Volume 4 Edition 4 16 September 2012

FROM OUR COMMANDER

Greetings! I have received word from most of the units that they are busy with 150th Anniversary Civil War events. Since my last report I have taken part in the following activities. June 23rd- Civil War Monument Dedication, Worden, Illinois. July 21st-Grant's Death Day Ceremony. U.S. Grant Historic Site.(White Haven) St. Louis, Missouri. August 23rd-St. Louis Civil War Roundtable special event, Missouri Historical Society Museum. I was assisted by Sgt. John Avery, Co A 2nd Regt. MO. Vol. Inf. and Pvt. Tom Rung, Co C. 34th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. August 25-26th-The Jefferson Barracks 2012 Civil War Symposium, Jefferson Barracks Visitors Center, JB County Park, St. Louis, Missouri. I gave a talk on Billy Yank, the common Union soldier. I also gave a guided tour of the museum display THE WAR IN THE

WEST(I supplied some of the exhibit items for this display). The following Commissions were awarded under GENERAL ORDER 2012-10, 11 August 2012, Sons of Veterans Reserve for the 4th Military District. 1. 2nd Lt. Larry D. Dietzel, 1st Missouri State Militia-Columbia Tigers promoted to 1st Lt. Commander. 2. Pvt. Russell F. DeVenney Jr.,1st Missouri State Militia-Columbia Tigers promoted to 2nd Lt. Adjutant. 3. 1st Sgt. Joseph L. Difani, Jr., Co. C 34th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. promoted to 1st Lt. Commander. 4. 1st Lt. Marc D. Witkovski, Nebraska Rangers, promoted to Captain, Commander. I was proud to request the commissions for these men and wish them well with the new responsibilities that go with their promotions. To all the district units keep up the good work. In F. C. & L., Lt. Colonel Jack G. Grothe Cmdg 4th Military District SVR

Headquarters Company Franklin, WI

The past summer, the 4th Military District Headquarters

Company marched in two community parades and

provided a color guard detail, as well as manned a

booth at a local living history event in Southeast

Wisconsin. The Kenosha Civic Veterans Parade, held

July 3rd, attracted a large crowd despite the 90-degree

temps. On August 25-26, members supported the West

Allis Settlers Weekend with a color guard and

information booth. And members got their Labor Day

weekend started with a parade in St. Francis, another

Milwaukee suburb.

The HQ Company's 1Sgt. Tom Brown and Pvt. Brian

McManus fold the U.S. Flag during Closing Ceremonies at

West Allis Settlers Weekend.

The HQ Company's 1Sgt. Tom Brown and Sgt. Dan

Palama (MG John Gibbon Camp 4) raise the U.S. Flag

Pvt. Brian McManus shows Civil War artifacts to

visitors at West Allis Settlers Weekend

Meanwhile, members in northern Wisconsin participated in

three headstone dedications over the Summer: in Matton,

Shawano, and Wausaukee

Battery L, 1st Illinois Light Artillery Mulligan’s Battery

Glenview, IL

Mulligan's Battery hosted a benefit at the Glenview

(IL) History Center.

Mulligan's Battery participated in the re-enactment at Boscobel,

WI.

2nd Missouri Infantry

St. Louis

On July 21, the death of Civil War General and President Ulysses S. Grant was remembered at the Ulysses S. Grant Historic Site. US Grant Camp #68 SUVCW hosted the event. Seven

members from the US Grant Camp were attendance. Brother from the Billy Yank/Sherman Camp #65 and Thomas Fletcher Camp #47 were also in attendance. The program included an

address by National Commander in Chief and camp member Don Palmer.

Trivia Question

What meat by product was used to keep the rifles from rusting so quickly?

(answer can be found somewhere in this newsletter)

Company B, 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Council Bluffs, IA

2012 Report by 1st Lieutenant Mike Carr

As usual, the unit has been busy. On June 24 six members of our unit, assisted by

members from the 49th Iowa, held a gravestone dedication service for Abel Galland, a War of 1812 veteran at a ceremony near Earling, IA. A crowd of 200-250 people were on hand

for the ceremonies. Those in attendance were 1 LT Carr, 2 LT Kelley, Corp. Damgaard, and privates D. Rittel, Kirshen and Cleaver from the 10th and 2 LT Krock and corporals Rowley and R. Rittel from the 49th Iowa. Three members of the SUVCW were

also in attendance- Mary Rittel, Jeanie Kirshen and Tami Krock We were really busy on July 4. Nine members of our unit took part in 3 separate events; 1st

Sgt. Sasse, 2nd Sgt. Krecklow, Corp. and J. Braden did a living history program at the Dodge House in Council Bluffs while 2nd LT Kelley, Corp. A. Braden, Corp. Damgaard and

Pvts. Kirshen and Cleaver did likewise at West-phalia, IA. 1 LT Carr, assisted by Corp. J. Braden assisted in the dedi-cation of a 20-pound Parrott Rifle at the museum in Avoca.

On July 14-15, five members of the Camp put on a 2-day living history program at the Dodge House In Council Bluffs during the “Railroad Days” celebration.

A very special event was held Aug. 5. Seven members of Co. B, 10th Iowa attended the Montgomery Sesquicentennial event at Red Oak sponsored by the Montgomery County

History Center. Pvt. Alan Kirshen organized the event. Those present were 1 Lt Carr, 2 Lt Kelley, 1st Sgt. Sasse, Corp. Damgaard and Pvts. Kirshen, Thompson and Yowell. Approximately 60-80 people attended the event.

Company E, 47th Missouri Infantry Park Hills, Missouri

The 47th Missouri Infantry, Company E – SVR, has been extremely busy since the last issue of the “Past in Review.”

Saturday, June 9th

, saw unit members assisting the

new Sigel Camp with an SUVCW Sesquicentennial

Event in Newburg, MO. Members presented colors

for the opening ceremonies, marched in the local

parade, and set up a Civil War camp display, in

addition to promoting the SUVCW and SVR; we

were trying to recruit new members for the Sigel

Camp.

On June 16th

, members of the unit presented a Civil War encampment and soldiering demonstrations for the

Moses Austin Heritage Festival in Potosi, MO. The Mine Au Breton

Historical Society had specifically extended an

invitation to our group.

Then, July did not slow down either;

members of the unit once again marched in

another parade (Fourth of July Parade in

DeSoto, MO).

Also, on July 8th

and 22nd

, meetings were held at the Gen. James R. McCormick House in Farmington, for an

upcoming living history and house tour event. This event was held on August 11th

with over 162 people

attending! Our unit, set up a Civil War encampment with soldiers’ demonstrations, cooking displays in the

summer kitchen, and unit commander, Chris Warren & his wife Twyla, portrayed James R. McCormick and his

wife Susan Elizabeth Garner McCormick (with period home life demonstrations inside the home).

*Submitted by: Lieut. D. Christopher Warren – Unit Commander – 47th Missouri Infantry, Co. E – S.V.R

Company F, 78th Enrolled Missouri Militia Ste. Genevieve, MO

On July 17, Private Gary Scheel gave a presentation to home schooled children on the various sources of finding Civil War veteran information. He explained the various internet

sites that were available as well as sources in libraries which included research sections of the library. September 2nd and 3rd

at Fort D in Cape

Girardeau. 1st Sergeant Tom Farlow and Private

Jerry Kasten both were involved in the activities at Fort D on both days.

On September 2nd the demonstration was given to a private group and on

September 3rd it was given to the open public.

Missouri Tigers Columbia, MO

Heritage Festival Parade in Hallsville, Mo.

on 16 June 2012 Left to right : Sheila Montague Pauley,

Bryan P Bradford, and James Dixon

NEBRASKA RANGERS George G. Meade Post #19 Monument Dedication in Sutton, NE

The Department of Nebraska Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Victor Vifquain Camp #1,Shiloh Camp #2, The Nebraska Rangers Sons of Veterans Reserve along

with reenactors from the 1st Nebraska Infantry Volunteers Cos. A and C, the Fremont Pathfinders, 4th Arkansas, and 128th 4th of the 5th Veteran Reserve

Corps. hosted a reenactment from June 29 through July 1, 2012 in Sutton, NE. On June 30, 2012 members

dedicated the George Gordon Meade GAR Post #19 monument under the command of Captain Marc

Witkovski. There were also gar exhibits on display in the city park as well as the county

museum. It is hopeful that this will be a biannual event

Rededication of the Lincoln Monument Lincoln Nebraska On September 2, 2012 the Department of Nebraska Shiloh Camp No. 2 along with Vifquain and Weldstedt Camps and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War rededicated

the Lincoln Monument featuring a statue of Abraham Lincoln following the Gettysburg Address by sculptor Daniel Chester French at the State Capitol in Lincoln, Nebraska. Lincoln Nebraska is the largest city in the world named after our 16th president.

Kneeling from left to right: JVC Vifquain Camp SVR Ron Rockenbach, Shiloh/ Vifquain Camp, Sec/Treas SVR 1st Sgt. Adj. Gage Stermensky, PDC Shiloh Camp SVR Philip Rudebusch middle row left to right: PDC,Dept of NE/Shiloh camp Sec/Treas.SVR Merle Rudebusch,Leroy Louden,DUVCW Dept Treas Tent #7 Arlene Rudebusch,DUVCW Former Nat'l President,Dept. President Dept. of NE Judy Frohme,Shiloh Camp SVR Sgt.Jonathan Rockefeller, Shiloh Camp SVR Trng Off. Larry Angle,Ne Senator Amanda McGill,Chair Capitol Environs Committee Jeff Searcy,Chief Justice Nebraska Supreme Court Michael Heavican,Capitol Administrator Robert Ripley,Mayor of Lincoln Chris Beutler,SVR Cmdr,CC Vifquain Camp Marc Witkovski, rear row: Shiloh Camp SVR Larry Obrist, DUVCW SharonAnn Louden, PDC/Welstedt Camp Sec/Treas SVR Sgt. Paul Hadley,Shiloh Camp SVR John Jordison,Shiloh Camp Musician SVR Corporal Eric Bachenberg,Shiloh Camp Chaplain SVR 2nd Lt. Keith Rockefeller,Shiloh Camp JVC Jerry Lippincott

On June 14, 2012 American Legion Post Number 1 from Omaha

Nebraska had a Flag Day Ceremony and the Department of Nebraska,

Victor Vifquain Camp No. 1 had a brother PCC, State ROTC Instructor and Counsel Brother Steve

Bauermeister participated in the flag destruction ceremony. This event will be an annual event for Victor

Vifquian Camp who has their bimonthly meetings at the American

Legion Post as it is fostering good will and fellowship with other organizations throughout the state.

Submitted by 1st Sergeant Gage Stermenksy

Posts from 4th MD Facebook Page

Our honor detail for Newburg Days 2012 Civil War Living History.

Members of the of the Department of Missouri Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil with our bugler from Bugles

Across America Mr. Paul Hobbs. Photos of the activities of Sigel Camp

#614 and the Department of Missouri By: Randal Burd 2nd Missouri Infantry, 47th Missouri Infantry

and Sigel Camp SVR in the Photo. Photo

courtesy of Marty Aubuchon.

Stacking arms before the opening ceremony of Newburg Days 2012 Civil War Living History. photo by Nick Burchett — with Martin Aubuchon and Christopher Warren in Newburg, MO .

From the Desk of the Editor

I found a free book on I-Books entitled “The Story of a Common Soldier of Army Life in the Civil War , 1861-1865, Second Edition. by Leander Stillwell, Late of Co. D, 61st Illinois Infantry, FrankinHudson

Publishing Co. 1920 © 1920 by Leander Stillwell. I am not quite finished with it yet but have found a couple of

interesting quotes that follow below. “About the only drawback resutling from our being caught out in the summer rains was the

fact that the water would rust our muskets. In our time we were required to keep all their metal parts (except the butt-plate) as bright and shining as new silver dollars. Ihave put in

many an hour working on my gun with an old rag and powdered dirt, and a corn-cob, or pine stick, polishing the barrel, the bands, lock-plate, and trigger-guard, until they were fit to pass inspection. The inside of the barrel we would keep clean by the use of a greased

wiper and plenty of hot water. In doing this we would ordinarily, with our screw-drivers, take the gun to pieces, and remove from the stock all metallic parts. I never had any head for machinery, of any kind, but, from sheer necessity, did acquire enough of the faculty to

take apart, and put together, an army musket,-and that is the full extent of my ability in that line. We soon learned to take care of our pieces in a rain by thoroughly greasing them

with a piece of bacon, which would largely prevent rust from striking in. Chapter 7 “That at a designated time on the following morning the men would assemble on their

respective company parade grounds, wearing their “side-arms,” (which included waist and shoulder-belts, cartridge-box, cap-pouch and bayonet,)…..” Chapter 13

Reconnaissance September 22 & 23. Hermann Civil War Days. Hermann, MO. Sponsored by Company C, 5th Missouri Cavalry.

September 22. Wilhelmi Camp is working on a headstone dedication ceremony honoring the Last Surviving Soldier of

Gasconade. It will be at 3p.m. at the City Cemetery in Hermann on Sept. 22.

September 28 thru 30. REENACTORS PLEASE REGISTER,THE EVENT

IS NOW FULL IN MOST SECTORS. The Audrain County Historical society and the City of Mexico Tourism Commission Invite you to THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL… WALK BACK IN TIME! Calling for wwi reenactors

Friday, September 28-Sunday September 30, 2012

September 29 Sesquicentennial Signature Event. Ste. Genevieve Missouri. Courthouse Square on the

corner of 3rd and Market Street. Living History 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Re-enactment of the founding of the 78th

Enrolled Missouri Militia starts at 2 p.m. Sponsored by Lt. Col. J. Felix St. James Camp # 326 SUVCW and

Company F, 78th Enrolled Missouri Militia.