ONLINE NEWSLETTER Spring 1 4/11/07

Activities

• USCT Symposium

1ST Sgt Fred Minus attended the USCT Symposium in Raleigh-Durham, NC. He said it was a mind blowing experience. Over a hundred of Black re-enactors attended. Sgt Minus participated in the By Laws committee and brought back some interesting material. See Readings On Black Soldiers. The USCT Symposium plans to sponsor two main events a year.

• Documentary Filming
  

Members of the 1ST Rhode Island Regiment (1stRI) participated in the filming of a documentary on the role black soldiers at Valley Forge. The documentary will be distributed by the National Park Service through a variety of media formats. The 1RI has done several living history presentations at Valley Forge and will be scheduled to do more through the summer.

Upcoming Events Check 1stRI and 6thUSCT calendars for events

Battle of Bound Brook

Monument To Blacks Has Backing In Congress

A bill has been submitted to Congress in support of erecting a monument to black solders who fought in the American Revolution. This has been a decades old struggle to get national recognition of the role of the military role of blacks in the fight for independence.

This year the 1St Rhode Island Regiment will hold its' 3RD Commemorative at the Trenton Battle Monument where the first memorial plaque dedicated to black Revolutionary War soldiers was placed three years ago. This plaque was erected by the Sons of the American Revolution of New Jersey, through the efforts of Fred Minus.

Dodd, along with U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced the bill in the Senate. An identical one was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Donald Payne, D-New Jersey. When lawmakers return from recess, it will be taken up by committees in the Senate. For more information see the Hartford Courant story.

ONLINE NEWSLETTER Winter Issue 2 2/08/07

Tory Jack Day Historian Joe Becton will speak on the topic "African Soldiers in the American Revolution" at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10, at the historic Abraham Staats House, 17 Von Steuben Lane, South Bound Brook. The event, part of the "Tory Jack Day" program celebrating Black History Month, is sponsored by South Bound Brook Historic Preservation Advisory Commission in conjunction with The Friends of the Abraham Staats House, Inc. and the Women's Guild of South Bound Brook. Becton, a National Park Service Interpretive Park Ranger, has been recognized with the Community Service award for setting a standard of excellence in interpretation and for his role in connecting Americans to national parks through wonderful stories and varied media. Members of the First Rhode Island Regiment will act as Honor Guard, providing a musket firing demonstration and will be on hand to answer questions and interact with the public. This living history reenactment unit portrays members of the First Rhode Island, an American Revolutionary War military unit comprised largely of African American slaves and free blacks, which served from 1778 to 1783. The unit was commended for its valor during the war. Following Becton's presentation, the public is invited to tour the historic Abraham Staats House and view an exhibit on slavery and the contributions of blacks to the national heritage, presented by local historian and Women's Guild member, Joyce Smith. Tours will end at 4 p.m. Suggested donation for Becton's presentation is $3 per adult (over age 12). For information and directions, visit: http://www.staatshouse.com or call (732) 356-4789 (original text by Gina Vergel, Home News Tribune Online 01/18/07) post - Pvt. Leon Brooks

Presentation: Camp William Penn's Warriors for Freedom, United States Colored Troops, at the African American Museum
Saturday, February 17 ~ 1 to 2 p.m.

Members of the 3rd U.S. Colored Infantry perform an interactive living history presentation of the United States Colored Troops. Learn about Infantry and other black soldiers who volunteered to serve in the Civil War, and see a display of Civil War equipment, weapons, uniforms and personal items used by soldiers.
Free with Museum Admission

ONLINE NEWSLETTER Winter Issue 1 01/07

Attention to Orders
Gyasi Mann is promoted to the rank of Drum Sergeant Major, with all the accompanying duties and priviledges. The promtion was given on the parade grounds of the Old Barracks, during the Battle of Trenton event. Sgt. Mann grew up in the hobby as part of the Old Barracks Fife and Drum Corps. He took on the task of teaching cadets fife and drum. Cadets can learn to be musicians in one or both the American Revolution and Civil War. Currently he is a graduate student at the University of Wisconson.













Regiments Go Into Winter Quarters
Another successful reenactment season closed with the Battles of Trenton. Once again the troops aquitted themselves well. We had a strong showing, with fourteen soldiers and cadets mustering for the event. It's easy to take this for granted, but the reponses we receive show how much of we still are considered a novelty - even within the hobby. We have made a lot of progress. Where we were first met with skepticism and rejection, thanks to support of the Old Barracks, Camp Olden, and many others in the reenactment community, we are now welcomed wherever we go. As living historians there's still a lot of work for us to do tell the story about the military contributions of Africans in America. Our most important task is to provide youths with an opportunity to be a part of this proud local and national heritage. Our cadets travel with us, participating at reenactments, encampments, ceremonies, and parades. Thank you for your continued support.