Membership in the First Michigan Engineers & Mechanics is open to anyone willing to exert a cooperative effort towards the accurate portrayal of a Civil War Enginneer.
Based out of Northern Illinois and the Chicago land area, we participate in numerous local and national re-enactments and living history events (The Chicago Histoical Society) each year.
In portraying a Union Civil War combat engineer we follow the guidelines and live up to the historical past of the 1st Michigan Engineers. We build towers, bridges, Chevaux De Frise, abatis road barricades, wire entanglements and we also make field maps and reconnaissance/scout positions.
In the past tens years we've built three 20 to 25ft. tall Signal Towers (Glenview, IL. '97/'01 & Jackson, MI. '95) and two 45ft. length wooded foot bridges (Palatine, IL. '93 & Billie Creek, IN. '04).
Many of our members have been re-enacting for 10, 20 and even 30 years. They've also participated in many recent Civil War motion picture productions: "Gettysburg", "Andersonville" and "Gods & Generals" to name a few.
As the engineering unit for the Cumberland Guard, our unit is constantly used in the true sense of a Civil War engineer. Along with our muskets, we'll also carry our spades, picks, saws and axes into the field. (Of course, I won't mention the time we had to dig a latrine for the Colonel at Cedar Creek '94).
During re-enactments we do everything we can to ensure accuracy in the camp and in the field. As an engineering unit we are often called upon to act as a rifle company. Or act as the brigade skirmishers. Literally, the first unit to contact the enemy.
The uniform and equipment needed to oufit a Civil War soldier is not cheap and understandably, a new recruit may not have the bare essentials for a while. The unit will lend you a musket/rifle, accoutrements and a cap and sack coat for the first time you come to a drill or re-enactment.
We do ask that the new recruit outfit themselves as soon as they can. Members of the unit will gladly assist you in what items you need and where to purchase them from.
If you have any questions or are interested in joining the unit, please e-mail the unit at coe1stmicheng@yahoo.com.
First Sgt. Chris (Birddog) Mantas