http://westernbrigade.org

The Western Brigade promotes:

-living demonstrations, reenactment demonstrations, and portrayals of the Union Army…
-education of the general public…
-coordination of like-effort for the benefit of the Membership…

The Brigade successfully accomplishes these goals through:

-monitoring of safety practices, and encouraging the use of ear plugs.
-an emphasis on historical accuracy…we use Casey’s Infantry Manual exclusively, conduct camps of instruction, provide many opportunities for NCOs and officers to perform duties on and off the field, rotate command positions, constantly re-evaluate our interpretation of the Western Federal soldier and his material culture, and share information among the members through Circulars, Special Orders, and General Orders.
-a desire to have fun…through shared experiences, and open communication.
-a willingness to work with and for the community of reenactors beyond the Western Brigade as demonstrated by our support of the First Federal Division, our participation as a partner in the North/South Alliance, and participation at many local and national events.

The Western Brigade formed the North/South Alliance with the 1st Confederate Division as an event planning and coordinating organization. The Federal half of the North/South Alliance is now the 1st Federal Division (the Western Brigade, the Frontier Brigade, the Army of the Pacific, and the Cavalry Brigade).

Colonel Jim Moffet

The Western Brigade commander, Jim Moffet, started re-enacting in 1972 as a member of a Revolutionary War unit in Pennsylvania. He played the fife throughout most of the major events of the Bicentennial, and worked for the NPS at Independence Hall.

In 1977, as an employee at the Minnesota Hitorical Society's Fort Snelling, Colonel Moffet began 5 years in the 5th US Infantry from the 1820s. That same year he joined Co. A, First Minnesota Volunteers, and has served in every rank from musician to captain. Having attended the fireside meeting where the Western Brigade was founded in 1983, Jim has normally served as their principal musician, at least when his company didn't need his services as an officer. In 2006 he was appointed the WB's lieutenant colonel, and was elected to command in 2007.

The Colonel and his wife moved to Minneapolis after graduating from Temple University in 1980. His primary areas of interest within the hobby include military drill and evolutions, field music, material culture and teaching others about the Civil War. Jim hand sews most of his uniform items, and enjoys teaching others to play the fife or drum, and ways to improve the authenticity of their impressions.