Annual Parade to Baltimore's President Street Station, Baltimore

[5 th Alabama Infantry]

The parade and ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 19, 2008. The parade is sponsored each year by the Friends of President Street Station and is held on the Saturday nearest the anniversary of the events in Baltimore that occurred on April 19, 1861 in which Federal troops and citizens of Baltimore clashed over the issues of Southern Independence and Union,

This year is particularly important. As you may be aware, the Civil War Museum at the station has been closed and there is some question as to the station's future. Please consider joining in the parade or attending the ceremony at the station to express you support your for maintaining this historic treasure.

The parade will form at Fells Point at 10:00 a.m. for the march to the station. Parking at Fells Point can be a problem, but there is metered parking and I believe commercial parking is available. The same is true at the station.

Please pass this invitation on to any groups or individuals that you believe may be interested,


Map Quest :

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/%5B1-33%5D+S+President+St+Baltimore+MD+21202/

[Remise]

The National Regiment will be at Fort McHenry that weekend, but we will probably have a full schedule, else I would suggest you try to get the whole battalion to come over on the Water Taxi and join the parade.

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves

[PrattStreetRioter]

As my forum name implies I would love to attend. But like the gentlemen before me states I as a member of the NR among others will be at McHenry.

[JMByrnes]

I would go to but I will be wearing the "wrong" color that weekend, and I'll also be under guard at Ft. McHenry as POW that weekend.

[5 th Alabama Infantry]

I would go to but I will be wearing the "wrong" color that weekend, and I'll also be under guard at Ft. McHenry as POW that weekend.


There is no wrong color at President St. Confederates are welcomed.

Maybe consider an escape attempt.:D

[PrattStreetRioter]

I would go to but I will be wearing the "wrong" color that weekend, and I'll also be under guard at Ft. McHenry as POW that weekend.

As a galvanizer that weekend, I may have to help you escape! These yanks promised me good food and a trip west to fight injuns but now they've got me garrisoning Baltimore! Never trust 'em!

[Remise]

As a galvanizer that weekend, I may have to help you escape! These yanks promised me good food and a trip west to fight injuns but now they've got me garrisoning Baltimore! Never trust 'em!

Remember what happened when you guys tried to escape last year? As the author of the note intended for delivery to General Lee said to me, when I returned it to him after having had it handed to me (while I was standing guard at the gate to the fort) by a very sincere young boy, "I told him not to give it to anybody dressed in blue!"

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves

[5 th Alabama Infantry]

Saturday April 19 . Hope you can join us.

[Frenchie]

I'm coming as a civilian. I had foot surgery three weeks ago, so I may end up parking down the street from the station and waiting for you guys. If I feel up to it, though, I'll find a parking spot on Thames Street and hobble up to the station with you.

[Frenchie]

First of all, I'd forgotten what an unalloyed joy it is to drive through downtown Charm City on a Saturday... where's the sarcasm emoticon?

Second, my sincere apologies for no pics (I forgot my camera) and for not remembering most names... I blame old age and a dissipated youth.

I had foot surgery three weeks ago and decided to take it easy. I parked a block down Aliceanna Street and hobbled up to the station. Chatted with a Confederate colonel and a general who were in the cavalry, of course. A small group of bluebellies was there as well, more balanced between cavalry and infantry. Didn't see any redlegs. Gorgeous new landscaping around the station.

The Friends of the President Street Station (FPSS) had the place open and I was surprised to see all the word and picture displays still in place. The books (loaned by private citizens) and weapons case were gone, along with some other weapons and items that must have also been loaned, but a few things are still there, just nothing very valuable (read "attractive to a thief"). It turns out that a group called Harborplace Properties (or something close to that) has charge of the station. The FPSS will resume the walking tours of the Pratt Street Riot next month, and sometime in the near future will open the Museum on the weekends free of charge, which interests me and I volunteered to help with that. At this point I could go into a long rant about the city government's ignorance and greed that have placed the station in jeopardy, but this is already getting long.

After a while we heard bagpipes and drums and the parade appeared around the corner on Aliceanna Street, turned up President and filed into the yard. A (smaller) replica of the Fort Sumter flag was raised and the musicians (accordion and banjo) played the National Anthem, then a speaker described the riot that had occurred 147 years ago to the day and said a few words about each of the soldiers and most of the civilians who died. Then we had a few words from Steve Bunker, a huge supporter of the station and FPSS. Steve is owner of the China Sea Trading Company of Bath, Maine, which for some time occupied the building where I was the interpreter for the Fell's Point Maritime Museum, which was also mishandled like the President Street Station by the Maryland Historical Society, but I digress... Steve is a spellbinding storyteller and a local legend, it was great to see him. Also fun to see Nancy (forgot the name), a photographer for the Civil War News.

Lots of flags, I think a slight majority of Confederate ones, and the armed cavalrymen and infantrymen looked good in formation. I have just two criticisms, one from my time portraying a Regular Army foot soldier and the other as a reenactor who wants us to look as good as possible: First, that's a Springfield, soldier, and it's supposed to be "Armory Bright", not "Years of Neglect Grayish-Brown". Second, look, I know our modern, sedentary lifestyles make it all too easy to pack on the pounds, but really, light infantrymen with double chins and 50" waists just doesn't cut it. We can't help being old, but two people close to me have each lost over 100 pounds (one of them dropped 175), so I know it can be done.

What else doesn't cut it is the long female hair spilling down below the kepi, and the makeup, nail polish and lipstick; kids with red jogging suit "Zouave trousers"; gold lace on one cavalryman's jacket next to yellow worsted on another; Lord above, how long have you lived and never heard that brass needs to be polished,... Sir? We won't mention the earrings on the men... ewps, I just did.

Enough, this is getting ridiculous. Apologies. I'll go clean my guns now, and go to church tomorrow to ask for help with my bitter feelings.

If you can help the Friends of the President Street Station in any way, with volunteering, donations or just encouragement, please call 410-461-9377 and talk to them. Thank you, very sincerely.

[Dave Myrick]

Yes it was the attack of the farbzilla's but worth the efforts none the less. While it would be nice to see authentic troops with 100% correct everythings, for this event and this cause I'd take whatever I could get. This place needs to be saved especially in this city.

I know I was proud to be there and lend my support.

Dave Myrick

[Remise]

Yes it was the attack of the farbzilla's but worth the efforts none the less. While it would be nice to see authentic troops with 100% correct everythings, for this event and this cause I'd take whatever I could get. This place needs to be saved especially in this city.

I know I was proud to be there and lend my support.

Dave Myrick

Although it was a different event, with a different purpose, for what it is worth, you would have seen a different sight at Fort McHenry yesterday (and today, too, for that matter, though I won't be there), as the National Regiment and some other units took part in the fort's Civil War weekend. The NR is not perfect, but save a few larger than usual (for reenactors, I mean) guys in one or two companies, I think things looked pretty good, and we spent a good part of the day doing company and battalion drill.

Having said that, I think it would have been great if the 100 or so of us who were there had been able to come over and join the parade.

B.C. Milligan
Company K, First Penna. Reserves

[RebelBugler]

It was a thoroughly enjoyable event, commemorating a major incident in WBTS history. Interestingly, the first mortal casualties for soldiers of both the North and South occurred here in Baltimore. It was recently discovered that Pvt Clark of Baltimore, who was in the crowd on Pratt Street, was the first Confederate soldier killed in the war.

Interesting irony is that the New York Yankees were in town yesterday, on the 147th Anniversary of the event, and suffered attacks by the Baltimore Pitching staff as well.

[NUCDT08]

Hey Guys, nice to see all the comments on the events at President Street Station. I was able to fly in from my school in VT at Norwich University, not only to attend the event but also to take care of some family issues. I am not knocking on the NR but would it had to have some people come over from Ft. Mchenry. Years ago when our unit attended events such as Balestone in Essex or even Civil War days we always mad an effort to make it out commemorate President Street. As for us bluebellies you would have seen the 2ND US Reg of Vincent's Brigade based out of Baltimore among the other individuals mentioned. These fellas included myself, Wayne Wolff, Mark Lee, Mark Trunk, Bruce Dull, Chuck Bullock, and Rob Michael. We all have been long time spporters of the FPSS. Frenchie, I'd be interested in knowing your gripes as far as the unpolished springfield you saw in the ranks? I mean I use an enfield that I am working on trying to clean up that I inherited a few years back from my unit, I am trying to get it to look like an 1853 Springfield, is this what you could have seen?

[hendrickms24]

Hey I am trying to get it to look like an 1853 Springfield, is this what you could have seen?

A 1853 Springfield? :confused:

[Frenchie]

Frenchie, I'd be interested in knowing your gripes as far as the unpolished Springfield you saw in the ranks? I mean I use an Enfield that I am working on trying to clean up that I inherited a few years back from my unit, I am trying to get it to look like an 1853 Springfield, is this what you could have seen?

By far the best way to make an Enfield look like a Springfield is to replace it with a Springfield. What I saw was a Springfield that looked like it had never been polished in years of use. It was covered with a dark gray/plum/brown patina and looked like crap. I don't even want to think about what the brass parts looked like, let alone the internal lock parts. What a horror.