The purpose of this organization to support each others efforts in the northland. Centered, for the most part in central and northern New York State, but also including Vermont, Southern Ontario, and Southern Quebec, the NEMDA is a group of re-enactors representing both the Union and the Confederacy in both military and civilian aspects of the war years.
A few years back it was an idea that several people had about the same time. The idea was that instead of several smaller events on the same weekend if we could co-ordinate our efforts at the end of a season towards next years events we could have larger events and both ourselves and the viewing public would get a bigger all round weekend for their efforts.
These events are worked around our various brigade and battalion national efforts and the NEMDA does not constitute a new brigade or battalion. We all have our parent organizations and unless I'm notified or someone wishes to make an annoucement in our news section my assumption is that everyone is happy with their lot in life. Just in case your interested the 2nd Michigan Vol. Infantry, "E" Company's National organization is the United States Volunteers commanded by Colonel Dana Heim - howdy Colonel. We fall in with the 1st Regiment, commanded by Lt-Col Burdell Waffler, and our line company - "I" - is commanded by Captain Craig Young. We are very happy with our home within this organization and we only regret that distance keeps us from seeing the folks more often.
The NEMDA has meeting once a year to arrange and plan the up coming season. This meeting is held in the town of Long Lake, New York, normally on the last weekend in October. Here units make their announcements as to events, we try to co-ordinate the events for maximum participation, issues of safety are reviewed - it is my understanding that the NEMDA will be incorporating for the 2001 season, and it is a great excuse to put on your fancy dress (uniform) and hang out with as easy going a crowd you could ask for anywhere.
We may try and kill each other all summer but that doesn't mean we don't like each other!
If your a re-enactor and can't get down south for the fight well come north then friend. Billy Yanks and Johnny Reb's are all - and this includes families - welcome at our reenactments. Check out our events page for the up coming 2001 season in the northeast.
This is a very rough outline and if any other member units or individuals of the NEMDA have anything to add please contact me and I'll happily add it to this page.