Camp Wood: School of The Soldier

The 14th Brooklyn (New York State Militia) Company E, every year holds a School of the Soldier weekend called Camp Wood, named after the first commander of the Original 14th Brooklyn who was captured at the battle of first bull run. Colonel A Wood was a stickler for perfect drill and form.

The 14th Brooklyn today strives for period correct "1860's" Drill, and has studied the drill in and out on the company level. The company runs through a squad based school of the soldier on Saturday. Each squad goes through the day learning at each station and graded by the instructor and when the time is up the squads shall move forward to the next. At the end of the day, the squads are brought back together to a company level and are put through everything that they learned that day.

The rest of the weekend, other period forms of drill are taught including Correct Skirmish Drill by Bugle, Correct Bayonet Drill, among other forms of drill. When numbers are high enough, a School of the Officer and School of the Non-Commissioned Officer is taught by the senior staff.

It is always good for us to start a new season of living history by running through an intensive weekend like this to get the rust off. It is great for all soldier's of re-enacting whether you are a seasoned veteran, or fresh fish.

Camp Wood takes place at Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Long island, New York. It is a completely period correct village restoration, which gives the look and feel of an average town in the 1800’s. Original Buildings lay across the landscape, large open fields for drilling, a period operational farm with animals. The ground is amazing and takes you back to the 1860's.

After the drill is done for the day, there will be guard mounts and free time for the troops to walk the grounds of Bethpage village and feel as though you are walking in a period village.

And Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT need to travel through Manhattan to get to this event! Please view our directions/contact page for more information. If you would like to attend please contact us today!