Confederate
Impressions
One aspect of the hobby that will increase both your knowledge and enjoyment of an event, is tailoring your impression to the specific event. This allows you to learn more about the material culture as well as giving the public a better vision of the troops of the period.
The Common CS soldier during this campaign traveled light and looked hard. They still would have been covered in road dust, and their clothing and equipment would be coming to the end of its useful life span. The Commutation System was still in effect, though stumbling badly, and the Central Government Issue system was not fully functional yet. And the common soldier paid for this.
Keep in mind the clothing a NC Soldier wore during this period, may or may not have differed from that which a VA private wore. The individual states did equip many a regiment, but there is no hard rule that says if you are from South Carolina you would have been wearing a South Carolina Frock Coat. But it is a detail grossly under represented in our hobby.
There are many choices, and your decision would be based upon what unit you are depicting:
Jean Cloth Kepi with a black or blue band, sometimes rising into a peak at the front. You can see good examples of these in the Confederate Version of Echoes of Glory. Havelocks were not worn by this period.
CS Jean "McDowell" caps: Properly blocked and lined Civilian Hats, perhaps folded into a "tri-corn", seen on troops from many states in early war photos.
There are several options for this as well. State Issued clothing, such as:
- NC Jean "Regimental" Coat
- NC Jean Shell Jacket
- GA Issue Shell Jacket
- South Carolina Issue frock Coat
- Richmond Depot I
- Commutation Jackets
- Over shirts (battle shirts)
- Civilian Frock or Sack coats
If all you own is a Richmond Depot II or III style jacket, you can do a "quick fix" and make these jackets appear as Early War by stitching some black or blue tape trim to the collar and/or cuffs and/or epaulets. On many originals I have found, the stitching is very poorly done, so you do not have to be a master tailor to pull it off! Remember there is a general acceptance that the Richmond Depot Pattern Jackets were based off of earlier patterns, with cost cutting measures.
A few dollars in black or blue tape trim, and about ½ an hour, and you now have a jacket that is much more period for this timeframe.
As with Coats there are many state variations you could wear. Basic CS or Civilian trousers will suffice, perhaps you might want to add a black or blue tape stripe to the out side seam of the trousers, as was often seen in this period.
As with coats, most of the trousers worn during this period would be state issued or commutation pattern. They do not differ greatly from standard Richmond Pattern Foot Trousers, but were often seen with tape trim on the legs, once again black or blue, and were sometimes lined 8 inches up from the bottom, allowing the trouser to fall naturally over a pair of boots. Notice I said over a pair, not tucked in, except for mounted officers.
At this point in the War, CS or Civilian Shoes would prove to be the most common, as the number of Federal Shoes worn by CS troops has been highly over estimated.
This is one other area in which you can "appear 1862"
The most common canteen would have been the plain tin drum, with cloth or leather strap. This is an inexpensive purchase, and the whole unit would look "uniform" buy carrying these, as well as common white CS issue Haversacks. Also, the wearing of Militia Pattern Knapsacks, such as the Kibbler Pack in EoG is another way to look 1862. As with shoes, the number of CS troops carrying captured Federal Gear has been exaggerated in many cases, and especially for this campaign.
Commander Message
Gentlemen,
I am greatly honored to lead the States Right Forces at Lee Takes Command, the 150th Anniversary of the Peninsula Campaign.
Teaming with Brittany's Hope, and my Federal Counterpart - Courtney Abel, we hope to bring to you a True 1862 Experience.
From Fire on theMountain, Burkittsville 2001, War on the James, Summer of '62, To the Gates of Washington, September Storm, At High Tide, Return to Manassas, Hope's Campaign and Along the Potomac we have provided reenactors with events that put history first. We must always remember, it's about "them", the Brave Boys of '62.
We all spend thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours to participate in this great hobby of ours, and you must be rewarded with the best Civil War Experience available- not one watered down for the lowest common participant, nor one set up for the public dollar, but one that will provide you with the experiences we all set out to find.
For the past 10 years we have been using the following model:
1. Historic Progressive Scenarios - with unit specific researched scenarios, historical force ratios, good combat distance, and background information so each unit can properly research their role in the event.
2. Donation Dollars - The event is built on a business model that will insure a respectable donation to assist Brittany's Hope and their efforts to help special needs children would wide.
3. Fun - Bringing back the fun of the hobby. We will have good battles, plenty of living history and reenactor education programs, good camping areas for both campaign and garrison troops.
4. Event rule enforcement - Most events have rules, but no one enforces them, causing the actions of a few to mar the weekend of the many. This will not happen at this event. There will be even handed polite but firm event rule enforcement. Please review the rules and regulations as listed on this site. These are not "hard core" rules, nor are they lax. They are basic quality and safety rules. For an organizer or commander this is not the "fun" part of the job (if there is one), but rather the hardest part, but one that is rightfully expected by the participants, and as such is the most important part of my job. I owe it to you that the actions of a few do not detract from the experience of the many.
5. Treating reenactors with respect - not zoo animals put their for some organizers profit.
6. Honoring and Remembering those Brave Boys of '62, on both sides!
7. Public education - Our goal is to provide high quality demonstrations in order to better educate the attending public, and create in them a better sense of our collective history.
8. The Civil War Experience - To set the stage for each of you to truly experience those tragic days of 1862, and provide the field on which each of you will excel.
By working together, as one team, we hope to bring respectability and honor to those Brave Boys, who gave their final devotion to the cause they embraced.
Duinn onior agus cuimhnimid!*
Sincerely,
S. Christian Anders
Command'g
Southern Division
States Rights Forces
Lee Takes Command
* Gaelic- "To honor and remember"