May 14, 2005 - Bowdoin '05 Event. Photos by Paul Cunningham. Republished here with permission of The Times Record of Brunswick, Maine. You can read more about the event on MaineMilitia.com Forum and specifically in the AAR category.

The following is an account of Saturday's action. It is from my personal perspective. Other accounts can be found in the Forum AAR area.

Dear Brother,

I hope you are well and in good health. It has been several weeks since I have recieved a letter from you. I am anxious to hear how the farm is now that the long winter is over and spring is here.

I was in an action near Bowdoin recently that I will relate to you. Other than some scratches and cuts from fighting through the woods I am fine and no worse for wear.

Our battalion had an idea that we would see action and many were glad for it. The idle winter had left many itching for anything that didn't involve being encamped in the swamp.

We marched out by way of the South Road on the 14th. Colonel Burbank detached Major Ozelius and half the battalion to cover the bridges and deny them to the enemy. The rest of the command continued onward.

Now just hours before registration opens for Bowdoin 2005. The weather has been fantastic this week. Everything that needs to be dry is dry. The weather forecast looks good.

Bowdoin 2005 has been build as an event for a reenactor. Jason Porter and the 29th Georgia have done a fine job. So come to Bowdoin, ME this weekend and join in the fun.

The award-winning maritime and historical fiction author, James L. Nelson, may be will not be visiting the the Bowdoin 05 Civil War event on Saturday, May 14^th.

There is nothing official yet and I hope I am not jinxing his consideration of this effort by posting this news. I will of course update this when an official word comes. I of course jinxed it all and another commitment will keep Mr. Nelson away. Next time perhaps.

Mr. Nelson's latest book, Thieves of Mercy, is in stores now!

April 12, 2005 was the official on-sale date for Thieves of Mercy, sequel to James L. Nelson's award-winning Glory in the Name. Thieves continues the story of Samuel Bowater and Hieronymus Taylor, now on the Mississippi River and battling the Union forces moving down from the North. Meanwhile, Wendy Atkins and her Aunt Molly have troubles of their own, trying to escape from Norfolk, Virginia, ahead of the Yankee invasion.

Full Text American History Resources Available Free - Resource of the Week

What's here? The full text of several American history books. Containing full-text, signed articles. Available titles are:

Sebastian Cabot explored the Gulf of Maine in 1497. Soon after, European fishing fleets began coming to the coast of Maine for the amazing abundance of cod and other fish that was found. Stories of 400 pound cod are common amongst these old tales.

Giovanni da Verrazano also explored the area during 1524 and may have explored up the Kennebec River as far as the Merrymeeting Bay. Merrymeeting Bay is a large tidal bay on the Kennebec River just north of Bath, Maine. Most of the area around the bay consists of low rolling hills, good pasture land and tall stands of trees. Native American Indians used the bay and the good land around it. To the point that they introduced wild rice to the area from the mid-west.

The 1^st Maine Veteran Volunteer Cavalry living history and reenacting group has begun raising funds for the placing of a new monument near Aldie, Virginia. No monument to commemorate the contribution and losses of the First Maine Cav exist.

One source of raising the necessary funds is the sale of VMM stickers. The stickers are vinyl for outdoor use. They measure 6" wide by 4" tall and are white with large black "VMM" and "Volunteer Maine Militia" below. They are intended to appear like the Euro National ID automotive tags and the Civil War VMM cartridge box-plate.

It's a great idea for a great cause. Visit their website for all the details and information on ordering.

Just weeks remain until what is being described as the premiere Civil War event in the State of Maine this summer. The 29th Georgia Volunteer Infantry will be hosting Bowdoin 2005 on May 14, 15. The registration deadline of April 15 is fast approaching.

Following the success of Goose River last summer, there is growing excitment on the MaineMilitia.com - Forum.

The organizing group met today and spent several hours discussing the future event. The ideas shared should make for a grand event. I wont give anything away today. It's too early for anything concrete. But I would like to describe the terrain that I saw today and give everyone an idea of what the possibilities could be.

Along the modern road there are a series of fields split apart by a brook with very wet, soft banks. As you move away from the road the fields are broken up by strips of woods. The largest field is the first you pass. And is formed by a long slow slope up to a ridge at the edge of a strip of woods seperating it from another field. There is a tote road running up one side of this large field that continues deep into the forest.