Gettysburg Daily

20th Maine Company E Living History Demonstration

Company E of the 20th Maine are gathered behind the Pennsylvania Monument in Gettysburg National Military Park before moving over to the fields near Hancock Avenue to put on a demonstration for visitors. This view was taken facing east at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

On Sunday, two living history groups, the 20th Maine Company E, and Company C of the 2nd United States Sharpshooters, were both camped behind the Pennsylvania Monument on Cemetery Ridge. Today we’ll show you some video we took of the 20th Maine’s live-fire demonstration, as well as pictures of their camp. Later this week we’ll have a posting on the 2nd U.S.S.S.

This view was taken facing south at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

The 20th ME Co. E introduces themselves to the crowd gathered along Hancock Avenue and begins their demonstration.

A crowd of about twice this size would move up to Hancock Avenue to see the two demonstrations put on by both reenactment groups camped behind the Pennsylvania Memorial. This photograph was taken before the 20th ME Co. E had moved to the demonstration area. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

The 20th ME Co. E demonstrates the nine steps taken to load their weapons.

The living history demonstrations are an opportunity for visitors to examine a reproduction Civil War campsite in detail and to get a better idea of what the life of a Civil War soldier was like. This view was taken facing north at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

The live-fire portion of the demonstration.

The gentleman sitting in the center foreground is T.J. Youhn, who was kind enough to play some music for us. This view was facing southwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

First Sergeant T.J. Youhn shares a brief musical demonstration with us.

This view was facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

This living history group has been invited to Gettysburg National Military Park for almost the entire 30 years of their existence. This view was taken facing south at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

Not just any reenactment group can demonstrate on National Park property, and not just any group can get the clearance to fire their weapons. This view was taken facing south at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

We overheard one of the National Park Service Rangers on-hand for the demonstration complimenting both the 20th ME Co. E and Co. C of the 2nd U.S.S.S on their interaction with the public and the smoothness of their demonstrations. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

Both living history groups camped out over the weekend made it a priority to interact with visitors and to encourage them to come down and visit the campsite. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 11:00 AM on Sunday, June 26, 2011.

Before we left we were able to have a brief interview with Tony Coscia, Captain of the 20th Maine Company E living history group.