COMMANDER'S CORNER

I would like to start out by wishing everyone a Happy New Year. 1998 is going to be a very busy year for our regiment. In December we had a very positive meeting at Mark and Caroline Roger's home. (Thank you both so much for a spendid weekend and for opening up you home to us.) I have requested that our unit inspection take place at Vincennes, Indiana. I expect that everyone will be ready. We have five months in which to get ready. I want to get together in February so we can get the ladies organized so that they can stand inspection. We also have to look at the Quebec, Canada event in August. We have a group of people looking into various ways to tavel to that event. As some of you have heard Mike Sawyer is now the unit Treasurer. We have a checking account finally so get those NWTA/unit dues in by Mike's deadline. I want to thank the Phillips for stepping up and taking over the unit paper, this is sonething that I personally feel is very important for conveying of information to the unit. So if anyone has information please forward it on to our new editors. We all have a lot of work to do for the big day in May so Vorwards!!!!!!!!

By Gary Weigel

NEW NEWSLETTER!!!
As you may have noticed, there are some changes to the newsletter. This is, in part, caused by the fact that Pete & Lauri Phillips were elected to produce the newsletter. Our goal is to publish the newsletter on a monthly basis. It won't be as fancy as the ones you've seen in the past, but we promise it will be functional. Items for the newsletter must be received by the 15th of the month to be published in that month's issue. This will help me make my deadline for mailing by the 20th. Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated.

Pete & Lauri Phillips

ITEMS CARRIED IN GERMAN TORNSTER

As an 18th Century German soldier you would carry a backpack called a German Tornster. This is where you would carry the following personal items:

1. Extra Shirt
2. Fatigue Hat
3. Extra Roller
4. Extra Pair of Socks
5. Blacking Ball
6. Two Brushes (1 for clothes, 1 for polishing)
7. Extra Hair Ribbon
8. Linen Cloth (wash cloth)
9. Piece of Lye Soap
10. Pipe
11. Pouch of Tabacco
12. Flint & Steel (for starting a fire)
13. Horncomb
14. Coin Purse (optional)
15. Deck of Cards / Pair of Dice (optional)
16. Cork Screw (optional, but period)
17. Sewing Kit (made by soldiers) containing:
1. Three - four needles
2. Piece of lambs wool for polishing buttons
3. Piece of leather with a slit cut in for polishing buttons so that your uniform doesn't get dirty
4. Small pair of scissors
5. Extra buttons sewn to the flap of the sewing kit
6. Thread (100% cotton or as close as possible)
7. Patches of matching material for mending

Remeber it all has to fit into your pack. We will have an inspection at the Spring Muster. Any questions should be directed to Mark Krug or Gary Weigel.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are planning to include a section for the announcement of Birthdays, Anniversarys, etc. Please forward this information to Lauri or Pete Phillips and we will make a special aimouncment! in the issue that corresponds with that month.

Birthdays: Pete Phillips - 31 January