BRIEF HISTORY OF
THE CUMBERLAND GUARD
Colonel David Shackelford

   In the mid 1980's, the 7 th Kentucky under the command of Nicky Hughes (current editor of The Civil War Historian), the 7 th Michigan under the command of Keith Harrison (past National Commander of the S.U.V.) and I, as commander of the 49 th Indiana, agreed to create a cooperative organization wherein the units would march together and form the nucleus of a battalion. We were soon joined by the 3 d Michigan under the command of Scott Cummings and other smaller units.

   For the record, the first reenacting battalion was at the 100 th anniversary of the S.V.R. held at Gettysburg in 1981. The right wing was composed of the 5 th New York under Terry Daley and the left wing of the Mudsills and the 49 th Indiana. George Derenburger, commander of the Mudsills, commanded the left wing. A hurricane pelted the site for 4 consecutive days of nearly non-stop rain. This battalion-level experience provided the impetus for the three units to create our own battalion. We did not have a name for the new organization. Several possibilities were proposed but none seemed to capture the spirit. The only requirement that was agreed upon is that it would contain the word "Guard" in order to convey the intended eliteness of the battalion in battle. Modeled, of course, from Napoleon's Old Guard, the something-something Guard was intended to represent a hard-fighting, high< morale organization.

   Credit, or blame in some people's mind, goes to Kurt Holman, then of the 7 th Kentucky and current Director of the Perryville Battlefield. He proposed "The Cumberland Guard" and everyone instantly loved it. Thus, the Guard was born.

   The first 125 th anniversary battle was 1 st Manassas. Held immediately adjacent to the actual battlefield, we turned out three companies for the event. The Guard had joined the newly formed Western Battalion under the command of Chris Craft. Notice the name "battalion" . After a couple of years I observed that the Western Battalion always fielded a battalion of Guard and a battalion of everyone else. I suggested the name be changed to the Western Brigade and everyone concurred. We maintained our membership in the Western Brigade until the 125 th Murphysboro, Tennessee event. That is another story to be told at a later date.

   Back to Manassas-our three companies were joined by Logan's Brigade (actually, just a single company under the command of Gary Weedman) from Illinois. Thus, our four company battalion took part in the first anniversary battle since 1963. It was 112 degrees (that is not a typo) and the battle lasted 3 1/2 hours. 500 spectators were treated and 500 re enactors were transported to the hospital. That does not include the re enactors that were treated on site.

   From that moment on, the Guard was born and other organizations began to join...some formally and others just fell in with us when we were at the same event.

   We participated in all of the 125 th anniversary battles with at least a battalion. By the 1990's, we began to routinely put two battalions in the field. Thus began the Brigade drill and evolutions we perform on a routine basis. The Guard is the only organization in the United States that conducts Brigade drill by the book and at every event.

   Other organizations began to jell and associated themselves with us. The largest was the Iron Brigade under the command of Chuck Peterson. He was a faithful and very competent commander. I recall he got his foot stepped on and broken by a horse at the 125 th Spotsylvania event. He recovered but resigned soon after and was replaced by Roger Griffin. Roger is one of the kindest men I have ever known. Roger was replaced by Paul Worthington who continued the tradition of the Iron Brigade being commanded by kind and competent men. The figurine of an Old Guardsman that he painted and gave to me will forever be on my mantle.

   The Iron Brigade soon joined a larger organization called the Black Hat Brigade under the command of Tim Kuracz. Incidentally, the Iron Brigade still exists and is commanded by Steve Boldin. Tim forged a huge organization with the Black Hats and maintained their history and association with the Guard. Tim stepped down a few years ago and the rest is history.

   Meanwhile, in Illinois, Rick Keating formed a company of Illinois troops. They joined the Guard and, eventually, brought other Illinois units with them. Rick then formed a new unit, the 104th Illinois. Using the Guard as a model, he created the 1st Illinois Battalion. It has flourished under his guidance and sets the standard in Illinois. They have continually supported the Guard and vice-versa.

  The lack of a formal structure, bylaws, etc. has worked well to create the Guard. It doesn't work well in trying to create a narrative of how it was formed, etc. I am certain I have omitted some very important people and events...and for that, I apologize. Perhaps others can contribute and we can put a larger picture together.