MEET POST 505
(also known as Venture Crew 7505)
Post 505 is an Explorer Scout unit registered with the Boy Scouts of America. Recent changes with the Boy Scouts of America require us to also be registered as a Venture Crew #7505. We are located in Tracy, California. We are part of the Greater Yosemite Council.
Post 505 exists to provide a continuing Scouting experience for the older Scouts of our home troop, Troop 505 (www.bsa505.org). Scouts and Scouters from all over central California, from other Scouting units are also part of Post 505. Over 30 of our Eagle Scouts have been, or are still currently part of Post 505. We are registered as a “Historical Reenactment Post.” As an extension of Troop 505 for older scouts, the Post is a living history post with the purpose of learning and then educating the public about the period in the history of our country commonly known as the Civil War or The War Between the States. As a member of the Post you will take on the role of a Confederate soldier and demonstrate what it was like living during the war (circa 1860-1865). We provide living history demonstrations to the public schools who are learning about this period of history. You will set up camps, and for a brief time, live the way people did in the 1860’s. You will practice marching and doing drills, basically learning the skills of the soldier during the 1860’s. You will be available to the public and answer any questions they may have. Through these reenactments, public is educated about the Civil War, its causes and its cost to our country.
Then there are the battles! Generally there are about eight events per year in various locations, from Santa Rosa to Fresno, along with regular monthly post meetings which coincide with the last Troop meeting of every month. During reenactment events, we will participate in mock battles. Defending or attacking--the tactics of the times are demonstrated for the public on the battlefield using period reproduction weapons and lots black powder. Let’s not forget about the cannons. Lots of noise, lots of smoke, lots of fun!
Our Post is part of the American Civil War Association (www.acwa.org) and participates with other historical reenacting groups to reenact the times and lives of soldiers who lived during this period of history. We strive to recreate as accurate as possible what the times, lives and battles were actually like. Our six or so events during the year bring us together with as many as 3,000 other reenactors.
Scouts involved in reenacting has become increasingly popular across the country. There are over 30 other Scout Explorer units across the country who are reenacting units.
Our Post consists of two Companies:
1st Company of the 1st Virginia Artillery
Company C of the 1st Virginia Infantry
Our Post is the only Scout unit in the nation to own our own artillery. Four fully functional full scale cannons and two Gatling Guns. We train each Post member to safely load and fire fully functional cannons. Our Post also has a fully functional infantry company. Each Post member learns how to safely and properly use black power rifles and pistols used during the War Between the States. They learn the history of infantry and artillery units as well as infantry and artillery tactics.
During full scale reenactments our Post members join with hundreds of other reenactors to make up an entire Confederate Brigade.
Our Scouts provide living history lessons to our local schools. Each year, at the request of local schools and teachers they spend an entire day teaching other students about what life was like during the period of the War Between the States. They also teach the well documented and accurate history of that period. Which is often the first time many of these students as well as their teachers have been exposed to what really happened during that period of history.
