Gettysburg National Reenactment. Be advised it may take several weeks for your name to be entered into the database as this is only one of the tasks our reenactment administrative staff is performing. A reminder that early registration was extended to February 15. The cost of early registration is $25.00 with $5.00 of every Reenactor registration fee being donated to five local preservations and beneficiaries. The donation presentations will be made on the field at the event. On February 16 the registration fee goes to $35 until April 1. For an event of this size, planning, resources and logistics, for the large number of military Reenactors, living history Reenactors, dependents and cavalry, is critical to provide responsible operations and service. Please help us serve you by registering early and urge your pards to do the same!

June 29, 30 & July 1 150th National Reenactment Prelude Event Information

 Anticipation is building for the 150th National Reenactment Event prelude “Historic Seminary Ridge Experience”. This is a unique and limited opportunity to provide living history, engage in a First Day skirmish and camp on the historic grounds of the Gettysburg Theological Seminary both Saturday & Sunday. In addition, on Saturday evening the action will move to the village of Hunterstown for the cavalry battle “Springing the Trap”. There will also be an opportunity for campaign style camping around Schmucker Hall. Schmucker Hall with its famous cupola overlooking the town and battlefield is the most significant privately owned historic building in Gettysburg. Registered participants may camp until Tuesday morning on the seminary grounds. The Grand Opening of the newly renovated Gettysburg Museum on Seminary Ridge (Schmucker Hall) will be at 10:00 Monday, July 1. Schmucker Hall is going through a year-long $17 million renovation during restoration and conversion into a world class Civil War museum. Inquiries for both military and living history participation should be directed to Kirk Davis, alhes1776@yahoo.com 717-338-1776. There will be a $5 registration donation fee with all proceeds being donated to The Gettysburg Museum on Seminary Ridge. Due to limitations if your registration application is not accepted your registration and donation will be returned to you. You must be registered for the 150th Gettysburg National Event. If demand exceeds availability priority consideration will be given to individuals and units who have supported the Annual Gettysburg Event. Artillery and Cavalry should contact Generals Baldwin & Gesuero directly. These are very rare and unique opportunities only made possible through local contacts, resources and a track record of responsibility.

2013 Remembrance Day Activities Date Changed

Organizers of Gettysburg’s Remembrance Day parade have announced the annual parade has been rescheduled for 2013. The parade, which draws thousands of Union and Confederate Reenactors, will be held Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. Events held in conjunction with the parade have also been rescheduled. The effects of the 150th Gettysburg Anniversary were the catalyst of the change.

Parade organizers, the Sons of Veterans Reserve, initially planned to hold the parade the Saturday prior to the Nov. 19 Dedication Day, but made the decision to change the schedule last week. “We felt a change in the date was necessary in order to find adequate lodging for our people and the Reenactors that participate in the parade,” said Brig. Gen. Henry E. Shaw Jr., Deputy Commander of the Sons of Veterans Reserve. Shaw said the Sons of Veterans Reserve and the Sons of Union Veterans will stay at the Wyndham Gettysburg, and their original Civil War ball will be held at the hotel on Nov. 23. Sons of Veterans Reserve is the military component of the Sons of Union Veterans, both national organizations. According to Shaw, the parade will follow its customary route, kicking off near the Gettysburg Area Middle School before continuing onto East Middle Street, Baltimore Street, and Steinwehr Avenue. The place where the parade forms may be altered slightly to accommodate ongoing construction at the middle school property, Shaw added.

An updated annual schedule was released by Gettysburg National Military Park Wednesday listing the 11th annual Remembrance Day Illumination on the evening of Nov. 23. The annual event in the past had been held the same day as the parade, and is organized by the Gettysburg Foundation.

Other events rescheduled for the weekend of Nov. 22-24 include:

- Remembrance Day Dinner and Ball at the Gettysburg Hotel, Nov. 22;
- Remembrance Day Military Ball at the Eisenhower Hotel, Nov. 22;
- Woolson Monument Ceremony at Zeigler’s Grove, GNMP, Nov. 23; and
- President’s Remembrance Day Dinner and Ball at the Gettysburg Hotel, Nov. 23.

A full list of Remembrance events and other events held in and around Gettysburg throughout the year is available at www.gettysburgcivilwar150.com

There will be plenty of artillery at the 150th Gettysburg National Reenactment on July 4, 5, 6, & 7. During the cannonade that began at 1PM on July 3, 1863, preceding Pickett’s Charge infantry assault, there were approximately 150 Confederate cannons and 80 Federal cannons in the center that engaged in this massive artillery duel. There were about 300 cannons overall on the hills about equally divided. Tons of ammunition was expended and it was reported the effect of the cannonade could be heard in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. This summer more than 50% of that center artillery number will be on the battlefield at the 150th Gettysburg National Reenactment for the re-creation of Pickett’s Charge on July 7. Artillery will play a significant role in the scenarios the preceding three days as well. The big guns will also be featured during various commemorations and salutes each day, including honoring and recognizing Gettysburg 100th Anniversary participants. As an added dimension are number of horse drawn artillery units our registered that will provide a unique visual for Reenactors and visitors. This will be the most full size artillery ever assembled at one reenactment.

Reenactors Coming From Around The Across The Nation & Around The World

As we approach 6000 registered reenactors and have registered 120 full size artillery, we have begun to receive quite a few quite a few registrations request from unusual places both domestic and foreign. Here are just a few examples of what our office staff is sorting through and responding to:

 

 

 

 

150th Gettysburg National Reenactment Participant Medallion Has Special Significance

LIVING HISTORY REPORT: HISTORIC SEMINARY RIDGE EVENT June 29, 30 and July 1st

The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee (GAC) is finalizing the planning of the 150TH Gettysburg

National Reenactment on July 4, 5, 6, & 7. In addition, they have teamed up with the American Living History Education Society (ALHES) and would like to inform all Reenactors and living historians of another historic event planned for the weekend before the grand event. The Historic Seminary Ridge event located at the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary.

GAC and ALHES have been invited to organize an event at the Lutheran Seminary property as they did two years ago. There will be various areas set aside for military troop camping and several areas planned along a walking trail for the living historians to provide their unique style of historic presentations to the public.

On Saturday and Sunday the military troops will have another opportunity to reenact some of the First Day’s action on this sacred ground. What an opportunity to once again stand, camp and fight where our fore Fathers hallowed this ground with their sacrifices.

On Monday July 1st, the Lutheran Seminary will hold a Grand Opening Ceremony at 10am for their newly renovated Schmucker Hall which will now house Gettysburg’s newest Historic Civil War Museum. This unique opportunity is being provided to the Reenactors and living historians because of local confidence in organizers and in return for provided Reenactor services on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. “I know I plan on waking up on the historic Seminary Ridge” said Kirk Davis, President of ALHES, “and I hope you will join us as we experience this historic American civil war history event”.

camping and on the battlefield. The following are the limitations for each day; 300 Infantry troops for each US and CS military and 4 cannons for each side. There will be openings for 300 Living Historians. Mounted Cavalry will take the stage in The Village of Hunterstown on Saturday evening. . “We may attempt to split the participation per day thus allowing more troops sharing in this historic event” said Davis. The Military Commanders will manage all battles and field Reenactors.

GAC and ALHES are asking each participant to make a $5.00 donation to the new Gettysburg Museum On Seminary Ridge with your registration form. The check presentation will be made on Monday at the opening of the museum. All costs incurred with this event are being donated by the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee organization.

All registration forms will be available on the GAC web site or at ALHES.com. This registration form is SEPARATE from your 150th Gettysburg form. The form will be available starting February 1st, 2013. The various categories will close as they reach their capacity or at the discretion of the commanders. For additional information or to have a registration form emailed to you, contact American Living Historian Education Society at alhes1776@yahoo.com or 717-338-1776 and ask for Diana Forgett or Kirk Davis.

Gettysburg National Reenactment Command Post General Allen Baldwin

January is all but a memory and a very short memory at that. My staff, General Gesuero’s staff and the GAC team have been very hard at work to bring you the event we have promised, an event by Reenactors for Reenactors. If you drive by the site on Table Rock Rd. you will already see that the fire wood has been distributed, site work to prepare the battlefield and its crossings and services roads is well underway or completed, the clearing of brush and other prep work on the site is occurring daily. This is all in preparation for a world class event. The world will be watching. Everything is falling into place on the site, in the community and in the troops. While the Commands have been working on ensuring great scenarios and adjusting the battlefield layout of the scenarios, the entire staff has made sure that the event has received its permits from the municipalities. Not letters of intent or lists of a few more loops to close and conditions to meet – but issued permits which show the work and commitment that has been made by the whole event staff – and the confidence and respect local officials have in this organization. Let’s just call it what it is, let there be no doubt that our event permitting process is complete. There is no doubt.

On the second weekend in February 8-10, my staff and General Gesuero and his staff will be holding a series of scenario planning meetings and site visits with Division and Branch Commands. The Commands will be returning to Gettysburg with their “Homework” from Remembrance Day weekend complete with their thoughts, guidance and input on the scenarios helping to script and layout the scenarios. Reenacters crafting scenarios for Reenactors. These scenarios will not just at the whim of command. Everyone present will have the opportunity to work on the scenarios as a team, step by step. Everyone all together, in one place, all together in one room, working together, every voice heard and having input. These will be historically based scenarios that you have requested and this is where it will happen, through a team effort all the way. General Gesuero and I continue to hear how happy and excited Reenactors are to have this input and to be given a chance to work on ideas etc. and bring them to the table.

Just as exciting is the weekend before when Reenactors will have a chance to camp and battle on such significantly historic ground as the Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary on Saturday and Sunday – and the Village of Huntertown on Saturday evening. I live within less than a mile of the Seminary and I am personally excited to have this opportunity. I was not able to participate in the event at the Seminary last year during the 150th Kick-off event, due to taking responsibility for coordination of the battle at the Seminary and the battle on Baltimore St. To me it was more extremely important to make something like this happen once in a lifetime for my brothers and sisters in arms. Now to have our hard work pay off once again. To be on first days ground again is all worth it to help create this lifetime moment of Respect, Honor and Loyalty. Inquiries for both military and living history participation should be directed to Kirk Davis, alhes1776@yahoo.com 717-338-1776. Artillery and Cavalry, please contact me directly at bigredgbg@comcast.net.

Due to the hard work, dedication and determination, the 150th Gettysburg Anniversary National Civil War Battle Reenactment will be an event we will all remember and be proud of. You have my word, and commitment as the overall and Federal Commander that the military staffs and event staffs are committed to making this an exciting, organized, responsible and memorable event. As we look anxiously to July, think about 120 cannons belching smoke and fire during Pickett’s Charge, and standing at the Seminary ready for battle on the Saturday before the event- and remember these words ” Forward, ForGod’s Sake Forward”.