More "Farbs" of the GAR

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Before the last forum crash there was a thread about a GAR encampment in western New York in 1884 that really seemed to imply that these encampments, if held today, would be sneered at by "authentic" reenactors. Below is another newspaper account of another western New York encampment that lends a similar view. Enjoy!

*****

From: The Buffalo Express – Monday Morning August 27, 1886

VETERANS IN CAMP
How the G.A.R. Comrades are enjoying
Themselves at North Collins

The fourth annual encampment of Western New York began at Camp Weber, Hemlock Hall, North Collins, yesterday and will conclude tomorrow. It is under the auspices of Ayer, Noyes, Darby and Swift posts, with the assistance of several visiting posts and military organizations. Several Chautauqua posts have accepted invitations for today and will be _____ armed and equipped. Other posts will visit the encampment tomorrow.

The program will be varied each day and will consist of sham battles, drills, parades, reviews, court martial, hanging spies, shooting deserters, camp _____, and all the varied incidents of army life reenacted by those who were actors in the great drama of 1861-65. Reduced rates have been secured on the Buffalo & Southwestern to North Collins. A cordial invitation is extended to all to enjoy one or more days of camp life with the veterans. Refreshments on the grounds. No blanket tossing allowed.

The camp is in command of Comrade J. L. Walker of Gowanda, Wayne White of Hamburg being senior vice commander, A. S. Parker of North Collins junior vice commander, George Carr of Angola Adjutant, H. A. Smith of North Collins Quartermaster, H. M. Blasdell of Blasdell sergeant-major, E. Smith of North Collins quartermaster sergeant, J. J. Keyes of Hamburg chaplin, Dr. J. G. Thompson of Angola chief of staff, with Silas Arnold of Gowanda, Enos Hibbard of North Collins, and W. W. Grace of Elma aides, and C. E. Haviland of Hamburg as judge advocate. Music is furnished by the Pine Valley Drum Corps of Juveniles, well drilled and tastefully attired in blue.

A well executed drill in skirmish tactics with blank cartridge and firing by the firing squad occupied the morning yesterday. Following the hour for dinner and entertainment of the S. C. Noyes Post Ladies Relief Corps, speeches were made by Maj. Geo. H. Stowite(?) of Buffalo and C. E. Haviland of Hamburg. The entertainment furnished by the Ladies Relief Corps of S. C. Noyes Post, North Collins, consisted of music, singing, and recitations. On Friday, James Ayers Ladies Relief Corps will give an hour entertainment of similar character. On Friday and Saturday, an exhibition of bayonet exercise will be held under the direction of W. W. Grace of Elma, a Comrade of the 116th Regiment.

The location of the camp is all that could be desired for the exercises. The attendance is large. The camp is formed on three sides of a square, and the tents are the homes of the comrades and their families for the entire week. The ground is dry and in the shade of the magnificent oaks that tower from the center of the camp is agreeable to all within its reach. The administration of the camp is in the hands of intelligent men, and good order is the rule. Among the visitors yesterday was Surrogate Steve of this city, and ere the close of the week many hundreds will recreate in the welcome abode of the grand old oaks of the camp of the G.A.R. of North Collins.

[Kevin O'Beirne]

In the interest of repopulating the forum, below are the accounts originally posted here a year or more ago, about an 1884 GAR encampment in the same town.

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Over the years many reenactors have complained about the inauthentic (“farby”) aspects of many “typical” reenactments. Modern reenactments include things that are “abominations” to hardcore campaigners, like modern food vendors, women in the “military” camps, yahoos stealing battalion flags in the night, events that propose to reenact the biggest battles of the Civil War with a very modest number of participants, the infamous Indian seen at some mainstream Civil War events in recent years, over-hyping of events that promise much more than they can ever hope to deliver, and other general lunacy. Some reenactors who are appalled at these things even disgustedly note that the “old vets would be spinning in their graves if they could see all this farbiness!”

But would the Boys of 1861-1865 really have felt that way about a modern reenactment?

Perhaps a partial answer can be found in the way Civil War veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) staged their own reenactments during their annual encampments. Below are two newspaper accounts of a G.A.R. encampment/reenactment held near my home, the town of North Collins in western New York State, in 1884. These accounts provide insight into the way Civil War veterans re-created their own actions, and are pretty amusing reading, too.

* * * *

G.A.R. Encampment

The annual encampment of the G.A.R. of Western New York and Pennsylvania, under the auspices of [the] Ayer, Noyes and Barbee [GAR] Posts will be held at Stickney's Grove, North Collins, August 25th, 26th, and 27th [1884].

The camp is located in one of the beautiful maple groves in Western New York, on high ground, sightly and cool; a fine well and spring supplying [an] abundance of purest water. The grove overlooks a large field on which will be reenacted daily sham battles, representing some of the great battles of the war, company and battalion drills, guard mounting, dress parade, and reviews, hanging spies, shooting deserters, etc. In camp there will be daily court martials, drumming out contrabands coming in, war songs, surgeon's call, and all the incidents of army life truthfully reproduced. Fun from morning to morning again. [The play] "The Spy of Atlanta" will be produced each evening under the auspices of Jos. Ayer Post which established an enviable reputation in [staging] this great war drama, after which will be a night attack on the camp.

A band of Cattaraugus braves [a western New York Indian tribe] in war costume will surprise and capture the camp on Tuesday night and burn the prisoners to the stake amid the reveries of the war dance. Distinguished citizens, military and civic, have agreed to be present, and good speaking may be expected every day.

The Angola [N.Y.] silver cornet band will be present constantly and furnish music.

The camp will be conducted under the strictest military discipline and no rioting or disorderly conduct will be allowed on the grounds.

Refreshments will be served to all who desire by Mr. Stickney, and his reputation for setting a good table is well established.

Those desiring to remain through the encampment can secure tents of the quartermaster Gen. Carr, Derby, N.Y. if application is made soon.

A museum of war relics will be established on the ground.

Turn out and have a good time and give the G.A.R. boys a benefit.

Fall in when the bugle sounds.

All G.A.R. posts in Western New York and Pennsylvania are cordially invited to participate with us.

All military companies in this vicinity will be welcomed heartily and given a good place in line.

For special information address:

J.G. Thompson, Commander,
Angola, N.Y.
Geo. Davis, Adjutant
North Collins, N.Y.

* * * *

The Indian raid probably resulted from the fact that the encampment site was only a few miles from the boundary of the Seneca Indians’ large Cattaraugus reservation; certainly it cannot be concluded that the “average” G.A.R. encampment featured an Indian raid!
The following is a post-encampment account of the reenactment “advertised” above:

* * * *

To the G.A.R.
---
From S. C. Noyes Relief Corps, No. 22
North Collins, N.Y.
---
Written by Emma Train, Secretary W. R.C.,
Expressly for the “Duke of Yorkshire”
---
Brothers: You who did not falter,
In our country‘s darkest hour,
Risking life at freedom’s altar,
Wrestling truth from tyrants power;
Bringing joy and peace and plenty
Out of darkness, want and woe,
To the dismal, noisome prison,
Causing streams of light to flow.

Saving all we love and cherish,
Crowning freedom pure and grand,
Bidding slavery to perish
From the borders of our land;
We would offer you our greeting,
‘Neath our country’s sacred skies
Clasp your hand, all brown from duty
But pure with holy sacrifice.

You who stemmed the tide of battle,
‘Mid the billows of the fight;
You who ‘neath the muskets rattle
Stood a bulwark for the right;
You who never shirked a duty
In the thickest of the fray,
Hark! I hear our country calling,
She has need of you to-day.

Guard the jewell that you fought for
Through the dark and bloody years;
Guard the honors that you fought for
‘Neath a cloud of mortal fears;
Board the halls and courts of justice,
Every human right defend;
He, the leader of our nation,
E’er should be the soldiers friend.

We your sisters stand beside you
‘Mid your hopes and joys and cares;
Striving in the right to guide you
By the strength of earnest prayers,
Reaching out our hands to aid you,

When you falter by the way’;
Bringing you some needed comfort
All your valor to repay.

True as when by war surrounded
In those gloomy days gone by,
Caring for the sick and wounded,
List’ning to the sufferers sigh,
Moistening the lips so fevered,
Wiping death damp from the brow;
With a love as pure and holy
We are working for you now.

Ours to aid the weak and weary;
Ours to help the poor and sad;
Ours to lighten burdens dreary,
Ours to make the orphan glad.
For this, our brothers, are we banded
O’er our land from sea to sea;
Working neath our starry banner
For those who fought our land to free.

Proud are we of the relation
Which we bear the army grand.
Soldiers of our mighty nation,
We are with you hand in hand.
And when our country sings its anthem
For its heroes, tried and true,
May it add a note of honor
For its loyal women too.

G.A.R. Encampment at North Collins

The rain of Friday somewhat interfered with the arrangement, yet Swift Post number 440, of Hamburg arrived and were well received by the organization on the ground. Some after dinner speeches were made by Leroy S. Oatman, Rev. J. J. Keyes, C.E. Haviland, S.M. Stuart and others. The program for the day was as follows: Reception visiting posts, surgeon’s call, guard mounting, company drill, court martial, address, etc., dinner, battalion drill and re-union, sham battle, dress parade. The attendance in the afternoon was good and in the evening it was largely increased. The citizens captured the cannon at the fort by surprise. The Ladies’ Relief Corps captured the flag and marched off with it in triumph. There were fireworks, firing of cannons, a hop and a general good time in the evening. On Saturday the cloud cleared away the sun shone out and it was one of the lovilest of days, the Jamestown post arrived in full force and were met by the Angola band at the depot and escorted to the camp. The Indian band arrived in the afternoon. There was an attendance, estimated at 3,500 and great enthusiasm. The sham battle of Fair Oaks being greatly enjoyed by all. The Ladies Relief Corps had a drill and dress parade, Leroy S. Oatman acting as special aid for the occasion. The proceeding of the four days were one grand and continued success, a happy re-union of veterans and a very enjoyable time to the hundreds of visitors. The Angola Band was in attendance during the encampment, and it is safe to say that they are one of the very best in the county.

* * * *

That the rather silly report on the encampment was preceded by a patriotic poem aptly illustrates that the people involved in the encampment and the local press took very seriously the role played by Civil War soldiers and their sacrifices.

While these accounts are from a single G.A.R. encampment and should not be construed as being indicative of all such events staged by Civil War veterans, they reflect that, like many modern reenactments, the veterans placed a greater emphasis on having a good time together than serious re-creations of history.

[Pvt_6thnhvi]

Kevin,

Intersting post. Saw a comment that got my attention. "No blanket tossing allowed" Wonder what that means?

YHS
R.C.Tarbox

[WestTN_reb]

Blanket tossing where I come from is that thing kids do where you get a big blanket, put people on all four corners, and find some poor sucker to sit in the middle. Then, the people on the corners snap the blanket taut, hurling the poor lamb in the middle high into the air.

[Mrs. Buttrick]

Milwaukee had high expectations for the GAR Reunion of 1880 and issued a warning to chickens. Excerpt from the Milwaukee Sentinel, May 23, 1880:

PRECAUTIONARY CHICKENS
Many of the old boys will recognize the application of the above caricature [attached] to experiences of their own during the dark days of the war. And the order by "Old Tecump," suspended from the tree, has a familiar ring to it, too. Many of Uncle Billy's boys will vouch for it that they oftentimes a pullet or a shoot on the sly, that would have been wanting if they marched under any other banner. Not to subsist on the enemies' country may be all fine enough preaching, but it's a hard lesson to teach to tired and dusty and hungry soldier boys. That the chickens in and about Milwaukee will be closely coralled and well watched after, no one needs doubt. They will be valuable chattels during soldiers' week.…


The Re-union
Will commence June 7th.
Gen. Grant will be here.
So will Uncle Billy Sherman.
And Phil Sheridan from "eighty miles away."
So will one hundred other prominent Union Generals.
There will be no fatigue duty--except for reporters.
The liberty pole will be the tallest in the United States.
Some of the boys intend to furnish their tents luxuriously.
Four or five extra steams will bring visitors from Chicago.
Tangle McCracken will relate funny scenes at Castle Thunder.
Perhaps the boys will miss the old-time salt horse and hard tack.
"The drummer boy of the Rappahannock: will beat the long roll.
Poets, orators, ballad singers, all will commemorate the re-union.
The boys will come in tight marching order and "subsist on the country."
It will not be $2 for a canteen full--and no order on the commissary is necessary.
No matter how mature your eggs are--bring them along. They will do to settle the coffee.
Old cavalrymen needn't bring shears in their haversacks. No unbranded horses can be captured.
One butcher has manufactured two thousand pounds of link sausages for the boys to digest.
Gen. J.C. Starkweather will shout orders from Grand Avenue hill that will be heard at West Point.
It won't be very hard work to "run the guard" at the camp, but there are some sharp pickets at the toll gate.
Every veteran who attends the Re-union is expected to perform "escort duty" for his wife or sister, or somebody else's sister.
Farmer soldiers will do well to come armed with a bushel of beans apiece. Beans will be at a premium before the boys go home.

He was tired of parading
Through wet and cowld wading,

"Or waiting all night to be shot in a trench."

"John Brown's Body" will be rendered by the 24th Regiment as they sang it marching down Main street in those agonising slavery days. "Step up and get your quinine" used to be a favorite song. "Slide up and draw your bean soup" will be the refrain during the re-union.

Old Camp Reno will be looked for in vain by the boys who rendezvoused there in '62. Palatial residences occupy the site of the former tented field.

Though thousands of volunteers live, to the honor of American soldiery, be it said that the living count not cowards, and the dead fell with their face to the foe.

Who will not fight, but runs away,
Will live to fight another day;
But he who's in the battle slain,
Will never live to fight again.

Gen. Adam G. Malloy, who commanded the 17th Wisconsin Volunteers in the War, is now a resident in the South, and may visit his old camping grounds during the Re-union.

There are some inviting fences in the neighborhood of the camp--but fortunately it will be warm weather. However, the boys might want fire, just for the excitement of "drawing" the fuel.

Napoleon decorated Marshal Ney, calling him "the bravest of the brave." Well might thousands of American soldiers be designated in like manner, for gallant deeds upon many a well-fought field of battle.

In "Camp Peaceful" now we lie,
Singing songs and drinking rye,
While we talk about the war of long ago.
And the tears came to our eyes,
While the June bugs and the flies
Gather round to hear us tell of what we know.…

The Irish soldier in the continental service furnishes an example of the good natured warrior fighting and singing betimes, having but one hope uppermost, that he might return to his Nora to enjoy the good cheer of his old home once again, and meet the friends of his earlier days.

Like the "Soldier of the Legion, who lay dying in Algiers," many, aye, many, brave men died where the waves of the Potomac sang their only requiem. Many essaeyed to gain the heights of Frederickburg whose ashes now mingle with the dust, but all are hallowed in our memory of memories, and their records shall be forever bright green.

Though precisely the same spirit may not imbue those who come to the Grand Re-union, all will come with spirits bouyant and hopes aroused that amny friends will meet to renew old time friendships in the stormy days of war. This sentiment is strong with the soldier--making the meeting appear in a sense, as a grand family gathering, at which

The friends or old shall meet,
And kindly speak once more
Of braves, in battle's heat,
Who've crossed the mystic shore.

[ScottCross]

Blanket tossing was a very popular hazing ritual/practicle joke used during the Civil War. There's a good account of it in "Sy Klegg and his Pard Shorty". We've done this and actually launched a person about 20 feet in the air! Turnabout is fair play, and I got tossed at an event at Lookout Mountain.

"I can see your house from here!"

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Milwaukee had high expectations for the GAR Reunion of 1880

Very good stuff, and thanks for sharing it! Sounds pretty similar in many ways to the western New York reunions posted above.

Years ago some of us used to sit around campfires, sneer at the large A-tents and cots used by others in our then-battalion, and smugly assert to each other, "The boys of '61-65 would laugh their butts off if they saw this!" Fact is, the more I read about GAR reunions, the more I'm starting to think that the old vets would feel somewhat at home at the typical mainstream reenactment... at least parts of it. I would hazard a guess that drill by the vets was better than what one sees at many events today.

Still, much has remained the same, with spacious accomodations (big tents) with a lot of homey comforts, and stuff many of us "campaigners" consider goofy, like night raids on the general's tent, Indian attacks, women stealing flags, and "hundreds of generals".

Of course, I'll submit that reenacting Civil War battles/events is diferent than reenacting GAR encampments...

[John Pellarin]

Scott,

I do beleive you had a good look at Missionary Ridge when we tossed you up in that blanket that time!

John Pellarin

[tomarch]

Sooooo.... If you re-named a mainstream event as an authentic re-creation of an 1880 GAR encampment.... that would make said mainstreamers Cutting Edge Hardcore Authentic??

[westcoastcampaigner]

Blanket tossing can be a lot of fun until the lads on the corners throw you too high and said blanket is too weak in the center to hold your weight upon re-entry. My tailbone still hurts.

Josh Sawyer
Liberty Rifles