Welcome to the Tramp Brigade OHI Website.  We are a group of War Between the States historical interpreters.  We are following the trail of General Natahan "Shanks" Evans Brigade form 2011 to 2015.  If you are interested in joining, please contact me at:

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I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

G. Deese

The Tramp Brigade Organization of Historical Interpreters had a successful living history at the National Park Service's Fort Sumter Unit on Saturday, 10 April, 2010.  We provided an infantry weapons demonstration and a casemate mounted artillery demonstration to Fort Sumter's visitor throughout the day.  This day long living history was in support of the 149th anniversary of the bombarment of Fort Sumter and was part of the NPS interpretive program for 2010.

The infantry weapons demonstration was provided by Tramp Brigade members Ron Vido and Brian Sharp and Jordan Roberts of the Armory Guards.  They portrayed soldiers of the First Charleston Battalion that were the infantry garrison of Fort Sumter during the second half of 1863.  They showed the different types of weapons available in South Carolina during the period and the process for loading and firing them.

The artillery demonstration was provided by Greg Deese and Pete Berezuk of the Tramp Brigade, assisted by Steve Smith and Luke Sollitt of the Citadel Faculty and Herb Coats of the Armory Guards.  They portrayed soldiers of Company E, 1st U.S. Artillery who were the garrison of Fort Sumter from December 26, 1860 to April 15, 1861.  We conducted the loading and non-firing drill on an original 42 pounder cannon mounted on a casemate carriage at Fort Sumter and discussed the role of forts and artillery in defense of Charleston Harbor in 1861. 

Your Obedient Servant,

Peter M. Berezuk, Vice President
Tramp Brigade Organization of Historical Interpreters

The Tramp Brigade Organization of Historical Interpreters was invited this past weekend to Middleton Place Plantation in Charleston, SC to portray the 56th New York during their raid on 23 February 1865.  The events of this historical day are very important to the history of Middleton Place, as this was the day when the houses were pillaged and burned by the 56th New York.

During the course of the living history, our members reviewed the School of the Soldier from Casey's Drill Manual and conducted firing demonstrations showing the evolution of firearms technologies from the 1840's through the 1860's.  Our weapons display included original and reproduction pieces.  On hand we had the following: 1841 Mississippi Rifle, 1842 Springfield Musket, 1853 Enfield Rifle-Musket, 1859 Sharp's Breechloading Rifle, 1861 Springfield Rifle-Musket and an 1865 Spencer Repeating Carbine.  Of course the firing demonstrations where the most interesting to the public, but the time spent refreshing other military skills is well spent for us as living historians.  

The Middleton Place Staff (including one of our members Ron Vido) gave us free rein at the site and we were able to set up a nice comfortable camp under one of the two hunder plus years old live oak trees on the plantation's greenway.  Our small fire was used to brew coffee, cook our meals and keep us warm through a pleasant but cool night.  We have made preliminary plans to conduct a Militia Muster at Middleton Place on a to be determined date in November or December of this year in commemoration of the events surrounding South Carolina's Secession Convention.  We are looking forward to a second chance to work with the fine people at Middleton Place.

Your Obedient Servant,

Peter M. Berezuk, Vice President
Tramp Brigade Organization of Historical Interpreters