MIFFLIN GUARD

WINTER NEWSLETTER – 2005

MIFFLIN GUARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

JANUARY 29, 2005

Andy Siganuk will retain Executive Committee Chairman for one more year.

Board positions will remain the same for this year.

President – Scott Washburn

Vice President – Bill David

Secretary/Treasurer – Rich Mendoza

The Field and Staff positions were voted on as follows:

Colonel – Scott Washburn

Lt. Colonel – Bill David

Major – Bill McGargle

Adjutant – Andy Siganuk

Sgt. Major – Frank Szczytko

Quartermaster – Open position

The Mifflin Guard treasury has $40.00 to carry over to the 2005 season. It is important that all units send their $10.00 dues to Rich Mendoza as soon as possible. The address is 13 Brookstone Drive, Voorhees, NJ 08043. Please make the checks payable to Rich Mendoza, as the Mifflin Guard does not have a bank account and checks will be difficult to cash under that name. Thank you in advance to the Regiments that have paid at the meeting. They are:

125^th NY

142^nd PA

26^th PA

1^st PA Reserves

33^rd NJ

81^st PA

2^nd PA Reserves

61^st NY

150^th PA – Company F

12^th NJ

The Mifflin Guard webpage will now be maintained by Rich Adams. Any items that are to be placed on the webpage should be sent to Rich Adams at Rich@PAbucktail.com.

Two units were brought up for prospective membership in the Guard for 2005. They are 111^th PA and 145^th PA Volunteer Infantry. There was no opposition for the 111^th PA as a probationary unit and they will be under the wing of Mike Dallas for the season. The 145^th PVI has been tabled for further investigation until the General Membership Meeting at the School of the Soldier – March 5^th.

Organizational Reports

Infantry

Colonel David reported that the staff was happy with the representation of the Infantry for the 2004 season. The staff would like to see the Infantry maintain a proper 19^th Century appearance for the 2005 season. Officers and NCO’s should be aware of camp appearance at all times by policing the grounds and keeping modern anachronisms under cover or out of camp. One observation was that we were seeing more cell phones and modern cigarettes in camp. These need to be used in appropriate locations. The Mifflin Guard needs guidon bearers. If anyone has any 12 or 13 year old boys that would be interested in the job on the field during the battle, please contact Colonel Bill David at LTCMG@aol.com

Artillery

The Artillery reported that all remains the same for the 2005 season and expect to work in harmony with the Infantry with as many battles as will allow.

Civilians

The Civilians will be supplying a continental breakfast at the School of the Soldier. They reported that there are a few civilian events that are coming up this season. Those events will be reported later in this newsletter.

Vivandiers

The ranks of the Vivandiers are dwindling. The ladies are looking for new recruits. Please contact Angie Manning at AngelaL350@aol.com if you have an interest. The Vivandiers are collecting $30.00 from each membership unit for medical supplies, Gatorade and ice that would be used at events for the Guard. Please make checks payable to William McGargle at 837 Acacia Avenue, Reading, PA 19605.

Medical

Medical reports that there were few heat related injuries this past year due to fairer weather this season. Everyone should know their own capabilities and plan your weekend accordingly. All members of the Guard, including Infantry, Artillery, Vivandiers, Civilians and Staff should be carrying an emergency medical card in an appropriate location in case of an emergency. These need to be updated by the individual annually. The card should contain name, address, phone number, emergency contacts and any medical information that an attending medic would need to know, such as allergies to medication or current medical conditions. Enlisted men should keep the card in the front pouch of the cartridge box. Officers should keep it in the breast pocket of their frock coat.

Music

Music is looking for help to organize and recruit new membership. If you have any young men that are pre-soldier age and are interested in playing or learning music for the Guard, please contact John McGarrigle at EK635@aol.com or call him at 610-925-2450. Any age can learn, but you must be 13 and up to go on to the field. New musicians must have their own uniform and will have to buy a practice drum pad or fife at a cost of around $10.00. Better equipment would need to be purchased for field use.

Liaison Committee

The Liaison Committee reports that event fees are high due to skyrocketing insurance rates. The Gettysburg Chamber of Commerce was approached related to high cost of rooms at Remembrance Day. Rooms may be available to reenactors at a discount rate. Further information is to follow. The next Liaison Committee meeting is March 5^th at 11:00 AM in Gettysburg, PA. The Mifflin Guard needs a representative. Please contact Andy Siganuk at Asiganuk@comcast.net if you are interested in representing the Guard at this meeting. It will be held at the Best Inn.

Proposed Event List for 2005

Most of these events will be voted on by the Guard at the School of the Soldier on March 5-6^th.

February 11^th – Lincoln Day Parade in Philadelphia. If you are interested, please be at the Union League on Broad Street in Philadelphia by 11:00 AM. Civilians are invited.

February 19^th – The 28^th PA invites you to attend their annual “Drill till you Drop” at the Daniel Boone homestead. Please contact Ralph Prince at Rprinceiii@comcast.net for further information and details.

February 20^th - 12^th NJ annual dinner. The 12^th NJ invites all Mifflin Guard members that would like to attend their annual dinner to contact Rich Mendoza at jrct@comcast.net if you are interested. Men are requested to be in uniform or period attire. Choice of clothing for ladies are period or modern. Howard Ruhl will be calling period dances for the evenings entertainment. Cost of $22.00 per person for a buffet.

March 5-6^th - Mifflin Guards annual School of the Soldier. The school will be held at the Kingston Armory on Market Street in Kingston, PA. This is near Scranton. Please contact Andy Siganuk at Asiganuk@comcast.net for additional information as to time and directions. The General Membership meeting will be held there on Saturday. At that time, we will be voting this schedule of events and activities. The civilians will be supplying a continental breakfast. We will be collecting a donation for the Armory as we need $200.00 for its use. Anyone that plans to sleep over will need to bring cots or sleeping bags for their own use. Troops may arrive Friday evening. Further information will be sent to unit representatives shortly. Please send a head count to Andy Siganuk by March 1^st.

March 13^th - St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Information will be given out at the School of the Soldier.

March 18-20^th - Battle of Bentonville, NC. Contact Phil Berg of the 33^rd NJ at PRBERG@comcast.net if you are interested in attending this event with their unit.

April 8-10^th - Appomattox (The Final Campaign). This event will take place on 600 acres. There will be a reenactor surrender ceremony on Sunday. This event will take place a few miles from Appomattox Court House, VA. For further information, go to www.140thappomattox.com We are going to try to make this a maximum effort event for the Guard.

April 29-May 1 - Neshaminy. The 28^th PA presents the annual Neshaminy event. This years event will be the battles leading up to the surrender at Appomattox. It will not include a surrender ceremony.

May 14-15^th - National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA. The event will include 2 days in the life of Camp Curtin. The museum is hoping that the Mifflin Guard will be there in force because it is their main organization of choice for the event. The Guard will discuss this in more detail after individual units have the opportunity to look at their own schedules at their individual meetings. Please try to have an idea of your availability for this by our General Membership Meeting on March 5^th.

June 4-5^th - Pennypacker Mills. Andy Siganuk will be in command for this good local event. Try to come out for the day or the weekend. For more information, email PennypackerMills@mail.montcopa.org

June 24-26^th - Shippensburg, PA. More information will be brought to our meeting on March 5^th about this event. In the meantime, if you would like more information, contact Rich Adams at Rich@PAbucktail.com

July 2-3^rd - Mifflin Guard encampment at Gettysburg. This event honors the Guard every year as we portray an Infantry unit in the field for the public. This past year, we received a commendation from the National Park Service in Washington, DC for our efforts at this event. Scott Washburn will display this at our School of the Soldier. For this year, troops may arrive Friday evening and sleep on the field. We will march in as a battalion on Saturday morning. As usual, please keep equipment to a bare minimum and all modern anachronisms must be kept in vehicles or appropriate locations.

July 9-10^th - Rockwood Museum. This is a civilian event in Wilmington, DE. The event will include 1860’s period activities. Military is welcome to camp or visit for the day. Contact Lois Wonder at Warrington.Wonders@att.net

July 15-17^th - Landis Valley. Pre registration is required for free meal tickets. Walk-ons will pay $10.00 for food. The cut off date for registration will be May 31^st. Contact Bill McGargle at MGMajor@aol.com

July 23-24^th - Boyd’s Bears. Boyd’s Bears has invited Civil War groups to do encampments on their fields. More information will follow at the March 5^th meeting. If you are interested, please contact Keith MacGregor at Macsuv@comcast.net

July 23-24^th - Liberty, NY – Information will follow at the March 5^th meeting. Decisions will be made at that time.

Aug 6-7^th - Lambertville, NJ. This is a non Guard event sponsored by the 104^th PA. At this time, I have no way of knowing who their contact is. Possibly we will hear more about this at the March 5th meeting.

Aug 26-28^th - The Summer of 62 Campaign. The Battles of First Manassas, Cedar Mountain and Brawner Farm will take place at a location near Frederick, MD. We are looking at this as a possible maximum effort event. This will be determined at our March meeting.

Aug 27-28^th - The 81^st PA is hosting Eckley Minors Village event. I have no information on this event at this time. We will hear more about it on March 5^th.

Sept 24-25^th - Ridley Creek. As always, Ridley Creek is a fun event at a great location. Contact Charlie Evans of the 110^th PA at CEVAN110@comcat.net for further information.

Oct 8-9^th - Mullica Hill. The 28^th PA’s annual event to raise money for the preservation of the GAR Museum in Philadelphia. Contact Ralph Prince at Rprinceiii@comcast.net Support our brothers in this project.

Oct 15-16^th - Cedar Creek. Once again, the Guard is looking for a maximum effort event. Cedar Creek always turns out to be one of the better events of our season. Register before June for a cheaper rate.

Nov 19^th - Remembrance Day. This, as always, is a maximum effort event for the Mifflin Guard. Brush out your uniforms, polish your brass and shine your shoes for this formal event. As always, it is good to reserve your rooms early. As said before, we are hoping to get reenactor discounts for lodging.

All of these events will be discussed at our March 5^th meeting.

It is the responsibility of the members of the Executive Committee to pass this information on to our general membership. Please do so prior to March 5^th.

Any additions or corrections to this newsletter should be sent to Rich Mendoza at jrct@comcast.net as soon as possible prior to the March meeting.