1st Tennessee Infantry to ‘fight’ in Sidney

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SIDNEY — At their annual meeting, the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment voted to attend Sidney, Ohio’s Civil War Living History Weekend. The event is scheduled to be held at Sidney’s 220 acre Tawawa Park Sept. 17-18, 2016.

The organizing committee has been working closely with groups of reenactors representing both Union and Confederate troops in an effort to solicit their involvement in Sidney’s inaugural event. It was recently announced that the Army of the Ohio, a Union reenacting unit, and the Jeff Davis Rifles, a Confederate reenacting group, would also be attending the event.

The modern 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment was formed in 1992 by Edd Sharp to create a living history organization that provides a rallying point for the preservation of our Civil War history in the Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, Ohio metro areas and specializes in programs and re-enactments. Formed as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, one of the regiment’s primary missions is to raise money for battlefield preservation.

Captain Sharp retired from active service in 2009 and Gary Evens was then promoted to regimental command. Following two years of exemplary command, Captain Evens joined Captain Sharp in retirement in 2011. J.R. Sharp was named as his successor, and he presently commands the unit.

Members of the 1st Tennessee account for over 75 years of combined experience in the hobby. Throughout the 1st Tennessee’s more than two decades of existence, over 100 members have served. Current membership numbers are approximately 40, including a growing civilian contingent who portray in-camp laundresses that saw service throughout the war.

Currently, the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment is affiliated with the Independent Guard Battalion. It has also affiliated with the Confederate Military Forces, Breckenridge Battalion and Bushrod Johnson Battalion.

Interestingly, the 1st Sergeant has always been elected by the military membership of the group. The 1st Sergeant is a key position, providing interface between the staff officers and the enlisted men. Jeff Carte is currently the 1st Tennessee’s elected 1st Sergeant.

Many of the members of the 1st Tennessee have participated in several movies filmed in recent years. Those include Glory, North and South, Gettysburg and Gods and Generals.

Through the years, the 1st Tennessee has also participated in many of the high-profile “anniversary” events such as the 135th, 140th, 145th and 150th series of battle re-enactments. Members of the 1st Tennessee have also been actively involved in efforts to preserve Civil War history in Ohio. Those projects include Buffington Island, Johnson’s Island, The John Hunt Morgan Heritage Trail and The Ohio State Penitentiary.

Like most other reenacting groups, the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment is also dedicated to portraying a working military organization on the field. By doing so, they help preserve an important part of America’s history.

Sidney, Ohio’s Civil War Living History Planning Committee includes Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst, Shelby County Historical Society Executive Director Tilda Philpot, Sidney native now Tipp City resident and Union reenactor Doug Slagel, Confederate reenactor J.R. Sharp, commander of the 1st Tennessee Infantry, and Elizabeth Topping, who has been reenacting as a period civilian for twenty-two years. The committee has been working to organize the Sidney event for more than nine months. The event continues to generate excitement in reenacting circles.

“When we began planning the event,” Barhorst said, “we thought that we would draw about a hundred reenactors the first year. It is now clear that we will have more than twice that number of participants.”

“As a former history teacher, the event is one that I have long wanted to see Sidney host,” Barhorst said, “and I am delighted with the response. As an elected official who wants to find unique ways to promote tourism, I am doubly excited about what this event can mean to the community in coming years.”

Although no Civil War battles were fought anywhere near Sidney, a considerable number of local men served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In fact, the 1860 Census records that Shelby County had a population of 17,493. Of that number 8960 were male, and a staggering 14 percent of them served in the Army during the war. Of those, 25.58 percent (326) died in the service of their country.

Captain J.R. Sharp discusses training strategy with Second Lieutenant Russ Judge during the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment’s spring drill held at Sidney’s Brookside Park in 2015.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/04/web1_photo.jpgCaptain J.R. Sharp discusses training strategy with Second Lieutenant Russ Judge during the 1st Tennessee Infantry Regiment’s spring drill held at Sidney’s Brookside Park in 2015. Courtesy photo

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