28th New York - 2007 Review

With the reenacting season approaching rapidly, the 28th New York (and a few Confederate friends) converged on Groveland, NY for our annual April drill. The cold and damp weather did not prevent certain individuals turning up in shorts but apart from that it was full gear and ponchos to help stay dry.

At first rusty, following the winter break, we eventually managed to get through the drill to a point that we felt satisfied in our ability to take the field the following weekend at Elmira.

Elmira - May 4th-6th

The weekend after the spring drill we travelled to Newtown Battlefield for the Ben Newton Memorial Civil War Weekend, on the hills around Elmira. Spring had arrived during the previous week and the first leaves were appearing on the trees.

The "field" at Elmira is an interesting battlefield; We fight along a long narrow heavily wooded area with the crowd on one side and a drop-off on the other. As a result the field is somewhat limited with regards to movement and the thick brush does not leave much room for tactical maneuvering.

This battlefield would probably be quite close in appearance to The Wilderness and would explain why military organization and command at the battle there broke down.

The Union Line fighting through the trees at Newtown Battlefield, Elmira, NY

However, despite the limitations regarding the battleground, the battles went well. The 28th was on the extreme right of the Union line, away from the crowd, for both battles and performed well on both occasions.

Letchworth State Park - May 18th-20th

The Fire on the Genessee event this year saw the Union Army outnumbered by about 3 to 1. The 28th made up the majority of the Union forces present on the field.

The camp was located at Highbanks Recreation Area by the dam and overlooking the gorge itself. On Sunday morning the rumble of artillery could be heard rolling down the gorge as the Union Artillery put on a firing display.

Saturday was a complete Union rout. Hugely outnumbered we were forced back and annihilated on the breastworks.

Sunday however was a different story. Unlike the previous days battle, we drove the Confederates back with huge casualties... The lack of Union casualties had many of us convinced that the Confederates simply can't shoot straight. :-)

Memorial Day Weekend - May 27th-28th

Memorial Day started for the 28th New York on Sunday May 27th with a parade through Newark, NY to the war memorial in the center of the town.

In previous years the American Civil War reenactors in the parade involvement ended after the parade, however, this year, as a result of only a small number of VFW members turning up, we were asked to join in with the honor guard.

On Memorial Day itself we had a very busy schedule. We had three official ceremonies to carry out across Rochester. Firstly at Holy Sepulchre, then down to the small Rapids Cemetery and finally to Mount Hope.

After the final service at Mount Hope the members of the 28th had one final task to perform. We had found three members of the original 28th buried at Mount Hope away from the GAR plot and we managed to find two of the three. Selah P Quick (Sgt, Co.E) and William Kenyon (Lt, Co.G) were both located. We believe that we found where the third person, Captain Charles Fenn of Company F, is buried, however, he has no stone to mark his resting place.

Heritage Square - June 1st-3rd

Our event at Heritage Square in Ontario Center, NY. In conjunction with the Heritage Square Comittee we have spent several years developing the event at Heritage Square including clearing a large area of woodland to provide an area for campaign camping, building a bridge across the creek and providing manual labor assistance where required.

The newly installed train depot is starting to look good and weekend passed mostly without any issues. The heat and humidity caused a few problems on the field though.

As 2007 is the 145th anniversary of the Shenandoah Campaign, the battles on Saturday and Sunday were designed to represent the battle of Cedar Mountain (August 9th 1962) where the 28th NY suffered serious casualties.

During Cedar Mountain the 28th advanced through the Confederate lines and was flanked by Confederate reinforcements. To represent this at Heritage Square, the 28th attacked across the bridge and was cut off when the bridge was taken. We suffered heavy losses and eventually surrendered, losing our flag in the process.

After the Saturday battle there was a civil war era dance and infantry night firing.

Night firing at Heritage Square

Ontario Bicentenary Parade - June 16th

The 28th New York was invited to participate in the parade by the Daughters Of Union Veterans of the Civil War (DUVCW). Congratulations go out to the Daughers, who won the competition for the best float in the parade.

Marching 2 miles along the middle of the tarmaced road in dark wool uniforms, dark hat, with a gun on your shoulder and trying to stay in step on a stunningly hot day might not sound like fun the most people... and you'd be right! We got free slushies from a garage on the way back though, so that made it all worth while. :-)

The parade had, quite possibly, the most participants that I have ever seen. We were a good distance from the front, completed the parade and were able to walk most of the way back to the start point before we passed the last floats.

Middlesex Conservation Club - June 23rd-24th

In late June the 28th New York had a living history weekend at the Middlesex Conservation Club in Yates County. Along with the 28th New York,the Sons of Union Veterans was there and pancake breakfast was provided by the event organisers.

Our hosts were very pleased with our presence and the response from the public, we look forward to a repeat of our visit next year.

Gettysburg - July 6th-8th

A contingent of the 28th New York travelled the 350 miles down to Gettysburg, PA, for the 144th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

We fought three battles in total and had plenty of free time to do the sights of Gettysburg.

The 28th New York on Little Round Top by the 20th Maine Monument

On the field we found ourselves in a battalion with a number of people who we have fought with on several occasions before at Elmira, Letchworth and Hamlin Beach.

As with any instance where a number of different regiments are mixed together, the usual differences with regards to interpretation of the drill manual surfaced. However, by Sunday everyone knew what was expected of them and we presented a solid force on the field.

Their were about 3,000 reenactors on the field and the battles themselves went well.

On Friday we were the reserve battalion, supposed to represent the staggered arrival of Federal soldiers coming into line on the first day of the battle.

Saturday saw us take the role of the advance division occupying the Peach Orchard and facing the main advance against the left of the Union Line. At one point, as a result of being completely outnumbered, our company was split up as single platoons facing entire Confederate Battalions. We were outflanked by several hundred Confederates and our company suffered almost complete losses before the battalion was forced to withdraw. However, with the arrival of Federal reinforcements the Confederates were forced to pull back and were driven from the field by the superior Union army.

Sunday was Picketts Charge. Our company took up position on the extreme left of the Union line and was ordered to lie down behind the stone wall.

Looking over the stone wall, waiting for Picketts Charge on Sunday

As the Confederate battalions came up they were shot down. Soon the field was littered with casualties and our battalion was ordered over the wall to flank the remaining Rebels. After a short sharp fire fight, the Confederates began to break and withdrew.

Festival in the Park, Walworth, NY - July 19th-21th

After the gap in events from early June through to end of July, the 28th New York converged on Walworth in Wayne County, NY for the annual Festival in the Park. For 2007, the festival had a theme of "Walworth in the Civil War".

The 28th was at the event with the Friends of Walworth Library. The Friends had a float in the parade where a member of our regiment (Megan) read Uncle Toms Cabin to the children on the float. They were followed by the military line firing the occasional volley. Congratulations go out to the Friends of Walworth Library for winning the competition for the best float and appearance in the parade!

After the parade the rest of the weekend was taken up with the living history encampment and a number of small drill sessions and firing demonstrations carried out throughout the weekend.

Harborfest @ Fort Ontario, Oswego, NY - July 27th-29th

For the last weekend in July the 28th New York was invited to Oswego to garrison Fort Ontario during the weekend of Harborfest. During Harborfest the towns population increases by over 300,000 people and we were camping inside the walls of the fort. The fort itself stands where it has been located for over 200 years, overlooking the port inlet and town of Oswego itself.

Throughout Saturday and Sunday we posted guards and pickets on the gates and walls of the fort and portrayed a garrisoned unit. We also carried out a number of drill sessions and firing displays on the parade ground inside the fort on Saturday and Sunday.

Forming up on the earthworks for drill on Sunday

Throughout the day, a large number of people made their way up to the fort and we were able to watch the fireworks display on Saturday evening.

Erie Canal Village, Rome, NY - August 3rd-5th

For the first weekend in August the 28th New York was at the Erie Canal Village in Rome, New York. For the second year at this event we were required to provide some assistance to the Confederates (they need all the help they can get) and so the 28th New York split during the battles to form the 28th North Carolina.

Fighting around the building at the Erie Canal Village is usually very fast paced and confusing. They never seem to go as plan as either one field commander or the other is always trying to surprise the opposition during the battle. This weekend was no exception.

Saturday started with a tactical. It began when the Confederates ambushed the payroll wagon train and quickly deteriorated into street fighting with the Union and Confederate lines taking cover and moving from building to building as the battle developed.

Later the main battle on Saturday took place with the Union holding the town and Confederates attacking from all sides. The battle started when Union pickets sighted Confederates occupying the train station and quickly developed into a firefight with the entire town coming under attack from the outnumbered Confederates. However, following a gallant defense, and despite the clear numerical advantage, the Union forces were defeated and driven from the town.

Sunday saw a Union counter-attack take place. The Confederate forces were stationed around the town and had received information that the main Union forces were planning on assaulting the town from directly across the river. However, this information was faulty� The main Federal army forded the river to the east of the town with a smaller force crossing to the west and they managed to take elements of the Confederate defenders completely by surprise by appearing en-masse behind the defensive fortifications.

The initial surprise attack resulted in the Confederates being driven back into the town. However, they were able to counter attack along the canal and drove off the initial Union attack. Despite the early attack being pushed back, the significant Union numerical advantage paid off with the towns� defenders being either killed or captured.

Off the field of battle, there was an 1860�s dance in the old Cheese Factory on Saturday night. After the dance it was decided that we needed to have a shotgun wedding between a civilian member of the 28th New York and a young Corporal from the 2nd Rhode Island� This took place despite the apparent lack of consent from either participant.

The "Happy Couple", Bride's Parents and Captains of 2nd RI & 28th NY

Maybe it was the romance of an open-air wedding under the stars, possibly the warm summer evening, perhaps it was the armed guard or the pistol jabbed into his rib cage but the groom did the honorable thing and accepted the young lady as his wife. Young love!

The young couple�s lives went into overdrive after the wedding ceremony as they had a child before the end of the wedding reception.

The Couple and their first-born, Leon

However, the wedding was followed by tragedy as the young Corporal died in battle the following day. It is reported that he died with glory and honor in the face of the enemy� Making a one man unarmed charge while defiantly screaming �Kill me now!�

Hamlin Beach, Hamlin, NY - August 17th-19th

The event at Hamlin Beach, on the banks of Lake Ontario, always attracts a large number of people. This weekend was no exception. The 28th New York was able to field a large number of infantry on each day and we made up the majority of the Union Infantry Battalion.

Camping in the woods next to a sandy beach would, at first suggestion, sound ideal. The sunsets, walks on the sand, swimming in Lake Ontario. Then there is the exception... On friday night we experienced 80MPH winds coming directly off the lake. As a result of only having the loose sandy ground to to staked into, several tents came down during the course of the first night. However, by Saturday morning the wind had dropped and by about 10am the lake was very calm.

Drill, Drill and more Drill... We had a number of new recruits falling in for the first time at Hamlin Beach, some on Saturday and some on Sunday. We spent a large amount of time taking the new people through the drill manual and drilling through a number of issues seen on the field during Saturdays battle.

The Union Infantry Waiting To Fight

On both days the Union forces were outnumbered by about 3 to 1. Saturday saw the Union forces on the defensive and, having suffered huge losses, were driven from the field. However, on Sunday it was a different story... The Union line counter-attacked and drove the numerically superior Confederate forces from the field. Despite heavy losses, the Union forced the Confederates from the field and captured the field artillery.

Taking Casualties On The BattleField

A huge welcome goes out to all of the people who fell in with the 28th New York for the first time this weekend! Sundays battle went especially well, going exactly to plan (believe it or not) and everyone doing their part. The Union Infantry Battalion was outstanding on the field with every maneuver and volley being executed almost perfectly and we received many positive comments from a number of units, both Union and Confederate, who were present at the event. My thanks go out to everyone involved!

Stonetool, Letchworth State Park, NY - August 25th-26th

The Stonetool event at Letchworth is principally a timeline event covering the Americas from the days of the early colonists through the French-Indian Wars, the Revolution, War of 1812 and on to the Civil War.

A number of Civil War reenactors were present at this years event and, with a majority of our people at the event being civilian members of the unit, it gave an opportunity to emphasises the home front and civilian elements during the war.

Within the 28th New York we have a large civilian contingent who portray every aspect of 1860s America. With very few military turning up for this weekend, it was left to our civilians to take the lead in camp.

145th Anniversary of the 136th New York, Letchworth State Park, NY - September 1st

For the second weekend in succession, and the third time this year, the 28th New York was involved in an event at Letchworth State Park.

At the southern end of the park is an area, seperated from the main park, called the Parade Grounds. In 2007, this land is mostly wooded with a single large, open area. However, in 1862, on this land was located a drill field and barrack blocks which housed the men who would eventually be designated as the 130th NYV (1st NY Dragoons) and the 136th NYV.

Marching on the Parade Ground

The recuits were mustered, housed, drilled and trained on this land and each year the decendants of the 136th New York get together on this land to commemorate their ancestors who served the Union with the 136th from 1862 through to 1865. This year being the 145th Anniversary, and September 1st being the date on which the 130th completed their training and set off for the war, reenactors were brought in to represent the event. (The 136th completed their training and left the camp six weeks later)

For this event the 28th New York portrayed part of the 136th. The days events took place to represent the chronological order of events in 1862. As the 130th completed their training first the reenactors representing the 130th marched onto the drill field first. In 1862, before the 130th marched to war an officer of that regiment was married at the camp; This too was represented during the ceremony.

An Officer from the 130th marrying before he
left for the war

Following the marriage, the men of the 136th New York Volunteers marched onto the drill field and joined the 130th New York Volunteers in the ceremonies. Speeches were made by the commanding officers of both regiments.

Captain Darrow of the 28th NY
portraying Lt Col Woods of 136NY

The two regiments then marched off the drill field and, following the placing of a wreath on the monument on the parade ground, fired a 21 gun salute to the men who served with these regiments.

The camp, named Camp Portage, was only used for the duration of the training of the 130th and 136th New York. Following the completion of training the buildings were sold and the camp dismantled. For many years after the war the members of the 136th New York had reunions at the train station only a few miles from the camp from where the regiments were transported to the war and a monument was constructed as a memorial to the regiment.

Batavia Historic Cemetery, Batavia, NY - September 15th-16th

The night conditions at Batavia reminded us all that summer is officially over. Friday night through to Saturday morning was rainy and on Saturday night the temperates dropped to 38F (but at least it was dry).

Batavia cemetery is very nice with a large number of older stones and contains a large number of Civil War veterans who had lived in Batavia prior to the war.

On Saturday ceremonies are carried out to remember two specific people who are buried in the cemetery. Firstly, Philemon Tracy, who was Major of the Confederate 5th Georgia Infantry Regiment who was killed at the Battle of Antietam on Sept 17th 1862. Philemon had no living family in Georgia and, when his Uncle, who lived in Batavia, heard that his nephew had been killed, he brought the body back to Batavia to be reburied. The story is that he put the Confederate Officer into a Union uniform to get his body back through Union lines.

Plaque marking the grave of Philemon Tracy

Secondly, John Martindale, who was a Union General. He served in the army prior to the war but resigned his commission as he was an engineer but was not allowed to be an Officer of Engineers. Following his resignation he became a lawyer in Batavia but, when war broke out in 1861, he rejoined the army and was given the rank of Brigadier-General of Volunteers. He was promoted Major-General before his military career was cut short due to illness. His ailment caused serious problems for John Martindakle who travelled to France for treatment but eventually died in Nice, France in 1881.

The gravestone of General John Martindale

On Saturday evening a candlelight tour took place around the cemetery with a number of scenarios set up for the public to watch. Stations were set up to represent the chronological progression of the war, from the politicians arguing the case for secession through to the soldiers coming home to their loved ones after the Confederate surrender.

On Sunday we had a further ceremony to remember all of the veterans who were buried in the cemetery. Looking around at the number of graves which had been marked with flags earlier in the year you could clearly see the number of military personnel who were buried in the cemetery. One veteran in particular gets special mention for the 28th New York: Private Roswald Coddington of Company F, 28th New York is buried in this cemetery. He was a native of Batavia who volunteered with the regiment as soon as the call for volunteers was made. Unfortunately, he died of disease in March 1862 and was transported back to Batavia for burial.

[Roswell/Roswald Coddington, 28th New York. Link]

Roswell Graham Coddington

Alleghany County Fairgrounds, Angelica, NY - September 21st-23rd

The final official 28th New York Reenactment of 2007 was also the southern most of our official events. The Allegany County Fairgrounds event in Angelica, New York, is a joint Civil War Reenactment & Scout Camporee. Most of the scouts were from Allegany County and Northern Pennsylvania.

The 28th New York had a good number of military personnel present at the event and was, once again, the largest Union infantry regiment present at the event. We had the honor of falling in with other reenactors from the 136th NY (who was the hosting unit), 149th PA, 155th NY, 14th Brooklyn and 43th PA (Bucktails).

On Saturday morning we were awoken early by the gentle tones of a bugle blown at FULL VOLUME RIGHT OUTSIDE OF OUR TENTS!! Following breakfast, which had been provided by the event organizers, we drilled at 8am in preparation for the days activities which were commencing at 9am.

The 28th & 136th New York was organized into two squads one for a scenario teaching drill to the scouts and one showing the scouts the firing procedure. From 9am through to noon, we drilled the scouts in the basic marching principles as well as arms drill and marching in line and column.

For Saturdays battle, so used to being outnumbered by the Confederates, we were surprised to take the field outnumbering the Rebs by a good margin. We kept waiting for the next line of grey to march over the ridge, but it never came. However, despite the Union numerical advantage we were pushed back and, having lost much of our battalion, we withdrew from the battle.

The Union Right Flank on Sunday

Immediately after Saturdays battle, the Scouts were assembled and, under the direction of a number of reenactors had their own battle. Members of the 28th New York were placed in command of three of the Scout companies on the Union side and were involved in a firefight followed by a staggered charge into the massed ranks of Scouts portraying the Confederates.

Saturday was completed with a Civil War style dance.

On Sunday morning the company drilled again and also gave a number of privates an opportunity to take command of the company for a short while. Sundays battle saw the Union Battalion using our numerical advantage to flank the Confederate forces and, despite heavy losses, drove the enemy from the field.

The Union Left Flank on Sunday

143rd Anniversary of Cedar Creek, Middletown, VA - October 19th-21st

As a finale to 2007, members of the 28th New York (along with members of the 136th New York) travelled down to Virginia for the 143rd Anniversary of the Battle of Cedar Creek. For several of the participants it was their first national event and they were not disappointed. There was well over 1000 infantry fighting on either side as well as upwards of 100 mounted cavalry.

The weather was unseasonably warm for the middle of October. 80F was the order of the day on both Saturday and Sunday with the only exception being Saturday night when, as a result of the clear skies during the day, the temperates dropped significantly.

Warming up on Sunday morning

As well as the battles on Saturday and Sunday there was a tactical fought in the early hours of Sunday morning, a civil war era dance on Saturday evening and a large number of displays and demonstrations throughout the course of the weekend.

Saturday was the battle of Cedar Creek. The camp in the center of the battlefield was initially in Union hands, however, the Confederate forces fell upon our position and we were driven back from the camp in disarray. The retreat was very disorderly and our battalion was broken up to the point that we were fighting as individual companies. At some points the Union line was overlapping with other battalions and we were forced to pull back simply due to being squeezed out of the line by other battalions.

The Confederate pressure was relentless and, having taken heavy losses, the Union forces withdrew across the creek and took up a defensive position on the far ridge. However, the arrival of reinforcements changed the situation. The Union army immediately went onto the attack and burst across the creek breaking the lead Confederate battalions. The Confederates line began to waver and they gradually were forced from the field.

One of the Union Battalions during the reenactment

On Sunday we reenacted the battle of Guard Hill. For this battle, the entire battlefield was used to good effect as the battle began with a cavalry line engaged against Union skirmishers. The entire Union infantry column was marched into the battle and deployed in line across the field. As the Confederate cavalry withdrew, the line of Confederate infantry came into view and began pushing the Union line back.

The Union battalions gradually withdrew and reformed a line on a ridge and hill top. However, with the Confederate army pressing forwards along the entire front, the Union was forced to relinquish control of the high ground and withdrew. Huge losses were taken as a result of the accurate Confederate artillery fire and our battalion was decimated attempting to remove one of the enemy batteries from the fight.

The battle was essentially a tie as the Union forces withdrew from the field and the Confederates made little attempt to pursue.

Relaxing in Camp on Sunday before the battle

It was a long drive down to Virginia, but very much worth it. Cedar Creek brought the 2007 reenacting season to a very tidy end.

From a reenacting perspective, 2007 has ended. The schedule will be updated shortly with the preliminary dates for the regular events for the 2008 season. We'll be seeing battle events at Newtown Battlefield, Letchworth State Park, Hamlin Beach, Erie Canal Village, Fort Ontario, Angelica, Gettysburg, Cedar Creek and others on the schedule again next year. I look forward to seeing everyone there next year.