The Yellowhammer Rifles will be organizing an authentic Federal Infantry adjunct Company to man the siege works at the 145th Anniversary of the Siege of Fort Morgan, on Ft Morgan Island Alabama August 1&2, 2009.

The event organizer has challenged us to man these works the entire weekend. We plan to do just that. We will do so under stretched shelter halves and blankets, and it is sure to be HOT.

We will have a company kitchen behind the lines, and plan setup a picket rotation for the weekend.

Guidelines are simple...late war Federal. Hardee hats, and fatigue jackets or Frocks. Food will be centralized, so plan to live out of your knapsack.

The only tentage allowed will be shelter halves for shade (or a stretched blanket. We will setup a kitchen fly and one A-frame to store food stuff, and one for the Company CO.

To register (free) please e-mail galen.wagner@dps.alabama.gov

Info on the event:

August 1 & 2, 2009
145TH Anniversary of the
SIEGE OF FORT MORGAN and the
BATTLE OF MOBILE BAY, ALABAMA

Large regional reenactment event based on the actual siege of Ft. Morgan and parts of the ironclad naval engagements. Two of the Columbus , Georgia, National Naval Museum warships will be on hand to duel it out and take on the fort's Water Battery.

Federal siege works with artillery batteries will help bombard Ft. Morgan into submission. Confederate mortar batteries are needed to simulate counterbattery fire from the fort. An original 32-pounder seacoast gun will be firing from the Water Battery.

Numerous sandbags will be in place outside the fort was originally done during the siege.

All Confederate infantry to portray the 21st Ala. Infantry. All Confederate artillery to portray the 1st Alabama or the 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery Battalions.

Federals to portray General Canby’s besieging Army. The original garrison sortie will begin at 2 Pm on Saturday.

Siege scenarios will be going on both days and naval survivors will be taken from the beaches and locked up in a fort bastion. Sunday’s large fort bombardment and naval engagements will end with the surrender of the Confederate Garrison.

Federal infantry and artillery are highly sought. Due to the sometimes extreme conditions at Ft. Morgan, all federal reenactors will have the use of the senior officers’ quarters. Communal arrangements with AC, showers, kitchen facilities and several bedrooms are available on a first come first served basis with rotations. All campaigners may stay in the trenches which are very near the quarters. Large tent flies are recommended for all federals.

Evening supper for all the reenactors will be served in the fort.

A military command structure is being developed by the fort staff. If you portray a real soldier from the battle please let us know. Please keep your soldier impressions to ones that were at the fort during this time.

I have it on good authority that we will not ruffle any feather by sleeping at Navy Cove Friday night. No one even seems to know who owns the property.So…

Looks like we will camp at Pilot Town at Navy Cove (where the federal troops landed) Friday night and march in to the seige positions Saturday morning. The march will be early AM and about 3 miles.

We will portray the 77th Illinois. Bring picks, shovels, etc if you have them so when we arrive we can "improve the works."

Anyone planning to attend, e-mail me at galen.wagner@dps.alabama.gov so I am sure I get you registered and so  I can share the meeting location, and any other information as it gets closer to event time.

Info on the 77th Illinois:

“The Regiment remained on the island until the 25th, when they struck tents and went on the steamer "J. M. Burr," and crossed over to Fort Morgan. Here they took on board the 96th Ohio, and also a lot of spades, shovels, axes, wheelbarrows, etc., and then ran up to Cedar Point, above Fort Powell, and landed. They marched about a mile and then returned, as the point was so swampy they could find no place to encamp.
       The Brigade now consisted of five Regiments, the 23d Wisconsin, 67th Indiana, 77th Illinois, 96th Ohio and 161st New York. But in less than a week another change was made, when the Brigade was reduced to three Regiments -- the 34th Iowa, 67th Indiana and 77th Illinois -- and commanded by Col. Clark, of the 34th Iowa.
       Details went to work on the point, throwing up breastworks and bringing forward artillery from the boats. The boys enjoyed themselves feeding on fish and oysters, which were abundant, while the mosquitoes enjoyed themselves feeding on the boys. But as there was not room enough for so many troops, the Seventy-Seventh and two other Regiments crossed the Bay and landed at Pilot Town, four miles in rear of Fort Morgan. “