5th Michigan Infantry, Company K

Jeremy Buschlen stands at inspection on Sunday.

Photo by Mike Gillett

With bugler Mark Heath ready to communicate to the battalion, Will Eichler watches for Confederate movement during the battle.

Photo by Dee Pabst

Under the guidance of Sergeant Buschlen, the skirmish line deploys. In the line are 5th MI members Ernest Simmons (2nd from right) and Robert Cook (4th from right).

Photo by Dee Pabst

Mark Heath reads the "Michigan Argus," a newspaper put together by our pard Jeremy Bevard from the Sally Port Mess.

Photo by Mike Gillett

5th MI members and stand for inspection on Sunday at Historic Fort Wayne. Inspection could be a weekly occurance in a garrison like Fort Wayne. Left to Right: Mack Kerridge, Frank Perkin (Independent), Robert Cook, and Chris Buzzard.

Photo by Mike Gillett

Men of 7 different outfits join 9 members of the 5th MI for a company drill held at Historic Fort Wayne on January 23, 2010.

Photo Courtesy of Ken Giorlando

First platoon of the drill company waits for further orders.

Photo by Mike Gillett

The work is not without it's mirth. Here, company commander J.R. Schroeder and Orderly Sergeant Jeremy Buschlen mock instructor Scott Cummings in a gesture.

Photo by Mike Gillett

In front of a newly restored Spanish American Guardhouse porch, bugler Mark Heath sounds a call for the men to react to.

Photo by Mike Gillett

The company stands at attention while the bugler gives instruction.

Photo by Mike Gillett

The 5th Michigan worked with the 15th Michigan to form a company for the 25th annviersary of the Jackson, MI re-enactment.

Photo provided by Jeremy Buschlen

Jeremy Buschlen, our 2009 chairman, poses for a period photo.

Photo provided by Jeremy Buschlen

Well, a stump like that is hard to pass up! Here, Beau Shaver poses for period photo. Great look, Beau!

Photo provided by Jeremy Buschlen

Not only do we present history, but we also help build the items we need to tell those stories. Mark Heath (l) and Dan Conklin (r) arrived early at Fort Wayne. Thanks to them, the men had four new musket racks ready for the event.

Photo by Will Eichler

Another view of the musket rack construction. You can see three racks taking shape behind Mark and Dan.

Photo by Will Eichler

Members of the 5th help bring Historic Fort Wayne to life at Civil War Days. Front Row (l to r) Mark Heath, Bugler; John Legg, drummer; Jeremy Buschlen, 1st Sergeant;
Back Row (l to r) Ernest Simmons, private; Dan Conklin, private, Edmund Lockhart, private; Will Eichler, lieutenant colonel; Scott Cummings, private; Mack Kerridge, private; Chris Buzzard, private

Photo by Mike Gillett

Friends celebrating a good accomplishment. Edmund Lockhart (front row, right) is surrounded by his re-enacting buddies. This is his graduation/going away party. Edmund will leave in late July for Marine Corps basic training. with him are members of the 5th MI and other units. Front row (l to r) - Scot Spiekerman (114th PA), Edmund Lockhart. Back row (l to r) - Will Eichler, Zach Schatzer, Guy Purdue (Sally Port Mess), Scott Cummings, Chris Buzzard, and Tom Steele (Sally Port Mess). Good luck, Road Apple!

Photo by Wendy Eichler

Will Eichler (center) poses for Marty Bertera's lens with friends from the Sally Port Mess Jeremy Bevard (L) and Tom Steele (R). The three were part of the Regimental Staff at Greenfield Village.

Photo by Marty Bertera

Scott Cummings served as the commander of the Combined Arms Drill in 2009. The CAD is a drill weekend for all Union soldiers across the state. It is held at Historic Fort Wayne. In 2009, we had men from the infantry and cavalry attend.

Photo by Mike Gillett

Shot of the infantry battalion drilling at the Combined Arms drill. All windows you see boarded up in the barracks have been removed for restoration by the Historic Fort Wayne Coalition

Photo by Mike Gillett

Mealtime - where the rank is re-enactor, and the camaraderie flows between brothers! Four 5th MI members are joined by Andy Roscoe of the 24th MI (very left) and J.R. Schroeder of the 21st MI (lounging in the front).

Photo by Mike Gillett

Comrades in History. 5th MI chairman Jeremy Buschlen is flanked by friends James LaLone and Brandon Heath of the Sally Port Mess.

Photo by Mike Gillett

Chaplain Mike Gillett (21st MI) pauses for a photo with Edmund Lockhart.

Photo Courtesy Mike Gillett

While we have a lot of fun, a major focus of the weekend is to improve our drill as a state to make us safer and better portray the boys of the Civil War. Here Scott Cummings describes a maneuver to the battlion.

Photo by Mike Gillett

During a break, the men have an image taken with one of the many houses that line NCO row.

Photo by Mike Gillett

With Sergent Major Sam Lowe at his side, Edmund Lockhart takes a break from drill. Sergeant Jeremy Buschlen takes a break in the rear.

Photo by Mike Gillett

Rear Rank of the Feb. drill includes Jeremy Buschlen, Will Eichler and our pard Tom Steele from the Sally Port mess. Pard JR Schroeder from the 21st MI is in the foreground.

Photo by Sam Castillo

It's great when you find long lost family members. Sally Port Mess member Brandon Heath (L) and 5th MI member Mark Heath (R) discovered they draw ancestry from the same Civil War vet.

Photo by Will Eichler

In with our pards from the 21st MI, 24th MI and Sally Port Mess are Jeremy Buscheln (rear left), Will Eichler (rear 2nd from left), Eric Berger (rear next to fellow in red scarf) and Mack Kerridge (front row, 3rd from left).

Photo by Sam Castillo

The rear rank practices the position of Ready.

Photo by Sam Castillo

2008 Wolcott Mill - portraying the 4th Michigan at Shepherdstown Ford, WV

Our group and the rest of the Federals in line of battle.

Photo by Mike Gillett

The Union Army marches out led by general guide Edmund Lockhart, a member of the 5th. Will Eichler marches next to him as the commander.

Photo by Mike Gillett

Men of the 5th MI with pards from the Sally Port Mess and 24th MI drill at Wolcott Mill.

Photo by Mike Gillett

Great events are often surrounded by even better road trips. Here, members of the 5th MI have their photo taken with the monument to the men we honor on the Gettysburg battlefield.

Photo courtesy Edmund Lockhart

There were 2 Gettysburg events in 2008. The first, At High Tide, began with a 5 mile march across the National Battlefield. This photo was taken as we prepared. Laying down is Zach Schatzer. The yellow shirt is Will Eichler and John Legg stands directly behind him.

Photo by Edmund Lockhart

At the end of a great weekend, we had a company photo taken. These men, including five from the 5th MI, portrayed Company B, 1st Minnesota all weekend. It was an amazing event!

Photo courtesy Tom Steele

In between the two events, five of us spent the week seeing sites on the East coast. Here Zach, John, Edmund and Chris stand in front of the National Archives.

Photo by Will Eichler

Since Edmund leaves us for active service in the United States Marines in July, 2009, we stopped and visited the Marine Corp Museum. Left to right are Zach, Edmund, John, Chris and Will.

Photo courtesy Edmund Lockhart

The 2nd event, sponsored by the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee, had more of our group join us. Here is the company we marched in. The battalion was led by our commander, Scott Cummings, on left. The company was led by Captain Bob Halbisen and we marched with his boys and our pards, the 21st Ohio.

Photo courtesy Edmund Lockhart

Sometimes its better not to ask questions and just sit in your computer chair and laugh!! No, we didn't shoot Scott at the event and bring him home like a deer.

Photo by Edmund Lockhart

Good friends - a huge part of what it's all about! Here are Jeremy Buschlen and Edmund Lockhart.

Photo courtesy Edmund Lockhart

Close friendships develop in this hobby, and thankfully its not limited to just inside our group. Here, Chaplain Mike Gillett of the 21st Michigan, left, poses with Scott Cummings. Mike is a very close friend of many of us in the 5th. He serves the hobby both as an army chaplain and as a prolific photographer. Many of the photos you see from Michigan events were captured by him!

Photo courtesy Mike Gillett

Acccording to Captain Cummings, there is always time for more drill! Here the men of the 5th, in company with our friends from teh 21st MI, drill at the Wolcott Mill event. We were portraying Company A, 17th Maine Infantry, another regiment that wore the Red Diamond on their caps.

Photo by Mike Gillett

Any good infantryman will tell you if you have a break, sit down and rest! Bugler Mark Heath and private Edmund Lockhart sit back to back with Private Eric Berger resting immediately behind. We're sure the butt on the right of the image belong to us as well!

Photo by Mike Gillett