44th Tennessee, Co. K

Halfway Through the 2009 Campaign

2009-07-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who have made the first half of the 2009 season a successful one for the 44th Tenn. This is just our second full year and we are doing very well. At both battalion level events this year we had the biggest company in the Independent Guard. We have also played a large part getting the Battalion Flag for the IG thanks to our own Cpl Coomer and his wife Stef.

For those who like numbers, we have averaged over the first 7 events 14 military participants. Adding in civilians we have averaged about 19 members and potential members per event. Our biggest event so far was Conner Prairie with 27 soldiers in the line. Next came Billie Creek and followed closely by Vernon. The camp of instruction was below average with 12 and the other 3 events were less than 10, Spring Mill, Boondocks, and Carmel. Overall it has been a good year and you expect lighter turnouts for the small events.

We have 27 active military members and 2 more in line for membership. We have 9 civilian members and hope to grow those numbers by Hartford city. We have done 3 paid events this year which has grown over 2008. Our impressions are looking very good so lets keep up the fine work. I am looking forward to a great second half of the season.

Chuck Cunnyngham
1st Sgt
44th Tenn.

Opening Events 2009

2009-05-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

The 44th Tenn. is off to a great start in 2009. We began with the camp of instruction in Brownsburg at the home of Capt. Rob Van 49th Ind. It was a great weekend with the high point marching both units as one large one. Turnout was light with 13 members but we all learned a great deal as we drilled with both sides.

The next event was Vernon Indiana where the 44th helped host the event. Highlights were battles at the park, parades around town and a great impromptu battle with the Yanks trying to take our camp. What a fight! We had 20 falling in with us at Vernon with civilians. The turnout and camp set up was very good and pleased the organizer. Great job by the 44th Tenn.

The next event was the max effort at Conner Prairie where we fell in with the Independent Guard Battalion. We were the largest company in the battalion. It was a very busy event as we had many new faces in the line. We ended up with 38 folks with the unit counting civilians. We had 30 in the line of battle. This is an amazing accomplishment for such a new unit. Be sure to check out the pictures of the 44th on the fence at Conner Prairie. Everyone did an outstanding job.

Lastly was Spring Mill Park. It is always a great time where we get to meet the public and show them about Civil War life in camp and drill.

We have two events coming up in June. The first is Boondocks Farms near Knightstown IN. and Billie Creek Village near Rockville. Billie Creek is a max effort and we hope to have the same type turnout as Conner prairie. If you are new to our unit or plan to start please try and make at least one of these events. Information will be coming to you shortly. Again, thanks to everyone for making this unit what it is and let's keep up the good work.

Chuck Cunnyngham
1st Sgt
44th Tenn Co K

Camp of instruction coming up March 27-29

2009-03-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is a reminder of the 44th Tenn camp of instruction coming up March 27-29. You can arrive Friday afternoon at Captain Van's place in Brownsburg. Directions were included in a previous mailing. Bring everything you would bring to a regular event and if you have extra for possible new people bring that along. We are looking forward to having new faces in the ranks. To the new people I can say just come no matter what you have or if you have not acquired anything. Sometimes that is best so you will have a better idea after meeting with everyone what you need to have. This is the best opportunity of the year to get started with the 44th Tenn.

Also, Cpl. Coomer is collecting registration fees for the Perryville event being held in Oct. The fees are 5 dollars and he would like to have it at the camp or no later than Vernon as the price goes up after that. You must pre-register for this event and it is always a good one.

Vernon will be coming up the end of April and we need to have a very good showing as we are the host Confederate unit. Soon after in May we go to the 1800's village at Conner Prairie which is always one of our biggest and best events of the year. The 2009 campaign will be cranking up soon and let's make it one of the best yet with good attendance, excellent impressions and performances on the field. Y.M.H.S.

1st Sgt
Chuck Cunnyngham

Independent Guard Battalion Meeting

2009-01-18T14:04:00.000-08:00

The Independent Guard Battalion in which the 44th Tenn. is a member voted to support five events this year as a battalion. Those events are listed below with dates. As you can see over half these events are regularly attended by the 44th. The battalion decided not to try and attend any national event in 2009 preferring to concentrate on local events. All events attended by the 44th must be voted on and supported at the Feb meeting. Hope to see everyone there.

May 16-17 Conner Prairie
June 13-14 Billie Creek
August 29-30 Jackson MI.
Oct 9-10 Hartford City

2009 44th Tenn. Winter Meeting

2009-01-04T11:12:00.000-08:00

The 44th Tenn. will be having their annual winter meeting on Sunday February 8th. It will be held in the Prairie House located at Conner Prairie as it was last year. We will begin the meeting promptly at 1PM and you can begin arriving anytime after 12 noon. We should finish up by 5 PM. Company business will be discussed along with setting the 2009 event schedule. This is a very important meeting for the unit and I encourage all members and potential members to attend and take part. Remember, this is your unit. Feel free to bring snacks and soft drinks for yourselves or to share. Also if you have anything you would like to sell that could help our new members acquire some needed equipment feel free to bring that. Dress code is at your discretion. The prairie house is located to the right as you enter Conner Prairie. Proceed to the right of the museum through a fenced area. The maintenance facility will be on your right. At the T turn right up the hill to the Prairie house. Conner Prairie is located on Allisonville Road between Noblesville and Indianapolis. See you all there.

Chuck Cunnyngham
1st Sgt.
44th Tenn.

Spring Mill Park Christmas in the Village

2008-12-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

A big thanks to all who endured the cold weather and slippery roads to support the 44th Tenn. at the final event of the year at Spring Mill Park. There were 13 members attending and it was a great showing for both the park and the unit. This event formally ends the 2008 campaign. This was the first full year of the newly formed 44th Tenn. Co K. The unit was able to register 36 members by the end of the 2008 season at Hartford City. We are all looking forward to a bigger and better 2009 campaign and it is just around the corner. Information will be forthcoming during January for our Patrick Cleburne Day which is our winter meeting. Here we will address company business and set our 2009 event schedule. I wish each member a merry Christmas and a very happy new year.

Chuck Cunnyngham
1st Sgt.
44th Tenn. Co K

Atlanta Ga. Campaign November 1-2

2008-11-18T18:34:00.000-08:00

Your 1st Sgt and Pvt Bill Kellam attended the Atlanta Ga event this past November 1-2. The event was intended to be a warm up for the national event to be held there in 2009 on labor day weekend. The event was held on a privately owned farm where the two armies actually met in 1864 just south of Atlanta near Jonesboro. This is close to the fictional Tara. The farm had many artifacts on display and is toured by many throughout the year as a Civil War landmark.

Both Bill and I went down as western Federals falling in with our friends from the 49th Indiana. I think we were actually the only Federal reenactors from the North. That sure was hard to say. Anyway, we were treated very well and recognized for our long trip down. I was asked by our Captain to interpret as our battalion commander had a thick Ga drawl. With first battalion we were named as skirmishers for the first day and on Sunday our company was moved to the Confederate flank where we laid into them. We had great spots both days. The battlefield was very authentic with broken artillery pieces all over and even fake dead horses hooked to a limber. Looked real to me. There was a horseshoe trench dug on top of a hill about shoulder high that was pretty much impermeable. It was a great fight to end the season and I did my part to portray as many dead yanks as possible. I would suspect there were about 500 to 600 soldiers there and the sides were very even. What a long drive home! It would be a good national event for 2009 as you would be in the heart of where the A.O.T. lived and fought. We passed many Civil War sites from Murfreesboro to Chickamauga. Take care and I hope to see everyone soon.

Christmas in the Village

2008-11-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

The 44th Tenn. has been invited again to join the folks at Spring Mill Park in welcoming in the Christmas Season. We will be setting up for a living history type event with lots of interaction with the park visitors. We have been offered accommodations in one of the cabins for both Friday and Saturday nights. It will be cold outside but the cabins are equipped with fireplaces which we will be using. There will be no need for tents unless you want to have an outdoor impression for the daytime. A good meal is planned for Saturday evening. If you are up for a good time during the holiday season make plans to join your pards at Spring Mill on Dec 5-7. We will be going through drill and other maneuvers for the visitors. Plan for lots of interaction and it is a great place for recruiting. Some folks will be arriving sometime Friday afternoon but Saturday is the big day. From your 1st Sgt.--------Chuck Cunnyngham

Hartford City - October 2008

2008-10-18T16:15:00.000-07:00

The 44th Tenn. had an excellent showing at the Hartford City Indiana Civil War event. There were 21 soldiers marching in the line over the two days. The 44th had their annual meeting on Saturday to discuss new business and elect NCO's and officers for the 2009 season. We also inducted new members into the unit in which we now have a grand total of 33 members with 23 soldiers and 10 civilians.

We discussed new events next year near Rushville, Versailles, Carmel fest. We will end our 2008 season at Spring Mill Park the first part of December. Make plans to attend a great closing event. The 09 campaign is just around the corner.

Below are the election results for the new officer and NCO's. I want to thank all who were nominated and participated. It is an honor to have your named placed into nomination as it reflects the respect the unit has for you as a member. I want to congratulate all those who will be stepping up or continuing there service to the unit. We will need every one's help to keep this momentum going strong.

Captain - Dan Reger
1st Sgt - Chuck Cunnyngham
2nd Sgt - Karl Reger
1st Cpl - Tim Coomer
2nd Cpl - Danny Reger

Upcoming Events

2008-09-22T18:56:00.000-07:00

Pioneer Park, Mooresville In. - September 27th-28th Company level event

Directions - Take HWY 67 south out of Indy to Mooresville. Turn right on bridge street at the intersection with a burger king on the left. Follow bridge street to T and turn right on Indianapolis drive. Pioneer park will be on the right after a short drive.

Hartford City, Indiana - October 11th - 12th Company level event

Go east on HWY 26 to Hartford City. Stay on 26 until you see the 3M plant on your right. Turn in and we will be camped across the fence on your left.

First Posting

2008-09-22T17:21:00.000-07:00

This is going to be the new front page for the 44th TN.