Company D, Confederate States Marine Corps, is composed of two separate reenacting groups: a Confederate Marine Color-guard Detachment and Co. D Reenactors, Captain Alan Palmer commanding.
The Company, while being primarily a loose administrative organization, insists on strict authenticity in uniforms, weapons, accoutrements and more especially, attitudes. Military courtesy and deportment is expected during duty hours and drill is performed with the sharpness and precision expected of a Marine unit. Whether involved in bayonet drill, heavy or light artillery drill, boat drill or Hardee's Light Infantry drill, members of the Company take great pride in their superior performance.
While insisting on the above while on duty, we relax in the evening around the camp fire. General conversation tends to be lively, humorous, and informal. We also stress that we are a family oriented group. Women and children, dressed in proper period clothing, are always
welcome in our camp. Since its formation, the unit has participated in many living histories,
reenactments, and memorial services. Many honors have been bestowed upon the unit such as having the honor of being the offical color-guard unit for the Military Order of the Stars and Bars, Mississippi Society in 1999, presenting colors at the dedication of the historical marker for the C.S.S. Arkansas at Vicksburg in 2001, and taking the lead in the Mardis Gras Parade for the Louisiana Division,SCV. In February 2002, the unit had the honor of representing the Mississippi Division, SCV as its Color-Guard at the reburial of two black Federal soliders at the Grand Gulf Cemetery and in 2003 presented colors at the headstone dedication for Holt Collier in Greenville, MS.
One of the biggest honors of this unit was to be the Navy & Marine Color-Guard at the Hunley Funeral in April 2003. In June 2005, the Color-Guard aspect had the honor of presenting colors at the Children of the Confederacy State Convention in Gulfport, MS and at the
MS-Division, SCV State Convention that same weekend in Gulfport.
The unit has traveled all over the state of Mississippi to participate in a variety of events, and in the past four years has traveled to events in Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Besides doing Color-guard duties, the Company participates in Navy and Marine Reenactments, Living Histories, and once a year hold a School of the Marine which was held at Fort Gaines - Mobile, Alabama in January 2005.
The Unit now has expanded with a new addition, an artillery squad, commanded by Sgt. Dan McCaskill. Sgt. McCaskill acquired a 10 - pounder Tredgar Parrot Rifle for a Christmas gift in 2001. In 2007, the unit won the Army of Tennessee Artillery Competition in Camden, TN. The Unit also has attracted many ladies that we have dubbed our "Camp Followers" that support us through sewing, cooking, and other ways whether through reenacting or memorial services.
