Hello Curtis!

>> The 7th was racially diverse, but so far as I know they were Indians. <<

Since posting the original message, I've done a little bit of researching on the subject, and come up with some interesting information.

While it may be difficult to establish Black troops in the brigade from existing records, I was surprised to find that there WAS definitely at least one contemporary Black community in the area that the Brigade recruited from... tho nowadays it's existance has practically been forgotten.

In the southwestern part of the state (Plattville, Dodgeville, etc.) the main occupation was lead mining. There were numberous lead miners in the period.

Beyond that, there were certainly Black folks in the Milwaukee, and probably Madison areas in the 1850s - 1860s.

Interestingly... near La Crosse, there is an area known to older locals as "Nigger's Bluff"! It would be QUITE interesting to learn the origin of this name, and the time frame in which it originated!!!

To me, anyway... all of this suggests that Black troops in the Iron Brigade was AT LEAST a distinct possibility!

>> I don't see a problem with anyone participating in any reenactment group that is willing to work at the craft. <<

Yes, from what I've been able to determine so far this IS definitely the case; the folks I've spoken to so far have been very nice people.

The problem is that I'M one of those sticklers for historical accuracy! <> Unless I can find fairly solid proof (and a reasonable back story to give those with questions) that substantiates the validity of Black troops in the Iron Brigade, I wouldn't want to compromise the historical integrity of a reenactor's group with my presence.

That's the problem with us undergraduate historians; we're like religious converts. At times we tend to be much more zealous about these things than real, working historians! To make it worse, a few credits at a time I've been trying to pick up a Master's degree in History of Science (strictly for my own satisfaction), so I'm being constantly reinnoculated with the professional standards of the discipline.

As far as a specific unit is concerned... it seems that there is a Company of older reenactors here that seems made to order for me. At age 57 things like participating in skirmishes is quite possible for me, but in moderation (damn, nobody said that getting old is for sissies! <>). It appears that this particular Company is, in large part, a garrison unit.

Once I've been able to satisfy MYSELF that my presence is historically viable, and back it up with research data, it will be time to sign a Muster Sheet for the Iron Brigade.

Thanks for your reply on this,

Tom Adams, Would-Be Trooper
Madison, WI