06/05/2026
Helena Montana Territory
This 1st day of the 6th month in the year of our Lord 2026
Greetings to all:
Old Business:
• Balance of Cash on Hand as of 05-31-2026 was $9,265.46
• Our page recorded 480 visits, and our website had 50 visits this month
• This meeting will be held by mail sent to the Regimental officers and directors via
Email to all members that the regiment has addresses for and posted on the Regiment's page.
New Business:
Projected expeditions for 2026:
The 2nd U S Cavalry Association is seeking volunteers for our 2026 Living History Events, A CELEBRATION OF THE MONTANA TERRITORY, to present the life and times of the period from 1805 with the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery to 1890.
All Living History/reenacting Groups and individuals are welcome to participate. We are looking for an operating chuck wagon, military, First Peoples, and civilian participants to present the history to groups of school-age students.
We have grant funds to provide some reimbursements to volunteers.
This year, due to the grant requirements, we will be covered by event insurance, so we must maintain detailed records of attendance and all distributions. This requires volunteer forms for each event. If you are planning on attending (I hope you can), please return them to me ASAP.
If anyone needs supplies for any event, let me know what and how much so that I can order them by the 2nd.
May
After Action Report
2nd U.S. Cavalry Association – Helena, Montana
Engagement: Huntley Museum Project Educational Program
Dates: 14–15 May
Situation
At the request of the Huntley Museum Project, a detachment of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Association proceeded to the grounds east of Billings to conduct a two‑day educational engagement with elementary‑level scholars. The objective was to provide young learners with an immersive understanding of frontier life, cavalry operations, and the broader history of the Montana Territory.
The regiment arrived on May 13 to establish the camp. During the day, a large brush‑pile fire required several hours to extinguish. Overnight, severe winds tore down one tent and damaged tepee poles. High winds continued into May 14, requiring modifications to the camp layout. Even so, the Association accommodated 40 elementary students and 15 home‑schooled students on the first day. With improved weather on May 15, the program welcomed over 300 students from two elementary schools and additional home‑school groups.
Mission
Students rotated through a series of interactive, historically grounded stations. Presenters provided demonstrations, hands‑on learning, and age‑appropriate historical context covering Montana’s frontier era from 1805 to 1890. Program components included:
• The Montana Odyssey – A first‑person presentation by a reenactor portraying Private James Whitehouse of the Corps of Discovery, including discussion of the Girandoni air rifle with a replica on display.
• History of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry and the evolution of fi****ms from the Revolutionary War through the Plains Indian Wars.
• Military uniforms and equipment, including a live‑fire demonstration of period fi****ms.
• Indigenous cultures and an authentic tepee, with interpretation of daily life and traditions.
• Crow culture and sign language, taught by Dr. Lanny RealBird (MSU), who instructed students in six Crow words using both verbal and sign language.
• Women on the frontier, highlighting roles, challenges, and contributions.
• Frontier medicine, featuring a woman surgeon’s office and period medical equipment.
• Education on the frontier, with a schoolhouse setup and interpretive lessons.
• Indoor museum activities, coordinated with Huntley Museum staff.
Students demonstrated high engagement, asked thoughtful questions, and interacted enthusiastically with presenters. Teachers reported strong retention and curiosity among their students.
Outcomes and Impact
All program objectives were met. The event:
• Strengthened partnerships between the 2nd U.S. Cavalry Association, the Huntley Museum, and participating schools.
• Provided historically accurate, standards‑aligned educational programming.
• Enhanced student understanding of Montana’s frontier history, including military, civilian, and Indigenous perspectives.
• Demonstrated the Association’s capacity to deliver high‑quality outreach programs for diverse student groups.
The Huntley Museum, which previously hosted Civil War Live for approximately 20 years, has formally requested that the 2nd Cavalry return next May to make this program an annual event.
June
The Helena/Lewis and Clark County Heritage Tourism Council (HTC) invited the 2nd to join with many and varied local historic organizations in the Capitol Rotunda on SATURDAY, JUNE 27, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with set up at 10:00 AM and take down from 3:00-4:00 PM. As part of the 250th U.S. Celebration taking place with the Montana Historical Society, this event will give Lewis and Clark County’s local historic organizations a great public opportunity to be seen, provide information about their organization, and recruit new members and volunteers!
Display tables will be provided, but you may want to bring your own chair and snacks. As a special treat, Indian tacos will be for sale on the north side of 6th Ave., across from the Capitol.
July
Once again, we are invited to Old Bannack Days, July 17-19, confirmed, with set up on Friday and breakdown on Sunday. I spoke to John Phillips on February 23, since this is the 50th anniversary of old Bannack days. This is the 50th anniversary of Old Bannack Days, and John would like to make it something special. We will have the same area that we have had in the past and lots of room for live fire demonstrations. We will have the same headquarters building as in past years. The Program will include:
Indoor displays of
The Montana Odyssey – A first‑person presentation by a reenactor portraying Private James Whitehouse of the Corps of Discovery, including discussion of the Girandoni air rifle with a replica on display.
History of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry and the evolution of fi****ms from the Revolutionary War through the Plains Indian Wars.
• Women on the frontier, highlighting roles, challenges, and contributions.
• 2 half-hour live-fire weapons demonstrations.
An all-hands daily shoot-out on Main Street
2 half-hour cavalry horseback demonstrations per day
• Education on the frontier, with a schoolhouse setup and interpretive lessons.
• Continuous interaction with visitors to Old Bannack Days
Note: all participants who wish to carry a firearm must take a fi****ms safety quiz on Friday evening after the potluck (It is a simple test, but if you would like additional details, contact me.)
Old Bannack days provides a pot for dinner Friday night, Breakfasts and Lunches on Saturday and Sunday, and a full volunteer dinner on Saturday night. Let us help make this bigger and better than ever. I have submitted our application and requests for scheduled times for the demonstrations.
I will talk to John Phillips early next month to see if there is an area that we can use to allow people, especially younger visitors, to fire blanks safely under Strict supervision.
August
We have the multipurpose building and the grassy promenade in front of the building for “A celebration of the Montana Territory.” We have confirmed the contract dates of August 28th for setup and the 29th and 30th for the event. We can also rent stalls for those who wish to bring horses to the event. At this time, we only have a few committed volunteers, but we need many more. Let me know how many tables you would like to set up.
I have spoken with the Helena Police to see if we can get a waiver on the city ordinance that prohibits the discharge of a firearm within the city limits. The officer I spoke with is an assistant to the chief, and he does not see any need for a waiver but is looking into the ordinance. Food will be provided to volunteers on the 29th and 30th. I called the Police Chief’s office again on May 29th.
I have attached a volunteer form for both Bannack and Helena for those who still need to complete the form.
Hope all will be able to attend these last two events of the year.
Other Business
Just a reminder, the Safety Rules and regulations for carrying a period firearm apply to all Living History Events attended volunteers.
If any troop has an event scheduled for the remainder of the year, please let me know, and I will add them to next month’s dispatch.
If anyone has any promotions or other items to discuss, we can add them to the agenda for next month’s dispatch.
Since we are a 501-C-3, volunteers are allowed to deduct unreimbursed expenses incurred under the following regulations: Keep all receipts, a detailed log, and a summary of all your expenses (receipts/logs)
Respectfully Submitted:
This 1st day of the 6th month in the year of our Lord 2026
Captain Vincent Pontillo/s/
Captain Vincent Pontillo
Regimental Adjutant
