The Regiment will be taking part in the 225th Anniversary celebration of West Springfield MA on July 4th, 1999. We've managed to make this a PAYING event, so member attendance is GREATLY ENCOURAGED for this event. We are being sponsored by the West Springfield Park & Recreation Department (our friend Director Domenic Longo) and the Veteran's Department (our friend Director Derek Barlow). The Sergeant and Adjutant have been attending meetings with the 225th Anniversary Committee to bring this to fruition.

For our encampment, we're going to try something a little different. We're going to do a first person interpretation of a West Springfield Militia Muster during the year 1774. This would before the Corps was formed. We'll be taking on the roles of area residents called for muster. Of course, our leanings will be toward the Crown and we will be expressing growing concerns for "the troubles" we see coming. This will be an excellent opportunity for us individually to work on our first person "persona." Tom DeLucco has been doing some research and has provided packages of background historical information prior to the period for our use in developing a "persona."

The end of the year 1998 contest created by Chris and Marcia Kennick and prominently featured in the previous edition of the "Loyal Gazette" is over. There were two winners:

• Bill Wigham
• Brian Zawodniak

Congratulations!! Chris tells me that the prizes for getting all the answers will be forthcoming.

Your humble Adjutant has changed his Internet Service Provider (ISP). We've also moved the Regiment to a new home on the Internet. We are now on a network that provides high speed access to our site. The ISP, Media One, is a national "cable" company that is connecting more and more homes to the Internet using high speed cable connections. The difference in accessing speed is on the order of 50 times the speed your "quick as a rabbit" Adjutant previously connected to the 'net. As more households go this way, we will be able to provide greater content on our site in the future. Mrs. Adjutant is also pleased because as the connection is by cable, the Adjutant is no longer tying up the phone line.

Our new home page address is:

http://people.ne.mediaone.net/danmoraski/peters.htm

Please change your "bookmarks" or "favorites" to reflect this change. We still exist on the old ISP, with a message that we've moved, but that won't last long. The e-mail address for the Adjutant has also changed to:

danmoraski@mediaone.net

When Tom came to me in October of 1998 and said he'd really like to join Peters' Corps, I could not believe it.

"Are you sure?" I said more than once.

"Yeah!"

Tom was, well, merry with drink when he brought the subject up. I figured that I had better ask him several times given his condition. Then I slipped the King's Shilling in his coat pocket and that was that. . .

Since that time in October, Tom's enthusiasm for Peters' Corps has been refreshing. He has read up on this time period quite a lot. He has reproduced select readings for all of our members. He has ought out advice about the many details that go along with re-enacting. He is a sponge, and he soaks up information well.

Most impressive of all is the fact that he has made, by hand, his waistcoat and linen workshirt! (When I first saw his shirt, I asked him where he purchased it from! It is that good!) He has also made his bayonet frog and a handsome leather-bound journal for which, because it was so well put together, he now has two additional orders!!

Tom is indeed a welcome member to our "family." As his best friend, I am thrilled to have him aboard. What more can I ask for!

Pvt. Linseed (Zawodniak)

Again this year Peters' Corps accepted an invitation from the United States Army Reserve to provide training support for their Drill Sergeant School at the fort. In the words of Sergeant First Class Gary Sirois we were commended for having presented and demonstrated to a large group of Drill Sergeant Candidates an historic overview of our unit, together with period drill, ceremonies, and examples of light infantry tactics. We were honored by their further commending us for our "professionalism, performance and esprit de corps which were second to none".

This event was developed by Mark Cafazzo who acted ably as our Serjeant du Jour at this event. Mark was well prepared and kept to a tight time schedule in the best traditions of the of the QLR. Dan Moraski assisted by speaking eloquently about the history of our unit and several other members provided ancillary information during the performance. Our Serjeant would also like to add his own, "Well done, Peters' Corps!"

The Sergeant

Several members of Peters' Corps, quite rightly, carry the British style "Y" shaped musket tool. However one of the legs of this "Y", used on the barrel pins, ends in a potentially dangerous point. If carelessly carried one might, when "going to ground", inadvertently become skewered by his own turn-screw. We do not yet know how, or even , our historical counterparts dealt with this problem. I would suggest that a stub of corn cob or a wine bottle cork might serve as an impromptu sheath. Naturally there is more than one way to skin a cat so feel free to devise your own safety equipment. Just remember that it should not be heavy, should be made out of readily available materials on the Burgoyne Campaign, should be uncomplicated and easy to make and/or apply.

The Sergeant

As the Sergeant mentioned in his after action report, it was heartening to see the positive reaction we had from this class of future Drill Sergeants. They were very attentive and asked us many well thought out questions. We joined them for lunch and were impressed with the victuals. They even served us the British Soldier's favorite - roast beef.

Sergeant Gary Sirois presented us with certificates of appreciation from the U.S. Army. The ultimate honor was paid to the Regiment, though, when we all marched to the enlisted mess. The Drill Instructor Class chanted as they marched in 20th century style. One chant to mark cadence was: "one, two, three, four…we want to be Peters Corps."

To view past editions of our unit newletter, The Loyal Gazette, click here.

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