Brigade Structure

Brigade Structure:

Army of N. Virginia

Longstreets Corp.

Alexander’s Battallion

Officers:

Lt. Colonel Phill Matteson

Major Craig McCann

Captain Ron Lutz

1^st Lt. Mike Karnitz

NCOs:

1 First Sergeant

1 Sergeant

1 quartermaster Corporal

2 Corporals

Ordinance:

3 – 3" Light Artillery with Limbers

Phone Numbers:

Lt. Col. Phill Matteson-(716) 694-0947

Major Craig McCann-(585) 225-8984

Captain Ron Lutz-(716) 692-1320

1^st Lt. Mike Karnitz-(585) 637-9069

Dues: $30.00 Single-$50.00 Family

Dues are due ASAP.

Weather Report:

Yankees are beginning to thaw out…………maybe.

3 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.

Lt. Colonels Concerns:

Gettysburg, being the 140^th anniversary, will be a special event this year. If at all possible you should try to arrive in Gettysburg as early as possible on Thursday July 3, 2003. Attached is a message from Larry Pittman.

Majors Minute:

Order your t-shirts for Gettysgburg. See message from Doug Taylor.

Captains Corner:
^{1st Lts. Observations:}

For those that haven't sent me the list for events please do so NOW. We need all that can participate at the Brockport School. Thank You to those that have volunteered to be there. Please note where Bedford Light camp is located on the attached Gettysburg campsite map.

Message from Doug Taylor:

Lady's and Gentleman of Alexander's Battalion

I had been asked at the Battalion Meeting to have a special t-shirt made up for the battalion for the 140th Gettysburg. I am interested to know if this is something you might like and would like to purchase. The cost will be about the same as the last t-shirts (which I still have a few of) depending on the design $9 to $12. What I would like to ask is that you go back to your units and ask if this is something they would like. If so do you have any suggestions on the design and colors of the design and the color of the t-shirt. Also I would like to know about how many your group wants so I can get enough made up. I would like feed back on this ASAP so I can get a design drawn up and them printed in time. Please feel free to forward this on to others in your unit so they may give feed back also. So please give me some feed back. If you have any questions or want to discuss this further get in contact with me.

My Highest Regards
Mjr Doug Taylor

Battalion Quartermaster.

Message from Larry Pittman:

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Guns and Crews should be in camp and inspected by 3:00 pm on Thursday, July 3rd, if you expect to participate on Friday. If you can not comply with this deadline, Safety Inspectors will get to you at their convenience.

We will not have another repeat of Sharpsburg where inspectors worked day and night to get guns and crews inspected and on the field, and then some never took the field.

This is a once every five years three day event, please plan accordingly.

I Remain in Your Service,

Lt. Colonel Larry Pittman

Artillery School Notes – Leesburg, VA

April 11th Major McCann and myself left for Leesburg, VA. Longstreet's Corps held the first annual School of Instruction outside Harper's Ferry. The site is just past Neersville, VA. and is situated on the side of a mountain.

The owner of the property is from Connecticut and bought 350 acres for reenactors to play on. He has a horse farm on the land but the upper or back part of the land is for reenactors.

We got to know the infantry better and sat in on some of their instruction. Captain Wheat of Fauquier Artillery was there with their 10 lb. Blakley. Major McCann and I helped demonstrate the loading drill to the infantry. They watched from 150 ft. (50 yds.) in front of the gun as we went through the Drill by Detail and the Misfire Drill as Captain Wheat explained the different loading commands and actions. We then loaded a live round and fired in the direction of the Infantry to show them how dangerous the front of the gun is.

We rotated the gun 180° (changed fronts, Action Rear) and demonstrated the drill with the infantry 50 ft . to the rear. They were impressed with the demonstration and gained some respect for the guns and the crews that man the guns.

I would recommend that the unit attends the School of Instruction next year. There is much to learn and the bonding we had with the Infantry is going to payoff for us. I will be going again next year.

The scenery was indescribable. The temperature was 70° and a light wind blew through the trees. I wished we could have stayed all summer but we had to get back.

We left Sunday morning and when we approached Gettysburg, Major McCann detoured me to the Cavalry Battle Site outside Hanover, PA. If you have time it is worth the trip.

We stopped and read the monuments and checked out the guns that they have placed on the battlefield. Many of the guns have poor reproductions of the original barrels, but a few are original and still have the manufacturer's markings on them. Do you know how to tell a reproduction barrel? Hint: they're missing something they need to fire. And that's all I have to say about that.

Your Obedient Servant,
Lt. Michael Karnitz

Upcoming Events:

May 3-4 Elmira

May 10-11 Ft. Niagara School

May 17-18 Letchworth St Park

June 7-8 Beaver Center, PA

June 20 Brockport School

July 4-6 Gettysburg, PA

July 19-20Mumford(Infantry)

July 26-27 Liberty

Aug 16-17 Hamlin Beach

Sept 5-7 Macedon or Orwell

Oct 4-5 Gettysburg LH

Oct 18-19 Cedar Creek, VA