The Irish Volunteer Official Newsletter of the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co. B VoL. X. - No. 1] PENNSYLVANIA, March, 1863 [SINGLE COPIES SIX CENTS Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1863, by Sullivan et-al in the Clerk's Office for the Far Western District of Pennsylvania March 2005 Joe and Holly Sullivan Editors ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ ADMINISTRATION IN THE FIELD Capt. Steve Stowell BEHIND THE DESK Chairman, Kevin Burton ON THE HOME FRONT Civilian Advocate, Holly Sullivan Official Web Site of 116 PVI http://www.116pvi.org ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS March 28th, 2005. Board meeting. John Baker's office, 2339 State Street, Salem April 2nd 2005, Company Drill at 9 - 10:45 AM Aldrich Park, Salem April 9, 2005. School of the Soldier and School of the Company - at Fort Vancouver, starts 1PM April 23-24 Estacada, Oregon, McIver Park. Battle Event ** **For more information and for a full calendar of events please visit our web page at http://www.116pvi.org/ and follow the events link. Corporal Position Opening! Captain Steve Stowell has notified the Irish Volunteer that we are going to be a little short on Corporals this year. If you are interested in becoming a Corporal, please send a letter (or email) of intent to Captain Stowell at inftymen116@juno.com. ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ SAFETY TESTS Greetings, It is time again for safety test. All members both military and civilian 12 years old and up, alike must complete and submit a safety test every year to the 116th PVI safety officers. It is an open book test, so it's not hard . Members need to send their tests to; Kevin Burton at 137 Aberdeen Eugene, OR 97405 or to Mark Stevens at 245 Birchwood St. Dallas , OR 97338 Tests and questionnaires can be downloaded from the 116th web site www.116pvi.org If you can not access the web to get the test please contact either the 116th Secretary John Baker john@nedbaker.com or myself Capt. Steven L Stowell inftymen116@juno.com and we will mail it to you. Anyone who has not done a safety test may not get to participate until they do so. Company Commander 116th PVI Capt. Steven Lee Stowell ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ Chairman's Corner By Kevin Burton Well the next year is here and under full swing. It finds our country at war still and many under peril of life and limb. We as reenactors our sometimes seen as those who love war and destruction. I do not see it that way, I see us as loving our country's history and see a way to hold on to those values of yesteryear. I would say most would like to see a peaceful resolve to the war and hope that those who are over seas come home safely. We try to show others through our actions and living out history to the fullest, that war is not fun nor a glorious thing to behold. We instead try and show the realism of war, and hope for peace. May God find this year, and define this year for all. From the Civilian Advocate: Civilians of Pennsylvania, Greetings! In researching what ladies of the 1860s were accustomed to wear, I came upon many excellent articles - so many, in fact, and so excellent, that I have decided it best not to "re-invent the wheel", but to give you links to the articles themselves. In addition to this, and for the benefit of those few who have no access to the Internet, I am printing out the best of the articles, which will be placed in a notebook along with other articles and notes I have collected since I began reenacting. Any civilian connected with the 116th Pennsylvania may borrow this notebook, and if any of you have an article you think is outstanding, perhaps I might enjoin you to make a copy of it for inclusion in the notebook. It used to be that when a civilian lady began reenacting, or had questions regarding attire, she was instructed to borrow or buy a copy of the book, Who Wore What?, by Juanita Leisch. Although that book is still valuable, the Internet now offers a wide range of sites loaded with information for the beginning (and veteran) civilian reenactor. What follows, then, are links to sites I have found most helpful with regard to ladies' clothing. First, and of highest import, is a set of pictures representing correct and incorrect dress for the lady reenactor. I believe it would do us good if we could all stare at these two photographs until we have stamped them upon our memory - at least, until we have figured out why there is such a glaring difference between the two. While the creator of the page may have used terms which I might not have chosen, (perhaps "Because It's Right, Drat-it?), she does well in demonstrating the difference between looking like a reenactor and looking like a lady of the Civil War period: http://members.tripod.com/~CWCiv/# I believe that after looking at her photos, we will all agree that we would like to resemble a B.I.R.D., rather than a B.O.B. How to become a B.I.R.D. then rises as our most burning question. I direct my readers to a most helpful page, Fanny and Vera's Helpful Hints and Timely Tips for Civil War Reenactors, http://69.10.163.110/suesgoodco/newcivilians/ . My suggestion is that after reading the letter of welcome on the home page, you immediately click "Ladies Clothing" to the left, (http://69.10.163.110/suesgoodco/newcivilians/womenswear/womenswear.htm ). Fannie and Vera have put together some very interesting - and historically accurate, which is refreshing - articles. I would particularly like to recommend Ladies Gowns & Dresses http://69.10.163.110/suesgoodco/newcivilians/womenswear/dresses.htm , and Sharon's Skirt Construction Guide, http://69.10.163.110/suesgoodco/newcivilians/womenswear/dresses.htm#Project which will, if read carefully, save you any need of purchasing an 1860's skirt pattern. Other articles of interest are those dealing with fashion accessories http://69.10.163.110/suesgoodco/newcivilians/womenswear/accessories.htm , project patterns for making a $1.00 petticoat http://69.10.163.110/suesgoodco/newcivilians/womenswear/pettiproject.htm, a $1.00 apron, "quick and dandy drawers", and a period wrapper. In addition, there is an article on period cosmetics. Of great value in that article is the section on "Bathing and Washing". Most of us have, unfortunately, heard the gibberish about people of the Civil War period being dirty and loathe to wash. Having read the diary of one of my Civil War lady ancestors, and taken note of the amount of washing she did and the many times she caused her family members to bathe, I never could bring myself to believe any nonsense about Civil War ladies "only doing the laundry once a year" or being careless in their own personal hygiene. After reading the articles above, a very helpful way to adjust one's eyes to what is B.I.R.D. is to look carefully at photographs taken of civilians during the Civil War. Looking at photos of reenactors will tell you how reenactors dress, but looking at photos of the Real McCoy will, in the end, prove much more useful. You might start by seeing if you can find any photographs of your own Civil War era ancestors. In the case of a reenactor, there is nothing at all wrong with striving to look like your great-great-grandmother! A website that has many authentic Civil War photographs posted is http://www.geocities.com/myrtleavenueclothiers/OGCivilWarWomen.html . The aforementioned book, Who Wore What?, has many authentic photographs. Antique stores are full of them, as are museums. I am beginning a small collection, which I will include in the 116th Civilian notebook. So far as patterns go, the best I have found are from Timeless Stitches. http://www.tstitches.com/index.html?dummy=HOME . (Lynne, who runs Timeless Stitches, also puts out a little quarterly called The Victorian Ladies Book, which we have found enjoyable and helpful.) Other pattern companies can be accessed by visiting http://www.geocities.com/motozulli/linkpatterns.html . For the making of authentic period clothes, authentic period fabrics can be obtained from http://www.reproductionfabrics.com/ . If you're like me, however, and can't afford $8.00+/yard really-really authentic goods, a careful study of the fabrics on the reproductionfabrics site, along with close observation of fabrics used while studying museum pieces and period photographs, should give one enough familiarity with what was authentic to be able to pick out similar but less-expensive dry goods from WalMart or JoAnne's. (Another way to become familiar with textiles of the 1860s is to examine books with photographs of quilts made during the Civil War period. These books are popular and may be found in great number in almost any public library, and the advantage to reading them as opposed to books about Civil War ladies per se is that one does not have to wade through nearly as much revisionism and popular, as opposed to historical, world view. Which isn't to say that these ills don't lurk in quilting books at all; we have, unfortunately, seen much nonsense printed in books on quilts of the 1860s - but it is less pronounced, since the goal of the quilt book is not usually to sway public opinion on the Civil War.) I hope the above will, in some measure, prove valuable to the ladies of the 116th. I propose that we examine gentlemen's attire next month. As always, I desire the input and assistance of any member willing to provide it. Looking forward to seeing all of you next month at MudIver, and in hopes that our boys will manage to Save the Union, I remain Your most humble servant, Mrs. Joseph T. Sullivan ("Molly" Sullivan) Shamrocks for George Washington's adopted grandson Fresh shamrocks from the Irish Embassy will be placed at the grave of President George Washington's adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis immediately after the award ceremony. Custis, father in law of Robert E. Lee, was a leading advocate of Irish freedom in the early part of the 19th century. He was very actively involved in Irish American affairs in Washington, DC before his death in 1847. Before he died, he wished aloud that someday an Irishman would come by and place a shamrock on his grave and say, "God bless him." The Hibernians in the Nation's Capital have been fulfilling his wish ever since. The AOH is an Irish Catholic fraternal organization. Custis was a Protestant. Yet for decades Irish Catholics have paid this tribute Custis in gratitude for his lifetime of efforts for Irish freedom. Custis grew up at Mt. Vernon and was raised by his adopted grandfather, George Washington. As a child, he heard the many stories from President Washington of the Irish involvement in the American Revolution. Washington attributed a great part of his victory in the revolution to the Irish serving in the American army. The Ancient Order of Hibernians is the largest Irish American organization for Catholics who are Irish by birth or descent in the United States. It is the oldest organization for Catholic laymen. Founded in 1836, it has many active divisions throughout the United States. Locally, the Hibernians under the District of Columbia State Board live in the area covered by Washington, DC as well as the five Maryland counties of Montgomery, Prince George's, Calvert, St. Mary's, and Charles. The Hibernians currently have many active divisions in the metropolitan area and are constantly recruiting new members. Anyone interested in more information should contact President John E. McInerney at (301) 350 - 6184. Article copied from Irish Heritage Newsletter ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ Let's Learn Some Gaelic By Kevin Burton About: timpeall [chimpuL] Face: aghaidh [ie-u] So in Gaelic about face turns into face about, aghaidh timpeall. Simple right well maybe not simple as tough to say. Imagine talking with a numb tongue and you'll have it in no time. The words or actually soundings of the word will come after in [xx]. This is the way it should sound hopefully! If you have any words or phrases that you would like to see in particular please drop me a line at burton2901@msn.com or give me a call at 541-688-2901 I would love to see new and interesting facts as well. I am drunk: Tá mé ar meisce [ta me er-mishki] Egg: ubh [uv] That one is Mark! Evening: tráthnóna [tru-noonu] Excuse me: gabh mo leithscéal [gu mu leshkyael] Hundred: céad [keeud] Shirt: léine [laeni] God: Dia [jeeu] ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ Wanted to buy: used .58 Caliber, 3 band musket. Rich Lindvall, (541)929-4681 or lindvall@casco.net Fort Hoskins Phil Sheridan House needs your help! Fellow Reenactors, About a year ago, I "volunteered" to be the reenactor representative for the Fort Hoskin's citizens advisory committee. At last month'ss meeting, I was told that the original 1850s commander's house for Fort Hoskins has been found and that it will be burned to the ground in the next two years if it is not rescued. This house was originally built by young Lt. Phil Sheridan when he was in charge of building the officer's quarters at the Fort and is in relatively good shape. The Fort Hoskins committee is looking for a group that would be interested in seeing this house rescued, brought back to Fort Hoskins, and restored. The house would eventually become the centerpiece for the Civil War display at the Fort. If anyone is interested, all it takes is a few hours a month of dedicated interest to help rescue the only surviving Fort Hoskins building . No experience, money or manual labor is required, just a love for preserving our Civil War heritage. Interested reenactors should contact Joe Sullivan at j o e s @ proaxis.com or call me at 929-6450. SI KLEGG: HIS TRANSFORMATION FROM A RAW RECRUIT TO A VETERAN by John McElroy CHAPTER 12 A WET NIGHT - THE DEPRAVITY OF AN ARMY TENT REVEALS ITSELF. Night threw her dark mantle over the camp of the 200th Ind. The details of guard and picket had been made. Videts, with sleepless eye and listening ear, kept watch and ward on the outposts, while faithful sentries trod their beats around the great bivouac. All day the army had marched, and was to take the road again at an early hour in the morning. Supper had been eaten, and the tired soldiers were gathered around the campfires that gleamed far and near through the darkness. "Si," said Shorty to his chum as they sat on a log beside the dying embers, "how d'ye like soldierin', as fur as ye've got?" "It's purty hard business," said Si, reflectively, "an' I s'pose we haint seen the worst on it yet, either, from what I've hearn tell. Pity the men that got up this war can't be made to do all the trampin' 'n' fitin'. An' them fellers up in old Injjeanny that come round makin' such red-hot speeches to git us boys to 'list, wouldn't it be fun to see 'em humpin' 'long with gun 'n' knapsack, 'n' chawin' hardtack. 'n' stan'in' guard nights, 'n' pourin water on their blisters, 'n' pickin' graybacks off their shirts, 'n' p'leccin' camp, 'n' washin' their own clothes ?" "I think we'd enj'y seem' 'em do all that," said Shorty, laughing at the picture Si had drawn. "I reckon most of 'em 'd peter out purty quick, and I'd like to hear what sort o' speeches they'd make then. I tell ye, Si, there's a big diff'rence 'tween goin' yerself an' tellin' some other feller to go." "Mebbe they'll git to draftin' after a while," observed Si, " 'n' if they do I hope that'll ketch em !" "Wall, we're in fur it, anyway," said Shorty. Let's make down the bed 'n' turn in !" It didn't take long to complete the arrangements for the night. They spread their "gum" blankets, or ponchos, on the ground, within the tent, and on these their wool blankets, placed their knapsacks at the head for pillows, and that was all. It was warmer than usual that evening, and they stripped down to their nether garments. "Feels good once in a while," said Si, "to peel a feller's clothes oft, 'n' sleep in a Christian-like way. But, Great Scott! Shorty, ain't this ground lumpy? It's like lying on a big washboard. I scooted all over the country huntin' fer straw to-night. There wasn't but one little stack within a mile of camp. Them derned Ohio chaps gobbled every smidgin of it. They didn't leave enuff to make a hummin'-bird's nest. The 200th Ind.'ll git even with 'em some day." So Si and Shorty crept in between the blankets, drew the top one up to their chins, and adjusted their bodily protuberances as best they could to fit the ridges and hollows beneath them. "Now, Si," said Shorty, "don't ye git to fitin' rebels in yer sleep and kick the kiver off, as ye did last night." As they lay there their ears caught the music of the bugles sounding the "tattoo." Far and near TAKING THE TOP RAIL. floated through the clear night air the familiar melody that warned every soldier not on duty to go to bed. Next to the 200th Ind. lay a regiment of wild Michigan veterans, who struck the strains of the bugles: up, following Say, oh Dutch'y, will ye fight mit Si-gel? Zwei glass o' la-ger, Yaw! Yaw! Yaw!!! Will yet fight to help de bul-ly ea-gle? "Schweitzer-kase und pret-zels, Hur-raw! raw! raw! During the night there came one of those sudden storms that seemed to be sent by an inscrutable Providence especially to give variety to the soldier's life. A well-developed cyclone struck the camp, and Si and Shorty were soon awakened by the racket. The wind was blowing and whirling' in fierce gusts, wrenching out the tent-pins or snapping the ropes as if they were threads. Everywhere was heard the flapping of canvas, and the yells and shouts of the men as they dashed about in the darkness and wild confusion. Many of the tents were already prostrate, and their demoralized inmates were crawling out from under the ruin. To crown all the rain began to fall in torrents. The camp was a vast pandemonium. The blackest darkness prevailed, save when the scene was illuminated by flashes of lightning. These were followed by peals of thunder that made the stoutest quake. Si sprang up at the first alarm. "Git up, here, you fellers !" he shouted. "We'd better go outside and grab the ropes, or the hull shebang'll go over." There was not a moment to spare. Si dashed out into the storm and darkness, followed by his comrades. Seizing the ropes, some of which were already loosened, they braced themselves and hung on for dear life, in the drenching rain, their hair and garments streaming in the wind. Si's prompt action saved the tent from the general wreck. The fury of the storm was soon past. Si and his comrades, after driving the pins and securing the ropes. re-entered the tent, wet and shivering -for the mercury had gone down with a tumble, or rather it would have done so had they been supplied with thermometers. But the scanty costume in which Si found himself afforded a weather indicator sufficiently accurate for all practical purposes. The ground was flooded, and their blankets and garments were fast absorbing the water that flowed around in such an exasperating way. Sleep under such conditions was out of the question. Si and Shorty put on their clothes and tried to make the best of their sorry plight. By this time the rain had nearly ceased. Fortunately they had laid in a good stock of fuel the night before, and after a little patient effort they succeeded in getting a fire started. Around this the boys hovered, alternately warming their calves and shins. "This is a leetle more'n I bargained fer," said Si. Then, taking a philosophical view of the case, he added, "but there's one good thing about it, Shorty, we'll be all fixed for mornin', an' we won't have to get up when they sound the revel-lee. The buglers kin jest bust theirselves a-blowin' fer all I keer !" In this way the soldiers spent the remainder of the night. Before daybreak the blast of a hundred bugles rang out, but there was little need for the reveille. Breakfast was soon over, and in the gray dawn of that murky morning the long column went trailing on its way. The weather gave promise of a sloppy day, and the indications were fully verified. A drizzling rain set in, and continued without cessation. The boys put their heads through the holes in their ponchos, from the corners of which the water streamed. With their muskets at a "secure" they sloshed along through the mud, hour after hour. In spite of their "gums" the water found its way in at the back of the neck and trickled down their bodies. Their clothes became saturated, and they were altogether about as miserable as it is possible for mortals to be. It seemed to Si that the maximum of discomfort had been reached. He had experienced one thing after another during the few weeks since he left home, and he thought each in turn was worse than the last, and about as bad as it could be. But Si learned a good deal more before he graduated. All through the long, dreary day the soldiers plodded on. There was little comfort to be derived from the "rest," for the ground was soaked with water. "Why didn't we think of it, Shorty," said Si, "'a' make it part o' the bargain when we 'listed that we were to have umbrellers. These gum things don't amount to shucks, nohow, to keep the rain off. I sh'd think Uncle Sam might do that much for us "I reckon our clothes '11 be purty well washed by the time we git out o' this mess," said Shorty. "Feels that way," said Si; "but how about the bilin'? A cold bath jest refreshes them pesky little varmints, 'n' makes 'em livelier 'n ever. Say, Shorty, ye didn't write home anything 'bout our havin' gray backs, did ye?" "No, not yet; but I was thinkin' Id tell 'em 'bout it one o' these days." "Well, Shorty, I ain't going to tell my folks; it 'd jest make my mother feel awful to know I was that way. And sister Maria, and--." Si was thinking aloud, and was going to say "Annabel," but be checked himself. That name was not to be mentioned in other ears. But he was afraid she would go back on him if she knew all about it. It was nearly night when the 200th Ind., dripping and discouraged, filed off into a field of stand. ing corn to pass the night. The men sank to their shoetops in the soft earth. Si remarked to Shorty that he didn't see why the officers should turn 'em loose in such a place as that. But the longer he lived the more he found out about those things. That was the way they always did. In five minutes after arms were stacked not a cornstalk remained standing in the field. During the afternoon the troops had gone over a long stretch of swamp road that was almost impassable for teams. Fears were entertained that the wagons of the regiment would not be up that night, and they would not have their tents to shelter them from the. storm. In anticipation of such a calamity the boys gathered in the cornstalks, having a vague idea that they would help out in case of emergency. Then there was a scramble for the fences. Recognizing the need of good fuel. an order from the General was filtercd through the various headquarters that the men might take the top rails, only, from the fence inclosing the field. This order was literally interpreted and carried out, each man, successively, taking the "top rail" as he found it. The very speedy result was that the bottom rails became the "top," and then there weren't any. Almost in the twinkling of an eye the entire fence disappeared. The drizzle continued through the evening, and by the sputtering fires the soldiers prepared and ate their frugal suppers. Word came that, as was feared, the wagons were hopelessly bemired three or four miles back, and the men would have to make such shift as they could. The prospect was dreary and cheerless enough. It was little wonder that many of the young Hoosiers felt as if they wanted to quit and go home. But with that wonderful facility for adapting themselves to circumstances that marked the volunteer soldiers, they set about the work of preparing for the night. No one who has not -"been there" can imagine how good a degree of comfort-comparatively speaking, of course-it was possible to reach, with such surroundings, by the exercise of a little patience, ingenuity and industry. Si and Shorty and the others of the "mess" bestirred themselves, and it did not take them more than 20 minutes to build, out of rails and cornstalks, a shelter that was really inviting. They kindled a big fire in front of it, laid some rails within, covered them with stalks, and on these spread their blankets. Si, who had "bossed" the job, viewed the work with great satisfaction. "I tell ye, that's no slouch of a shanty !" said he. 4