.
The HARDY's Brigade ( and all of us in the Alabama Volunteer Battalion) can rest assured that our wellbeing is tended to and looked after by such a dedicated person. Dedication like his is a less than appreciated and recognized commodity.

Doc..THANK YOU again. I am in your debt, you may well have saved my life( for whatever it may be worth)

 
Spring Garden and Gainesville Events......Keith Kohl (4th Florida Infantry) would like to make an announcement......
 
To my fellow re-enactors:

Greetings to one and all!  At the recent re-enactment of Townsend's Plantation in Mount Dora, I met with the re-enactor committee that has organized the Spring Garden Plantation Raid re-enactment at Camp Winona YMCA camp near Deland.  While the 4th Florida Infantry has been the host unit for the event, the re-enactor committee was made up of re-enactors from several units.  During the meeting, the re-enactor committee elected to discontinue the Spring Garden re-enactment.  We have arrived at this decision through no distrust of the Camp Winona staff, any of the re-enactors who have assisted with the organizing, or those who have supported the re-enactment.  Simply, the demands of the event have increased and the ranks of the re-enactor committee have thinned.  Therefore, faced with meeting increased financial and logistical needs of the event with less resources and staff, we have decided that if we could not do the event right, we would discontinue it.  We wish to extend our warmest thanks to the Camp Winona staff who have been very cooperative in working with us the past few years and this year for allowing us to have the event on their site, to all those who have helped organize the event, and to all who have attended the re-enactment.
   A new re-enactment has been brought up to me.  I have been approached about helping organize the 140th Anniversary of the Battle of Gainesville.  Preliminary negotiations have just begun.  Our tentative date is April 30, May 1-2, 2004, and the tentative location is the town of Orange Springs, northeast of Ocala.  I shall convey more information on this event as details are resolved.  I look forward to seeing all in the field again soon.  Until such time as our paths cross again, I remain,

Major Keith Kohl, commanding
4th Florida Infantry,
Hardy's Brigade, CSA
 

I can't remember when was the last time it rained at the Mt. Dora event and I won't forget how much it rained this year.  Yes, rain and rain it did.  The "liquid sunshine" started falling (not too heavy, on then off) late Friday and didn't stop until just before the battle Sunday.  It may have been wet but the rain didn't dampen the spirits of the 300 + or - reenactors who came to do battle.  All photos in this article were taken by Kathy Heitman (aka. the picture lady).
 
Friday.........I got a late start and by the time I got there all the sutlers and most of the reenactors were set up and cooking dinner.  I quickly threw my camp together and finished about the same time a light rain started to fall.  We ate dinner then sat around and talked as the other members of our group trickled in.  Well, so much for Friday.  Still lightly raining at bed time.
 
Saturday........More rain.  Well, to tell the truth, it never really stopped from Friday.  Everything was soaked but by assembly time it had pretty much stopped.  We headed over for colors and meetings.  The rain started again but it remained light.  The spectators showed up in good numbers.  This was surprising because a light misty rain was still falling as can be seen in the photo at right (photo by Kathy Heitman).  The horses didn't know what to think of the umbrellas and took a wide berth of them.  Battle time arrived, the field was wet and a very light rain was falling but it wasn't heavy enough to wear your gum poncho.  The 10th Tenn. dismounted opened the battle with skirmishers meeting the Federal cavalry dismounted.  When the 2nd remounted the 10th mounted met them head on.  As the mounted men fought back and forth, the infantry of both sides took to the field.  The artillery got into action and they kept the cannons active throughout the battle.  The CSA and USA cavalry clashed with sabers and pistols between the infantry and in every section of the battlefield.  About 45min. later, the Federals pushed the Confederates off the field and taps was sounded.  A light rain started to fall again but not bad enough to get out of it.  The camp fire felt good so we decided to stick close to it and stay warm.
 
Sunday.............Still raining but quite a bit harder than before.  No colors this morning for the Confederates; thank goodness the rain was falling hard by 9am.  The Federals must be commended, they sounded assembly and stood there in the rain and cold for colors.  Good job gentlemen, you have shown us true spirit.  No one packed and left that I know of.  Not a lot happened all morning we stood under the fly and speculated if the battle would be canceled.  Raining too hard to go to the sutlers, raining too hard to do anything except sit and watch it rain.  Thirty minutes before the battle and it was raining hard.  The General decided to postpone the battle but gave orders for everyone to be ready to go.  Our horses stood on the picket lines all tacked up with raincoats over their saddles.  We waited and watched it rain.  The rain started to let up some and the word came down to head out to the battlefield.  We put on our gum ponchos and mounted up.  Surprisingly there were about 50 spectators under umbrellas waiting for the battle to start.  We weren't sure how we would keep our powder dry but we were willing to give it a try.  About five minutes before we were to start, the sun came out and the sky cleared.  We shed our ponchos and moved to our positions.  
 

"I saw my first example of "Army discipline" today - and don't like it one bit.  Tommy McKearnan fell asleep on guard duty last night.  After all, it had been a long day, what with the skirmish then the ride down to here.  Tommy was beat before his squad drew the guard.  He was caught by the sergeant of the guard early this morning, and placed under arrest.  They didn't even bother much with a trial - he was guilty anyway.  As punishment, they've stripped him down to his underwear, and are making him wear a barrel around camp with a sign on it "I Fell Asleep"  He'll probably be back on duty tomorrow.

In another regiment, they "bucked and gagged" a soldier for the same thing.  Talk about cruel - they gagged the poor guy, made him sit on the ground with his knees up, then tied his hands around his ankles.  To make sure he didn't get loose, they ran a stick between his arms and his knees.  Then, they left him like that for 8 hours!  Glad I'm in the 40th Ohio - we don't do that stuff.  But, you betcha I won't be falling asleep on guard duty to find out!"

Oddly enough, I found several examples like the one above where the soldier received what would be considered light punishment for sleeping on duty but the Regulations for the Army of the United States took quite a different view of this problem.  In the articles of war section it is written:
 

Art: 46.  Any sentinel who shall be found sleeping upon his post, or shall leave it before he shall be regularly relieved, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as shall be inflicted by the sentence of a court martial.

Apparently the last part of that article saved many a man's life.  The courts martial had the last word in the matter.
 
Slackers And Stragglers.......It was imperative that the army on the move kept together and in motion.  Some soldiers could not keep up the pace but others chose not to keep up.  Those who fell behind for lack of motivation were called stragglers.  Those soldiers could be punished by being bucked and gagged.  At the second Bull Run, Confederate Brigadier General Charles S. Winder was leading five volunteer regiments.  When thirty men intentionally fell behind on the while marching, he had them all bucked and gagged at once.  The punished men swore to kill Winder at their first opportunity but he fell mortally wounded and soon died in the next battle.
  There are always slackers in every facet of life.  In the military, most soldiers who avoided duty were punished by being made to walk around camp with a sign around their neck upon which slacker was painted or they were made to stand on a wooden barrel.  Confinement to the guardhouse for a slacker was just what he wanted so they were seldom given that punishment.
 
Alcohol Abuse.......One of the most common offences committed during the war was alcohol abuse.  The armies of both sides did their best to discourage drinking and always punished drunken soldiers but neither the Northern or Southern army made much headway in the elimination of alcoholic beverages.  In February 1862 Union General George McClellan said "No one evil agent so much obstructs this army... as the degrading vice of drunkenness.  It is the cause of by far the greater part of the disorders which are examined by courts martial.  It is impossible to estimate the benefits that would accrue to the service from...total abstinence from intoxicating liquors.  It would be worth 50,000 men to the armies of the United States."  In some camps the problem surrounding bootleg whiskey was to great to deal with and the commanders decided to just try to control it.  As early as the 1850's areas in camps were established, controlled and strictly supervised by NCOs where drinking was allowed.  The drinking of alcohol was addressed by article 45 in the Regulations for the Army of the United States:
 

Art. 45.  Any commissioned officer who shall be found drunk on his guard, party, or other duty, shall be cashiered.  Any non-commissioned officer or soldier so offending shall suffer such corporeal punishment as shall be inflicted by the sentence of a court-martial.

The soldiers obtained almost all of their alcoholic beverages from the camp's sutlers.  When alcohol was available for sale, the sutlers would have a special signal to let the men know.  The signal could be as simple as half of their tent fly folded back at an odd angle or a barrel turned sideways beside their wagon.  The army took a dim view of this but could do nothing more than making the offending sutler leave the camp and not allowing him to return.
 

Art. 29.  No sutler shall be permitted to sell any kind of liquors  .. (etc. and goes on to state)  ..  on the penalty of being dismissed from all future sutling.

Civilians would also try to sneak liquor into the camps and sell it to the soldiers.  If they were caught, the alcoholic beverages were destroyed and they were usually escorted out of camp.
 
Gambling........When large groups of men get together for extended periods of time several things are bound to happen.  First they will use a lot of profanity and posturing to achieve status, second they will fight, and lastly they will gamble (which usually led to more cussing and more fighting).  The War Between the States was no exception to the rule.  In 1864 gaming in Federal camps was so prevalent that the Army of the James was known as the "Army of the Games" among the men.  The same games were played then as are played now.  Val Giles, a Texas soldier wrote home "There is a strange, unaccountable fascination about gambling.  I have known men who never threw a card before the war began, or have bet a cent since it closed, to lose the last Confederate dollar they had, betting at a game they really knew nothing about".
  Gambling hasn't changed much in the last 140 years.  The most popular gamblers game came in the form of card playing.  "Throwing the papers" was something everyone could do.  If a soldier wanted to learn to play cards, he could always sit down to a game with some eager teachers.  Draw poker was the game of preference but if a man didn't care for poker, he could still "take a twist at the tiger" in the form of twenty-one, keno, euchre, and faro.
  Two popular dice games were "craps" and "sweet-cloth" (also known as "bird cage").  The crap game in camp was quite different than what we play today but the basic game is still the same.  Sweet-cloth was a game wherein three dice were tossed from a cup onto a flat surface.  The players bet on the various numbers that might appear on the three dice when rolled.  The man who had guessed the correct total beforehand won the pot.  Horse races, cock fights, boxing matches, even a friendly game of checkers; no game was immune from a friendly wager and if a soldier gambled away all his money he could still play by resorting to the use of "O.P.'s" also known as an "order on the paymaster".
 
Desertion........Men started leaving the ranks without permission as early as First Manassas but didn't reach its highest point until the Shenandoah Valley Campaign in December, 1862.  There were 180,000 Union men absent with or without leave.  General Hooker reported in 1863 that 85,000 officers and men had left the Army of the Potomac.  More than fifty percent of the Stonewall Brigade abandoned the ranks.  As the morale of the Union army fell, the desertion rate increased.  In the fall of 1863 as desertions increased so did executions.  A North Carolina lieutenant watched as a deserter was shot near Orange Court House, Virginia. in October 1863.
 

"The one that was shot today was not killed dead the first fire." he noted.  "Consequently he was shot twice.  You can not imagine how cruel it looks to see a man shot.  Twelve men shot at him at about ten steps;  Only one ball hit him in the side.  He fell over on his face, was examined by the surgeon. who pronounced him not dead.  Two men were then ordered out with loaded muskets who shot him dead.  It looks very barbarous to see men shot in that way but it is necessary to maintain the discipline of an army."

At its highest level, 280,000 Federals deserted.  It is estimated by some that one in seven Union soldiers deserted and in 1864 the Federal desertion average per month was 7,333 men.
  Although the Confederacy had as all armies throughout time have had a problem with soldiers deserting on any given day and even during battle itself desertion in the southern army was far less extensive than in the northern army.  Only about 104,000 Confederates, far less than half as many as the Union forces, deserted their comrades.  Estimates claim that one out of nine Confederate soldiers left without permission.  President Davis tried to curb the desertion rate by offering its soldiers a $100 bond in exchange for a promise not to leave.  The Civil War set the record for deserters.  The average rate for both armies at any given time was an incredible 11% of their total available strength.  
  The sentence for this cowardly act has been carried out in many different forms including flogging, imprisonment, a "D" branded on the deserter's face or death by firing squad.  Yes, it is true that the flogging and branding of deserters was an acceptable form of punishment as far back as the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794.  Although these punishments were common and imposed with shocking severity during that time period and both were authorized in 1861-1865 War Between the States, neither were used with regularity.  Usually deserters when recaptured were put to hard labor on government works or confined in a penitentiary to work out their unexpired term of service.  Strangely enough was the fact that in the Union army less than 10% of those convicted of desertion actually died at the hands of a firing squad and a quarter of those sentenced received commutation.  Executions for desertion in the South ran higher.
  Both the Union and Confederate army took the problem of desertion very seriously.  The death penalty was recommended by both armies for this crime.  The Regulations for the Army of the United States addressed the problem thusly:
 

Art. 20.  All officers and soldiers who have received pay, or have been duly enlisted in the service of the United States, and shall be convicted of having deserted the same, shall suffer death, or such other punishment as, by sentence of a court-martial, shall be inflicted.

The exception to this rule was an article passed on May 29, 1850 that read:
 

"No officer or soldier in the army of the United States shall be subject to the punishment of death, for desertion in time of peace."

As a last resort, Presidents Lincoln and Davis, issued impassioned pleas, proclamations, pardons and amnesties to the deserters but the tactic met with only limited success.  
 
Minor Punishments For Minor Offences......There were many offences committed by the everyday soldier, most weren't worth the time and effort necessary to carry out the punishment but the armies of both sides had to maintain order.  If a man was caught committing petty theft, absent from or late to roll-call, rowdiness after taps, gambling, talking while in ranks, minor disrespect to a superior officer and other insignificant problems, the man was dealt with in a more humiliating form of punishment as opposed to a physical punishment.
 

February 13, 14, 15, 2004.  The 26th annual and 140th anniversary Battle of Olustee (in north Florida) Olustee Battlefield Park.  This event is a Hardy's Brigade 2nd Battalion maximum effort event.  The reenactment takes place on the actual site where the Battle of Olustee (Ocean Pond) was fought.  Visit with thousands of Civil War reenactors, tour the camps see demonstrations of all types.  Best gathering of Civil War sutlers at any Civil War event with 80+ sutlers in attendance.  Friday is School Day.  Battles Saturday and Sunday.  Reenactors should visit the Web site at http://extlab7.entnem.ufl.edu/olustee/  for applications, regulations and schedule.  First time visitors to the event should read The Authentic Spectator at http://extlab7.entnem.ufl.edu/olustee/advice.htm  No reenactor registration fee.  Full scale artillery only.  NO PETS.  Due to concerns for public safety, no fur bearing animals such as cats and dogs will be allowed during the reenactment activities.  This does not apply to horses.  Get here early.  The crowds gets big fast and sign-in and parking can be a hassle.  The battlefield is located just fifteen miles east of Lake City on Hwy. 90 from I-75 and 50 miles west of Jacksonville.  Take I-75 to Hwy. 90 exit.  Go east on Hwy. 90.  Drive slow, the signs at the entrance for reenactors have been small and hard to see in the past.  There is an outstanding web site for this event at  http://extlab7.entnem.ufl.edu/Olustee/  The Olustee event is worth the drive.  Contact, Olustee Battlefield State Historic Site (386) 758-0400 or (386) 397-4461  Email olusteecso@yahoo.com

February 20, 21, 22, 2004.  The Battle of Ballast Point.  Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, Florida.  The 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Re-enactment Regiment, in cooperation with the Friends of Fort DeSoto, Inc., will host an American Civil War Weekend Encampment and Historical Battle Re-enactment at the Fort DeSoto Park located in Tierra Verde on the Southern-most tip of Pinellas County, Florida.  The Civil War era camps will be open FREE to the public from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm. each day.  Participants will be depicting both Union and Confederate infantry, artillery, cavalry (limited), and civilian impressions.  On Friday, February 20, 2004, the camps will be open for tours by elementary school children from surrounding cities and counties.  On Saturday and Sunday, camps will be open to the public with ongoing events all day, climaxing with an historical battle re-enactment each afternoon at 1:00 pm.  Other Civil War activities will include period sutlers and vendors, a mock military trial and execution, artillery demonstrations, infantry drills, ladies afternoon tea, drum and fife music performances and civil war medical demonstrations.  A limited number of modern camping spaces will be available on a first contact, first served basis.  Contact us for your reservation now because modern campers showing up on the day of the event without a reservation will not be allowed to camp.  The 97th PA will provide firewood, hay, and ice.  A powder ration will be given for the first two Union and first two Confederate Artillery Pieces reserved.  The host encourages reenactors to Arrive on Friday, February 20, 2004 to participate in their school day program for school children in Pinellas County.   The host asks participating units and artillery to let them know in advance if they are coming to the event.  For more information, contact David Glenn at email: coa_97thpa@hotmail.com or write to: 97th Pennsylvania Vol. Inf., Fort DeSoto Committee, 14172 Sharon Drive, Largo, Florida, 33774. Check the park's website at:  http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm

February 20, 21, 22, 2004.  NEW EVENT.  The Southeast Spring Drum & Fife Muster.  Fort DeSoto Park, Pinellas County, Florida.  The 97th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Re-enactment Regiment, in conjunction with the American Civil War Weekend Encampment and Historical Battle Re-enactment at the Fort DeSoto Park located in Tierra Verde on the Southern-most tip of Pinellas County, Florida.  They will be hosting a Regional Drum & Fife Muster event.  All Civil War Musicians (Union, Confederate, and period Civilian) are invited and encouraged to attend.  Participants will get to play, demonstrate, and share their music with other Civil War musicians from around the region.  There will be informal sessions as well as formal, marching opportunities.  A limited number of modern camping spaces will be available on a first contact, first served basis.  Contact them for your reservation now because modern campers showing up on the day of the event without a reservation will not be allowed to camp.  The 97th PA will provide firewood, hay, and ice.  The host encourages re-enactors to arrive on Friday, February the 20th to participate in the school day program for school children in Pinellas County.  They would like to ask participating musicians to reserve their spot for this event.  For more information, contact David Glenn at (727) 595-5395, email: coa_97thpa@hotmail.com or write to: 97th Pennsylvania Vol. Inf., Fort DeSoto Committee, 14172 Sharon Drive, Largo, Florida, 33774.  Check the park's website at:  http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/05_Ft_DeSoto.htm

February 20, 21, 22, 2004.  Battle of Aiken in South Carolina.  I have had a lot of good comments from reenactors who have attended this event.  For all the information, driving directions, pre-registration and contact people go to their website at  http://www.battleofaiken.org

February 26, 2004. Thursday.  The Greater Orlando Civil War Roundtable meets every 4th Thursday at 730pm.  The meetings are held at the Marks Street Senior Center at 99 E. Marks St. between Orange Ave. and Magnolia St. in downtown Orlando.  This months topic is "Conspiracy Theories Surrounding The Assassination Of President Abraham Lincoln" and will be presented by Joe Mee.  For information contact Ruth Ann Wood at cwldy@mybluelight.com

February 28, 2004.  Wetlands Park Festival.  Near Ft. Christmas Park in Christmas Fl. (east side of Orlando).  Living history and possible recruiting opportunity.  The host of this event is looking for a variety of historical reenactors and living historians to come to the Orlando Wetlands Park Festival.  Their goal is to help educate the public and the kids who show up at this event about Florida, its environment and its history.  Aprox. 1,500 spectators are expected to attend between 9am and 3pm Saturday.  For more information, contact Mark Sees at mark.sees@cityoforlando.net 
 
March 6, 7, 2004.  Battle of Natural Bridge (North Florida) This battle is held on the original battlefield located 12 miles south of Tallahassee.  Sponsored by the Florida Park Service, Natural Bridge Historical Society and the Leon Rifles.  No modern campsite is provided.  No fee for reenactors.  Saturday night ball with band.  Hay and water are available as well as a free meal Saturday evening.  There will be military and civilian demonstrations as well as a skirmish on Saturday and the traditional battle on Sunday.  The Natural Bridge Event is held at the Natural Bridge State Historic Site which is located six miles east of Woodville.  The best way to find the site is to take I-10 to Tallahassee, exit onto US 27 (North Monroe Street-Exit 199) where you will travel south of US 27 (Monroe Street) until you reach the Florida Capitol.  At this junction, US 27 will turn to the left.  Do not continue on US 27, simply continue to travel south on Monroe Street.  A few miles south of town, Monroe Street becomes Woodville Highway.  Continue to travel on Woodville Highway until you reach the town of Woodville.  Turn left on Natural Bridge Road, go six miles to the site.  The park is located at the point where the paved road ends.  Registration open at 1pm Friday.  Due to the size of the site, we cannot allow any mounted troops.  Artillery is by invitation.  Contact Mark Rominger (850) 877-1263 or Chris Ellrich at cellrich@hotmail.com  http://www.floridastateparks.org/naturalbridge/default.asp