Gettysburg AAR

What a time! Talk about a big event, this was it! Registration was a breeze, getting to camp was easy, transit in and out was swell. Sorry to have to leave at the end of this one.

Camp was well appointed, plenty of space, lots of firewood. We did have to wait briefly for our water supply. John Newbold went way over the call of duty and cooked for a small battalion who were greatly appreciative of his efforts. Along with John, we had Tim Murphy's wife do yeoman duty with cooking help. She was there from dawn to dusk helping prepare food. We thank her dearly, a true "mother of the regiment"!

We were to be in Friday's first battle, but as we entered the field cease fire was sounded. A bit of a let down. We'd get our licks in Friday evening as the featured battle of East Cemetery Hill had us in the thick of things. The amount of fire was awesome and blinding as smoke obscured the enemy at times.

Saturday had us out by Emmittsburg Road with the Mifflin Guard's first battalion portraying the 26th Pa. We had to fight and withdraw from a heavy sesesh onslaught. 

Of course our piesta-resistance was to be Pickett's Charge, Longstreet's great assault. What a spectacle! We were out for the burning of the Bliss Barn! The entire regiment had the blue corps badges on.

After the assault the12th New Jersey took many prisoners as did our forefathers. We had two stands of colors. Boys offered cool drinks to the captured and wounded. A number of boys made the offering, "Come to this side of the Lord". Corporals Heulings and Salmon guarded many a captured reb.

Sergeants Kay and Speer kept watch over the fellows as Rich Mendoza and Phil "Unk" Shannon led our large company of men.

The Mifflin Guard was arrayed in two battalions. We were in a division with the USV battalions. There were three divisions of infantry totaling six brigades, totaling fifteen regiments.

The 12th New Jersey had some fellows travel big distances. It was good to see Nate Boer and Mark Sniatkowski join us. We had some guests in the color guard from California. We had a big compliment of our regular attendees too. All did well! The Mifflin Guard was augmented with a company of the Southwest Volunteers and a contingent from England, a great bunch of chaps, so thought Jim DiLoreto Sr.

Many memories were to be had from this event! This is one of our best attended events ever. This was one of the better big Gettysburg events. Remember boys, Spotsylvania looms first week of May next year!!