Recruiting
Office
 he
recreated
28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry is actively recruiting new
members to its ranks. Will you be the next loyal Union man to take the
oath and join the regiment?
 Ours is one of the oldest continuously
fielding Civil War
reenactment units in the Northeast, and currently numbers approximately
50 members from five of the six New England States.
We accurately portray Union infantrymen by
outfitting
ourselves with authentic reproduction uniforms, weapons and
accoutrements, maintaining a military bearing at all times, excelling
in drill and battlefield tactics, and avoiding 21st century
anachronisms.
The Web site you are visiting now provides a
good deal of
information about the original regiment, the unit today, and reenacting
in general. Our recruiting
film is a good
starting point. Next, you'll want to review the following
pages:
Perhaps you've already decided to enlist in
the 28th
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. If so, all you need to do
is:
- Demonstrate a sincere interest in
Civil War history and desire to portray the period accurately. Although
our impression is of an Irish unit, you do not need to be of Irish
ancestry to field with us.
- Be 16 years of age or older to field as an
infantryman, at
least 12 to serve as a functional musician, and join along with an
adult sponsor, meaning a parent or guardian, if under 18.
- Complete an enlistment form and send it to
the unit with $35
(annual dues of $25 and a recruit fee of $10). Download
an
enlistment form.
We also like to see new members acquire
their basic uniform
and equipment within one year of enlistment. This shows us their
commitment. We do have limited items available for loan, to help
recruits through their early events, but certain items, such as brogans
(shoes) and trousers, should really be purchased from the get-go.
I have fielded with the 28th Massachusetts
since 1998 and can
honestly tell you that serving in the regiment is not only one of the
best things I have ever done, but also has introduced me to most of my
closest friends.
As with anything else, you get out of Civil
War living
history what you put into it. The men of the 28th Massachusetts
Volunteer Infantry hope that if you decide to join our ranks, you will
put your all into learning the drill, looking the part, and honoring
the memory of the original regiment.
Please send me a telegram
if you
cannot find the answers to your questions on this Web site, or want to
begin a conversation about reenacting with the 28th Massachusetts.
Your servant, &c.,
Lt. Tom Higgins
Recruiting Officer
28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
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