Regimental
DispatchRegimental
Dispatch
May 2003 Sic Semper Tyrranus Richmond, VA
Gentlemen, I know I have been missing in the past few months and it will not get better anytime soon. We are packing and have been packed for a few weeks. The stress of moving is there but there is hope at the end when we are finally moved. As you all may have noticed, you have not been pressed into service please make a note of that. HAHAHA . Hopefully things will get back to normal soon. I should be back in the bosom of the company soon charging head long into whatever may come. I will not lay out my schedule to you all here but the next event I can make it to is Gettysburg. As always, I leave the company in Mr. Turley’s capable hands.
***Capt. Jones
1st Lieutenant’s Report
The turnout for the Confederate Heritage Parade was great. The weather was close to perfect, a beautiful day for a parade. It was a little late getting underway. Officials estimated there were between 1,500-1,800 participants. There were also lots of horses or at least the pavement made it seem that way with all the manure we had maneuver around. Not to brag, but along the way, we could hear people commenting about how sharp we looked. This should come, as no surprise for this is where F-Company shines. This is where all our hard work and training pays off. We did most of the parade in step as opposed to a less demanding route step. We had a chance to “Strut our Stuff”. This is intended to be an Annual Event, so hopefully, it will get bigger and better. I want to thank everyone who participated. Especially those who had to travel some distance.
***Respectfully- 1stLt. Turley
1st Sergeant’s Report
Your ballots have been counted and the winning events in chronological order are: McDowell, Memorial Day Dedication, Cold Harbor, Gettysburg, and Fort Branch. The Cedar Creek event this year was a write-in on most of your signup sheets due to the fact that I could not find any info on the event in Feb., but info is coming in slowly and I will be posting it as soon as available. The event is scheduled for Oct. 18-19 at the same place as before. This is all the info I have for now, if you want to attend, let your corporal know and later in the year we will take another official polling on attendees before we send in the registration.
Most of the events this year are requiring all participants to show ID when registering. So, it will be most difficult to sign up under someone else’s name. Also, most events are stating that they are not accepting walk-on’s. This is what they print on the registration documents, but I have not seen them turn anyone away with hard cash in their hands.
So, what does this mean for you?
If on the other hand, you decide you cannot attend after you have signed up, it is getting harder to substitute another soldier in your place. Just send your check to Mr. Alexander!!
Why is this occurring? Couple of reasons: 1. They want your money up front and early.
I would like to thank all that attended the “Abbreviated “ Camp of Instruction. I had a great time and seemed most of you did too. The marksmanship of the company is really getting superb!! Thanks to Joe Allen for the great location and all the work he did behind the scenes. Also to the Capt., Mr. Stafford, Mr. Ward and Mr. Gammon for lugging all the company stuff around.
Hope to see all of you at McDowell, please dress warm and be prepared!
***1st Sgt. Wilson
How Was The Heritage Parade ?
We came, we saw, and we marched. If we could have ordered any better weather, it wouldn’t have been any different than what we got this day. Sunny skies, comfortable temps, and a great turn out by the membership and some of the wives and friends. We had no trouble getting there and finding each other. I think there were more flags than people, if that’s possible, but what made me feel very good was seeing our American Flag intermingling with that of the Confederate Standards. At a time like now, true patriotism was ever-present within the ranks of all of the units. At times we became a long accordion as the procession marched onward past the staues of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, and J.E.B. Stuart. Their were no incidents that I noticed, so the march went very well. In attendance were: Lt. Turley, 2nd Sergeant Firth, Cpl. Perry C., Cpl. Pearson, Privates: Alexander, C.J., Alexander, J.P., Baird, Gammon, T.Perry, Powell, Ramsey, Schirmer, and Ward. Added guests deserving of honorable mention, besides Mr. Courson are Mrs. Perry and her friend, Mrs. Ramsey, Mrs. Schirmer, Mrs. Baird, and last but not least MaCalah. We all came together at the destination of Hollywood Cemetery, marching past George Pickett’s resting place and stopping near the pyramid. An array of speakers came to the podium, including our own Mr. Ward, but all that were present enjoyed the day and our company.
Battle Of McDowell
The date: May 3-4
Signed up and pre-registered for this event, are: Lt. Turley, 1st Sergeant Wilson, 2nd Sergeant Firth, Cpls. Pearson and Perry, Pvts. Baird, Gregory, Powell, Perry C., Ramsey, Schirmer, and Talbert If you hadn’t already signed up for this event, you are now out of luck. Lt. Turley has been requested to be 2nd in command of a 40-50 man Company. His duties and responsibilities may be enhanced during this weekend, so your support and attention to details will be very important to him and the command structure this weekend.
Unfortunately, it’ll be another two years before you have the chance to visit the lovely town of McDowell and all the trimmings that come with such a superb event. I am looking forward to this one. It has always been one of those premier events that you hear about, without all of the huge numbers of participants and crowds. The entire town comes out for this. Each year it gets better and better, but they reserve the right to keep this one small. Not all good things come in large packages and this one is proof. I have never been let down by this event in all the years that I have gone. From the minute you get there, time has almost stopped. To have the fortune to fight on the actual grounds and the scenery that comes with it is worth the time we all take out of our normal lives to share a unique part of Virginia history. I hope that all come prepared. It’s a taxing event on mind and body, so bring only what you need because that’s what you’ll be carrying. The event coordinators have already set forth the Company breakdowns. The web-site for McDowell gives additional info that you may find helpful, along with directions. To log onto McDowell’s web-site, please go to: www.mcdowell1862.com.
PLEASE NOTE: I have been attempting to finalize this Newsletter for the past four days, but every time I check my updated e-mails in regards to McDowell, things are changing. Got to love the Army. Main changes: On Friday, our camp will still be located across the river where it has usually been, but it will be much further down the path that runs along the river. There will be sentries posted throughout the day and night to aid in everyone finding their units. The sentries have also been instructed to not allow any vehicles to go down this path. We are doing Campaign anyway, so once you’ve parked and signed in at registration, you’ll be walking back to the main road over the small bridge to the path on the right which will lead to the Confederate camp. An important change for you all to know, the Brunswick Stew dinner for Saturday night has been eliminated, except for the civilian impressionists. After Saturday’s battle and in town (1st person) duties, we will be marching to our new camp up the mountain. This is the same area we were four years ago. Once we’ve arrived at our Saturday night homestead, we will be issued rations for dinner. Pvt. Talbert will be bringing home the bacon and 1st Sergeant Wilson will be bringing the starch for Sunday’s breakfast. All other meals should be considered out of your haversack. Please try to avoid the temptations of the modern food items if at all possible, but if you can’t do without, at least use proper wrapping material to keep the farb look to an extreme minimum It is recommended that you make an effort to arrive by Friday evening to avoid the hectic rush to Saturday’s schedule. When you sign in at registration, check to see who, from our unit, has already arrived and that’ll help you locate each other. Pvt. Powell has our fly that he will be bringing which will be tagged & turned in. Event organizers asked to not bring any poles or stakes, but bring our hemp twine. There will be a wagon of sorts that will carry some of those awkward items to our Saturday night location. As stated in previous newsletters, be prepared for whatever Mother Nature has in store. We have been fairly lucky in the past, but don’t let that spoil you. You will need approximately 60-80 rounds, so count them out before you pack them up. If you do not wish to carry your additional rounds or caps, they can also be stowed away in the wagon and distributed before we head out for Sunday morning’s fighting. The Sutler situation is not always a reliable source at McDowell for two reason: 1.) There is not a large turn-out of Sutlers, and 2.) We usually do not have much free time to shop. Have a safe ride to and from the event, and I look forward to seeing you all there. As a quick reference, directions to McDowell:
From the North:
Take Interstate 81 south to exit 225 (Woodrow Wilson Blvd.). Follow signs to "Monterey" until the intersection with VA Route 250. Turn right onto 250 West. Follow Route 250 (west) approximately 31 miles to the Village of McDowell.
From Richmond, Roanoke, or points south and west:
Take I-81 north to Exit 225, and follow the above directions. Make sure you are rested before taking this journey. Once you are off the main thoroughfare, the road is very winding and the hills are tremendous. It’s not a race to get there, and your safety is most important. Please stay alert.
Fort Pocahontas
The date: May 17-18
This is not a Company event this year, however, it is a wonderful event. Registration MUST be done on an individual basis. If you wish to attend, then you MUST do most of your own footwork. I will supply you with most of the details, but you will need to register yourself. To get the cheapest registration price of $10, your registration must be sent in (post marked) before May 1st. After May 1st, registration fees are $15. Those that have expressed an interest to attend this event, are: 2nd Sergeant Firth, Cpls. Perry, Pearson, Pvts. Gammon, Gregory, Perry C., Powell, Ramsey, Schirmer, Stafford, Ward, and Wood. As you probably noticed, we will NOT have any Officers attending this event, so that will leave us with another unit to fall in with. Should our attendance stay true with twelve members interested, yes, Mr. Wood, that includes you too, I will personally make sure we find a good unit to fall in with. I have attached the registration form and directions for Fort Pocahontas. I hope all that wish to attend will be there to help fill our ranks. Some of us usually get there on Friday, prior to dark to set up our she-bangs for the weekend. A special surprise, is the free meal on Saturday afternoon/evening. This is a wonderful atmosphere to sit along the James River while enjoying a fine meal just before settling in for the evening. There is usually one battle on both Saturday and on Sunday, with some talks of a morning tactical, but that could be subject to change. Again, as campaigners, bring the appropriate gear to protect yourselves against the elements.
Cold Harbor Living History
The date: May 31-June 1.
I know that this event is about a month away, but it will be falling into our end of May and 1st of June schedule. Therefore, I thought it best to include some information in this newsletter to all of you. We have been doing this fine event for many years, and the Park Service greatly appreciates our efforts and impression every time we’re there. As most of you who have been there know, the highlight for all is the Saturday night torchlight tours which yields hundreds and hundreds of visitors to the park. This is also an excellent weekend to get in plenty of drill and skirmish training. The firing programs are minimal. You will only need 40 rounds for the two day program. Make sure you have something to put your rounds and caps in, because they will be issued to us at each firing program and no rounds are to be allowed in camp or, at least, in your cartridge boxes. This is a great event to get to know each other better. There’s plenty of camp life to share, to rest, and to enjoy each others company. The additional benefit for Cold Harbor, is that, we also get paid per head for those in attendance to put in our account to help keep our unit strong and supplied for future membership.
Directions to Cold Harbor. (Look for the Brown signs on the side of the road for Cold Harbor.) From the North or West: Take I-95 South toward Richmond, Take I-295 toward Norfolk. Take the second Creighton Road Exit 34 A. From the East and South: Get on I-295 North toward Washington. Take the 1st Creighton Rd exit 34 A.
The first light is Cold Harbor Road, take a right. Go about 3 miles and the park will be on the left. We are camping at Stop 2, Confederate Turnout. Drive your stuff down there then go and park for the weekend. Parking is in the grass on the left side near the fence when you first pull into the park. There will be plenty of wood and straw to use for the weekend. We will have our unit mess in camp. So bring your frying pans and an appetite for Kale or grub worms, or whatever the 1st Sergeant can whip up for the hungry troops.
From the Secret Diaries Of Private Gregory
"It is necessary from time to time to inspect the baggage and force the men to throw away useless gear. I have frequently done this. One can hardly imagine all the trash they carry with them year after year. . . It is no exaggeration to say that I have filled twenty wagons with rubbish I have found in the review of a single regiment." Field Marshal Maurice, Comte de Saxe, My Reveries, 1732.
"We can get
along without anything but food and ammunition. The road to glory can not
be followed with too much baggage."
Brigadier General Richard S. Ewell, C.S.A., during Jackson's Valley Campaign,
1862.
I would like to pass along some observations I have made in the hopes that it proves enlightening to you.
The first thing you notice is that you have a lot of gear you have picked up over the years. You have spent a lot of time and money acquiring “haversack stuffers” and living history items and you naturally want to show them off. Resist the urge! Save these things for living history or other educational scenarios.
At 3rd Winchester we had to carry our gear all day Saturday. Keeping your gear on for a long time gives you a real appreciation of what the original boys of “61” went through. At a reenactment you carry your knapsack or blanket roll for a few hours and then return to camp. Having to lug that stuff around all day, a lot of times at the double quick or skirmishing makes for an eye-opening experience.
If you are going to do a campaign impression you are going to need a knapsack. I am not going to get into the blanket roll vs. knapsack controversy but you will find that the knapsack is an easier way to carry your gear. What type of knapsack you get is a matter of personal choice. Consult the equipment guidelines.
By way of example, I feel that the Issac and Campbell has the best ergonomics of all the packs, it’s drawback is that no provision was made for externally carrying of your blanket or greatcoat. It requires very precise folding and packing and without the wooden insert it does not ride as well as with the insert. A great deal of research went into finding a way to carry a blanket; much less a greatcoat outside the pack[i]
Other options are the Federal double bag and the Kibler style knapsack Both bags are very uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. The shoulder straps are too narrow and are not really long enough for persons with larger shoulders. The extra straps on the federal packs allow you to hook the pack to your belt (if you possess the 1855 rifleman’s belt) and turn it into an early version of an ALICE pack.
At McDowell, due to the very early war scenario, I wear either a Mexican war era hard pack or the Mexican war era double bag. The hard pack carried everything I needed for the event and was not that uncomfortable. The problem with a hard pack is that it can only carry so much and you had better very carefully plan on what you want to take.
The double bag allows you to carry your oilcloth between the two sections and to quickly retrieve it in case of sudden rainstorm.
I have pretty much carried the same things in each pack. In my pack I carry a blanket, a poncho and or a ground cloth, a towel made of unbleached muslin, a fully stocked housewife, an extra shirt, a sleeping cap. At least one extra pair of socks and sock liners goes in the knapsack.
Along with that goes my rifle cleaning kit carried in a tea tin with the paint removed. My rifle cleaning kit consists of a muslin bag with cleaning patches, a Springfield or an Enfield tool, small rag, a piece of steel wool, a screwdriver, a small vial of oil, and a small bottle of Ballistol™. I also have a worm, a patch jag, and a brass pump which all fit my ramrod.
I also carry in a poke bag; a toothbrush with baking soda in a small tin box, soap and a piece of unbleached muslin to use as a washcloth, and a comb.
In a slightly larger poke bag I keep a partial roll of toilet paper in a zip lock bag. Also in the zip lock bag is a single cell “AAA” Maglite™ on a dog tag chain, a package of wet ones and a small bottle of Purell™ sanitizing soap.
In a tin can with a removable lid I have a first aid kit stocked with aspirin, decongestants, Imodium-AD™ tablets, Pepto-Bismol™ tablets and a couple of bee sting capsules. I also keep a tube of Chapstick™ with sunscreen, some Band-Aids and a pair of tweezers for splinters or tick removal. I keep a small bottle of Provodine™ solution and a small tube of antibiotic cream in the can as well.
In a small tin box I keep a blister/foot care kit. It contains various sizes of moleskin and Nu-skin patches. I have sterile lancets for draining blisters along with a small container of foot powder to rub on tired feet. A small tube of Vaseline does double duty to help prevent blisters and guard against Egyptian gall march.
I have personalized these two items to take care of problems I might encounter; I do not really see myself as a medic on Normandy beach. If I encounter some medical problem beyond the scope of my personal first aid kit or the more extensive one in my vehicle, it’s time to quit the event and seek some professional help.
You should also pack a some twine or light rope to help make a shelter or tie up things in a emergency. One extra shoelace can be very handy as well.
That is everything I tote in my pack. I have a choice of blankets in anticipation of changing weather conditions. I have summer and winter weights blankets and change them out as appropriate for the season.
If a second blanket is needed in case of really cold weather, consider a great coat. The great coat was the original sleeping bag for soldiers on campaign. Before the introduction of sleeping bags in the Second World War, soldiers were only issued their great coats for sleeping in cold weather. All that you need to do is put it on, button it up, put your hands in the sleeves and pull the sleeves down, button the cape and pull it over your head. With a blanket and a ground cloth to help trap heat you can spend the night tolerably well.
The extra straps on top of the pack are there to secure the greatcoat in place. If you decide to carry a greatcoat you will have to get some more straps for rolling the greatcoat. That way you can detach the greatcoat and still keep it rolled.
What about your feet and lower legs? Your regular jacket will cover them nicely.
A necessity for campaigning is a second poncho or preferably a ground cloth. This will protect your gear and yourself during inclement weather. At Lee vs. Grant I slept under the second oilcloth, which protected my blanket from the rain. The only part of my blanket that got wet was the very edges. The extra oilcloth makes a good insulator and helps trap your body heat in case of cooler weather.
I am going to state right now that your haversack should only be for food and your eating utensils. Remember food and beverages on the left and man killing stuff on the right.
The haversack is not a convenient place to store any excess gear. If you can find them at a CW show I recommend getting a set of original utensils (current cost as of this writing $10-12). They are usually cheaper than a set at the sutlers. A second option is a set of the folding utensils Keep your utensils in a cloth bag, this keeps them organized and keeps them from poking holes in your haversack.
What you carry in your haversack as far as food is a matter of personal preference. Remember that you are the one carrying it so think about the weight. You are never going to starve at a reenactment.
In a poke bag I keep some tea leaves or a block of chocolate for drinking. You might want to look into making some essence of coffee for a quick brew. I think it is very important to remain hydrated and a nice way to do that is take a few minutes, relax and brew a cup of tea or coffee. You can keep some sugar in a tied rag. Look for very small bottles at the sutlers to carry salt and pepper along with any other condiments you wish to carry. Keep these in a poke bag as well.
In later articles I will get into cooking for the campaign.
You need to consider what type of drinking or cooking cup you are going to use. Is it to be a regular cup, A cover boiler or as the veterans so often used, a peach can with a wire handle. This is all a matter of personal preference. At all costs avoid the stainless steel cups and muckets available at some sutlers. Your mucket should have semi-dome shaped cover and circular wire lifting ring on the surface. The ones you see at sutler’s row with the wooden tops resemble Chinese tea pots more than any equipment used in the civil war.
If you need to do some cooking consider using a canteen half with a split stick as a handle. I saw a federal campaigner with a canteen half and for a handle he had bent a ramrod around and tied the ends for a handle. If you carry both a boiler and a tin cup you can cook something like some beans or stew while you enjoy your beverage.
In my pockets I carry a period folding knife, an extra shoelace and an extra gun wrench and a handkerchief and the stub of a candle.
What to do with your car keys? Get a magnetic car key holder and keep it in there. I carry money, ID, and insurance card in a period style wallet.
Above all, the campaign impression is a matter of ongoing research. You need to continually look at your gear and evaluate what you want to carry on your back. Except for a very few scenarios, you can bring extra gear and keep it in your vehicle and pick it up as you need to.
You also need to put on the gear, and try out various combinations to see what you like best. Remember there is a difference between living history and campaigning and as a Civil War Living Historian you should be able to perform both.
Sommers, Jack, Tangled Web, Canadian Army Accoutrements 1855-1996, Rose Books, Ontario Canada 1997
Editor’s Final Thought
For five months, I now have first hand experience of a small part of the “behind the scenes” duties of what the Captain had upon him. Not only in just doing the monthly newsletters, but the enormous amount of e-mails and contacts with our fine unit, other units and event organizers to get the word out to the members. It is overwhelming, but rewarding. So, if at times, there may seem to be less information about events, or they seem to be a little contradictory, it’s only because from so many sources there are so many interpretations of those orders trickling down to us. In the meantime, I will continue to dig out all the accurate information and try to disregard what I feel is not helpful. For those of you, if any, that attended the Tredegar Iron Works Civil War Days, I apologize for my absence. As I had mentioned in numerous communications, if the weather was not cooperative, I would not attend, and unfortunately, the weather was not very good. As it turned out, I had to bring work home and spent much of my weekend doing free labor. I don’t mind the rain at most events, but the thought of little or no visitors to show up and such a long ride for myself did not seem productive. Please check all of your gear. Once you’re in McDowell, it may not be the time to realize you need repair work or supplies. Bring your battle shirts or Militia Uniforms. Please contact me regarding your uniforms for McDowell. I want you there, but I don’t want your uniform to keep you from attending. Guidelines are established, but are not etched in stone. See you in a few days.
***Editor-at-Large: Cpl. Pearson