79th N.Y.S.M. CO. C., Ft. Stevens re-enactment 2001.

Ft. Stevens is an actuall Civil War Fort at the mouth of the columbia river on the Oregon side. It was bulldozed in WWII to create a parade ground for the costal artillery Fort that bears the same name. The Oregon National Guard Army Corp of Engineers did an archeological dig and rebuilt the fort.

This photo is very period for the time, but you won't see ones like this very often in the books. The unit has just come off a long march, everyone is wearing thier full kit, uniform, weapons, gear, packs, sleeping rolls, etc etc everything we carry for the march. We do a fundraising march from Seaside Oregon to Ft. Stevens over the weekend, a total of 26-28 miles depending on route. If we want to use something during the weekend we have to march with it!

You'll see fry pans and hatchets and stuff like that on the hardpacks that some of the mena re wearing. The other men are wearing dog collars (a blanket wrapped up in a water-resistant ground blanket, thrown over a shoulder and tied at the other end).

You'll also see some ammunition boxes that would come with the men, although they would be carrried by a horse or mule or wagon. (to heavy to lift for long distance).

For this picture we were told to just pick a spot and relax, which was again, very common. As normal ofr the period, the majority of men are instructed to look away from the camera, while just a few look straight ahead.

From left to right, without differentiating between front and back.

Cpl. Byron Chandler, Quater Master Sgt. Ben Sanford, Unknown, Pvt. Larry Chandler, Pvt. Brian Hall, Pvt. David Blinderman (behind) Hall, Pvt. Richard Ford (standing), Unknown, (sitting back) Unknown, (sitting) Ryan MacClain, (standing rear) Cpl. Weldon Willson, (sitting) Unknown, (standing rear) Unknown, Cpl. Kyle Hall, Cpl. Aaron Clark, (sitting front) Sgt. Tom Galvin, (sitting rear) Unknown, 1st Sgt. Gunn, 2nd Lt. Doug MacClain, Drummer Boy Ford, Capt. Jim Wallace.