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Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

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  • Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

    We have rec'd preliminary approvals and were just waiting to ensure there would be no conflicts with any significant c/p/h events. We now give you....

    140th Federal Re-Occupation of Ft Sumter LH -- Feb 18-19-20, 2005.

    Note 1: Monday, the 21st of Feb is a federal holiday -- President's Day Monday

    Note 2: this is not a re-enactment of the April 1865 event attended by Rob't Anderson and a cast of thousands when the US government formally took control of Ft Sumter.

    brought to you by the Palmetto Living History Association to benefit Charleston County Civil War battlefield preservation.

    Timeline -- all times approximate at this stage
    - Event start time (time we shove off for Morris Island) - NLT 1600EST, 18 Feb 2005. Point of embarkation TBD. Parking will be available. Gets us aboard Morris Island while there's still enough light to see things. We'll arrange a tour of extant works for those interested. Sunset is around 1800EST that day.

    - overnight Morris Island (shelter halves permitted) - 18 Feb 2005
    (We will fall-in on cached rations, firewood and drinking water)

    - Depart Morris Island for Ft Sumter - 0800EST, 19 Feb 2005

    - Receive Ft Sumter visitors and conduct LH program - 19 Feb 2005 - details TBD

    - Overnight Ft Sumter (sleep in the casemates) - 19 Feb 2005

    - Receive Ft Sumter visitors and conduct LH - 20 Feb 2005

    - Depart Ft Sumter for event starting point - NLT 1600EST, 20 Feb 05.

    - back at the cars - NLT 1700EST, 20 Feb 05.

    Organization and General Information:
    David Chinnis will be in overall command as Major John Hennessy, Co. K, 52 PVI. For more info on the hard-fighting 52d:



    Neill Rose will serve as First Lieutenant H.A. Motte. Maybe one more officer tops, but that's Major Chinnis' call. We'll sort out the NCO's later. Cory Pharr will serve as our bosun and organize the watercraft. We'll probably end up capping attendance at 80, perhaps a little more or less depending on what can be sorted out w/NPS and watercraft.

    It would appear there may be national interest in such an opportuinity. Dare we hope -- a trans-continental, "east meets west" authentic EBUFU? That would be gravy, but the main thing is we'll do our best to provide a super experience, raise bucks to help preserve battlefields (some of which are on islands in Charleston BTW), give the snowbirds a chance to get out of wintry Yankeedom for a weekend, provide something "completely different" from the ordinary re-enacting experience and a chance to follow in the steps, (and strokes) of the men of Co. K, 52 PVI as they crossed from Morris Island to Sumter on 18 Feb 1865 and raised "Old Glory" on the battered ramparts -- then rowed like hell to beat the Navy and some USCT's to Charleston for the honor and glory of being first into the city -- too bad we can't model that last part as well.


    Background
    Charleston and all its fortified places were ordered evacuated by the Confederate military authority with orders to complete the operation by 17 Feb 1865. The rationale was that Sherman would shortly cut-off Charleston from what was left of Confederate territory and the troops in and around Charleston were ordered to link-up w/Joe Johnston's forces to the west. The CS Ft Sumter garrison, which by now were manning what had become essentially an advanced infantry post, ran up a brand-new Confederate national flag and left quietly. The flag was run-up as a bit of a ruse to buy time. On the morning of 18 Feb 1865, Company K of the 52d Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry under the command of Major John Hennessy shoved off in open boats from Cummmings Point at the northernmost tip of Morris Island and rowed over to the abnadoned Ft Sumter. There, they left the boats, and planted their regimental colors on Sumter's parapet, thus returning the US flag to the post where it had not flown since Maj Robert Anderson ran it down almost four years earlier.

    Material Authenticity
    Impression is late-war western Federal, coastal SC forces under Gilmore. Typical authenticity rules and standards will apply, details TBD, but think sack coats and the usual accouterments -- and yes, we'll organize a bulk buy or two if folks want. We'll be well equipped, well-supplied troops as the men of the 52d PVI were. Rifle-muskets, no smooothbores. Hopefully we can have the 52 PVI colors reproduced or perhaps even borrow a good stand of colors from this outfit which may already exist among Keystone State living historians. Our NPS folks tell us the original 52 PVI national colors will likely be on display at Ft Sumter that weekend. Unfortunately, I see no role for civilians at this event. We do know there were a boatload of CS musicians who had not effected their evacuation by the time Hennessy's men arrived at Sumter but we probably wouldn't want to bother with that, unless we chose to take them prisoner and hold them all weekend.

    Event administration
    I'll serve as event administrator, set up the website a bit later and handle registration when the time comes. We will leave Morris Island EXACTLY as we found it -- if not better, packing out all our garbage and we will remove any traces we had ever been there before we depart for Sumter. We will police Sumter prior to our departure Sunday afternoon. We will abide no conduct which could jeopardize the rapport with the Charleston NPS the PLHA is now priviliged to enjoy.

    DISCLAIMERS
    Bottomline, if the Morris Island part becomes a "bridge too far" or otherwise impossible, we go ahead and just spend Friday AND Saturday night on Sumter -- which is still a pretty kewl gig if you've never had the chance. We also need to be able to call an audible from the line of scrimmage if the weather conspires against us. We're okay getting wet on Morris Friday night, but in the unlikely event it is really nasty we'd probably need to punt the MI part. We can weather just about anything on Sumter -- Hurricane "Hugo" drove right over the top of it in 1990 or so I think it was, and she didn't lose a brick -- it flooded pretty good though -- of course who's afraid of a little rainwater?

    Finally, folks need to understand, there can be no buggin' out on this one. Once we get to Morris, the way home is thru Sumter and the only way to conveniently get back to your car before Sunday afternoon after we push off from Folly Island (or James,or even the NPS dock at Moultrie) on Friday will be for bona fide health or other emergencies. Presumably, "late-arrivers" could be accommodated by riding the tourist boat out from Charleston in the first boatload of Sumter visitors Saturday morning, but they'd miss the Morris Island part. They would also be taking a slot from a guy who could have done the whole thing so I'd discourage that. Also, folks who needed to leave early, short of emergency cases, could probably be cleared to depart Sumter on Saturday or Sunday on one of the departing turista galleons, but that takes them back to the city marina and nowhere near where their car is probably parked. All that said, we need healthy folks for this who don't have any potentially emergent issues back home. I know anything can happen, but I'd hate for a guy to take a slot who suddenly needed to split Saturday morning 'cause his Aunt Tillie, who he's well aware had been hanging by a thread for sometime, finally up and died -- know what I mean? We'll have a plan to handle emergencies like we do when we overnight at Sumter, but we don't want to execute that unless it is "no-kidding" required.

    Folks, depending on how the proposed development of Morris island goes, this may be a once in a re-enacting career opportunity.

    For good info on Morris Island, check out: www.morrisisland.org

    Enough for now,

  • #2
    Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

    Here's an interesting little image depicting the actual event.

    Cordially,
    Attached Files

    Comment


    • #3
      Aother view

      Here's more! THe first image is the view from Cummings Point on Morris Island; the second the view from the seaward side of Sumter; the third, an unpublished(?) image of Morris sketched in 1863.
      Attached Files
      [FONT=Franklin Gothic Medium]David Chinnis[/FONT]
      Palmetto Living History Association
      [url]www.morrisisland.org[/url]

      [i]"We have captured one fort--Gregg--and one charnel house--Wagner--and we have built one cemetery, Morris Island. The thousand little sand-hills that in the pale moonlight are a thousand headstones, and the restless ocean waves that roll and break on the whitened beach sing an eternal requiem to the toll-worn gallant dead who sleep beside."

      Clara Barton
      October 11, 1863[/i]

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

        Wow. Can you imagine the emotion those troops must have felt as they sailed up to the place that started it all? Inspired event idea Keith! Think you picked a good weekend as well as so far the main TMD, East and West EBUFU's are in late March-May.
        Soli Deo Gloria
        Doug Cooper

        "The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner

        Please support the CWT at www.civilwar.org

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Aother view

          Here's another image of something else they might have seen. This image from a PLHA event commemorating the 140 Confederate occupation of Ft. Sumter.
          Attached Files
          Bruce Hoover
          Palmetto Living History Assoc.

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

            52d PVI, Co. K muster roll

            Cordially,

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

              Sounds like a good event, thanks for giving us the heads up on this.
              Bob Clayton
              [url=http://www.sykesregulars.org]Co. C, 2nd U.S. Infantry, "Sykes Regulars"[/url]
              Honoring the proud history and traditions of the U.S. Army
              [url=http://home.comcast.net/~coffeeboiler/sykes_pics.htm]Photo Gallery[/url]

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                Great Idea Mr. Bartsch! Woul there be an artillery contingent? Let us not forget Morris Island's purpose. While I know it is impossible to get a nice set of mortar or large cannon for the event, I would be willing to brain storm any other possibilities. If not, then maybe i can rustle up a rifle and accoutrements. Here are some other pics to wet your whistle. You can find a whole lot more on the Library of Congress website.



                Cameron Lippard
                Lazarus Battery
                18th Indiana Light Artillery
                Palmetto Light Artillery
                Attached Files
                Last edited by lazarus; 05-18-2004, 05:40 PM.
                Cameron Lippard
                Iron Grays
                Lazarus Battery
                18th Indiana Light Artillery
                Palmetto Light Artillery

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                  Originally posted by lazarus
                  Great Idea Mr. Bartsch! Woul there be an artillery contingent? Let us not forget Morris Island's purpose. While I know it is impossible to get a nice set of mortar or large cannon for the event, I would be willing to brain storm any other possibilities. If not, then maybe i can rustle up a rifle and accoutrements. Here are some other pics to wet your whistle. You can find a whole lot more on the Library of Congress website.



                  Cameron Lippard
                  Lazarus Battery
                  18th Indiana Light Artillery
                  Palmetto Light Artillery
                  Cameron,

                  Right now its an infantry show. If you read everything above, you know what we're trying to do is re-enact a Pennsylvania company of infantry who were the first Yanks to re-enter Ft Sumter. By this point, I don't even believe there was even any serviceable artillery left on Sumter. I know you still have all that beetle-stomper stuff somewhere and hope you'll plan to be with us. I reckon we can find you a musket somewhere if we must. :wink_smil

                  See you at the Mill!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                    Sure, I didn't think Ft. Sumter had anything left on it, but Morris Island was still serviceable. Anyway, I plan to do my best to get on the roster for this one. See you at the Mill!
                    Cameron Lippard
                    Iron Grays
                    Lazarus Battery
                    18th Indiana Light Artillery
                    Palmetto Light Artillery

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                      Originally posted by lazarus
                      Sure, I didn't think Ft. Sumter had anything left on it, but Morris Island was still serviceable. Anyway, I plan to do my best to get on the roster for this one. See you at the Mill!
                      Probably in the "too hard to do category" to haul one of those big seacoast mortars or 10" Columbiads over to Morris for Friday night. Sure would be cool though. BTW, Looks to be nice and tropical at the Mill this time. Remember the Chickamauga 139 LH? Now where did I put my pith helmet? :wink_smil

                      Cordially,

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                        Keith,

                        Looks like you've taken the model of this years Ft. Moultrie living history, but improved it by replacing a 5 mile hike with a boating expedition. Good show! Plan on seeing me in the ranks.

                        John Christiansen
                        33rd Wisconsin
                        John Christiansen
                        SGLHA
                        PLHA

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                          Originally posted by jchristiansen
                          Keith,

                          Looks like you've taken the model of this years Ft. Moultrie living history, but improved it by replacing a 5 mile hike with a boating expedition. Good show! Plan on seeing me in the ranks.

                          John Christiansen
                          33rd Wisconsin
                          Please, while I appreciate the complements, know that I serve only as humble event administrator. There will be lots of hard work at the point of the spear by the guys who brought you the Ft Moultrie LH...namely Messrs David Chinniss, Neill Rose, Bruce Hoover and many others in the PLHA as well as lots of folks engaged in Charleston County battlefield preservation. Having Cory Pharr on board as "bosun" is a big plus too. It will be as good as we can make it. Glad you're coming!

                          Cordially,

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                            In a bizarre juxtaposition of life, we just came across Bev's images of the NPS workboat loaded with Kabukis, mess gear, firewood, and general purpose supplies idling at the Fort Moultrie dock.

                            Load, drive down, eat cheese covered shrimp-n-grits, drive, park, drive car on dock, unload, dock, load, dock, unload, wait, thump dock with skiff, load, travel, beach, unload, use, beach, load, dock, unload, Gravely, load, travel, unload, use, Gravely, load, travel, unload, dock, load, travel, dock, unload, drive car on dock, load, drive home, unload....snooze. Heck of an event.

                            In 2004, Scott hadn't even upchucked on the Morris Island beach, yet.

                            Charles Heath
                            Last edited by Charles Heath; 08-30-2006, 09:53 AM. Reason: Had to include all that "suffering." Lawd!
                            [B]Charles Heath[/B]
                            [EMAIL="heath9999@aol.com"]heath9999@aol.com[/EMAIL]

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                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Federal Re-occupation of Ft Sumter LH

                              Charles,

                              You forgot about drowning and getting eaten by Sea Monsters.

                              Phil Campbell
                              deck cleat for a day
                              Phil Campbell

                              Comment

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