Bedford Light Courier

Bedford County, VA

June, 2005

Brigade Structure:

Army of N. Virginia

Longstreet’s Corp.

Alexander’s Battalion

Officers:

Colonel Phill Matteson

Lt. Col. Craig McCann

Captain Mike Karnitz

NCOs:

1 First Sergeant

3 Sergeants

2 Corporals

Ordinance:

4 – 3" Light Artillery with Limbers

Phone Numbers:

Col. Phill Matteson-

(716) 694-0947

Lt. Col. Craig McCann

(585) 225-8984

Capt. Mike Karnitz

(585) 637-9069

Dues: $30.00 Single

$50.00 Family

Remember…for another season

5 guns this year. We need everyone possible at every event. Try to plan your vacation or time off so we can win the war this year.

Colonels Concerns:

Hi all, Well we had a nice turnout for the artillery school, nice to see, and the weather even held for the day! It even was kind of busy! Thanks to all that came. we had a nice meal afterwards in town and that was fun also.

So if the year goes like the school, we will be in good shape!

Well, that's about it, we'll be seeing ya'll soon, and please keep in mind the Brockport school, and

Sell those tickets!

Lt. Colonel’s Minute:

Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen of the Bedford Light Artillery:

It was wonderful to see so many of you attend Fort Niagara this past weekend to become qualified or re-qualified. I was informed the terms "certified" and "re-certified" are now passe' but their usage will be a tough habit to break.

Camping over Friday night on site proved to be a pleasant experience even
though it rained, typical this time of year (thanks, Mike for the transportation and tentage). However, Saturday proved to be excellent for
instructing and I had a full day of it,

for sure. My morning class was a group of re-qualifiers and they did

quite well and instruction progressed smoothly. The afternoon group was composed of new people that required a considerable amount detail in the instruction but I had some help in a rather surprising way. I was approached by Capt. Richard Henderson of
Reynolds Battery and was asked If I would be willing to "test" two candidates trying out for the gunner position: David Suhr of Reynolds Battery and our very own Cpl. Bob Henry, who did a great job. Nice going, Bob!

The gunner's test has been changed, at least at this school, to reflect a more realistic command scenario. The overly contrived tricks and trials of the "gun from hell" was replaced with the much more relevant and common sense approach of assigning the gunner candidate a crew of new people along with an instructor and have the candidate command the piece.

We ended the day with a nice dinner in town where every- one had a great time. For most of you it was the first event of the season and it was a fine "kick off".

For me, it was the second event. The first was the 140th Appomattox re-enactment in Virginia. It was a Longstreet's Corps command event with Col. Matteson in charge of the Confederate Artillery. Like Fort Niagara
the event was christened with rain at the outset, which churned up a great deal of that infamous Virginia red mud. The weather cleared up and the event was a success. The beginning scenarios were of the final skirmishes between the two armies just prior to the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. The artillery even participated in a dawn tactical. The final surrender scenario turned out to be one of the most moving re-enactments in which I had the pleasure to participate.

I heard prior to the surrender scenario that a number of Confederate units or soldiers were not going to participate in the surrender and undoubtedly they did not. However, it would prove to be their loss because the experience was well worth it. The confederate forces were assembled on a common ground out of sight of the Federals, who were lining up along a gravel road where the stacking of arms" was to take place. General Lee's farewell address and final orders were read to each major division and then we marched to the point of "stacking of arms". It was eerie. Virtually no-one said a word. Not the Confederates, not the Federals, not even the spectators. The loudest sound was of boots and brogans marching on the
gravel road. The remnant of the Army of Northern Virginia marched in an atmosphere of virtual silence to stack arms and move on. Yeah, as reluctant as I was to participate in the surrender,

I'd do it again.

The site is a natural for numerous re-enactment scenarios and I am looking forward to returning for more events in the future.

Next up is the demonstration in Bath, NY. I hope to see many of you there! Hmmm, please don't shoot me as I'll be portraying a Federal artillery officer.

Your Obedient Servant,
Lt. Col. Craig F. McCann

Captains Corner:

Greetings Everyone,

I hope everyone is looking forward to this year’s events. We attended the School at the Fort May 14^th and 15^th. I hope everyone that attended had a good time. The weather was forecasted to be cool and rainy, luckily the rain held off at least until I was ready to take down my canvas. That’s the way it goes sometimes. We had two guns at the Bath V.A. Hospital for their Memorial Day ceremony and parade. Those that attended had a good time. The temperature was warm, the rain held off, this time I packed dry canvas (surprise, surprise). I brought the Cook’s fly to both events. At the Fort I noticed I had forgotten the ridge pole, at Bath I realized I had forgotten the end poles for the ridge. In both cases we set it up. Hopefully I will remember to bring everything to Gettysburg. My memory isn’t what it was. I need to print out the list of what to bring. If someone wants to start a pool to see what I forget to bring to Gettysburg, put me down for the ‘ropes’. I’m looking forward to Gettysburg this year, the way things are going at work I need to get out and ‘relax’ for a weekend.

We need to be at Gettysburg no later than Friday morning. We will be participating in the Friday afternoon battle. According to the information I have they will not let latecomers into the camp area after noon till after the Friday afternoon battle. Directions to the site will be posted on our website.

At the Bath event, in which we had some members portray Federal and some Confederate, it was suggested that we look into portraying a local Federal Artillery Unit. This may open up some opportunities for us to participate in more local ceremonies. I feel if we can field two guns at a living history, ceremony, or celebration; one crew Federal and one crew Confederate we would get more exposure. I have seen pictures in the Rochester newspaper of a particular Federal Battery (not 1^st NY Light) participating in local ceremonies and I think we should get a piece of the action. A battery that was suggested was Mack’s Battery, 18^th NY Light Artillery which was formed in the Rochester/Brockport area. Those interested could choose to do the Federal interpretation when needed. We would not become a Federal Battery; we would remain Bedford Light Artillery (always) for reenactments. This is something for us to think about. I am open to any dialogue on this subject.

Your Obedient Servant,

Captain Michael J. Karnitz

1^st Sergeant’s Desk:

FUNDRAISER

Gun raffle tickets must be turned in before the July 2 deadline. If you are not going to Gettysburg you must get the tickets and money to Bob Henry before June 30.

The Gun raffle has been going slow. There was a suggestion to postponing the raffle date until this fall at Cedar Creek. I’m not sure if this is fair or not. This would give us this summer to sell more tickets at events. If you agree that we should do this and want more tickets, please call Bob Henry at 585-659-2240 or e-mail Bob at bvhenry@rochester.rr.com

It’s

Chicken B-B-Q

time!

Eric and Eileen have offered to host a chicken b-b-q fundraiser and have chosen Saturday June 18 or 25 from ___________?

This fundraiser will take place at their gas station at 49 Express on Bloomingdale Rd, Akron, NY If you would like to come help, come on by.

Extra working hands will be more than welcome.

If you have any questions or plan to

help out, please call

Eric and Eileen at 716-542-1073 or

LuAnn Henry

at 585/659-2240.

Gettysburg will soon

be upon us.

Are you ready?

For many of us going to Gettysburg, this will be our first camping event. There’s been no dry run this year. So be sure to go through all your accoutrements to be ready. Miss Karen will be handling the meal planning this year. She will be calling everyone with the grocery lists.

Can’t ya just smell it?

Attention Ladies!

There are a few of the ladies who would like to partake in afternoon teas as well as sewing time.

We would like to spend time as a group making a craft item this year to raffle off either at the end of the season or next year depending on what we do and how much time we put into it. We are open to ideas and welcome anyone who would like to join us.

If you wish to join us for afternoon tea, please be sure to bring your teacup and a special tea that you would like to share.

It was suggested that we could do a tea party and invite some "friends" from other units to join us once in a while.

Hope you can join us.

Gettysburg 2005 Site

Take U.S. 15 South to Gettysburg

Get off at U.S. 30 Exit (York Rd). Head towards Gettysburg (Left turn)

Turn Right onto Shealer Rd. (~ ¼ mile from Exit)

Shealer Rd. turns into Boyds School Rd. (~ 2 miles)

Turn Right at Table Rock Rd.

Follow signs to Artillery and Cavalry Registration. (~1.5 miles)

DO NOT GO TO REGULAR REGISTRATION

Ask for directions to Artillery Camp. Camp will be at top of hill across from Reg.