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1ST MICHIGAN INFANTRY A CIVIL WAR REENACTING GROUP
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Capt. James Henry Wheaton – Chelsea, Michigan. James served in the First Michigan Infantry 3 month Regiment, 3 year regiment, and reformed 1st Michigan in late 1864. He moved up the ranks from Private to Captain of the Regiment. He served in different capacities in companies B, D, E, and F. He was wounded at Second Manassas. A bullet pierced his hat and entered his skull just above his eye. Emily Crittenden, who I believe to be his sister, removed the ball and parts of his hat from the wound over several days while he recovered at her home in Ann Arbor. The picture shows the effects of the bullet on his eye, which he tried to keep turned away from the camera. He returned to the First Michigan Infantry just before Gettysburg. He was killed in action at Poplar Grove Church, Va. (Petersburg), on September 30, 1864. A full day assault was unable to secure the Rebel Fort Archer. At approximately 4:00, the army called upon Capt. Wheaton and his regiment. His attack was successful but he was killed in the process. The Fort was renamed Fort Wheaton in his honor and still bears his name today. His widow Eleanor and daughter Kate, whom he never saw, relocated to Decatur, Michigan. James and Eleanor Wheaton are buried in Chelsea, Michigan. Photo courtesy of David Parks collection.
GEARING UP
Now that we are in the lull of winter with no events to attend our focus shifts on readying ourselves for the upcoming year and improving our impressions. There is beginning to be a trend in our group towards a more progressive form of reenenacting. This trend will hopefully make all of us and the group better at reenacting while still maintaining our love for the hobby and each other. There are several ways to improve ones impression. It does not always have to involve buying more expensive clothing and having hand sewn buttonholes. It could also be by improving how you act in camp and on the battlefield. I will start including in the newsletter a series of articles on how to improve ones impression through equipment purchases, how you wear your equipment, how you act in camp, how you camp as well as how you do battle. All of these articles are merely an informational source on how to improve ones impressions. Hopefully, we all can learn a bit from them and integrate a point or two from each article into our own impressions |
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PORTAGE
This year’s portage event was truly a great event. Getting to hang out with one of our founding members (Tom Traverse), fighting a tactical and finally winning a cricket game were among the highlights. We enjoyed much camaraderie in the Stuart Manor each night and were led victoriously in battle by General Lee.
GETTYSBURG
This year’s Gettysburg reenactment certainly put all the other events we do for the year to shame. The scale of the battles was something you had to see to believe. The First Michigan fought victoriously over four days with our brethren in the Third Michigan. While the reenactment was not as big as many predictions it still dwarfed anything we do around Michigan. The only drawback to this event was the amount of rain that we received.
HASTINGS
This event seems to have a lot of potential of coming back but few members turned out due to the closeness in date to the Gettysburg reenactment. The tactical proved to be a lot of fun and nothing quite compares to the setting in the town. This event will once again become a staple on the First Michigan Schedule.
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 22nd-24th- Jackson
Max Effort event, this it a really big event, unless you attended Gettysburg.
Approaching it’s 24th year, the Cascades Civil War Muster is the largest, longest running, Civil War Event in the Mid-West. The Muster, which takes place at the beautiful Cascade Falls Park in Jackson, Michigan, offers free educational fun for the whole family. We invite you to visit our Arts & Crafts Show where all items are handmade and watch history come to life as you, walk through the authentic Union & Confederate camps, take part in our “hands on” educational exhibits in “Step Back in Time,” experience the pageantry of the Military Ball, shop at Sutler’s Row, and watch over 1200 re-enactors as they take to the battlefield to bring you the Battle of Wilson’s Creek.
SEPTEMBER 13-14– COLDWATER
In order to keep this event going this year we are switching up the format a bit. This year we will be portraying the US army in the Old West and will be attacked by mounted bandits. (most assuredly ex-Confederates) This event is closed invitation only. We will be camping at the Depot as usual and will ride the train out to Quincy when will be attacked. Wyatt has been doing some recruiting for this event and has 80 people coming out to watch this event from Bloomingdale. We will need to put on a good show so bring all of your pistols and carbines.
THIS MONTH IN FIRST MICHIGAN HISTORY
August 1861- Mustered out August, 7, 1861. August 1862- At Harrison's Landing until August 16. Movement to Fortress Monroe, thence to Centreville, Va., August 16-27. Gainesville August 28. Battle of Bull Run August 30. August 1863- At Warrenton and Beverly Ford July 27 to September 17. August 1864- Mine Explosion, Petersburg, July 30, 1864 (Reserve). Six-Mile House, Weldon Railroad, August 18-21.
NEXT MONTH IN FIRST MICHIGAN HISTORY
September 1861- Organized at Detroit, Mich., and mustered in September 16, 1861. Left State for Washington, D.C., September 16. September 1862- Maryland Campaign September 6-22. Battle of Antietam, Md., September 16-17. Shepherdstown Ford September 19. Shepherdstown September 20. September 1863- At Warrenton and Beverly Ford July 27 to September 17. Provost duty at Culpeper until October 11. September 1864- Poplar Springs Church September 29-October 2.
Dog Days
The dog days of summer are rapping up bringing on a fresh wave of reenacting enthusiasm and some great events. Lets finish out the season with some great turnouts and great times at our remaining events.
AUGUST 22-24– JACKSON
SEPTEMBER– 13-14– COLDWATER
SEPTEMBER 26-28– ANGOLA, IN
OCTOBER 11-12- BOWENS MILLS |
