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| Unit History |
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The 30th Pennsylvania Infantry reenactment group was formed in March 1988 around a
core of veteran reenactors. Since then we have participated in some of the largest reenactments ever
staged, including the 1988 Gettysburg and the 1997 Antietam events, each featuring more than
15,000 participants.
We have also participated in most of the large 125th anniversary events from 1988 to 1990
including Spotsylvania/Wilderness, the siege of Petersburg and the Crater, Sailor's Creek and
Appomattox Court House.
In July 1988 we were featured, along with Independent Battery I, Pennsylvania Light
Artillery of Lancaster, in a half-hour TV special for WGAL Channel 8 entitled "The Soldiers of
Gettysburg," as well as a subsequent segment of the show "Susquehanna People."
A month later we filmed a special segment for the commercially produced video,
"Gettysburg: Bloody Standoff in Pennsylvania" for Classic Images which was marketed nationwide.
In the film, we and other units in our Brigade portrayed the 20th Maine in the battle for Little
Roundtop.
In May 1989 we took part in another filmed segment of the Classic Images video
"Spotsylvania," again portraying a company of the 20th Maine cutoff behind enemy lines in the
confused fighting of the Wilderness. Using a sudden bayonet charge, we broke back into our lines,
taking many rebel prisoners with us.
The unit was heavily involved in the filming of the Turner Film "Gettysburg," starring
Martin Sheen, Tom Berenger and Jeff Daniels. Some of our members spent weeks on the set
during the summer of 1992 helping to make the most accurate Civil War movie ever produced. In
2002 a number of us also took part in the Turner film, "Gods and Generals," starring Jeff Daniels,
Stephen Lang and Robert Duvall.
The unit participates in numerous reenactments over the course of the year, including
Cedar Creek each October, the only battle reenactment done on the original battlefield.
The 30th Pa. has been affiliated with Vincent's Brigade since 1988. The Brigade is
commanded by Gen. Wayne Wolff (2nd U.S. Regulars) of Baltimore. The 30th is attached to 1st
Battalion, commanded by Col. Bob Crickenberger (Co. E., 20th Maine) of Chesapeake Beach, Md.
Vincent's is comprised of units from a multi-state area and at large events has fielded over 500 men.
"Vinnies" is a hard-fighting unit, favored by Union generals who want to throw good troops into hot
spots. Rebel units like us too because they know we'll give them a good fight.
Locally, the 30th Pa. does many school programs and has been the mainstay of the annual
Lancaster County Historical Society living history event for more than 10 years.
We are a family-oriented organization that welcomes wives and kids, and we feature a
variety of impressions.
At present, the unit boasts a surgeon, various civilians and Lancaster-born General John F.
Reynolds, portrayed by Mike Riley who has gained local fame for his portrayal and has written a
book about the general. |
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