Welcome Hard Heads to 140th PVI!

[Bill Cross]

Just wanted to say "howdy" and "welcome" to all the 33rders and Hard Heads coming back to VA for Recon2. The reputation of the 33rd is sterling, and we very much look forward to having you with us.

Bill Cross
Chair
The Kearny Guards

[RJ Samp]

You looked great and had a super impression. Nice job on the firewood detail and coffee cooking during the stand down late AM Saturday ,  for example.

It was great to see all of you, even if from a distance. You are a tribute to the hobby!

On, Wisconsin!

RJ Samp

[Tom Klas]

Greetings RJ,

Good to see you out there as well trying to give us infantrymen a taste of bugle calls.  Well done pard.

And thanks for the complements; we enjoyed falling in with the Kearny Guards, Rowdy Pards, and other units as part of Company "A" 140th Penn.  It was too bad the weather turned a little sour, but that happens from time to time.

I’m sure more Hard Heads will chime in with their highlights from the weekend as well.  One of my favorite recollections from the event was the inconceivable trials and tribulations of one Private Lindsay Roop and his ever affectionate love Mary from Green County.   Also the chanting of Ehud Steel while cooking rations Friday night was side splitting as well.  This was all part of our first person portrayals during the event that made for a first rate experience.

I also want to thank again Brad Argue and Matt Smith for being non-commissioned officers once again.  They did a splendid job.   Bully to Corporals William Roop and Nicholas Steel.

We also would like to thank the John and Smith families for their hospitality in Gettysburg, David May for his research on the 140th (just tremendous), and all those Hard Heads & 33d Wisconsin members who came out with us.  


Yours in the 140th PA,


Tom Klas (Henry Roop)
Hard Head Mess

[Bill Cross]

I was fortunate enough to have dinner Saturday night with Major Piering (I have received word from Washington that my commission as a band-box soldier for the Field Music School at Ft. Delaware has been approved, so I was not stepping outside my station as a lowly Sgt.). As we reflected on the good and the bad of the event, he was most eloquent in singing the praises of Company A as the best unit in his regiment.

Of course, those of us who served under Captain Murley, Lieutenants Hintzen and Heaton, and Sgts. Kiger and Emerson knew that already, but it was sweet music to my ears to hear the praises sung of our boys in the Green County Rifles. We performed our jobs without hardly ever breaking first person, with the 33rders and Hard Heads going "the extra mile" in maintaining a well-researched and well-brought off group of family, friends and neighbors that both enriched and entertained our band of hardy souls. It was with great pride that we were the last unit to march out of the event Saturday as the rain scattered the fair weather soldiers, reluctantly putting out the fire we'd built in the rain and taking down the shelters we'd constructed with every intention of staying all night and doing our duty as Union soldiers.

I can't say enough good things about the boys from the Badger State. I guess Weed, Mssers. Braun and Salyard have been bringin' you boys up right, because you all did your duty well. I would be remiss in singling out any one of you for commendation, though military protocol requires a virtual "huzzah" for Corporals Roop and Steel. But what's more, at an event where the magic was in 1,000 tiny details and not some powder burning conflagration, you brought solid unit and genealogical research, passion, gritty committment and even some much-appreciated barnyard humor to your roles. What more could any company whip ask for than boys who were ready to jump into their roles as soldiers in the Army of the Potomac in May of 1864? While many in units nearby were discussing the latest staffing appointment at their modern jobs or discussing some other distracting topic, you spoke of home, the war or poor Linsay!

I say "hurrah!" for the Wisconsin boys who made the long trip East. The Kearny Guards will be forever in your debt, and will welcome you in our ranks again anytime!

YOS,

Wm. Cross
Sgt. Company A, 140th Pa Vols.

[Brad]

Please check out: www.geocities.com/hardheadmess/140thpa.jpg

The only known photo of the Roops, Steels, etc:

From left: Henry Roop, William Roop, Samuel Roop, Ehud Steel, Kener Stosnider,  Jesse Steward, Nicholas Steel,  William Ogden,  Michael Roop, and the company favorite, Lyndsay Roop


It was a fun trip, thanks guys.

Cpl. William Roop,
Co. A 140th PVI

[Bill Cross]

You fellers were excellent. If you ever need an East Coast unit to join up with, you'll always be welcome in the Kearny Guards!

Bill Cross
Chair
The Kearny Guards
late 3rd Sgt. Company A, 140th PVI ;D