The 2nd Michigan Musters In at Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne 2019

So---do you recall only a few months ago that I put together a sort of specialty living history reenactment celebrating and commemorating the Battles of Lexington & Concord - the beginnings of the Revolutionary War?
I called it Patriot's Day, and it went like THIS  (click the link to see my Patriot's Day posting)~
Well,  to pull something like that off certainly took quite a bit of blood, sweat, and even tears.  It was tough to try to keep everyone in the moment of April 1775, for there were many military friends who did not have uniforms of that period.  Yes, it was difficult for me, but I stood by my vision of what I wanted the reenactment to be.
Luckily for me, they understood what I was attempting to do, and those who were able to participate did a fine job indeed.
It turned out perfect.

Entering the Fort

Photo taken by Bob Jacobs

Let's jump up a couple months to June, where a friend of mine,  Will Eichler,  very recently wanted to do the same type of historical scenario, but for Civil War rather than Revolutionary War.  Will ran into similar situations where some who wanted to participate were not quite sure of the vision.  As he wrote on the events page:
"Things are a changing.  Civil War Days at Fort Wayne for 2019 will be a living history only!  We have a chance to make a solid change and push history further forward than we have in the past many years.  We will implement some things we have  (previously)  done in slightly new ways to tell the story of the boys of the 2nd Michigan very close to the time of year they were actually at this very same Fort!"

This reenactment was of a different flavor,

and it brought the visitor through a time-

warp back to 1862.

Photo taken by Bob Jacobs

Imagine reenacting an event on the very same spot - the same grounds - as the men and women who were there over 150 years ago!  Yes, maybe on the east coast or in the south this may occur frequently, but here in southeastern Michigan, the opportunities are pretty rare, for the most part, for  "progress"  has removed most of our pre-20th century history.  Luckily, however, we still have our beloved fort.  You see, Historic Fort Wayne,  a five point star fort in Downtown Detroit,  was built in the early 1840s, at the point on the Detroit River closest to British Canada.  This new fort was slated to have the most up to date cannon capable of firing on the Canadian shore as well as ships sailing the river.
Since diplomacy reigned, there was little danger of a war between the two countries,  and this new Fort was re-commissioned as an infantry garrison,  though it did not see any troops until the outbreak of the Civil War, when the first Michigan soldiers reported for duty.
The peaceful location became a primary induction center for Michigan troops entering battle in every US conflict from the Civil War  to  Vietnam.  Among other duties over the course of it’s 155 year use as an Army base, it served as an infantry training station, housed the Chaplin school for a few years, and was the primary procurement location for the vehicles and weapons manufactured in Detroit during both World Wars.  Also during WW II  the Fort housed prisoners of war from Italy.
With that history in mind, Mr. Eichler came up with an idea:
"When I was looking for a scenario to portray at Civil War days this year,"  Will Eichler said,  "I was conscious of where on the calendar we were and looked for a story from the Fort that was appropriate to that.  Quickly it became apparent that the best story to start with was that of the 2nd Michigan infantry."

The barracks of Detroit's Historic Fort Wayne.

Photo taken by Bob Jacobs

To put an event like this together takes a lot of effort and time.  Of course, Will didn't mind, for he received a nice check for doing this.
Wait-----no he didn't!
What many non-reenactors don't realize is that we, as living historians/reenactors, rarely get paid for what we do.  Unless we are hired on to do historic presentations, such as what I do with Larissa  (click HERE),  all of this is done for the love of history - no charge.

Fife & Drum

Photo courtesy of Bob Jacobs

So what'd you do this weekend?

I guarded a fort built about 1840.

Photo taken by Gary Thomas

So, as I was saying,  to put an event like this together takes a lot of free effort and time,  much less finding those willing to take part.  I mean, how many people would give up their hard-earned weekend to stand guard at the entrance?  To march and drill?  To take part in a weekend scenario without a battle?
Yeah...now you get the picture;  it's out of a love for showing the past in a most accurate way.
And when I walked inside the star fort, I did see and feel history come to life.  As Will put it,  "We were able to portray a portion of these men  (from the 2nd Michigan)  the weekend before they left for the front.  They had already been mustered into federal service.  They had already received ammunition from the Pittsburgh arsenal.  They were making final preparations and had been training under Israel Richardson for over a month.  Richardson had actually been married about 10 days earlier."
As for pulling it all together and getting reenactors to come out, he told me that,  "We raised two good companies of living historians and also had support personnel from the quartermaster to staff to Annie Blair to an African-American named Parker Bon who is looking for service.  We also had a post sutler.  There were many different things for us and the visiting public to see and experience."

Jillian and Amanda were representing what Jane Hinsdale and Annie Blair (soon to be Etheridge) did throughout the war.  They had their laundry set up to display the roles of laundresses within the Union army.  They also had a basic medical kit and bandages to represent what they would’ve done throughout the war as nurses.

Top photo by Gary Thomas

Bottom photo is mine

Jane’s husband, Hiram Hinsdale, joined the 2nd MI Co. D.  When they left Detroit and went to Washington DC Jane went with them.  She was a matron and laundress for the regiment. 

Photo taken by Gary Thomas

When the 2nd Michigan left for Bull Run, Jane followed on her own.  At Bull Run, Jane tended to wounded and dying soldiers, even carrying water to them in her shoe.  She was captured by confederates at Bull Run. While captive she helped more wounded Union soldiers.  Eventually she made it back to Washington City and was a nurse at a hospital there for the rest of the war.

Annie Blair, after marrying  (and becoming Annie Etheridge)  enlisted as a Daughter of the Regiment - who usually served as nurses - in the 2nd Michigan Infantry and was twice shot out from under her horse as she tried to help the men during battles.

Here we see Annie and Jane taking care of the men.

Photo taken by Bob Jacobs

Citizen Parker Bon, laundress Jane Hinsdale, and Annie Blair, and a couple of privates review the offerings of the post sutler, Ben Jenkins.

This photo taken by Bob Jacobs

Quartermaster Robby Cook prepares the supplies of the 2nd Michigan for movement to Washington City while Private Brian Burtka stands a sentry post guarding both the quartermaster and ordnance supplies.

"The garrison was kept busy from the time the park opened to the public until just after it closed each day.  Men rotated between guard,  drill,  and fatigue duties, as well as eating military food, to both achieve the necessary work of the regiment and to keep the fort  "alive"  to anybody who walked through."

Both photos here taken by Gary Thomas

And here we have a portrayal of a full regimental medical staff, including Surgeon Dr William Brodie, Assistant Surgeon Dr Peter Klein, and Steward George Greene.  

Above photo taken by Gary Thomas

They had a display of medical instruments used during the Civil War, and discussed the instruments as well as medicine.

Long-time reenactor extraordinaire, Ken Roberts, joined in.
Ken has been reenacting the Civil War as well as the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 since around----1960!

Historically, I am not certain how many visitors would have come to the fort while the men were there in 1862, but we certainly enjoyed our time speaking with those who were calling it home for the weekend.

Caught on digital film by Gary Thomas

“The clerk copies government forms in triplicate for the quartermaster.”
Top photo taken by Gary Thomas

The age before carbon paper took off.
Though carbon paper has been around since the early 19th century, 
it really didn't  "take off"  until the 1870s.

“For the overwhelming number of Union and Confederate soldiers, religion was the greatest sustainer of morale in the Civil War.  Faith was a refuge in great time of need. Troops faced battle by forgetting earthly pleasures and looking heavenward . . . Guarding and guiding the spiritual well-being of the soldiers was the primary responsibility of army chaplains.”
(from THIS site)

On Sunday morning, preacher Mike Gillett gave a sermon to the
men inside the fort.
(picture courtesy of Mike Gillett)

Mike is an actual ordained minister who has taken
part in period weddings, as well as modern ones
(including my son & daughter-in-law), and he is
usually called upon for Sunday service
at reenactments.
As he has said many times, the Bible hasn't
changed.  It has had the same message
as it always had.
(picture courtesy of Mike Gillett)

Meanwhile, outside the star fort:

Most of the action took place inside the star fort itself, though there were numerous civilians and activities along the river road outside of the fort.

My friend (and sometimes reenacting sister) Jackie and I.

Photo by Gary Thomas

I am privileged to be among some of the finest living historians in the hobby.  Plus, I suppose I am kind of a bright spot in a dark-clothed world (lol). 

This past January the reenacting world lost a wonderful woman, Mrs. Bonnie Priebe, who portrayed Mary Todd Lincoln like no other could.  Bonnie was married to the finest and truest-to-form Abraham Lincoln since 1865, Mr. Fred Priebe (I am certain you can pick him out in the above photo), and the two of them together were an unbeatable force of living history.
This year many of the participants at Historic Fort Wayne paid honor in a wonderful memorial to Bonnie:

The Union soldiers marched passed the civilians for the memorial service.

Fred Priebe, on the right, and fellow reenactor, Guy Purdue, stand next to the wreath as a prayer was said.

It was a fine memorial befitting of a fine lady who will be sorely missed.

So there you have it - - a fine weekend of living history.

Will Eichler, who put all of this together, is silhouetted against the
Detroit sky.

Reenactments of this sort seem to be a trend, and I hope it continues, for it raises the bar for all who dare to bring the past to life in as accurate a way as we can.  It's another level - one that I enjoy greatly.
Kudos!

Until next time, see you in time.

Thank you to
Bob Jacobs
Gary Thomas
and
Mike Gillett
for allowing me use of their pictures.

~   ~   ~