Battery I 1st US Artillery about us

Battery I, 1st U.S. Artillery re-enactment group began in the fall of 1995 by a core group of 8 Civil War history enthusiasts. It exists today as a group of men that share a passion for military history and particularly the Civil War.

At that time we were 2 groups. One group of 3 from Ellsworth Wisconsin and the other a group of 5 men who were members of the 1st Minnesota Volunteer Infantry and looking at expanding their level of experience. Six of the eight founders are still active.

Today, we participate in a variety of activities including “in school” educational programs, live shooting and re-enactments (many on the original battlefields as part of efforts to preserve them). We also perform a fair number of local educational and living history events in association with State and County Historical Societies teaching about Minnesota in the Civil War.

Live shooting events have included competitions and live firing demonstrations at such places as Fort Sill OK, Fort Ripley MN, Camp Grayling MI and Camp McCoy WI as well as local events in Waverly and New Ulm MN. We have fired a combination solid shot, canister and explosive shells at ranges up to 2 miles. We have also participated in national re-enactments in Gettysburg PA, Shiloh TN, Mills Springs KY, Vicksburg MS, Perryville KY, Franklin/Nashville TN.

Several times each year we participate in living history events at local historical sites such as Murphy’s landing- Shakopee MN, LeDuc House - Hasting MN, Boscobel WI, Wade House-Sheboygen WI and historic Fort Snelling- St.Paul MN.

We attend an average of 10 – 12 events each year with probably one or two live shooting events, a few small town living history events, a major “battlefield preservation” reenactment or two and some fund raising parades or demonstrations.

Watch the video below to get a sense of what we are about!

1000 Yard Target at Grayling Michigan with 10pdr Parrot Rifle