Fall, 2011

The Official Quarterly Newsletter of the 28th New York Volunteer Infantry

Volume 1, Issue 1The Official Newsletter of

The Niagara Bugle

Inside this issue:

From the

President’s Desk

Camp Simmerings

2

From the Captain’s

Slate 3

In the 28th’s Lens 4

How Hospital Tents

Were Heated 5-6

Upcoming Events 6

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011 at First Bull Run, showing the Fire Zouaves, colors and our Company breaking.

Over the last year, the 28th NY participated in multiple national events

across the east coast. For those of us who went to them, I don’t think any of us

will ever forget sweating profusely at First Manassas, digging drainage trenches in

the rain, thunder and lightning at Gettysburg, camping on hallowed ground at Ce-

dar Creek, or freezing underneath the canopy of stars at Ball’s Bluff. This year saw many traditional events like Gettysburg and Cedar Creek

mixing in with 150th anniversary events like First Manassas and Ball’s Bluff. The

yearly reenactments in Pennsylvania and Virginia were, as always, great experi-

ences despite the chaos of battle and the “unexpected changes” in weather condi-

tions. As for the 150th events, in the heart of Virginia and on the shores of the Po-

tomac River, I think we can all agree that it was a true honor to represent the brave

men and women who so nobly took up arms in 1861 to defend the Union. As this year comes to a close, we look ahead to next year’s season and the

great many anniversary events it holds. But no matter what, from the back woods

of Tennessee to the countryside of Maryland, the 28th New York Infantry will be

represented there.

The 28th New York Volunteer Infantry Goes National By Michael Barnes

2

Page 2

Dear Friends of the 28th NY:

As many of you know, and some may not, the year 2012 marks this unit's 10 year

anniversary.

While the original members met in September of 2001, four days before 9/11, we

didn't seriously consider banding together right away. After a couple of meetings

over the winter of 2001-2002 we started our first official season at the Elmira event

on the first weekend in May 2002. At that event, seven outcasts and refugees from

other units made their debut as the 28th NY Co. E.

At the Hamlin event that August, the unit (all 9 of us by then), and some great new

friends from other units, threw me a surprise birthday party. Among other things,

they gave me an engraved pocket watch with a nice inscription on the back. The in-

scription read "D. Everdyke, 28th NYVI Co. E." It was their firm belief that this unit

would endure. So certain were they that they proclaimed their faith in writing on the

back of that watch. Those present at the time remember me as being absolutely

speechless... positively vapor locked, among other things.

It's now almost ten years later and I still have that watch. It hasn't run in several

years despite new batteries, the gold finish is dull and there are scratches on the face.

However, the inscription is still legible. And, most important of all, the reason for

that inscription still exists. According to our roster at the time of this writing, we now

have 37 members listed as military and 33 civilians. It appears the faith of those peo-

ple back in 2002 was not misplaced or in error.

To all past, current and future members on the 28th... thank you for the wonderful

birthday present.....

~Darin Everdyke

F rom the President’s Desk

Camp Simmerings

The diet of the Civil War soldier, particularly the Confederates, was often limited to what

was foraged or caught. Venison may have been part of a typical meal along with a side of

cornbread.

Darin’s Venison Roast

Scale this up or down for the size of the roast. Figure

maybe a pound or so for this recipe.

Make sure ALL fat and silverskin (connective tis-

sues) are off the roast. Any fat at all will impart a dis-

tinctive gamey taste.

In a small roasting pan, maybe a meatloaf pan, com-

bine the roast with a cup of tomato sauce, a half cup of

water, a small onion well cut up, and a sprinkle of your favorite seasonings like oreg-

ano, pepper, whatever. Sprinkle meat tenderizer over the whole thing and cover with

aluminum foil. Cook at 300-325F for about 3 hours. Flip the roast over once or twice

to cook evenly in the juices. Add water as needed to keep it from scorching. Meat

should eventually get very tender and may fall apart. It's done. Adding potatoes, pearl

onions, red kidney beans, & carrots are good accessories.

“...It appears

the faith of

those people

back in 2002

was not misplaced or

in error…”

This recipe is

from the

kitchen of

Darin

Everdyke

Page 2

Page 3

Visit us on the web at

www.28thnycoe.com

where you’ll

find

a complete

schedule of events

for the 2012

reenacting

season.

F rom the Captain’s Slate

Well, what a year it has been… It began way back in January when four of our

members joined a dozen other people at the Lockport Historical Society to present a check

for flag preservation to the Society.

Before the start of the main reenacting season, we had members attend a whole host

of pre-season events: St. Patrick’s Day, the Curtiss Museum, Fort Ontario and three drills.

Our mustering in ceremony and memorial service at “Fire On The Genesee” back

in May almost seem like a year ago, well, six months anyway. It was a great experience to

be recreating the mustering in ceremony of the 28th NY, exactly 150 years after it had taken

place.

The four Memorial Day parades which we did pushed several of our members, but

we attended all with a good attitude and good numbers. However, that said, we’ll most

likely stick with three parades in 2012.

Moving into June and, among the reenactments, seven of our members (Jeannette

Folger, Chris Barnes, Kenny Spencer, Michael Barnes, Darin Everdyke, Robert Beebe and

myself) took a trip over to Bethlehem, NY, to visit Camp Morgan, where the 28th New

York completed their training. We were actually there 150 years to the day after the regi-

ment marched off to war, so, once again we found ourselves following in the footsteps of

the men we portray.

As the season moved on, July arrived and we found ourselves at Gettysburg. We

fielded 35 military and were required to split into two companies due to our numbers. In

one of the battles, we actually counted for a third of the entire Union Infantry on the field.

Later that same month, we had 17 military at the first of the big 150th anniversary events,

First Bull Run. The main memories of that weekend will always revolve around the heat,

the number of people who left on Saturday afternoon, and “corn”.

Our event at Hamlin went well and our numbers were again up on previous years.

The battle scenarios did not go exactly to plan, but these things happen.

At Angelica, another well attended event for our guys, several of our members re-

visited our First Bull Run impression as Fire Zouaves, which caused all sorts of questions

from the spectators.

As the year began to wind up, we attended two last big national events, with Cedar

Creek and Ball’s Bluff taking place in October. Ball’s Bluff was another opportunity for us

to cross paths with the men of the 28th New York (all be it 150 years too late). We attended

the event camping how we know the men of the regiment camped at that battle and experi-

enced similar weather conditions to what they experienced at that time (very cold and

damp).

Also, during the course of the last year, we have moved our unit’s Cemetery Project

forward significantly. We now stand at over 430 known burials of the men who served in

the 28th New York; also, with Gene and Brandon’s recent activities in Virginia, we have

passed 150 cemetery sites visited and photographed.

I think that the 2011 reenacting year has been a great all round season, which has

seen us have a presence at 30 reenactments from local Living History events to national

Mega Battle Events.

I would like to thank all of the members of our groups military for their perform-

ance, passion and dedication during the course of the 2011 reenactments and, with ten ses-

quicentennial events awaiting us in the coming year, I look forward to doing it again with

you all in 2012. Many thanks and have a safe winter.

~Simon Taylor, Military Coordinator

Did you know...

According to the

June 8, 1861 issue

of the Genesee

County Herald

and Spirit of the

Times, the sudden

rise in the price of

potatoes had local

farmers rushing

them into town in

large quantities

where they sold

from forty to fifty

cents per bushel.

Almost all of the

purchases were

shipped east on

the railroads.

4

I n the 28th New York’s Lens Sometimes at reenactments there are medical scenarios conducted after the battles for the

public to witness. Those soldiers carried off the field in need of medical attention may perhaps find them-

selves under the knife of the likeness of Dr. Mary Walker. Oswego’s Dr. Walker was an American Civil

War surgeon and the only woman to receive the military’s highest decoration for bravery, the Medal of

Honor. She received this honor specifically for her services at the First Battle of Bull Run. Our own Marilyn Dirk, proud mother of four daughters and seven grandchildren, has been a 28th

NY member for over seven years and portrays Dr. Mary Walker at reenactments. Marilyn decided to por-

tray Dr. Mary Walker when she realized how little people knew of her. Her presentation for the Boy

Scouts at Angelica garnered the attention and praise of many. Marilyn receives so many requests to por-

tray Dr. Mary Walker now that she finds herself

very busy and, at times, having to decline some

invitations to attend events as the Doctor. Marilyn

also enjoys impersonating Belle Boyd, the famous

informer who spied on the 28th NY at Fort Royal.

Marilyn, who is originally from Lexington,

Virginia, currently hails from Oswego, New York,

where she has resided off-and-on since 1952. Her first

reenactment was at Tinker Homestead in 2004. She

notes that she was always around the 28th NY when

she began reenacting and was encouraged by many of

our veteran members. Those members kept Marilyn,

who describes her early days as those of a “rogue

re-enactor recruiting for the Daughters of the Union

Veterans of the Civil War,” informed regarding future

events. Their friendliness and help made Marilyn

glad she joined.

Marilyn is deeply involved with the Daughters

of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, having served

as the organization’s State President and currently as

its State Chief of Staff. Marilyn’s daughters are

also members of the DUVCW. Marilyn describes the

mission of the Daughters as that of “keeping the

memories of our ancestors alive, preserving any

historical sites, and lifting up and encouraging all

veterans in all wars from the American Revolution to present day.”

Marilyn finds reenacting “an escape from the fast pace rat race of the world of cars and not so car-

ing people. When I’m out in my tent, I feel surrounded by my family away from my family at home.”

For Sale: United Shoe Factory for Sale “United Shoe Repairing Machine Company, Shoe Repair Outfit, #6011" $800 for the

whole factory. You must provide your own means of transportation & help moving

it. This has been stored in a dry barn for 10 years - needs cleaning, oiling/greasing &

possibly some sanding & re-finishing. Shoe lasts are included, women's, children's &

some men's. Conditions vary. There is some thread and the manual. This will fit in a

garage or mid-size outbuilding. This is a great opportunity for a small business start-

up. Please contact Bob Kellogg: (585) 468-2669 with inquiries.

~*~

5

Heating the Hospitals During the Civil War This article, submitted by Gene McCann, is reprinted with permission from the Alexandria Archaeology Museum.

This is the first half of the article. The second half will be included in the next issue of The Niagara Bugle.

Two intriguing discoveries were made in Alexandria in 2003 and 2004. These were underground

heating structures built by Union troops during the Civil War to heat hospital tents. It is believed that these

are the first features of this exact type to be excavated. These structures were called Crimean Ovens and

may have been somewhat experimental in nature.

The First Discovery– The Firebox End The land where the first Crimean oven

was uncovered was on a residential lot on

Quaker Lane which was once part of the plan-

tation “Cameron,” owned by General Samuel

Cooper. General Cooper was the Adjutant

General of the U.S. Army (the second highest

officer in the army) before the Civil War.

When Virginia seceded, he resigned and be-

came the Adjutant General of the C.S.A.

Army. Because of this action, his property was

confiscated by the federal government and one

of the forts in the Defenses of Washington was

built on his land. The Cooper house was torn

down and the bricks used to construct the large

powder magazine of the fort. The fortification

was referred to as “Traitor’s Hill” until 1863,

when it was officially named Fort Williams.

Federal army units camped in the vicinity of the fort and in many places throughout Alexandria. Prior to development, the City, in accordance with the Archaeological Preservation Ordinance, re-

quired an archaeological investigation of the lot on Quaker Lane. It was likely the remains of a Union

camp were present because the property was just to the southeast of the site of Fort Williams. Wally

Owen, Assistant Director of Fort Ward Museum and local authority on the Civil War, examined the area

and observed how the property adjacent to the lot to be developed shows evidence in its undulating lawn of

the raised regimental company “streets” with drainage ditches on either side, that are typical of long-term

Civil War period encampments. The developer hired Thunderbird Archaeological Associates and the fieldwork was conducted dur-

ing the summer of 2003 by archaeologists directed by Tammy Bryant. The owner had given permission

for a local relic hunter to use a metal detector on the property and he found various Civil War artifacts in

addition to an area with bricks. He claimed to have removed “at least a hundred” bricks before the archae-

ologists began their work. The archaeologists uncovered a channel about 50 feet long, a foot wide, and

about a foot below the ground surface edged on both sides by three courses of bricks. In three or four

places thin sheets of metal, possible covers, were found crushed down into the bottom of the channel. The

parallel lines of bricks descended down a slope and ended in a two-course wide brick rectangular structure

about eight feet long, three feet wide and two feet deep. There was a a partial dividing wall near the center

of this box which might be the wall of the original box which was then expanded to double its size. The

earth in the bottom of the ox was reddened and baked almost as hard as brick as was the dirt floor of the

flue channel extending from the box. A layer of charred wood lay on the floor of the structure and was

covered with a layer of fine sand about three inches thick. This probably was an ash pit that would have

been below a fire where wood was burned. The fill soil of the entire feature contained artifacts dating to

Upcoming

Events:

December:

10th: Regular Business

Meeting, Palmyra Meeting

Rooms, 2:00 p.m.

Please check the website for

confirmation of dates and

additions to the 28th NY’s

schedule. Additional infor-

mation regarding upcoming

events is always included in

the Unit’s monthly Updates.

Heating Hospitals (continued from page 5)

the Civil War and earlier, including Minie balls, a brass button from a New York

Regiment, plus a brass and lead eagle breast plate. The end of the brick channel

opposite the fire box was totally disturbed where the relic hunter had removed the

bricks. The soil was scraped on

each side of the flue to try to

identify any remains of tent loca-

tions. The idea was that tents or

huts could have been heated by

hot air diverted from the flue

channel. Stephen Potter, NPS Na-

tional Capital Region Chief Ar-

chaeologist, provided a reference

to the MA thesis of Todd Jensen,

on archaeological evidence of

Civil War camps. The thesis contained

a reference to a letter written by a Union surgeon describing a heating system for

heating hospital tents. Wally Owen went back to the original letter and found a

nearly exact description of the feature found on Quaker Lane. In November of

1861, Dr. Charles Tippler, Surgeon and Medical Director of the Army of the Po-

tomac described how to build a heating system. “...for warming the tents and dry-

ing the ground a modification of the Crimean Oven, which has been devised and

put into operation by Sr. McRuer, the surgeon of General Sedgewick’s brigade,

appears to me to be the cheapest and most effective.” He goes on to describe the

system:

6 28TH NY VI CO. E

2011 UNIT OFFICERS

President:

Darin Everdyke

Vice-President:

Terry Darrow

Secretary:

Christine Barnes

Treasurer:

Chanon Miller

Military Coordinator:

Simon Taylor

Captain:

Simon Taylor

First Sergeant:

Darin Everdyke

First Corporal:

Kenny Spencer

Second Corporal:

Leland Miller

Crimean Oven Firebox

A trench 1 foot wide and 20 inches deep to be dug through the center and

length of each tent, to be continued for 3 or 4 feet farther, terminating at one

end in a covered oven fire-place and at the other end of a chimney. By this

arrangement the fire-place and chimney are both on the outside of the tent;

the fire-place is made about 2 feet wide and arching; its area gradually less-

ening until it terminates in a throat at the commencement of the straight

trench. This part is covered with brick or stone, laid in mortar or cement;

the long trench to be covered with sheet-iron in the same manner. The oppo-

site end to the fire-place terminates in a chimney 6 or 8 feet high; the front of

the fire-place to be fitted with a tight moveable sheet-iron cover, in which an

opening is to be made, with a sliding cover to act as a blower. By this con-

trivance a perfect draught may be obtained, and no more cold air admitted

within the furnace than just sufficient to consume the wood and generate the

amount of heat required, which not only radiate from the exposed surface of

the iron plates, but is conducted through the ground floor of the tent so as to

keep it both warm and dry, making a board floor entirely unnecessary,

thereby avoiding the dampness and filth which unavoidably accumulates in

such places. All noise, smoke, and dust, attendant upon building the fires

within the tent are avoided ; there are no currents of cold air, and the heat is

so equally diffused, that no difference can be perceived between the tempera-

ture of each end or side of the tent. Indeed, the advantages of this mode of

warming the hospital tents are so obvious, that it needs only to be seen in

operation to convince any observer that it fulfills everything required as re-

gards the warming of hospital tents of the Eighth Brigade, and ascertain by

observation the justness of this report.” (to be continued)