The Potomac Legion is a combined arms Civil War living history organization, dedicated to a progressive, research-based impression, and is comprised of units with members throughout the eastern United States and Canada.

The Potomac Legion was officially organized in January, 2001, building upon the numerous accomplishments of the unincorporated "Federal Campaigner Battalion" active during the 1997-2000 seasons. The primary portrayal is that of Eastern Federal troops, but is not limited to this genre, as the impression changes to fit the needs of the event. Some of the infantry organizations portrayed include the 1st Minnesota, 2nd Wisconsin, 2nd Florida, 3rd Maine, 4th Vermont, 4th Pennsylvania Reserves, 5th New Hampshire, 6th Wisconsin, 8th New York, 11th New Jersey, 13th New Jersey, 13th Virginia, 17th New York Veteran Volunteers, 23rd Illinois, 29th Massachusetts, 35th North Carolina, 41st Ohio, 45th Virginia, 51st Pennsylvania, 59th Virginia, 69th New York, 79th Ohio, 82nd Ohio, 83rd Pennsylvania, 86th New York, 102nd Illinois, 105th Ohio, 105th Illinois, 122nd New York, 124th New York, 129th Illinois, 140th New York, 151st New York, and 157th New York. Cavalry and artillery impressions have also varied over the years.

The Potomac Legion typically attends two to three high-quality, "campaign" or higher level events per year; typically on the actual battlefield, and rarely without a preservation component; however, this does not preclude taking-in a "mainstream" event from time to time to "see the numbers" in spite of the arguable lack of historical accuracy. Supported events include: After The Battle, Bristoe Station, Crittenden's Farm, At High Tide, Glendale-Malvern Hill, 2nd Kernstown, Payne's Farm, Shenandoah '62, Winter 1864, Rich Mountain, 2nd Bull Run NPS LH, Chatham Manor NPS LH, Antietam NPS LH, Gettysburg NPS LH, Perryville, Antietam, Camp Curtin, Pickett's Mill, Harrison's Landing, Burkittsville, Sailor's Creek Preservation March, Immortal 600, McDowell, The Hodge March, Bentonville Preservation March, and Averasboro.

The Potomac Legion stands apart from other Federal battalion-level organizations because we:

• Place safety first and foremost.
• Stress the Man-Material-Methods Triad recognizing attitude and correct living history methods are more important than stitch counting.
• Continuously perform research, prepare interpretive write-ups, and distribute our findings to the rank-and-file of our member units, thereby helping our members to continuously improve. In addition, our research materials are available to non-members.
• Plan, resource, and execute the majority of the events we attend.
• Adhere to period military tactics, procedures and protocols, including the proper mounting of guards, roll calls, ration and ammunition issues, proper dress parade, &c.
• Enforce our authenticity standards in the field.
• Drill according to period manuals, not a collection of hand-me-down "reenactorisms".
• Feature a rotating field command structure.

The mission of the Potomac Legion is to portray Federal soldiers of the Civil War era as accurately as possible. As such, it is expected that members of the Potomac Legion and those who fall in with us are interested in an authentic living history experience. Members of the Potomac Legion wear the correct uniforms and equipment for each event and portrayal, engage in more-accurate camp life-whether "on campaign" or in garrison, and foster an atmosphere and attitude conducive to living history.

We invite you to tour our website and learn more about the Potomac Legion and progressive Civil War reenacting. Please follow the buttons at the left side of your screen to navigate our site.

• For information on our Board of Directors and our member units, please click on About Us.
• Click on Standards to view our basic impression requirements.
• Click on Bylaws for details on how the Potomac Legion is governed.
• Click on Events to view our schedule and see links to event websites.
• The Links button is a gateway to other sites of interest.

In addition to this site, the websites of our member units contain a great deal of additional valuable information and resources.

Contacting the Legion

The Potomac Legion is governed by an elected Board of Directors and assisted by Unit Reps. The 2009 Board, Unit Reps & Webmaster are:

• President: Paul Parvis, 5th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
• Vice President: Arthur Stone, 13th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
• Secretary: Chris Piering, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry
• Treasurer/Webmaster: Gerald Todd, 1st Maine Cavalry
• At Large Board Member Cavalry: Tom Craig, 1st Maine Cavalry
• At Large Board Member Artillery: Mike Martorelli, Battery F, 1st Pennsylvania Artillery
• Unit Reps:
  • Bill Shea, 5th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
  • Chris Benedetto, 5th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
  • Pete Mahalow, 13th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
  • Tim Daniluk, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry
  • Dan Fleeter, 122nd New York Volunteer Infantry
  • Dave Townsen, Columbia Rifles
  • Brian Schwarz, Living History Guild
  • Doug Oakes, Living History Guild
  • Randy Gilbert, Battery F, 1st PA Arty
  • Dan McLean, Battery F, 1st PA Arty
  • Dave Myrick, 1st Maine Cavalry
  • Chris Sedlak, Battery G, 1st PA Arty
  • Jim DeAngelis, Battery G, 1st PA Arty
  • James Owens, 1st Minnesota

In memory of our friend and comrade,

Charles Heath
1960-2009