Greetings gents,

Back in August of 2000, the Hard Head Mess, 33rd Wisconsin, and other like minded enthusiasts were invited to participate with the 24th Michigan Volunteer Infantry for an Iron Brigade of the West Living History at the Gettysburg National Battlefield Park. This was an carpe eventum event with accuracy driven reenactors portraying a company of the 7th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The Hard Head Mess and chums have again been extended an invitation to join the 24th Michigan and comrades on July 31, August 1-2, 2009 to raise an c/p/h company or two for their Iron Brigade of the West weekend at Gettysburg National Battlefield Park. Our event is also being considered at the upcoming ONV annual meeting for being one of our scheduled of events for 2009.

We will be portraying a company (or two depending on interest) of the 2d Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry Regiment as they would have looked on the morning of July 1st, 1863. We have a cap of 60 men total for the event and have some great gents to lead our two companies if there is enough interest. Steve Acker will be Captain of our first company and if we have over 45 registrations we will form a second company under the command of Dave Gerow. To be true to the historic numbers the 2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry would have had going into the battle, each company will have around 25-30 men. There is a $25.00 fee to attend which will cover rations being issued and battlefield preservation. The campaigner company is hosted by the Hard Head Mess and we will have posted standards that all participants will have to meet as with all our hosted events. Just so we are clear, all uniform and equiapge will have to be accurate in construction, materials, and patterns compared to the original articles. We will have a brief inspection for all individuals to make sure we maintain an accurate company for the weekend. Our mess wanted to get this information out now incase someone wants to attend but needs to get some items that meet our standards to attend the event.

Please note: You will be in a battalion at times with mainstream reenactors so please be advised if this is something you are not interested in. This will not be an EBUFU event, but a chance to be on the original ground and tell the story as accurately as possible of the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. We are here to show the public and our fellow reenactors how rewarding an accurate impression of the Iron Brigade of the West can be and to honor the men we attempt to portray.

If this sounds of interest to you and would like to seek an invitation, please post or send me an e-mail at fallriversoldier@hotmail.com to receive an event packet. We are looking for a good group of serious living historians to share the history of the Second Wisconsin with. Also as an added bonus, along with us men from the Old Northwest attending, we may also have in our ranks Lance Herdegen, author and historian on the Iron Brigade of the West whom will help us with our planned battlefield walk of the route of the 2nd Wisconsin on the morning of July 1st, 1863 with docent mateirals from his research. If you are a fan of the Iron Brigade of the West and are looking for an accurate home on the real ground, this may be an event for you.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from interested gents that have a good kit, attitude, and willingness to interact with the public.

Tom Klas
Hard Head Mess
ONV

Hi gents,

For those that want to look at our event packet before seeking an invitation, we have our packet up at the Hard Head Mess Website:  http://www.geocities.com/hardheadmess/

After reveiwing if you think you want to attend and will be able to make the uniform and equipage standards, feel free to e-mail me at fallriversoldier@hotmail.com for an invitation to our Carpe Eventum LH with the 24th Michigan.

Also our portrayal for the weekend will be that of the Citizen Guard, Company "A" Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry under the command of Dave Gerow of the Hard Heads.

Thanks for your interest,

Tom

Guys, I moved your post "down" to the events folder.