1. Art and Diseño

Renew your membership today!
Volume 21, Issue 6
“We are but few in number but formidable.” -Pvt. James Shelton, 7th Md. Co. B
February 2015
The Officer and Non-Commissioned Officers for 2015, from left, 2nd Sgt. Steve Blumberg, 1st Sgt.
Steve Giovannini, Capt. Jeff Bush, Cpl. Dan Paterson, Jr., Cpl. Scott Blumberg, Cpl. Mark Blumberg and newly elected Cpl. Erik Schwetje.
Inside this issue:
Upcoming Campaigns
2
On the Bookshelf
6
Ladies’ Knapsack
7
Greetings Members and
friends of the 7th. I want to
thank all those who were
able to attend our annual
business meeting for their
effort and contribution, it
was great to see you again.
For those of you who were
not able to attend, you were
missed, and you missed some
good discussion and comradery. Of particular importance was the presentation
of the first Steve Bush Me-
morial Award, given to the
person who best demonstrates the level of imagination and spirit put forth by
our dear departed friend
and observed by so many at
events throughout the years.
I won’t try to describe the
presentation, I couldn’t do it
justice. You’ll have to ask
about it when you get to
camp. Congratulations, Private Pat Ellis, I look forward to following Steve’s
example
alongside
you this
coming
season
and beyond.
Sgt Stephen Blumberg
President
Congratulations to the NCO’s
and organization officers
elected or re-elected for this
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PAGE 2
FEBRUARY
February 21:
Company Drill;
Marietta Mansion, Time TBA.
(Snow date 2/28)
(COMPANY)
MARCH
March 13:
Salisbury Living History,
contact Capt. Jeff Bush
(Individual)
March 21-22:
150th Bentonville, NC
(COMPANY)
APRIL
April 10-12:
Long Road Home,
150th Appomattox,
(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)
April 18-19:
Marching Through Time,
Marietta Mansion, Glenn Dale.
(COMPANY)
MAY
May 16-17:
151st Battle of New Market,
New Market VA.
(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)
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August 21-23:
25th Annual 93rd PA event
Old Union Canal Tunnel
(First Regiment Event)
(Individual)
JUNE
June 13-14:
Old Bedford Village,
Birney’s Event,
Old Bedford, PA
(COMPANY)
JULY
July 3-5th:
152nd Gettysburg,
Pumping Station Rd.,
Gettysburg, PA
(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)
July 17-19:
Funkstown, MD,
(COMPANY)
AUGUST
August 8-9:
Renfrew Museum,
Waynesboro
(139th PA)
(First Regiment Event)
(COMPANY)
May 2-3:
Carroll County Farm Museum,
Westminster, MD.
SEPTEMBER
September 12-13th:
Fall Muster at St. Thomas,
Chambersburg, PA
Cavalry Sponsored,
7th Maryland Soiree,
Date / location TBA
(COMPANY)
OCTOBER
October 3-4:
Maryland Brigade Event,
Baltimore, MD
(Individual)
October 17-18:
151st Cedar Creek,
Middletown, VA
(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)
NOVEMBER
November 21-22:
FVB Annual Meeting,
Remembrance Day
(COMPANY) (AOP/FVB Event)
(Individual)
It’s been a very busy January with
many meetings, conference calls and emails.
However, the season is shaping up to
be another grand time. With the winddown of the sesquicentennial events we
are positioning the Brigade and looking towards the future.
Our aim is to continue our steady
course. As folks may leave the hobby,
we are looking to re-double our efforts
to attract younger, history-oriented
members as they are destined to be the
future of reenacting.
We’re looking to add as many “eventswithin-events” as we can during the
season, such as drill competitions,
dances and sports competitions. Any
Gen. Jay Henson
FVB Commander
ideas you may
have would be
welcome.
Thanks to all
who attended the
7th MD annual
meeting. It
looks as though
we’ll be having a
grand time on
the field and in
camp.
VO LU ME 20 , ISS UE 11
I am very excited about this year. Yes
we are nearing the end of the 150th Anniversary events, but that’s not the end
of the fun. There has been little change
to our leadership on and off the field.
This gives us some continuity that
should get us right back to where we
left off at Cedar Creek
last year! I am very
pleased to have all of the
NCO’s back with the
exception of one, Phillip
Giovannini will be
missed. I would like to
welcome Eric Schwetjee
to the NCO corps, he is a
great addition!
As far as our schedule
goes it is not as intense
as the last couple of
years. This can work in
our favor. It should give
us the opportunity to
add to our overall impression in camp especially. I encourage everyone to bring forward
ideas for camp scenarios
as well as helping to add
Civil War winters were particularly trying and monotonous for the armies. Impassable, muddy roads and harsh weather
precluded active operations. Disease ran
rampant, killing more men than battles. But with all of its hardships winter
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to anything that
transpires from the
Brigade. As we
learned from the
reports of the FVB
Capt. Jeff Bush
meetings we have
Company Commander
all been encouraged to continue to portray camp
life activities.
Let’s see some
ideas and
start
“scheming”!
Congratulations to
Young William Hart for
receiving the
Farby Barby
Award, he
has waited a
long time for
his antics to
be recognized
with top honors! He joins
a short list of
other 7th
also allowed soldiers an opportunity to
bond, have a bit of fun, and enjoy
their more permanent camps. Through
these bleak months all soldiers, Union
and Confederate, had to keep warm
and busy in order to survive.
“Dec. 20/64 – The weather is cold, but we keep up our drills believing it is to be better for the
men.” – Elisha Hunt Rhodes, 2nd Rhode Island Volunteers
PAGE 3
Marylanders who have gained possession of this coveted award.
For those of you who chose to stay
away from the annual meeting missed
the presentation of a new award. I am
very proud to have Patrick Ellis receive
the Steve Bush Legacy Award. There is
no one I can think of that deserves to be
the first recipient more than Patrick.
He has always found ways to enhance
our experiences and my brother was
somewhere nearby to help.
You can bet I will be taking notes all
year long to ensure that these two
awards are given to deserving people.
Let the antics begin and good luck! I
look forward to the new season and
hope to see everyone at our Company
Drill on February 21st. We hope to give
you something a little more advanced in
drill this year. Yes we will knock some
rust off but we hope to keep that brief!
The FVB wants to try some new maneuvers and it all starts at the company
level, so don’t be one of those that end
up in the awkward squad and be sure to
join us on the 21st and I will see you at
the fire!
While on the move in warmer
weather, soldiers often slept in, easilyerected canvas tents or they simply slept
without cover, under the stars. In the
winter, large camps were established
with more substantial shelter. Winter huts were built by the armies out of
the surrounding materials including:
trees, mud, leaves, and soldiers’ canvases. These huts usually included a
chimney, which kept the small space
warm, but some were more effectively
built than others.
The camps were set-up much like
small villages complete with crisscrossing lanes called "company streets",
churches, and sutlers’ shops. While this
may seem cozy, these temporary villages
lacked the appropriate systems to provide clean water and clear away waste;
additionally, food was scarce. Disease
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VO LUME 20, ISS UE 11
for a total of 1,539. The South lost
around 1,160 men including two generals. Division commander Major General John Pegram was killed and brigade Commander Brigadier General
Moxley Sorrel, a former staff officer of
General James Longstreet, was shot
through the lung and disabled for the
rest of the war.
Cpl. Dan Paterson Jr.
Vice President
The 7th Maryland February 1865:
The Battle of Dabney’s Mill
On February 5, 1865, at the Battle of
Dabney's Mill (also known as
Hatcher's Run), Union and Confederate forces around Petersburg, Virginia,
began a three-day battle that produces
3,000 casualties but ends with no significant advantage for either side. This
was another attempt by Union General
Ulysses S. Grant to break the siege of
Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia by
gaining the Boydton Plank Road
(modern route 1). The lines around
Petersburg eventually stretched 25
miles to Richmond, and the stalemate
continued to the breakthrough of April
2nd, 1865.
Grant sent cavalry under General
David Gregg to capture a road that carried supplies from Hicksford, Virginia,
into Petersburg. On February 5, Gregg
moved and captured a few wagons along
his objective, the Boydton Plank Road.
He found little else, so he pulled back
toward the rest of the Union Army.
Federal infantry under General Gouverneur K. Warren (the Union 5th
Corps, of which our 7th Maryland was a
part) also moved forward and probed
the area at the end of the Confederate's
Petersburg line. The Rebels responded
by moving troops into the area. Skirmishes erupted that evening and the
fighting continued for two more days as
each side maneuvered for an advantage.
Hospital Attendants Collect The Wounded Hdabney’s Mill. Sketch by William Waud .
The fighting surged back and forth
around Dabney's Mill, but the Federals
were never able to penetrate the Confederate lines. The battle did extend the
Petersburg line a few miles to further
stretch Lee's thin lines, but that was
the extent of the results. Dabney’s Mill
is located six miles southwest of Petersburg, Virginia along Vaughn Road
around Hatcher's Run.
A letter from James Shelton of company B to his wife gives us an eyewitness description of the action:
“
The fight we were in on the 6th inst.
was the severest in musketry of the
campaign. Although our loss was small
as usual we were compelled to bear the
brunt & then get no credit. But there is
a day coming when the old Md. Line
will stand out in bold relief in the rebellion as it did in ‘76 and 1812-13-&14.
We are but few in number but formidable.”
At this action 7th Maryland under the
command of Lieutenant-Colonel David
T. Bennett and was in the 2nd Brigade
(Colonel R.N. Bowerman) of the 2nd
Division (Bvt. Major General R.B.
Ayres) of the 5th Corps. (Maj. Gen. G.K.
Warren)
The Federals losses here were 171
killed, 1,181 wounded and 187 captured,
Grant was unable to permanently cut
the Boydton Plank Road but found
that the Confederates were barely using
it due to the threat of being raided. The
fighting allowed the Union defenses to
be extended three miles and forced the
Confederates to do the same, even
though they were dangerously near the
breaking point. The only Federal units
to reach the Boydton Plank Road belonged to the cavalry, but in view of the
Confederate response and the discovery
that General Lee was not utilizing this
road to supply his army, they were recalled. Consequently, no effort was
made to hold the Boydton Plank Road,
but the Federals did occupy and fortify
the newly extended line to Hatcher's
Run at a point 3 miles below Burgess'
Mill. Thus, again the Union lines had
been pushed to the west, and, as before,
Lee was forced to lengthen his defenses.
The Petersburg-Richmond front, with
its recent extension, now stretched over
37 miles, and the army holding it had
dwindled through casualties and desertion to approximately 46,000 on March
1, 1865. The relentless extension
around Petersburg, which continued
day by day with the addition of a few
more feet or yards of picket line and
rifle-pits, continued with The Battle at
Hatcher’s Run which was the last significant thrust by the Federal Army to
encircle the city of Petersburg until the
breakthrough of 2 April 1865.
Significant Events
of February 1865
February 1: Illinois became the first
state to ratify the 13th Amendment.
February 3: On the River Queen five
men, US President Abraham Lincoln,
US Secretary of State William Seward,
CS Vice-president Alexander Stephens,
along with John Campbell and R.M.T.
Hunter discuss peace terms at the
Hampton Roads Conference near Fort
(Continued on page 8)
VOLUME 20, ISSUE 11
OUR CAMP JOURNAL
PA GE 5
[Editor’s note: This book contains a
wealth of informative photographs
enabling the reader to research uniforms, arms and event postures during
the American Civil War.]
Photography was invented just
twenty years before the American
Civil War. In many ways the war—its
documentation, its soldiers, its battlefields—was the arena of the camera's
debut in America. "The medium of
photography was very young at the
time the war began but it quickly
emerged into the medium it is today,"
says Jeff Rosenheim, curator of the
exhibition Photography and the
American Civil War , and author of
its accompanying catalogue [book]. "I
think that we are where we are in
photographic history, in cultural history, because of what happened during the Civil War . . . it's the crucible
of American history. The war
changed the idea of what individual
freedom meant; we abolished slavery,
we unified our country, we did all
those things, but with some really
interesting new tools, one of which
was photography."
To use the bayonet as a frying pan handle for a canteen half, fix a "U" shaped wire to the
side where the canteen spout would have nestled in to. The wire slips over the bayonet
locking ring and the socket face against the pan. It holds pretty sturdy.
As the catalogue discusses, photography served many purposes during
the war. It was used to promote abolition; as propaganda for both the
northern and southern causes; as an
important tool in the creation of Lincoln's public persona and career; as
well as for reconnaissance and tactical observation. The Civil War also
marks the beginning of photojournalism as we understand it today. Photographers in the field who worked
for name-brand studios like those of
Mathew B. Brady and Alexander
Gardner can be understood as the first
embedded journalists. In his illuminating text, Rosenheim posits that
Brady and the many others who made
the photography of war their business
came to understand the social responsibility that was part of their art, the
responsibility the camera gave them.
"The Civil War created an incredible
(Continued on page 6)
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OUR CAMP JOURNAL
VOLUME 20 ISSUE 11
(Continued from page 3)
and death abounded and spread easily.
(Continued from page 5)
demand for photography. It was used by
the Union and Confederate armies and
of course by regular Americans who
wanted photographs of their family
time of great democratic change," says
Rosenheim. By 1863, thousands of people could afford to buy and commission
photographs. "To see a photograph of
yourself gave people a sense of their
However bad the weather, boredom
was an ever-present problem. Commanders and soldiers alike
tried to establish regular activity and
work to break the monotony. Drilling,
camp up-keep, religious services, letter
writing, card games, storytelling, and
even the occasional snow ball fight
were all part of camp life.
Despite the best efforts of their officers, or lack thereof, many soldiers
strayed to less desirable activities.
As the war progressed winter encampments displayed the resources available
to each army. The Confederacy began to
run low on supplies and food, and their
camps suffered while Union might,
supplies, and transportation facilitated
more comfortable winter for its soldiers.
When the spring arrived, soldiers
gathered their belongings including
their canvasses and marched away.
However, remnants of the camp remained and in some cases, soldiers saw
their old camp again.
Confederate Corporal (?) with British Rifle Musket and Bowie
memKnife,
Likely from Georgia, 1861–62 (?), Sixth-plate ambrotype individuality."
bers
heading with applied color. David Wynn Vaughn Collection; Unknown
artist, Private James House, Sixteenth Georgia Cavalry BattalIn his planinto
ion, Army of Tennessee, 1861–62 (?). Sixth-plate ruby glass
ning
for the
danger, ambrotype. David Wynn Vaughn Collection
exhibition and
and of
book, Rosenthe
heim
scoured
records
from
photography
battle scenes themselves," Rosenheim
historians and from Civil War specialexplains. "It's hard to imagine the paists, the military, newspapers, the Lithos of people buying photographs of
brary of Congress, and websites develbattlefields and slaughter and meticuoped by individuals simply uploading
lously inserting the prints into photogfamily portraits. "All of this incredible
raphy portrait albums. But this was
information is coming together on the
happening on a mass scale. I think
Web—enlistment records, photographs
there may have been a superstitious
with rare period inscriptions on the
element to it. Families may have felt
verso, scans of newspaper engravings—
that if they could put pictures of their
and now in many cases we are able to
brothers, sons, husbands into an alput together who made the photobum—to contain their likenesses in
graphs, where and when they were
some way—that they could stop their
made, and who or what regiment is
death." As the catalogue discusses, most
depicted. Every day something new is
stationers and portrait galleries—and
added to the digital universe, be it a
there were many—were in business to
new name in a government database, or
accommodate soldiers' needs. People
the discovery of a single photograph
were dying so quickly, families wanted
from someone's attic."
something to hold on to. This tremendous demand galvanized a rapid advancement in camera technology in the
Civil War years, allowing for easier
and cheaper photography. "This was a
VO LUME 20 , ISS UE 11
The 7th Maryland held their company
meeting in January; and now the civilians of the 7th Maryland plan to meet in
February. We have much to discuss and
plan for to get ready for this coming
year, and some of the preliminary discussions have started in preparation for
the meeting.
One of the first things on the agenda
will be the logo for our recently formed
Parlor Soldiers (and no, the name is
not any reference to ladies of the
night). We’ve
been using a
logo on our
food labels, and
would like to
branch out and
advertise ourselves a little
more. We’ll be
playing around
with and discussing possibilities for the
logo and name
design, as well
as our ‘other’
name of Historians of Dubious Sanity. We
would like to be
able to incorporate all of this
information in
order to advertise ourselves
and get our
mission further
out into the
community.
This discussion will lead into attempting to copyright our final product, so
that we can utilize our Facebook pages
and other websites to share even more.
We will also start planning for
Marching thru Time; though this is not
a company event this year, it is still a
highly suggested individual event. Part
of the civilians attended MTT last year,
in conjunction with the South Mountain event, as our first appearance as a
sutler, where we were able to raise more
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money towards our final goal. We’ve
learned the trick to MTT – low cost
baked goods that involve chocolate.
What we like to do is something of a
baked goods walk through the centuries; this allows us to bake items from
the 1700s to 1950s, matching the theme
of MTT. This year we’re looking forward to doing this again, and possibly
even expanding into other ideas. More
information on those possibilities will
come later.
Funkstown is also discussed during
this meeting.
Though this
event has
become easy
for us to prepare for, we
still like to
cover all of
our bases and
make sure we
won’t have
any surprises
for the event.
This is an
event where
we can
branch out
from baked
goods and
sell handmade wares;
the sutlers at
the event
enjoy buying
our wares
from us, and
we will not
argue with
that.
Mail call is another agenda item for
the meeting. Several years ago we were
able to have a mail call, and we’ve been
trying since then with little success (for
multiple reasons). So we’re going to give
it another try this year, and hope that
it’ll turn out better.
At our meetings, we also take a look
at the rest of the 7th MD event calendar
and plan out activities for each event.
PAGE 7
We usually have
the tendency of
aiming high and
planning several
different things
Miss Sarah Harris
for each event, in
Civilian
the hopes that at
Coordinator
least a few of
those plans will actually happen. One
of the activities we will be discussing is
holding a sewing circle to work on our
Parlor Soldiers banner. And, we would
love to plan some activities that would
parallel the activities being held for
soldiers during events.
If you would like to join our meeting,
please do so! We will be meeting on
February 8; you can get in touch with
me for further information if you’re
interested.
On a more personal note, I will be
having surgery sometime in February to
repair a torn meniscus and ACL in my
right knee (yeah, I know, I’m really
good at tearing stuff). I’m remaining
optimistic though, because from what
I’m being told, it will be a shorter recovery time than a torn Achilles tendon. If all goes well, I will be out of
any major braces by the first big event,
and can come up with a good story to
explain any limp I might have out on
the field. (And, of course, I’ll be good to
go for the wedding, I already checked
on that).
I’m really looking forward to this
year, and I hope everyone else is too.
There are some exciting events planned,
but we have the opportunity to make
them even better.
(Continued from page 1)
season, and thank you for your
commitment and dedication. And
thank you for the votes to re-elect
me as President of the organization
for another term, I appreciate your
confidence and I hope to live up to
your expectations. And, of course, a
big thank you to the civilian contingent for your continued hard
work and planning that drives
fundraising efforts to replace the
Regimental Colors, and that helps
make camp life that much more
enjoyable.
Civil War Re-enactors;
America’s Living Historians.
This season will provide us with
most of our old favorite events,
along with some opportunities for
something new and different. Have
a look at the schedule and begin
your planning to attend all that
you can, the more the merrier as we
continue to build on the accomplishments of the 7th and the FVB.
February 17: Sherman captures Columbia. The city is burned, but responsibility for the blaze is still a "hotly"
disputed topic. Charleston is evacuated.
We need you in the ranks. Please
remember to check in with the Secretary/Treasurer to be sure your member account is in good standing, and
that you are providing sufficient
funds for your event registrations.
There are some interesting events
listed as “individual” on the schedule
for this season, please talk with your
pards to see who may be interested in
teaming up for those. There seems to
be particular interest around the
FVB for Bentonville, NC in March.
That’s a long road trip, but offers to
be a memorable experience for those
adventurous enough to make the
journey.
In closing, I invite anyone with an
interest in Civil War Reenacting to
come and visit with the 7th MD at
any drill or any event. Come see history from another perspective. To my
comrades of the 7th, get your kits
ready, we’ll be on the field again very
soon. Stay well, and travel safely.
Monroe. The conference was a failure.
February 18: Charleston is surrendered.
ton, North Carolina. General Robert E.
Lee appoints Joe Johnston as commander of the only other effective
fighting force in what remains of the
Confederate States of America, in
North Carolina. Voters approve a new
constitution, including the abolition of
slavery, in Tennessee.
February 5: Battle of Hatchers Run
(Petersburg) Virginia.
February 20: The Confederates House
of Representatives passed a bill authorizing the use of slaves as soldiers.
February 25: Joe Johnston assumes
command of the Confederate Army in
North Carolina.
February 6: John C. Breckinridge
becomes Confederate Secretary of War.
February 21: A sign of the divided
opinion within the Confederacy: the
Senate postponed a debate on whether
the Confederacy should use slaves as
soldiers.
February 27: Union troops started a
major move up the Shenandoah Valley.
10,000 Union cavalry advanced against
severely depleted Confederate units.
(Continued from page 4)
February 7: Lee’s men drove back Union troops at Boydton Plank Road but
by now he only had 46,000 men to defend 37 miles of trenches – about 1200
men per mile.
February 9: Jefferson Davis offered an
amnesty to anyone who deserted the
Confederate Army as long as they returned to their regiment within 30
days.
February 11: Sherman cut off Augusta
(Georgia) from Charleston by cutting
the Augusta-Georgia railway. One of
the Confederates few remaining armies
was based in Charleston and it was in
danger of being surrounded.
February 22: Following a bombardment by gunboats under the command
of Rear Admiral David Porter, William T. Sherman captures Wilming-
February 28: One of the Union cavalry
divisions in the Shenandoah Valley was
commanded by George Armstrong Custer.
Admiral Porter's
boats removing
torpedoes and
buoying the
channel in Cape
Fear River .