"At the front [South] edge of the corn-field was a low Virginia rail fence. Before the corn were open fields, beyond which was a strip of woods surrounding a little church, the Dunkard church. As we appeared at the edge of the corn, a long line of men in butternut and gray rose up from the ground. Simultaneously, the hostile battle lines opened a tremendous fire upon each other. Men . . . were knocked out of the ranks by dozens. But we jumped over the fence, and pushed on, loading, firing, and shouting as we advanced. There was . . . great hysterical excitement, eagerness to go forward, and a reckless disregard of life, of everything but victory. . . .
Men…are fused into a common mass, in the frantic struggle to shoot fast. Every body tears cartridges, loads, passes guns, or shoots. Men are falling in their places or running back into the corn. The soldier who is shooting is furious in his energy. The soldier who is shot looks around for help with an imploring agony of death on his face. . . . The men are loading and firing with demoniacal fury and shouting and laughing hysterically, and the whole field before us is covered with rebels fleeing for life, into the woods."
Major Rufus R. Dawes, 6th Wisconsin Volunteers:
August 16-17 2008 we will attempt to create an accurate replica of a 6th Wisconsin Company for the Antietam National Battlefield, its patrons and ourselves. Spending time on hallowed ground, programs for the visitors behind the visitor center and in our camp, time to tour the park and a chance to accurately portray an aspect of the Iron Brigade at Antietam await those quality persons invited to the event.
OBJECTIVES
The goal of the event is two fold: to offer a worthwhile experience for the participant and to give the public fascinating living history demonstrations.
ELEMENTS
- 6th Wisconsin impression, no specific company designation
- Volunteer participants will share 1st person accounts at each demo
- Our camp will be under the shade trees adjacent to the Dunker Church
- Stonewall Brigade will portray the 31st Georgia and the 9th Louisiana
- Raw rations issued during the event, rations based on those received by the actual 6th Wisconsin.
- $25.00 fee will go to rations with the remainder going to a park donation.
- 40 rounds needed, packaged according to park regulations
- Company impression calls for 75% frock and 25% fatigue blouse (as prescribed by Lance Herdegen’s exhaustive research). All wanting to attend wearing a fatigue blouses must contact Steve Acker or Tom Klas prior to registration so the percentage can be maintained.
SCHEDULE
SATURDAY
9:00 Drill
To ensure our sharpness during our programs we will drill for approximately an hour. We will have a docent to explain to the public the activities of the company.
11:00 Visitor Center
Company Drill and firing demonstration followed by a history of the regiment at Antietam.
12:00 Ration Issue and Cooking Demonstrations.
Using only rations issued to the 6th during the Maryland campaign we will prepare a period meal.
2:00 Demonstration for Public
The Stonewall Brigade will share 1st person accounts and do a brief demo at Starke Avenue. We will provide an in-camp program.
3:00 1st Person Camp
For 30 minutes we will set a living example of a camp, a camp that will demonstrate the various camp activities of the soldier. From cards to letters, from catch to sewing, each member of the company will be involved in some period correct activity. Docents will guide the public through the camp activities.
4:00 Visitor Center
The 6th Wisconsin will offer a drill demonstration in skirmish order. At the conclusion of our demo we will assemble. The Stonewall Brigade will advance and present their program. At the end of each program each unit will have a member or two explain to the public their impression so they can see what a soldier of both sides carried.
5:00ish Dismissed
After the 4:00 demonstration participants are dismissed from event functions. At 6:00 we will offer a walking tour of the sites of the 6th Wisconsin complete with primary accounts.
SUNDAY
7:00 Roll Call
From Roll Call until 10:00 the participants are free to tour the park without arms.
11:00 Visitor Center
The 6th Wisconsin performs bayonet drill followed by the Stonewall Brigade demonstration. At the conclusion of the programs we will provide a history of the unit and what they did at Antietam.
12:00 Ration Issue and Cooking Demo: similar to Saturday
1:00 Visitor Center
After a Stonewall Brigade program the remaining members of the 6th Wisconsin will offer a knapsack/uniform talk that will explain what the soldier carried and how they camped and lived.
2:00-3:00 Remaining 6th Wisconsin members will offer camp life for the public.
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