Black History Month Celebration, College of the Desert, Palm Desert, CaliforniaFebruary 21, 2024 we represented the U.S. Colored Troops at this event sponsored by the College of the Desert Black Student Success Center (BSSC) and the Social Studies Department. We will had a small camp set up on campus during the afternoon to interact with the students for Black History Month. We had a great turn out of students, faculty and staff for our USCT presentation and then a "meet and greet" at the BSSC around 5 PM which included a BBQ rib dinner (yum).
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Huntington Beach, Central Park, CaliforniaLabor Day Weekend, September 2-3, 2023. Our USCT camp interacted with the public and we had a daily presentation recognizing the 160th anniversary of the 1863 engagements involving U.S. Colored Troops including the Siege of Port Hudson, Battle of Milliken's Bend, Assault on Fort Wagner, and Tubman's Combahee Raid. We represented the 73rd and 97th U.S. Colored Infantry and 3rd U.S. Colored Cavalry at the event.
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Juneteenth 2023 at Palm Springs, CA.Held at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center in Palm Springs, California. We were part of the opening ceremonies and reenacted the reading of U.S. General Granger's General Order No. 3 at Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, which marked the event celebrated as Juneteenth. We had a small camp with some tents set up displaying items a typical USCT soldier would have. We demonstrated School of the Soldier and the Manual of Arms to demonstrate to the guests soldier drill and camp life.
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160th Anniversary Muster at Riley's Farm, Oak Glen, CA.Celebrating the 160th anniversary of the original muster of the First Louisiana Engineers (95th & 97th USCTs), April 28, 1863, we set up an a-frame tent and small display of engineer tools and equipment. All day was spent discussing both U.S. Colored Troops and engineer work during the Civil War. We had a presentation during the day on "U.S. Colored Troops: Fighting for Equality" and two stations in camp for visitors to interact with; USCT and US Engineers. Our "USCT at the Siege of Port Hudson" made the schedule of events as well. Representing USCT were Lt. Blansett, Pvt. Della Puppa, Pvt. Sparrow, Pvt. Walsh, Rct. Lee, and camp matron Mrs. Agular.
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Engineer Camp at Jensen-Alvarado Ranch, 2023This was a one day event attended by Lt. Blansett and Pvt. Della Puppa. We portrayed the 97th U.S. Colored Infantry as Acting Engineers. We set up near Federal HQ and displayed some USCT information and the tools and equipment similar to what would have been used by the colored engineer regiment we represent.
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Lincoln Memorial Shrine, Redlands, California, 2023Saturday, February 4, 2023. We commemorated the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the official enlistment of African-Americans into colored regiments. Lt. Blansett, Pvt Della Puppa and Pvt. Walsh represented the 180,000 men of the U.S. Colored Troops during the conflict. We set up a small USCT recruiting table. Our group coordinated with the museum and President Lincoln to mark the 160th anniversary of the proclamation by reading it aloud following it up with a short presentation of its impact on recruiting U.S. Colored Troops. You can watch our presentation in the video link below the album of photos.
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Riley's Farm, Oak Glen, California, Fall 2022This event was held November 19, 2022 and we focused on the "160th Anniversary" theme. Set in the fall of 1862, Lt. Blansett, Pvt. Martin and abolitionist Della Puppa set up tents and a recruiting station. We visited with families throughout the day and provided a presentation about the initial enlistments of colored regiments that began in 1862 highlighting the work of social reformers such as Frederick Douglas, African-American resistance groups and the 1st Louisiana Native Guards. Our recruiting posters were reprints from 1862 New Orleans black newspapers. Rct. Woods participated in drill with Pvt. Martin. Mrs. Aguilar helped out in the USCT campgrounds and young Kanan tried on the Union blue.
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Huntington Beach 2022Representing the 97th US Colored Infantry were Lt. Blansett, Pvt Martin, Pvt. Hookway, Pvt. Della Puppa, Pvt. Archie, Pvt. Diaz, Pvt. Walsh, and Recruit Woods. We had a nice camp in the shade. We were on the event schedule to present the topic of "Civil War Engineers" each afternoon. We also had representation at a debate for the public to enjoy. A large commissary camp was featured as well. It was exceptionally hot. Held annually every Labor day weekend at Central Park in Huntington Beach, the Civil War Days event attracts living historians and reenactors from across the country. It is the largest Civil War event in the southwest and attracts a large crowd of visitors.
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Juneteenth Celebration, Riverside, California 2022Lt. Blansett and Pvt. Hookway set up a tent and display table representing the USCT and Rachael Murrell set up a display focused on the U.S. Sanitary Commission. We interacted with visitors throughout the day. Pvt. Hookway gave many demonstrations in soldier drill and loading and firing rifled muskets. Mrs. Murrell had a splendid display of historical artifacts and reproductions. Visitors were able to get their photo taken in uniform as a USCT soldier. Held annually at White Park in downtown Riverside, California, the community provided booths, music, games, and entertainment for all to enjoy. We provide an educational display of items that would have been carried by General Granger's U.S. forces as they occupied Texas and issued the June 19th General Order announcing the end of slavery in which "Juneteenth" celebrates.
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Riley's Farm, Oak Glen, California, Spring 2022Our display focused on the USCT. Only Lt. Blansett attended but Pvt. Walsh, also representing USCT, fell in with the 71st PVI to participate in the battles. Coordinated with the telegraph operator to set up a second station to send-receive messages using Morse code. Very well attended by families and school children in the area. Located in the pine covered base of Mount San Gorgonio between Beaumont and Oak Glen, the reproduction historical village and farm is a delightful location for both living historians and visitors alike. One truly feels as though they have stepped back in time when they walk about the camps and visit.
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Jensen-Alvarado, Rubidoux, CA, 2022Situated on grounds that include a large 1860s home and ranch buildings with a fruit orchard and farm animals, this event had plenty of visiting families and reenactors participating in battles, marching right out of the orchards, that were easy for the public to view. Our 97th USCT participants at the event were Lt. Blansett, privates Hookway, Martin, and Williams, and camp matron Mrs. Hookway. We were able to set up a small camp and display table. We had a small contingent of the U.S. Marines form up with us in order to participate in the battles.
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Strathearn Park, Simi Valley, California 2022Located in an historical park with 19th century structures, the small village and grounds provides for a small, but very enjoyable event. One of the unique features of this annual event is the "basic drill camp" that the park provides with wooden muskets and Civil War hats that get the children immersed into the history. 1st Lt. Blansett represented the USCT and engineers with a tent and display table.
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Lincoln Memorial Shrine, Redlands, California, 2022At this event, Pvt. Hookway and Lt. Blansett set up a display and spent the day interacting with visitors. Pvt. Hookway also participated in the infantry demonstration which repeated itself every hour. The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is both a historical research library and a Civil War museum. The event space is small, but ideal for families to visit multiple displays and converse with living historians that represent the many different participants in the U.S. Civil War. It is held every February.
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Huntington Beach 2021At this event we represented the U.S. Colored Troops in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James that developed into the XXV Corps. In camp, we presented the contributions of US Colored Troops to the overall war effort. Because the event focused on the Siege of Petersburg and the Army of the Potomac, daily presentations were made by Lt. Blansett about military engineering, which was a critical element of the investment of Richmond and Petersburg such as the extensive pontoon bridge built over the James River and the extensive line of earthworks and fortifications for which the campaign and siege was famous for. At camp, the public was excited to hear about U.S. Colored Troops involvement in the capture and occupation of Richmond and the chase of Gen. Lee to his surrender at Appomattox Court House.
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Juneteenth Celebration, Blythe, California, 2021Honored to support the first "national" observation of Juneteenth in the community park. We set up a tent, display table, and brought some hands-on items for the public to view commemorating U.S. Gen. Granger's order announcing the end of slavery in Texas in which the holiday celebrates. Visitors were able to feel the weight of the rifled muskets the soldiers carried and go through the motions of loading and firing. The temperature maxed out at 120 degrees.
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Riley's Farm, Oak Glen, California, Spring 2021This was an event that placed an emphasis on drill. An outstanding schedule that had all participants actively engaged in company and battalion drills as would be typical of the soldiers' daily life. Lots of marching up and down dirt roads added to the historical realism of the event. Fresh fruits and vegetables in a quaint village where small skirmishes result from the close proximity of camps of both U.S. Forces and Rebels. The terrain at the location is a very enjoyable mixed forest with winding uphill hikes and fresh air. Deer and bear are occasionally seen.
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Calico Ghost Town, Yermo, California, February 2020Great event location in an "old west" mining town with a large crowd of visitors, great food and entertainment. This event was the last event for about a year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. New leadership and management at the location has yet to return the well attended event to their schedule.
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Huntington Beach, 2019Our third event representing USCT. At this event Private Sparrow and 1st Lt. Blansett represented the U.S. colored Troops with Gen. Grant's Army at the Siege of Petersburg and the surrender of Lee at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. During the very busy event, only a few photos were taken.
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