May 2007

Next Meeting-Work Party- Mortar Practice

May 12th, 2007

9:00 AM

Keystone Rd, Richmond Ill

The next scheduled meeting on May 11^th at the Home of Adjutant Brown has been moved to May 12^th at the home of the Quarter Master, J. Thatcher. The time also has been changed for this will be a work party to count and prepare target materials for our shoot in June. We also plan to practice with a mortar before taking it out to Fort Shenandoah, and to work on the cannon. Please make a strong effort to make it out to JT’s. If you need directions please contact him.

Recruitment Opportunities.

Practice Shoot and Muster.

Battery H will be scheduling another practice at the Kenosha Conservation Club in Bristol Wis. This will also act as a Recruiting Muster for possible new members. Letters will be sent out informing past interested individuals that we will welcome them out to the range to try out the different weaponry. The Battery will again request that they RSVP prior to showing up at the primitive range. This is also a good time to practice as a team and tune up for any future Skirmish.

Artillery Display

On April 21^st the Battery put on a small artillery display at the Wheaton County Civil War relic show. The Battery in the past has presented on an artillery display for free admission to the show. This year was no difference. All that showed up in uniform got a free entrance pass to the show. John Thatcher brought out one of the Battery’s mortars while Richard Schimdt allowed us to display his Gatling Gun and thank-you to Dick who towed it there. The Commander and Wayne brought several of their small arms and other things for display. A good number of people were interested and the members talked to many people. The Battery was invited back for the Sept Show. The organizer of the show said he would use us to help advertise the September show. This will help us get more exposure and possibly attract more possible new recruits. Thanks to all that showed up.

Lagrange Pet Parade

The battery received an invite to take part in this year’s Pet Parade that will happen on June 2^nd. This year it was decided to invite the 2^nd US Sharpshooters to march with us. If our offer is accepted, the Battery will share the request $400 with the Sharpshooters. In the past, parade officials commented that they thought we would have more people marching. It was decided to share the $400 with the Sharpshooters and keep in good standings with the Parade officials than to not be invited to participate in 2008. The 2nd Sharpshooter’s commander Dan Davis said they could get 4 to 6 people to help fill in the ranks of the Battery. Also the 2^nd USS offered the Battery their assistance in running their shoot in June. The parade committee will contact the Battery by April 30 if they accept our application. If accepted, please try to make it to this parade.

2006 Long range Match

The Battery received information regarding the 2007 matches. They will be held one week later than normal, on July 28-29 on range 35. This year the matches will be held on the same weekend as the Grayling canoe marathon race. This may increase the public visitor count but it will also make motels harder to get. So if you plan on going, and will not be camping, make reservations as early as possible.

General Benjamin Dornblaser Skirmish

The 46^th Illinois Vol. Inf. invited the Battery to participate in the April 28 and 29th skirmish at Sandy Ford. Only four members traveled and participated in the competitive shooting events. John Matuszek took 2^nd place with his revolver by scoring a 46 out of 50.

The Battery picked up an extra shooter and competed in the carbine team event. They gave it their best. They finished four of the five events. They left 4 pigeons on the board. The competition was tight and hard fought. The end results were that the Battery came in third place out of 8 teams.

After a short break, Wayne, JT and John M represented the Battery in the Smoothbore team event. The shooters faired a lot better in these events. Wayne helped finish the pigeon board by picking off an extra pigeon. The 25 yard tiles were next and finished in a good manner. The normal crippler being the 6X6 Tile at 50 Yards did not cripple the marksmen of Battery H. John M was able to help finish the event in good time, securing the Battery a 2^nd place standing. Most people believe the 114^th are top dog in the region when it comes to Smoothbore but the Battery let them know that they are up to the task of giving them something to look forward to.

On Sunday, only Wayne and Dick stayed to represent the Battery. The weather was good and an official report is still pending.

Frank V Matuszek Memorial Skirmish

On June 23 and 24 the Battery will be sponsoring the 4th annual memorial skirmish. The Battery will try to make this shoot interesting and simple being that the Battery is on the low side of members. The battery is presently planning on only three team events, Smoothbore, Carbine and Musket. They will offer a fourth team event, revolver, if they have 3 or more teams sign up prior to the weekend. The traditional stake event will be replaced with a new version of X’s and O’s. This was an event that brought many in the past to curse the creator in the past. A new revamped tile event is also in the planning to help get rid of some of the odd shaped tile the Battery has in stock. If you have any other ideas to make this skirmish more memorable please let them be known.

2007 Events

May 11^th No Meeting- Moved to May 12^th

May 12^th Work party- meeting at John T

May 13^th Kane County gun show

May 17 -20 Spring Nationals

May 26^th Work party at John T in prep for Skirmish

June 2^nd LaGrange Pet parade -Pending

June 23-24 Sandyford Battery H

July 28-29 Long-Range Grayling Match

July 28 Algonquin Founders Day Parade

Aug 18-19 Springfield 114^th

Sept 15-16 Bristol 6^th

Oct 4 - 7 Fall Nationals

Oct 14^th Kane County gun show

Dec 9^th Kane County gun show

Rumors Confirmed

It was last reported that there were rumors that the Battery will be asked to help run the 118th National Skirmish in the year 2008. This rumor has been confirmed. Dan Gibson is the Skirmish Director and should be aware of the good job we did on the Latrine duty. For those of us that did it last time know that this job is considered the most requested job out of all the jobs. Dan Gibson has requested feed back from the battery on how many will be there and what job we want. Well a quick survey was taken and we will request the job of latrine duty again. We know what is involved and the Battery got many great compliments on the job we did. With luck we will again get the chance to clean the houses of poop.

Spring Nationals

The Battery received the invite for the 115^th National Skirmish and is sending a small contingency to represent the Battery. The deadline is past us so if you now decide to go and would like to sign up for individuals, it is too late. There will be five members going and they will be participating in Revolver, Smoothbore, and one Mortar team events. It was decided to farm ourselves out to other teams for Carbine and Musket.

Sick Call Report

The Commander is glad to report that Jack Hubbell has improved. Jack is still at the White Hall Rehab Center and his daughters have reported his improvement. Commander Matuszek talked personally to Jack and wished him a speedy recovery. It is very doubtful that you will see Jack on the firing line this year but he said he still would like to continue the best he can in being as active as possible. Both Bob and Dick are also improving. At this time the Commander wishes that no other member get sick or injured until all others are healthy.

Battery H History 104 cont.

Captain Levi W Hart, who succeeded the command of the Silfversparre battery, was followed by Francis De Gress, from Cape Girardeau, MO., the oldest second lieutenant, who was promoted to the chief command of the battery Dec. 25^th of the same year. Under him the battery took active part in all the engagements of the second division of the 15^th Army Corps and was one of its working batteries at Vicksburg, Mission Ridge, and Atlanta. The battery especially distinguished itself for brilliant work at the taking of the latter city July 21-22, 1864, but lost in that engagement Sergeant Peter S. Wyman, one of its most efficient men. The batteries of the brigade were posted in a semi-circle De Gress’ battery holding one of the flanks. The unionists were confronted by a force of rebels five times their own number, which made an irresistible charge. The brigade commander therefore ordered a retreat, and all but Capt. De Gress and Sergeant Wyman fell back. The two stuck to the guns to give the rebels a few parting shots. This done, De Gress turned and ran, but Wyman, not yet satisfied, reloaded for a final warm farewell. Then he spiked the gun and sought safety in flight, but fell the next instant, pierced by three musket balls. The battery, captured by the enemy, was soon retaken, and its guns again pointed at the Confederates, who now made reverse tracks faster than they had stormed forward just before. Under the command of De Gress, Battery H, henceforth known as De Gress’ Battery, added to its laurels and became a very famous one in Gen. Sherman’s command. From Atlanta, it participated in the march to the sea and finally marched in review before the President at Washington and was mustered out at Springfield June 14, 1865. The surviving members of the battery are said to have been a unit in praise of Silfversparre as a commander as brave as any and a tactician of more than average skill, but they were the opinion that his ironclad Swedish discipline was impracticable in a citizen army of volunteers.