Archive for February, 2010
OK – I fall on my sword! Was that me who wrote that Gettysburg never got snow like I grew up with in New York?
Robbie - The Snow Dog. At two feet he wasn't so happy to frolic ... it was over his inquisitive little head.
The Weather Gods proved me wrong – go figure. At my house we had over twenty inches the first go-round, and expect 8-10 more. My plow guy didn’t get to us on his huge and demanding list until Sunday night, so I’ve been snowed in … imagine that. You’d think that would give me lots of time to blog and Facebook, but it didn’t.
I chose to use the time to tackle a long-overdue a project. I prepared a talk (PowerPoint) for Civil War Round Tables, and anyone else who will listen, on Lincoln’s personal security – or lack thereof. I became obsessed, and when that happens and I’m creating, I go into a bubble of intense focus until I’m satisfied with what I’m writing, photographing, or otherwise creating.
Work all night, sleep until noon, then back at it again … until it’s finished. I made it, but it took a few days until I was pleased with the end result. It timed beautifully with the snow.
When I research, or I should say, re-research an area of history, it is always fun, because each tid bit is like a new revelation. Even if I knew it already somewhere in the historical archives in my mind – that quiet place I call my “history cave” – it’s still like picking up a bright new penny. During this project, it was a piece of history that to me smacks of the stuff modern thrillers are made of … a real “24″ chair-grabber in the 1860s.
Abraham Lincoln
It has been called “The Baltimore Plot,” but should have been called “The Red Ballot.” It is the story behind the assassination plot against Abraham Lincoln in February 1861, on his journey through Baltimore to his first inauguration in Washington. This story has spies doing exceptional and dangerous undercover work, calamitous political intrigue, heros who save the day – indeed perhaps the country – in the nick of time, a romantic angle, and the strong ring of truth that resonates into our own time.
Are you intrigued yet ? Well you’ll have to wait. At least until tomorrow. Then I’ll spin the “Tale of the Red Ballot.”
I thought rather than tell you the assortment of things we do in the US Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC), I’d take this opportunity to show you through these photographs, which basically speak for themselves:
USMCHC Marines presenting the history of the Corps
History of the Marine Corps - Commandant, Marine Corps, in center
USMCHC 1814 Marines at Ft McHenry where we partner with the NPS to do educational programming
1814 USMCHC Marine Cannoneers - This is our cannon. Marines did double duty in the early days. Marines here are in fatigue dress.
GySgt Tom Williams talking to visitors - Harpers Ferry NHP
1861 USMCHC Marines at Manassas National Battlefield Park, where we also have a partnership
USMCHC Specialist firing a WWII flame thrower, as used in Windtalkers & Flags of Our Fathers
LtGen Ron Christmas chatting with USMCHC Marines at opening of Marine Corps Museum - Quantico
Talking to visitors about the historic Marine Band uniforms the USMCHC just had produced for the Marine Band
USMCHC Marines on board the USS North Carolina giving presentation of WWII Ships Detachment Marines
Normal dress for USMCHC interpreters when presenting educational programs not requiring period uniforms, which is more the norm today. We gear our method of interpretation to the audience and often find not being in period uniform a benefit.
Our active duty Marines often interpret to the public in their own modern uniforms. This is a WWII display at Solomons, MD
1814 USMCHC Marines on firing line at Ft McHenry in full dress.
USMCHC Marines portraying Spanish American War Marines to duplicate a famous photograph of the period
USMCHC Teaching repelling and leadership to JROTC
Early uniform display at the Marine Corps Commandant's House, at his request.
OK. I guess there is interest in the US Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC). I’ve been off the net a few days, but received comments on Facebook and by email.
John Brown - Patriot or Terrorist?
This year our largest combined program was a two-weekend, back-to-back set of events at Harpers Ferry. The first weekend was supporting the annual commemoration at the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park of the famous John Brown Raid in mid-October 1859. We presented “At All Times Ready,” the Brown Raid “through the eyes of a Marine,” several times each day.
In this presentation we walk the audience, usually over a hundred visitors, through the raid. We explain what led to the Marines being called out from Washington, what they faced on arrival, the Marine assault on the engine house (Perhaps the first hostage rescue operation-and a complete success), the capture of Brown, freeing of the hostages, and the aftermath. We use Park volunteers in period dress, and even some of the unsuspecting audience, as hostages, and some of our friends from “Sykes Regulars,” who volunteer in the Park, as the raiders. The Marines, of course, are portrayed by Marines.
The audience is left to decide for themselves if John Brown is a “patriot,” in the anti-slavery movement, or, regardless of his motives, and based on his raid, his kidnapping of citizens, and the murdering of innocent civilians – a “domestic terrorist.” I think you can guess where the Marines might fall on this issue.
The following weekend at the Park was dedicated solely to the US Marine Corps, in memory of Private Luke Quinn, the Marine who was killed during the raid. After a year of planning, with the US Marine Corps, the USMCHC, and the Harpers Ferry NHP entering into a mutually supportive partnership, this full weekend program was brought together.
The Quantico Marine Band. They are in MarPat utilities because it rained most of the weekend.
We brought in around thirty active duty Marines, who we kitted as 1859 Marines, or who were in modern uniforms at our extensive display of the history of Marine weaponry, uniforms, and equipment. These Marines augmented our own USMCHC staff. We also brought in the Quantico Marine Band. The displays and band were set up in a large NHP tent behind the famous engine house where the raid took place.
Talks were given visitors at the Marine Corps historical displays, the amazing Quantico Band played concerts, and the 1859 Marines presented “At All Times Ready,” at various times throughout the weekend.
The program culminated in a parade by the band and the 1859 Marines, followed by a moving commemoration and wreath dedication to Private Luke Quinn. The Park Superintendent, Rebecca Harriett, and Dennis Frye, Chief of Interpretation and Education, spoke to introduce Lieutenant General G.R. Christmas, the keynote speaker, who gave a moving address to the crowd of hundreds present.
Wreath for Pvt Luke Quinn - Active duty SSgt Shane Lisowski, left, and MGySgt William Browne, Drum Major, President's Own Marine Band, right. SSgt Lisowski is wearing the 1859 Dress Blue uniform, and MGySgt Browne is wearing modern Dress Blues for the ceremony.
As an interesting high note: Present as a guest of the USMCHC during both these weekends was the Drum Major of the President’s Own Marine Band, Master Gunnery Sergeant William L. Browne. In accordance with his wishes, he was dressed as a Sergeant of 1859 for most of the proceedings. His reason was simple. He was commemorating Sergeant John Roach. Sergeant Roach, although appointed as the Drum Major of the Marine Band, volunteered to accompany the Marines sent to Harpers Ferry, and is reported to have been one of the Marines who hauled John Brown out of the engine house as a prisoner. Hence in our presentations, MGySgt Browne filled the role of his predecessor, John Roach.
USMCHC's unbelievably efficient support team - They made it all work
USMCHC 1859 Marines on parade
USMCHC 1859 Marines marching
Sketch of Marines assaulting engine house - Harpers Ferry 1859
USMCHC walking the visitors through the assault on the engine house step-by-step
By now most of you should have guessed that I was a career Marine. What you may not know is that I am still active with the Corps as Deputy Director for Programs of the US Marine Corps Historical Company (USMCHC). We are a not-for-profit educational corporation dedicated to the Marine Corps by preserving its history, heritage, and traditions. Although I am not full time, it can come close. The Director, Tom Williams, another career Marine, spends most of his days and nights managing the USMCHC. We have evolved over the past ten years into a major business, with the assets and personnel to prove it.
The USMCHC supports the Corps through taskings by the Commandant’s office and as essentially the outreach program for the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. Our programs include presentations, demonstrations, and static displays of Marine history from 1775 through present. We educate the public, using the uniforms, equipment, weaponry, flags, and other material artifacts covering all the periods in Marine history. Some of these programs are presented in period uniforms, but many are given in civilian attire with displays and mannequins in the uniforms. Our audience dictates the method of historical interpretation.
Marine Color Guard (Korean period uniforms) at Navy Memorial in DC
In addition to programs, the USMCHC supports the heritage of the Corps and the Corps, itself, in numerous other ways. We advise the film and television industries, with such credits as “Windtalkers” and “Flags of Our Fathers.” We provided historical advise and material artifacts for the new National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, VA. We manage the pageantry for various Marine Corps ceremonies, such as the opening of the new Marine Corps Museum, and Marine Birthday Balls, including the Commandant’s Ball. More recently we have been providing comprehensive educational packages to Marine bases, worldwide. These packages include reproduction uniforms, accoutrements, and weapons of various periods, instructions on how to correctly fit and wear the historical items, and Marine history educational tools/lectures.
All of our members are of the Marine Corps family in one way or the other. Many are senior Marine NCOs and officers currently on active duty or in the Marine Reserves. Several are retired career Marines or former active duty Marines. We have members who are or were Navy Corpsmen, who have immediate family currently serving in the Corps, and even some historians we have adopted as our own, whose passion for Marine Corps history is a great asset to our mission. For many programs we bring in active duty Marine volunteers, kit them in period attire and equipment, train them in the drill of whatever period we are presenting, and let them go.
Korean War display at Navy Memorial in DC
It is amazing how quickly these young dedicated Marines pick up the history and drill. In only a short time they are face to face, educating the public first hand about their Corps and its values – where we came from. If you’d like to hear more about what we do, please send me a comment and I’ll be happy to oblige.
The USMCHC Website is at: http://www.usmchc.org
- WW II Program
WW II Parade in Sharpsburg
WW II Seagoing Marines Program - USS North Carolina, Wilmington, NC
1859 Marines at Harpers Ferry Program
