I would also add that you need to determine what level of authenticity you want, because there are several levels within re-enacting.

If you want your event to have soldiers that appear to be on the march, in between battles, etc. then you will want progressive/campaigner type re-enactors. These type will actually have minimal equipment because they strive to emulate the soldier on the march, in other words they will not have the big A-frame tents and bunches of gear that you see at so many events around the nation. What you will get are guys that pretty much carry everything they need on their person and appear ready to live off the land. Their uniforms have been well researched and are a bit more expensive than mainstream re-enactors. They also are often able to do great first person impressions due to their higher level of research. However you won't get a whole bunch of them because their numbers are smaller due to the investment of time and money to attain this appearance.

If you are seeking larger numbers and are not as critical with the level of authenticity then mainstream re-enactors are the way to go. They will have more equipage such as the canvas A-frame tents, cooking equipment, etc. Their uniforms will not likely pass the 10 foot rule, meaning their uniform will not closely resemble an original uniform if you are looking at it within 10 feet.

My advice is to just know what you want when seeking re-enactors. If you want to put on an event and attract re-enactors put an event notice on http://www.cwreenactors.com/fo...../index.php and tell whether you are seeking progressive/campaigner types or any re-enactors. If you have space limitations you would want to note that as well. It takes a fair amount of time to put together a good event and is helpful if you can get some re-enactors to serve as advisors.

Thanks to a $260,000 grant from the Ohio Community Service Council, one of only three new AmeriCorps grants, the Ohio Historical Society has created the Ohio History Service Corps, a program that will engage AmeriCorps volunteers to educate Ohioans on why history is relevant and how it can be used as an effective economic development tool. Partnering with local history organizations, the Ohio Historical Society will be placing 20 AmeriCorps service members in communities across the state for the next year.

With the sesquicentennial of the Civil War being observed from 2011-2015, the Ohio Historical Society, in conjunction with the Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums, will have the Civil War 150 Leadership Corps assist communities in preparing for the upcoming commemoration. Working with staff of the partner organization, corps members will assist communities in Civil War-related educational and public programming, special events, regional initiatives and basic collections care.

Volunteers will be stationed in 10 Ohio regions (map is included below). Participating partners in the CW150 Leadership Corps include: Wood County Historical Center in Bowling Green; Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center in Fremont; Oberlin Heritage Center in Oberlin; Youngstown State University in Youngstown; Dennison Depot Railroad Museum in Dennison; Ohio Historical Center in Columbus; Piqua Public Library in Piqua; National Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati; Quaker Heritage Center in Wilmington; Athens County Convention & Visitors Bureau and Athens County Historical Society in Athens.

If your organization would like to be a resource for or would like assistance from the AmeriCorps volunteer in your region, please respond with your name and organization below or contact Kristina Kuehling at kkuehling@ohiohistory.org or 614-297-2342.

See our webisite at http://www.csrab.state.oh.us, and click on "Battery A."  The Ohio Statehouse website, http://www.ohiostatehouse.org also provides photos and calendar listings. 

Many free Civil War events are planned at the Ohio Statehouse in 2011.  That year is also the Sesquicentennial of the completion of the 1861 Statehouse building. 

1st Ohio Light Artillery, Battery A is a 501c3 organization, and may accept donations.

aka “Shields Battery”

Guest Author: Christopher C. Whipple, Solon, OH

This 19th OVA was formed in Cleveland in 1862 and trained in Camp Cleveland (Tremont area).  Their men were from as far east as Rochester, NY and as far west as Toledo, Ohio and all points in between.  This was a special unit; whose reputation for good men and great officers was widely known.  In the unit history written in 1878, Theodore Tracie would write “As an organization, “Shields’ Battery” was composed of the best educated, the most intelligent body of men that served during the war--rather a broad assertion, but, we honestly believe, literally a true one.”  It’s hard to gauge if they were the smartest and best educated unit in the war however from their service we can certainly ascertain they were one of the most talented.  

The unit was made up of men of means and they were colorful characters when not on duty.  However when they performed, they quickly became known as the best artillery unit available.  

They first action was in chase of Morgan’s raiders and even fired the famous shots at the battle of McConnelsville, Ohio.   At the battle of Knoxville they battled Confederate General Longstreet and held the defense of Fort Saunders (aka Fort Sanders).  The next spring they traveled down to Georgia and fought in the battles of Rocky Face Ridge, Dalton and Resaca.  They then were instrumental at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain and were reported to have fired the first shots in the battle of Atlanta.  There are numerous humorous antidotal stories concerning the battle of Atlanta.  They fought at the battle of Nashville and ended in the spring of 1865 at the battle of Fort Fisher NC and at war’s end in Chapel Hill, NC.  They were stationed in Salisbury, NC until September 1865, when they were shipped back to Cleveland and mustered out.

Many of the unit members rose to prominence after the war’s end and Captain Shields would later become a Cuyahoga County Commissioner.  

About the author:

Chris’ father John G. Whipple had been a Civil War enthusiast for many years as his mother and her sisters were raised by their grandfather, Michael Houck a veteran of the 19th Ohio Volunteer Artillery.  As children my father’s mother heard many stories of the 19th‘s activities and they passed these stories on to their children.  John Whipple took the greatest interest in them.  He was active in 1961 during the centennial celebration of the Civil War.  The family had retained Houck’s 1864 Civil War diary and my father later transcribed it.  His interest in the Civil War was a lifelong endeavor and one that brought him many friends and hours of enjoyment.   

Chris’ interest in the Civil War began in High School when he did a report on Civil War artillery.  After moving to North Carolina and understanding how much interest in the Civil War was still active in the Southern states, he began to do more research on the 19th OVA.  He visited many of their battle fields and transcribed another unit member’s diaries and the 1878 Unit History.  With the advent of the internet, he was able to find many photographs and information on men of the unit.  He currently has photographs of 48 of the 144 men.  

Chris is hoping  to re-write and republish the 19th OVA’s unit history and Chris currently publishes articles on various topics for “Cool Cleveland”.  He resides in Solon, Ohio with his wife and school aged son.  

Drop me an email at bminton@embarqmail.com

I have a couple groups that are very close to you.  FYI, will be out of town this Friday-Sunday at an event. Beyond that, on my email faithfully.  Look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Bob Minton

Mike

Written by an Ohio high school teacher (and Ohio CW150 Advisory Committee member), the short article and two case studies present creative ways to incorporate TwHP lesson plans into the classroom.  In "Less is More," Paul LaRue discusses how he adapts different sections of lesson plans for different needs, citing the Rockets' Red Glare: Francis Scott Key and the Bombardment of Fort McHenry  lesson as an example.  LaRue also offers two case studies on using the Fort McHenry lesson to 1) teach primary source analysis and critical thinking and 2) enliven instruction outside the traditional history class.

These teacher guides are posted on the newly-activated "TwHP Lesson Pedagogy" page within the "Teaching Teachers the Power of Place" professional development section of the TwHP website.  You'll find that page at http://www.nps.gov/history/Nr/.....dagogy.htm

Bob Minton

The Camp Chase Fifes and Drums has been a leader in historical
military field music since the early 1980s.  An authentic recreation of a
Civil War-period regimental fife and drum corps founded in 1983, the
corps is named after the large Union Army training camp that was located
near Columbus, Ohio during the war. Members are from across Ohio and
several neighboring states. Their music, played on authentic wooden
fifes and rope tension drums, comes from the military field music
manuals utilized by the armies of America and Europe from the mid 18th
century to the late 19th century. .

The corps performs regularly at historical events and
commemorations, reenactments, musters and musical programs around the
country. Some of its best remembered performances began with its
participation in the 1985 Presidential Inaugural. Then there was its
role in the movies GETTYSBURG, and the prequel GODS AND GENERALS.  In
2000 the corps performed with Doc Severenson and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra,
conducted by Erich Kunzel, in a special July 4th performance broadcast
nationally on PBS, and has been a active supporter of the annual Don
Hubbard Music School.

If you would like to learn more about us or would like to book us for an event, please visit

http://www.campchasefifesanddr...../index.php

The Choose To Read Ohio 2011 booklist debuted at the 2010 Ohioana Book Festival. The new booklist features 20 titles by Ohio authors and includes four Civil War-related books! The State Library of Ohio is partnering with the Ohio Civil War 150 initiative to provide online learning toolkits for the 2010 and 2011 books with Civil War-era themes. Check out the latest toolkits added to our site.

Civil War-themed books on the 2011 list include:

“Coal Black Horse” by Robert Olmstead
“The Lost Quilter” by Jennifer Chiaverini
“Two Girls of Gettysburg” by Lisa Klein
“The Brothers’ War: Civil War Voices in Verse” by J. Patrick Lewis

Choose to Read Ohio (CTRO) spotlights Ohio authors and promotes reading across Ohio. The State Library of Ohio, in partnership with Ohioana Library Association and other Ohio partners, developed this initiative to encourage Ohioans of all ages to share literature by authors native to, residing in, or associated with Ohio.  CTRO is adaptable for use in classrooms, libraries, bookstores, by book discussion groups, families, and other community groups.

Toolkits for the 2011 booklist will be developed during summer 2010 and will be posted on the CTRO website at http://oh.webjunction.org/ohctrointro.  In addition to book descriptions, author biographies, discussion questions and other background resources to enhance reading and sharing the books, the toolkits will include tie-ins with early literacy skills and with academic content standards as appropriate.

The CTRO framework is adaptable for use in classrooms, libraries, bookstores, and by book discussion groups, families, and other groups.  Participation may be as simple as a book group selecting a title to discuss, or as elaborate as a multi-agency community partnership incorporating educational programming and special events. Simply choose to read a title together, and start reading!  When your group or community has completed its program, please tell us about it by completing the Choose to Read Ohio survey.

Email Janet Ingraham Dwyer at jdwyer@library.ohio.gov to be added to the Choose to Read Ohio notification list. For more information on the State Library of Ohio’s Youth Services, visit http://library.ohio.gov/youthservices.

Choose to Read Ohio encourages Ohioans to Read Together, Read Ohio, Read for Life!

We are creating a Google Map of Ohio's Civil War/Underground Railroad sites and we are in need of GPS coordinates of monuments around the state. If you are visiting any of the CW/UGRR monuments in Ohio, please bring along your GPS and keep track of the coordinates. At this time, we do not need coordinates of markers, just monuments. We would really appreciate your help!

Don't forget, you can also upload your travel photos to our online collections.

Thank you,

Kristina

kkuehling@ohiohistory.org