Sharpsburg Living History
hosted by Hedgesville Blues
August 13 - 15, 2010
General Information:
The Hedgesville Blues will host another Antietam NMP living history. The date will be August 13-15 2010. Preliminary plans are to portray the 2nd Georgia Infantry of Toombs' Brigade. We will likely camp at the Dunker Church on Friday night and march to the Burnside Bridge area Saturday morning, with perhaps some stops along the way like we did this past year. Once there we'll set up pickets and rotate the companies through some guard duty along the creek just as the original Georgians did in the days leading up to the battle. We will conduct some walking tours of our positions for the park visitors. Our firing demos will be in the large field next to the bridge. The park is not going to let us fire from the heights above the bridge. We want to be clear about that point. We have asked several times and spun it all that we can, they're just not going to go for it. Participation will be limited to 80 muskets, just like lasts year.
Registration:
This is an invatation only event. There is no registration fee for this event. While there is no fee to register for this event, all participates must pre-register because the National Park has limited us to 80 rifles excluding Officers and Musicians. Click here for a registration form. Email it to Jerry Stiles at jstiles2002@msn.com. NO WALK-ONS WILL BE ALLOWED!!!!!!!!
Guidelines:
"No words of mine in praise of officers and men are needed. The simple story is eulogy enough."- Col Henry Benning, commanding Toomb's Brigade.
"They were the dirtiest men I ever saw...A most ragged,
lean and hungry set of wolves. Yet there was a dash about them the northern men
lacked."
"I have never seen such a mass of such filthy, foul smelling men. They are the
roughest set of creatures I ever saw: Their features, hair and clothing matted
with dirt and filth, and the scratching they kept up gave warrant of vermin in
abundance."
We will be portraying the 2nd Georgia Infantry of Toomb's Brigade during the
course of the weekend. This unit is most known for it's participation in the
defense of what became known as "Burnside's Bridge". As per accounts of the
campaign, participants should try to attain a worn and dirty look. This is not
the time to trot out your new duds. That being said, we certainly do not
endorse older, less authentic gear over newer "good stuff". Items below are
listed in order of preference, so if you have a good quality item listed #1
please go with that, etc. We believe that folks attending this event are
capable of doing some individual research and putting together their kit.
These guidelines are assembled to achieve a semi-uniform appearance in the
battalion. If there's any questions, please ask.
Headwear
1). Slouch hat. Civilian or issue (ie. the Beard hat, etc). Properly lined,
etc.
2). Issue cap (kepi). Can have a blue or black lower band.
3). McDowell style forage cap.
*We'd like to see the vast majority in slouch hats. If you
have a good slouch, please wear that.
Jacket
1). Plain commutation period jackets or single breasted
frocks, preferably with documentation to the ANV in the summer of 1862. Good
surviving examples are the Jenkins jacket, Murphree jacket, Moorman jacket, and
possibly the 12th Georgia jacket. Please see the below guidance on Georgia
jackets/frocks.
2). Early Richmond jackets. Although we should never say never in the world of
Confederate material culture, I'd prefer not to see blue-grey kersey Richmond
jackets at the event.
3). Citizens garments such as sack or frock coats.
There are numerous pictures of some early Georgia troops wearing jackets and/or frocks with black collars, sometimes black epaulettes, and cuff design (the tri-point device running along the sleeve seam). The problem is we have not been able to tie one such jacket or frock to Toomb's Brigade during this period of the conflict. We have not been able to find a surviving example to study, etc. Also, there does not appear to be a singular jacket type associated with 61-62 Georgians. It appears as though this unique design was placed on several types of jackets and frocks. This is just our educated opinion but we believe photographic evidence suggests that most of these jackets were "first issue" uniforms and probably did not last till Sharpsburg. Yes, we are aware of the jacket in the picture of the Wheatfield Gettysburg dead—as the saying goes, never say never about Confederate stuff. Please also be aware that there are many more photos of early Georgia troops wearing plain non-descript jackets or frocks too. While we'd prefer you wear a jacket copied from a surviving original piece, if you really do want to go this route please refer to the pictures linked below and do your own research into these jacket devices. Also I'd like to ask that you drop me a line and let me know if you plan to wear a jacket/frock with these devices on them. These are our opinions only, if anyone finds hard evidence contrary, please let us know. jstiles2002@msn.com
http://www.angelfire.com/tx/RandysTexas/pendley.html
Trousers
1). CS issue
2). Civilian or Federal issue (infantry style)
Shirt
1). CS issue or civilian
2). Federal issue
Socks
1). CS issue (cotton) or civilian.
2). Federal issue
Shoes
1). CS issue (Brit imports are OK) or civilian style
2). Federal issue
*If you want to go without socks and or shoes that's fine as it's been
estimated that as many as 1/4 of Lee's army did not have these items at this
time. If you want to go this route please bring some with you as a back up!
Accoutrements
Arms - It appears that the 2nd Georgia was issued a
mix of the weapons specified in #1 below, hence they are preferred.
1). Enfield rifle musket (p-1853,.577 cal.) OR 1842 Springfield, cal.69 OR 1841
"Mississippi" rifle, .58 or .54 cal.
2). If the participant does not have any of the weapons listed above, other
"standard" 3 band weapons (ie 1861 Springfield, 1855 Springfield, etc) are
acceptable.
*All muskets MUST be in excellent working condition and
free of surface rust. Musket should be accompanied by a proper bayonet that
fits. The 1841 would be the exception. We ask that each participant carefully
inspect the functionality and cleanliness of their weapon, and make any needed
improvements before arriving on site. This is one item the NPS at this park is
very concerned with.
Cartridge box
1). CS issue boxes, preferably slung on cartridge box belt. English boxes are
fine as well.
2). Federal issue.
As per NPS rules the participant MUST have the
appropriate cartridge box tin.
Cap box
1. Unmarked CS issue cap boxes, or any style of 1850 cap box. Lead, wood, or
brass finial, single or double loop. English imports are fine.
2). Federal issue.
Scabbards:
1. CS issue scabbard with sewn end, tin or lead tip or British Enfield scabbard
and frog
2. Federal 2 rivet scabbards. No 7 rivet please.
Canteen
1. CS tin drum canteens should predominate. *We'd like to see the vast majority
using a CS tin drum.
2. Wooden canteens (Gardner, etc.).
*Let's keep Federal equipment to a minimum. If all you have is an 1858
smoothside, try to acquire a tin drum. If you can't, bring the '58.
Waist Belts
1. Generic roller buckle. Single or double.
2. "Frame" buckle belt (i.e., "Georgia frame", Forked tongue)
3. British Enfield "snake buckle" belt. Can be black, russet or buff.
Haversack
1. CS issue cotton or osnaburg haversack, either white or ticking
2. CS tarred/painted haversack, (i.e. "Bailey")
Blanket
1). CS issue or civilian coverlet/ carpet blanket.
2). A few Federal blankets are ok, but if you have a good #1 from above please
use that.
* We absolutely want to see the vast majority of the participants using
a bedroll. Please refer to period images of the campaign including the famous
phot of the Confederate column stopped in Frederick Maryland. If we see too
many knapsacks folks will be asked to make a bedroll.
Groundcloth
1). CS issue
2). Federal issue
Knapsack
1. CS issue knapsack or English "Trotter" style.
2. Hard pack type or Federal issue double bag.
Rounds
As per the NPS, please do not "wad" the rounds you plan to use at
the living history and do not plan to use 6 sided caps.