2001:

James C. Dedman was awarded the Cavalry Medal at the United States Cavalry Association Meeting in Fort Riley, Kansas this April.

June 9& 10: BILLIE CREEK VILLAGE great event again this year!!!

July 3-4, Anderson Indiana 4th of July Parade
45 MEN SHOWED UP FROM 19TH INDIANA, CO A AND K, 49TH INDIANA AND TWO FELLOWS FROM THE 4TH VIRGINA WHO GALVANIZED.  AS ALWAYS, THE CROWD LOVED US AND THE VOLLEYS WERE CRISP AND LOUD!!!
I AM TELLING YOU, YOU GOTTA TRY THIS AMAZING EVENT.
MY THANKS TO THE MEN FOR THEIR EFFORTS AT SUCH A LATE HOUR. NOW THAT IS BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. ---DAVE

July 21-22: HASTINGS, MI

July 28: DAVE's POOL PARTY

August: JACKSON, MI

The 17th annual event at Jackson was a success. How the 7th Michigan manages to come up with new ideas to keep the event fresh is a marvel. They did a fine job in recreating the crater and our assaults on the position were convincing and unstoppable. Sure, we ran straight into it on the first day and experienced the same results. Sundays attack, though, sliced through the rebel position and penetrated the works. Though we were driven out, we gave the rebs all they could handle. Our artillery organizations put all 6 guns together to form a full battery of Guard guns. The infantry was divided into two battalions-the first under veteran Jim McKinnon and the second commanded by rookie Steve Boldin. Both performed remarkably and carried out each order with speed and efficiency.  Three cheers to both!!
The funniest moment was during Sunday's drill when a local park police officer verbally assaulted Adam Bender for removing a few feet of police tape used to mark the spectator line. I intervened and the next 10 minutes was incredible as this guardian of the law berated me, you and everyone who ever thought about reenacting for moving his tape. As he fumed off in his golf cart, the brigade broke into hoots and hollars at Matt Merta's "shoo-shoo" gestures. I later apologized to him for our indiscretions and sins. Many of us left the event with yellow police tape flying from our antennaes.

 

October 12-14: Hartford City, IN

NOVEMBER 2-3-4: Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, Georgia. Clearly the best event of the year. The site was amazing-the
terrain was indescribable. Our campsite was remote and generally free of modern
items. The amenities were superb with seasoned firewood, great-tasting water
from a huge tanker, abundant straw and friendly hosts. Their was no U.S. civilian camp which caused some problems but there were vast tracks of land that were used to create the civilian camps. Saturdays battle began with a march from camp 2 hours early. We stopped about a 10 minute march to the battle site, stacked arms and boiled coffee, ate dinner and engaged in lengthy first-person conversations. Ice and drinking water was trucked out to us prior to the action. The battle was Pickets Mill and, sure enough, we attacked up a steeeeep hill beside a real mill!!! Falling back (ok, we slid back), we attacked up an adjacent hill and came out directly on the rebel flank. Announcing that they were finished, the battle ended then and there. Odd conclusion but we changed history so what the heck.

We again departed early on Sunday and had our first person experience in a
sunken road. Sundays battle was all fire and manouver. We sure gave more than
we got and drove the grey hordes back each time they dared to attack. We were
the stars of a Disney film crew filming a movie called "Back Home Alabama" for
release next summer. HUZZAH for the event and the cordial reception given to us by the U.S. commander, Earl Zeckman. This is a prelude to a large national they plan for 2004.

Gentlemen, this event was a victim of the internet, gossip and rumour. The withdrawal of the sponsor, Primedia, did not affect this event one iota. As for the Wild West Show (it was cancelled when Primedia pulled out), there could have
been a 3-ring circus going on and we would not have known about it. The area is
HUGE and you had no clue what was going on a 1/4 mile away. Despite the
wilderness setting, there is a 4 lane highway that takes you right to the site.
When the word got out that Primedia was pulling out, only one person called me
to see what affect that would have on the event. Shame on any of you that did
not go without trying to see if the event would be affected by developments. It
was certainly NOT affected. The only thing that was compromised was the
aforementioned Wild West Show ( among Primedia's publications are magazines
named Civil War News, Civil War Times Illustrated and Wild West) and the formal
ball. They still managed to have a more casual dance on Saturday night. I urge you to take this as a lesson-when you make a commitment and your fellow guardsmen take vacation time, arrange car pools, etc, think twice before backing out. Contact me to get the latest info. You missed a great event.

A sincere thanks and mention in the official reports go to many folks at the event. Chief of Staff Dave Downing was a real life-saver. The 2 battalion commanders, Bruce Kolb and Jim McKinnon did a great job. The musicians from the 19th Indiana, Company A provided all the calls for the weekend. Ross and his 18th Indiana did the provost duties and provided an excellent impression. We even had the 26th Wisconsin with us.  You may know them as the Georgia Division that gracefully agreed to galvanize for the weekend and did a great job. Their cooks still have their magic touch. John Frazio of the 3rd Michigan really helped on the staff.
My personal thanks to all an d for your faithful support.