NEW RECRUIT PACKET
WELCOME TO THE 1848 VENTURE CREW
Sponsored by The Great Platte River Road Archway and the Boy Scouts of America
also known as (aka)
Company “C” 1st Nebraska Infantry Regiment
We are excited that you have demonstrated interest in keeping our American heritage alive and remembering the sacrifices of those who fought in the Civil War and of those who protected the pioneers or were the pioneers along the trails west. This packet of information will answer most of your questions and help you get acquainted with things we have done and are planning on doing in the future. Welcome to an exciting new world of fun and adventure.
Table of contents:
Mission, goals, objectives of unit….2
Future plans for the unit…3
Past yearly accomplishments …4
Current calendar of events – see updated version on website…5
Uniforms worn & Costs of being involved………6
Clothing and costs for women and young women…9
Safety Rules – required reading and understanding…9
Organization of the unit ……11
Requirements for advancement in rank ……12
Basic marching commands and positions…..14
How to be a Time Traveler and do first person impersonations ….16
Basic civil war history with test for advancement …18
Our unit’s military history ….. 22
Infantry – quick reference sheet …25
Ft Kearny – quick reference sheet .. 26
Artillery – quick reference sheet….28
Women’s roles in the civil war …...29
Civil war songs
School of the Soldier: ……………31
Load in 9 times
Load kneeling
Manual of Arms
Skirmish drill
Drum and Fife Corps – see separate packet
MISSION: TO DEVELOP GOOD CITIZENSHIP WITHIN OUR MEMBERS, TO KEEP THE MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FOUGHT IN THE CIVIL WAR ALIVE AND SHOW APPRECIATION FOR OUR HERITAGE
GOALS: TO TEACH MEMBERS OF THE CREW AND THE PUBLIC AN APPRECIATION FOR THE HISTORY AND SACRIFICE MADE DURING THE CIVIL WAR AND TO HAVE FUN.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Teach our members the basic skills of a Union soldier in 1861
2. Provide a quality program for both youth and adults to participate in that helps and strengthens the community
3. Provide an opportunity for youth and parents to participate in a wholesome activity together and have fun
4. Provide opportunities for leadership for youth
5. Develop character in our youth; honesty, confidence, skills, talents, appearance and respect
6. Develop mental and physical fitness in our youth
7. Provide a service for our community
8. Provide awareness of other cultures, such as Native Americans
BASIC RULES OF OUR VENTURE CREW
1. Be considerate of others
2. Be Honest
3. Have fun and learn that history is fun
4. Avoid drugs and alcohol
PLANS FOR 2008 - 1848 VENTURE CREW
“C” Co. 1ST NEBRASKA INFANTRY U.S.
· LIVING HISTORY EVENTS AT FT KEARNY (MEMORIAL DAY – 4TH OF JULY –-LABOR DAY)
· ATTEND SELECTED CIVIL WAR REENACTMENTS: STUHR MUSEUM - PAWNEE CITY –BROWNSVILLE - FT ATKINSON – FT HARTSUFF – PIPESTONE MN - FORTESCUE, MO - GETTYSBURG PA – LITTLE BIG HORN BATTLE MT
· ATTEND A CAMP OF INSTRUCTION IN THE SPRING
· RECRUIT 4 NEW MEMBERS
· DO CUB SCOUT CIVIL WAR ACTIVITIES AT ARCH
· IMPROVE OUR CIVIL WAR AND MILITARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
· DO ACTUAL LIVE FIRING AT RANGE
· DO ONE SERVICE PROJECT
· PORTRAY CSA SOLDIERS MORE AUTHENICALLY: SELECT A CONFEDERATE UNIT TO RESEARCH AND PORTRAY (CO. H, 1ST TENNESSEE OR 16TH VA INFANTRY (READ CO. AYTCH BY SAM WATKINS FOR NEW MEMBERS)
· OBTAIN 2 A-FRAME TENTS
· RECRUIT AND TRAIN FIFERS AND DRUMMERS
· MAKE A VIDEO DOCUMENTARY OF OUR UNIT
· DO MOULAGE OR WOUNDS DURING BATTLE
· SEE WEB SITE (1848venturecrew.xibus.com) FOR MORE DETAILS,
2002-2007 FIVE YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
· RECEIVED NATIONAL QUALITY UNIT AWARD FOR LAST 5 YEARS FROM THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
· MEMBERSHIP: CURRENTLY REGISTERED 18 SOLDIERS, 2 WOMEN. ADDITIONALLY 5 WOMEN, 1 GIRL, 6 MEN AND 2 BOYS HAVE OCCASIONALLY PARTICIPATED IN 2007 WITH US. ELEVEN PREVIOUS SCOUTS HAVE TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE UNIT OVER THE 5 YEARS.
· THE FOLLOWING SCOUTS/SOLDIERS BECAME EAGLE SCOUTS: PAUL OSTERMEYER, SHEA O’BRIEN, LONNY REEDER, CODY ROYLE
· WAS THE HOST UNIT FOR THE BATTLE OF SHILOH AT SCOUTSTOCK JUBILEE 2007 – MAHONEY STATE PARK - 10,000 SCOUTS – 100 REENACTORS – 4 CANNONS (OCT 2007)
· HOSTED THE SUCCESSFUL BOY SCOUT DISTRICT CAMPOREE (2003)
· PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES AT PAWNEE CITY, STUHR MUSEUM AND AT FT KEARNY 5 YEARS IN A ROW – OUR UNIT’S COLORED PICTURE WAS IN LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR NEWSPAPER (2006)
· PARTICPATED AT THE ARCHWAY FOR CHAUTAUQUA (JUNE 2007)
· PARTICPATED AT THE ARCHWAY OPEN HOUSES AND HARVEST DAY – 5 YEARS
· PARTICIPATED IN CUB SCOUT ARCHWAY CIVIL WAR EVENTS – 3 YEARS
· MARCHED IN VETERANS’ DAY PARADE IN KEARNEY - 5 YEARS
· WERE ON TV AND NEWSPAPER NUMEROUS TIMES – 5 YEARS
· PERFORMED A SERVICE PROJECT AT FT KEARNY
(REPLACED 2 SECTIONS OF STOCKADE WALL) - 4 YEARS
· PARTICIPATED IN FUND RAISER AT KIDS’ EXPLORE - 5 YEARS
· ADDED 18 HISTORIC RIFLES TO OUR UNIT - 5 YEARS
· ADDED 4 A-FRAME TENTS AND 5 WALL TENTS TO OUR UNIT - 5 YEARS
· ADDED 3 ROPE DRUMS AND FIFES
· PERFORMED AS THE COLOR GUARD FOR: THE KEARNEY HUB’S FREEDOM AWARD BANQUET (2007), THE GOVERNOR’S CENTENNIAL QUARTER CELEBRATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY (2006), VIETNAM VETERANS ASSOCIATION (2005), BOY SCOUT DISTRICT CAMPOREE, PANCAKE BREAKFAST (2003), THE NATIONAL MUZZLE LOADERS ANNUAL MEETING, AT THE ARCHWAY, AND REGULARLY AT FT KEARNY. ALSO, FIRED CANNONS AT THE “HUDSON” ANTIQUE CAR SHOW AT FT KEARNY (2006)
· PARTICIPATED TWO DAYS IN THE 150TH HANDCART PIONEER CELEBRATION AT THE ARCHWAY (2006)
· LEARNED MARCHING, RIFLE, BAYONET AND SKIRMISH DRILLS
· LIVE FIRED RIFLES IN RAVENNA, SODTOWN, AND PLATTE RIVER
· LEARNED HOW TO LOAD AND FIRE CANNONS
· TOURED FT HARTSUFF AND SAW GUN DISPLAY- 2 TIMES
· DEVELOPED OUR OWN WEB PAGE 1848venturecrew.xibus.com
· DEVELOPED OUR OWN BUSINESS CARDS
· FIVE ADULT LEADERS BECAME NATIONAL MUZZLE LOADER RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NMLRA) CERTIFIED RANGE OFFICERS
· HAD MANY CLASSES ON CIVIL WAR AND FRONTIER HISTORY AND EQUIPMENT AND ROLLED A LOT OF BLANK ROUNDS
· SOME MEMBERS RECRUITED AT SCOUT MEETINGS, CAMP AUGUSTINE, AND ATTENDED VERDIGREE TACTICAL EVENT, BOWNVILLE BATTLE AND FILMING ON RIVERBOAT, NE MUZZLELOADERS CONVENTION, AND DUKE ALEXIS RENDEVOUS.
POSSIBLE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:
ATTEND BATTLE AT PIPESTONE MN (2008)
ATTEND 14TH GETTYSBURG BATTLE (JULY 2008)
ATTEND BATTLE OF LITTLE BIG HORN, MONTANA
VISIT FT ATKINSON AND PARTICIPATE WITH 1821 VENTURE CREW
LEARN MORE ON NATIVE AMERICANS AND PORTRAY THEM
MOVE TO INDIAN WARS PRESENTATIONS
IMPROVE UNIT MARCHING SKILLS
DO MORE LIVE FIRE SHOOTING
SPONSOR DISTRICT BSA CAMPOREE
DOUBLE NUMBER OF A-FRAME TENTS
SELECT A CSA UNIT TO PORTRAY
2007 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1848 VENTURE CREW
· RECEIVED NATIONAL QUALITY UNIT AWARD FOR LAST YEAR’S ACTIVITIES FROM THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA (2006)
· WAS THE HOST UNIT OF BATTLE OF SHILOH AT SCOUTSTOCK JUBILEE 2007 – MAHONEY STATE PARK IN OCT. 10,000 SCOUTS.
· PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES AT PAWNEE CITY AND FT KEARNY AS UNION
· DID LIVING HISTORY DEMONSTRATION AT STUHR MUSEUM IN GRAND ISLAND AND WAS ON TV
· PARTICPATED AT THE ARCHWAY FOR CHAUTAUQUA IN JUNE
· PARTICIPATED IN 3 LIVING HISTORY CUB SCOUT EVENTS, AND THE HARVEST DAY AT THE ARCH.
· ARCH SERVICE PROJECT WITH SOD HOUSE, AND HAD TWO SCARECROWS JUDGED IN COMPETITION
· PERFORMED AS THE COLOR GUARD FOR THE KEARNEY HUB’S FREEDOM AWARD BANQUET AT HOLIDAY INN
· MARCHED IN VETERANS’ DAY PARADE IN KEARNEY
· NEW MEMBERS (DREW, BILL, & BONNIE VOLKER, ANDREW LOWE)
· WERE ON TV FOUR TO SIX TIMES AND IN THE NEWSPAPER 2 TIMES
· PERFORMED A SERVICE PROJECT AT FT KEARNY
(REPLACED 2 SECTIONS OF STOCKADE WALL)
· PARTICIPATED IN FUND RAISER AT KIDS’ EXPLORE
· ADDED 1 RIFLE AND BAYONET TO OUR UNIT (ADAM)
· ADDED 1 A-FRAME TENT TO OUR UNIT (ADAM)
2006 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 1848 VENTURE CREW
· RECEIVED NATIONAL QUALITY UNIT AWARD FOR LAST YEAR’S ACTIVITIES FROM THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA (2005)
· PARTICIPATED IN BATTLES AT PAWNEE CITY AS CONFEDERATES AND AT FT KEARNY AS UNION
· LIVING HISTORY DEMONSTRATION AT STUHR MUSEUM AND WAS ON TV
· PARTICPATED TWO DAYS IN THE 150TH HANDCART PIONEER CELEBRATION AT THE ARCHWAY
· PARTICIPATED IN 3 LIVING HISTORY CUB SCOUT EVENTS, AND THE HARVEST DAY AT THE ARCH.
· PERFORMED AS THE COLOR GUARD FOR THE GOVERNOR’S CENTENIAL QUARTER CELEBRATION AT THE UNIV. OF NEBRASKA AT KEARNEY
· LIVE FIRED MUSKETS AND DUTCH OVEN COOKING EVENT
· FIRED CANNONS AT THE “HUDSON” ANTIQUE CAR SHOW AT FT KEARNY
· MARCHED IN THE VETERANS’ DAY PARADE IN KEARNEY
· NEW MEMBERS (Roger Woolsey, Russ Crawford, Joseph May, Kiel Ruiz, Mike Shinn)
· WERE ON TV FOUR TIMES AND IN THE NEWSPAPER 3 TIMES
OUR PICTURE WAS ALSO IN THE LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR OCT.
· PERFORMED SERVICE AT FT KEARNY- REPLACED 2 SECTIONS OF WALL)
· PARTICIPATED IN FUND RAISER AT KIDS EXPLORE
· ADDED 2 RIFLES AND 1 BAYONET TO OUR UNIT (ROGER & JOE)
· ADDED 2 WALL TENTS TO OUR UNIT (MERRIFIELD’S & KNAPP’S)
· ADDED 2 REPRODUCTION DRUMS, 1 BUGLE AND 10 FIFES TO OUR UNIT
· OBTAINED VENTURE CREW BUSINESS CARDS & RECRUITMENT FLYER
· PARTICIPATED IN GRAVE DEDICATION AND IN DOCUMENTARY FILM ON MISSOURI RIVER
DRAFT CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2008 (Updated Nov 2007) MEETINGS ARE USUALLY HELD 2 THURSDAYS EACH MONTH AT THE ARCHWAY IN KEARNEY AT 7:30 PM. CONTACT JOE CARLSON 237-4447,
JAN. 19 Neb. Muzzle Loaders Convention – Ramada Inn 9:00 AM
FEB. 22nd FRIDAY 6:30 PM CUB SCOUT CSA LIVING HISTORY DEMO. - ARCH
MAR. 8 Sat. Possible service project at Ft K. replacing stockade wall
MAR. 15 Sat. CUB SCOUT LIVING HISTORY DEMO –ARCH
MAR. 28 Fri. CUB SCOUT LIVING HISTORY DEMO –ARCH
APR. 11-12 (or 18-19) Invited to Camp of Instruction with 165th NY & 10th Iowa at Stuhr Museum
APR. 18 Fri. 6:30 PM CUB SCOUT LIVING HISTORY DEMO -ARCH
APRIL ? 26TH SAT-SUN 27TH, FUND RAISER, KIDS EXPLORE - TRI CITY ARENA,
MAY 16-17 KANSAS CITY REENACTMENT –STAND OF COLORS in lieu of Gettysburg
MAY 23-24 MEMORIAL DAY – FT KEARNY – CAMPOUT FRIDAY – BATTLE SAT.
MAY 26TH MON. MEMORIAL DAY FLAG CEREMONY
JUN. ? VERTIGREE TACTICAL EVENT
JULY 1-8 GETTYSBURG, PA 145TH REENACTMENT (CONSIDERING)
JULY 4TH FRI.. 5TH SAT. 2:00 PM MAJOR BATTLE, FT KEARNY,
AUG 15-16 PIPESTONE MN BATTLE (CONSIDERING)
AUG. 29 – 30TH. LABOR DAY WEEKEND: FT KEARNY SKIRMISH SAT. 2 PM
SEPT. 1ST MON. LABOR DAY COLOR GUARD FT KEARNY 2;00 PM
SEPT 27TH SAT. PAWNEE CITY BATTLE, BATTLE (1ST NEB INF) 3 ½ HRS..
OCT TBA SAT (INDIVIDUAL OPTION) BROWNVILLE NE 213 MILES/3 1/2 HRS.
OCT TBA THUR. MEETING CERTIFICATION/PROMOTION BOARD
NOV. TBA THUR. 6:30 PM, 6TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY AT ARCH
NOV 11TH TUE VETERANS DAY PARADE – KEARNEY
DEC NO MEETINGS - GUN SHOW HOLDREGE OPTIONAL
Other Options:
LIVE FIRING AT PAT AND KEYTON’S
(INDIVIDUAL OPTIONS):(1st KS) Ft Harker, KS, J.C. Fremont Days,
(LATE JULY OR AUG: POSSIBLE TRIP TO FT HAYES, KS 151 MILES, TO FT LARNED 55 MILES, THEN TO FT HARKER 77 MILES.(566 MILES ROUND TRIP)
JUNE SEPT. 12-13 FRI-SAT (INDIVIDUAL OPTION )FT HAYS, KS (3 HR DRIVE)SCHOOL DAY
OCT 20 ? GRAND DUKE ALEXIS & GEN. CUSTER
OCT TBA SAT ARCHWAY OPEN HOUSE, LIVING HISTORY AND SKIRMISH
Getting Started: Uniform Costs with 4 Different Options: (costs current as of Nov 2007)
Option 1. We have two to three “loaner” uniforms until you can get your own fitted uniform. We request that you attempt to acquire your own clothing within a year after joining (possibly as a Christmas present) but if it takes longer due to financial need that is okay too. We have some additional leather gear and accouterments for you to wear. We do not want the fear of cost to participate to stop anyone from learning history and participating with us. We want you to come and enjoy our hobby with us.
Option 2. For youth who have limited funds. We have two complete uniforms (depending on if they fit you) with complete leather accouterments for rent for the entire time you are active in the unit. Rental fee is $50 for the clothing and $50 for the leather gear. It is expected that as a minimum $5 would be paid a month for rental. If items are lost or severely damaged, it is the responsibility of the user to replace it. Uniforms that are smelly and dirty should be dry cleaned before returning them.
Option 3. You may purchase your own uniform for about $170 and rent your accouterments for $50 plus shipping.
Option 4. You may purchase your complete new uniform for about $168 + complete leather gear for about $95 + shipping $12.50 = about $280 This way you can order everything to fit you and it is all yours! Ninety-five percent of our unit has their own uniform.
You are not required to purchase a rifle. We have access to 6 additional loaner rifles that are authentic reproduction rifles from the civil war and to 5 drums, fife, and flags to carry. Some members decide to purchase their own rifle and bayonet. While purchasing your own rifle helps the unit, it is not required. Those who purchase their own rifles usually purchase the longer (3 band) Enfield or Springfield 58 cal. rifles. The cost for a new rifle by itself is about $460 to $525. Used rifles have been purchase for $200 to $500 depending on their condition, name brand, and if bayonet and sling come with them. We also have the shorter 2 band Zouave rifles within our unit.
*It should be pointed out that your costs of being involved in the civil war reenacting hobby are significantly lower than with most other units. It is not uncommon for new persons to pay $500 for the above uniform and equipment then be required to purchase their own rifle.
Other Costs with the unit:
About $10 a year for insurance and registration with the Boy Scouts of America. This is the cheapest and most complete insurance we can purchase. It also allows us to be affiliated with BSA and receive discounts and tax exempt status as a unit.