We are Company K, 67th NY Historical Association based in Sayville, Long Island, New York and we are Living Historians, bringing the Civil War era to life for the purposes of educating the public and preserving history. We strive to emulate the original soldiers that comprised the original Company K of the 67th New York Volunteer Infantry, a regiment that was also known as the First Long Island Volunteers.
Our Mission as stated in our New York State Charter is to educate the public and preserve history.
We participate in a variety of Living History events throughout NYC/Long Island including parades, encampments, school programs, and, of course, re-enactments of the more familiar variety. We are incorporated as a non-profit organization under the New York State Board of Regents and have public charity status as a 501c3 organization under the Federal IRS code. Most of what we earn is donated for the preservation of Civil War Battlefields and other historical sites relating to the era. Since our inception we have given over $25,000 to institutions such as the American Battlefield Trust for saving our nation's Civil War battlefields. Additionally, we are devoted to keeping alive the spirit of the regiment who we represent and ensuring that our generation does not forget the sacrifices and accomplishments of the men who fought to save our Union. We always take our history seriously...but never ourselves.
Like all Civil War Living History groups, the 67th New York is based on an actual regiment that fought in the Civil War. Seven of the ten companies (Co. A, B, E, F, G, I, & K) were raised in Brooklyn, then considered 'Long Island', with the others coming from Alleghany (Co. C), Wayne (Co. D), and Rochester (Co. H) counties in upstate New York. Our historical 'archive' on the Original 67th provides us with a solid historical basis for emulating the men and how they lived as soldiers. And from this material, members are eventually required to take on the nom-de-guerre, or the persona, of one of the original soldiers. A surprising amount of detail can be learned by requesting pension records and other documentation from the National Archives in Washington so that members can flesh out an 'impression' that can be used at events.
The Re-enacting season traditionally kicks off with parades on St. Patrick's Day and ends Remembrance Day (November 19th) in Gettysburg with a grand procession through the main street followed by ceremonies inside the cemetery & battlefield. Pictures are worth a thousand words. Our photo album better demonstrates just what we do during the year. As you will see, there are several different types of events we perform:
Educational Programs: Schools invite us, typically in the spring, to give lessons to grades learning the Civil War. We do this by setting up a small camp with a few soldiers, interacting with the students, teaching them the basic aspects of a soldier's life including their uniforms, diet, camp life, and their weapons.
Living History Events: These are simply educational programs held for the general public. An establishment such as an Historical Society invites us to set up a full camp where we can fully engage with the general public. We perform 'living history'on our own but more often than not we join other reenacting units on Long Island, especially our Confederate comrades in the 9th & 30th Virginia Infantries and Co. H, of the 14th Brooklyn. Every Autumn, we host a Civil War Weekend at the Grange in Sayville where we are based to give local Long Islanders a look into our activity without having to drive hours out of state.
Parades: For holidays such as Saint Patrick's Day, local villages on Long Island ask us to march in their celebrations. The grandest of all however takes place in Gettysburg on Remembrance Day when thousands of Living Historians from all around the country converge to march down the main thoroughfare of Baltimore Street and into the Battlefield.
Special Events: Occasionally, we're asked to perform at ceremonies, such as honoring veterans' graves at cemeteries, assisting in the dedication of a monument, or partaking in some historical commemoration. We are nothing if not adaptable to ocassion as any real soldier should.
Re-enactments: Ah yes, this is what gives us our name. Re-enactments can range in size from mere hundreds to tens of thousands of participants yet regardless of scope they all seek to meticulously recreate an actual battle as it happened. For these events, we combine forces with other regiments in our battalion organization, the 2nd Federal Rifles. These are scripted affairs so as to ensure the viewing public sees the battle as it occurred. More often than not, thanks to the chaos that is this calling, re-enactments do not unfold quite as expected nevertheless the aim is to stay true to the real battle. We typically attend one or two events on the road per season.
While the costs of joining may appear daunting, the required capital for participating is certainly no more extravagant than any other activity and best of all, the most important purchases can last for years if properly maintained. Understanding that everyone comes from unique financial circumstances, we make joining as easy as possible through extending loaner equipment and granting enough time as possible to acquire the needed gear.
Fun loving as we are, two matters we never joke about are Health & Safety.
We strive for authenticity but only if it does not conflict with either of these two central tenets. We all have day jobs and families and do not fancy losing life and limb senselessly. We are equally vigorous in excluding anyone who may threaten either or both through their behavior or carelessness. Hence, the following disclaimer...
IF you believe our calling is a means for consuming mass quantities of alcohol, we are NOT interested but strongly suggest entering a 12-Step Program.
IF you believe our calling is an avenue for preaching some extremist political agenda, we are NOT interested but strongly recommend sticking to social media.
IF you believe obsessing on such details as the thread count on a sack coat or what salinity of urine will give your brass buttons just the right patina of authenticity, is more important than camaraderie then we are NOT interested and strongly suggest a part-time job at the Smithsonian or New York Historical Society.
IF you see our calling as a means for become so engrossed in your role of Civil War soldier that you start insisting everyone, including family and friends, address you by your adopted soldier's name, showing up at work in uniform, and/or taking shots at passing motorists bearing southern license plates, then we are DEFINITELY NOT interested and strongly suggest intensive psychotherapy plus heavy medication.
Should you not fall into any of the above categories, and you believe we are a means for exploring Civil War history, for teaching the young and old an era that our nation has almost disgracefully forgotten, for creating a camaraderie with pards of similar interest, for traveling through some of America's most beautiful scenery, for having the privilege of visiting and sometimes even performing on the battlefields, and for assisting the preservation of those very same sacred grounds... not to mention indulging in the endless carping, bitching, whining, griping, and moaning just as all real Civil War soldiers did about their circumstance...
The best way of getting to know us is simply attending one our monthly meetings held the last Sunday of every month at the Grange in Sayville, Long Island NY. All visitors are welcome and you can watch us drill, inspect our gear, and, most important, ask any questions that might come to mind.
And should you have any questions or share a criticism, compliment, comment, or good old-fashion nonsensical ramblings, please send us an e-mail.
Now enough with the introductions...you're on your own...carry on.
