At High Tide Ration Issue
20 March 2008The current registration for our battalion at Gettysburg “At High Tide” is over 150 men, and growing!
At Gettysburg this year, we are continuing the “Next Step” program that Col. Lavis started several years ago. In this case, that means a full ration issue to all the men of the battalion: proper rations, stored in proper reproduction ‘packaging,’ issued just as it was in 1863 to the men of the Army of the Potomac.
For this to work properly - ALL soldiers registered with the Western Brigade NEED to participate in the experience.
Let’s look at the history of the campaign. The Federal forces had left the Fredricksburg Virginia area three weeks before the battle, and had literally marched themselves out of their trousers and boots. Typical would be to cover 25 to 35 miles in two days, and then camp for a solid day, where the men were issued three day’s rations. They repeated this for weeks. In the case of the First Minnesota, the regiment we will be basing our impression upon, they spent 30 June 1863 in Union Mills, Maryland. They got 3 days rations, and mustered for pay - not that they could do much with the money, as they marched 30 miles on July 1, ending the day at 10:00 PM south of Little Round Top. The men were roused three hours later at 1:00 AM on July 2nd, and by dawn the Second Corps was in battle array between Ziegler’s Grove and Meade’s headquarters. There was no time to forage. No one had a chance to get any food other than the governmnet rations. There were no sutlers accompanying the rush to Gettysburg. In fact, the wagon train was held at Westminster Maryland and did not close up to the Army until days after the battle!
So each of us should be eating government rations. That is exactly what the WB is making available, and we need you to share in the experience!
(Effective 5 May 2008, to obtain the post-deadline form, email Lt. Murray regarding registering for rations.)
Please get the Ration Form in NOW! The Commissary Department is in need of funds to continue procurring the raw materials for feeding the battalion. The form should answer your questions: it is designed for use either by your unit or you as an individual.
Make sure you mail the form to the Western Brigade in Kentucky. Do NOT mail it the the AHT registration people!
Colonel James Moffet
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