Wasioja Civil War Days Newsletter
www.civilwarmn.com
  
April 2009
 

  April 2009 Newsletter
 

    In this issue    

 

 

Don't forget to encourage your friends and neighbors to  Subscribe here    

  
  • Bonnet Making
  • Muster in Wasioja
  • Civil War Blue and Gray Tea
  • 4th of July in Mantorville
  • This months stories 
   
   
What happened in March
Dodge County Expo.  "Friends of Wasoja" hosted a booth at the DC Expo on March 28. Booth looked smashing and we had a lot of interest in our events.

The forums are winding up with only one left and that being at 7 p.m. at the Wasioja Church. Subject -"Sanitary Corp and Christian Commission".  Last Monday, Tom Hoiser from Rochester presented "Guns of Gettysburg". Attendance has been 20-25. Maybe the group will continue on with a Civil War Roundtable.

  

 Upcoming Events

 April 4th"Bonnet Making Workshop"   
with Mary Ann Kelling
The Bonnet Making workshop will take place this Saturday.  20 have registered.  The ladies will be well coiffed.  Watch www.civilwarmn.com for update and pictures.

  Muster in Wasioja - May 2nd and 3rd, 2009
The Third Minnesota Regiment, Volunteer Infantry Co. C Provost & Medical, www.ThirdMinnesota.com will conduct heir spring muster at the old Civil War Recruiting Station in Wasioja, Minnesota. The Third Minnesota, are living history historians that are from Goodhue and surrounding counties that teach history through living history.
The old station will come to life again as the 3rd Minn. Regt. Vol. Inf. Co. C will encamp there for the weekend. All are invited to muster in for either day, or both, to drill as a soldier of that time. The 3rd will be accepting applications for their membership, as well as for the company being raised in Wasioja that will participate in the 150th Civil War event in Wasioja. These volunteers will train with the 3rd and will represent the 2nd Minn. Co. C from Wasioja at the 150th.  All interested in joining the 3rd, or in participating in representing the Wasioja Company at the 150th are urged to muster for the weekend.
The encampment will be set by Friday evening as to be ready for Saturday. The site will be filled with soldiers and civilians, living in the Civil War era.  The event is open for the public to fall in, or view as well. 
Saturday, camp will be open to the public at 8:00 a.m. and will close to the public at 8:00 p.m.
Muster will be at 8:30 a.m. both days and will continue throughout the day.
 Saturday will consist of a muster for the cause. Anyone volunteering to put down these rebel traitors will be accepted.  There will be roll call, sick call, mail call, and school of the soldier, school of the musket and school of the bayonet. There will be marching in company and firing of the muskets for demonstrations. Camp life will be going on all day with special occurrences that happen throughout the day.
Sunday will be a repeat of Saturday, as there is no rest for a soldier. In addition, there will be church call with a period service conducted by the U.S. Christian Commission in the morning. There will be medical demonstration in the afternoon as well. Our surgeon will demonstrate his skilful hands.
All will learn some Minnesota Civil War History as each day passes.
See www.civilwarmn.com

 

June 27 "Blue and Gray Civil War Tea"
An elegant Tea, held at the Milton Creamery  Retreat Center. Located in The old Milton Cheese Factory.  There will be two seatings.  One at 11 a.m. and one at 2:30 p.m.  Cost is $20.00 per person.  A great Mothers Day gift. Ladies, Gentlemen and mature children invited.   Full menu on www.civilwarmn.com.  Reservations available at tea@civilwarmn.com  or 507.527.2841. 


Don't miss "Old Fashioned 4th of July" in Mantorville

  • Introduction of a hot off the press Civil War Book by Mike Eckers
  • North Star Shooters."
  • A Carriage, Cutter and Horse Drawn Contraption Show

    see www.civilwarmn.com for registration form. 

  • Fiddling Jamboree
  • Pie Making Contest
  • Kiddies Activities and Parade
  • Vendors
  • Food
  • Watch for the Commemorative Root Beet Mugs
    •
  • The delicious Smoked Chop dinner and fixing's will start serving at 4:30 PM During the day the grill will be fired up and you may purchase burgers while the festivities are being held.  Old fashioned strawberry shortcake will be available during the day.
  • Commemorative Root Beer Mugs
Many will be in Civil War era costume, and you are encouraged to come in costume for the 'Old Fashioned 4th of July' celebration.

Event is sponsored by "Friends of Wasioja."  For the latest updates see www.civilwarmn.com

 

This Months Civil War Stories
 

From "Civil War Song & Story - 1882

I recently received this book full or anecdotes, poetry, and Incidents.  Here are some short ones. Mary Ann

 

"Coolness on the Field"  page 182

A lad of fifteen years of age, belonging to the 5th Wisconsin, whose name is Douglas, and resides in Beaver Dam, was in the Battle of Williamsburg and got his gun wet so that it would not fire. During the hottest of the fight, and whilst the Regiment was falling back, he deliberately sat down, took out his screwdriver, unscrewed the tube from his gun, dried it out, put it back, capped it, got up, and put into the field as tho nothing was going on.

 

"Adventures of a Spy"  page 398

  Dan H. Cole, a Sergeant in Company D, Third Indiana Calvary, was sent by General Hooker, on the 1st of March, 1863, to Fredericksburg as a spy.  He crossed the Rappahannock, below Federal lines, and went into Fredericksburg, looking for work, as a mechanic, in the shops.  He found them mostly closed, and went to General Lee and obtained a pass to go to Richmond, where he went in company with some Rebel citizens, and remained several days, obtaining much important information.
But when he wished to leave, he met with difficulty getting a pass, but fell in with a company of political prisoners, who were leaving at night, and passing as one of them, was conducted to Washington under guard. Here he ran from the guards, and reported at the war office with his information. 
 

"Summary of the 2nd Minnesota Veteran Volunteer Regiment"  

(submitted by John Kvasnicka)

The Regiment was originally mustered into service by companies during the summer of 18861, and was employed in post and garrison duty at the different frontier forts in Minnesota, until the close of September of the same year.
About the middle of October, 1861, the regiment left Fort Snelling 1000 strong, with orders to report at Washington, D.C. Arrived at Pittsburgh, it was met by orders to report to Gen. W.T.Sherman, at Louisville, Ky., and, having so reported, was stationed at Lebanon Junction, Ky., until the 10th of December, when it was assigned to Col. Robert L. McCook's Brigade of the 3rd Division, (Gen. Geo. H. Thomas, commanding,) Army of the Ohio, and joined the division at Lebanon, Ky. Go to civilwarmn.com for the complete article.