Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

[SCTiger]

Date: 12-14 December 2008
Name: Fort Moultrie, 1858 Living History
Location: 1214 Middle Street, Sullivan's Island, SC 29482
Sponsor: Tramp Brigade Mess in accordance with the NPS.
Capacity: 20 US Regulars/20 Militia/10 Citizens (or less)
POC: Greg Deese or Brian McGarrahan
Email: caroliantiger@charter.net
Website: http://www.trampbrigade.com/Events/Moutlrie1858.htm
Forum: None
Listserver: None
Registration: Email Greg Deese as of 25 March 08
Preservation Component: Donations to South Carolina Relic Room, SCBPT & CWPT.

Notes: This a pre-war event that will be a practice run for Bicentennial of Fort Moultrie in December, 2009. We are looking for US Regulars, SC Militia and Citizen impressions. A great opportunity to develop pre-war backgrounds and roles.

This event will be a low number LH, due to the short notice and possible conflicts with other established events. If you have other commitments (Fort McAllister, After the Battle etc.) I understand and would rather have the larger support for the 2009 Bicentennial of Fort Moultrie. This will also allow more lead time to aquire the proper gear and reaction from various groups.

I would appreciate any help from progressive South Carolina-North Carolina units, especially accurately outfitted Artillery and Infantry. The goal of this event is to interpret the pre-war conditions in Charleston and prepare for the eventual start of the war and Sesquicentennial in 2011. I will try to get a date that is further out from the holiday season for 09.

I have private messaged and emailed many of you and stated that this wouldn't be "mass adveritsed", however; even on the micro level, we still need to coordinate, due to a number of unknown quantities and I would appreciate any help that I could gather this year, 2008 will be a very informal event. 2009 will be the formal, well advertised, major event.

http://www.trampbrigade.com/Events/Moutlrie1858.htm

Sincerely,

[BrianHicks]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

I have been in communication with Greg Deese, and have taken on the role of Commander for the US Regulars for the event this year (Dec 2008). As he mentioned in his post above, he is also looking towards 2009 (where I will portray the Federal Garrison Commander).

This year will portray the pre-war year of 1858, while next year will portray the pre-war year of 1859.

For those who want to participate as pre-war U.S. Regulars (both 1858 and and 1859 for next year) these are the peculiars you should be preparing for:

Fully Dressed Hardee hat, with Brass Infantry Horn on the Front, The left side pinned up with a Brass Eagle, and a Light Blue Chord.
Federal Forage Cap for fatigue duty (The visor can be flat or sloping. Quartermaster correspondence indicates that the earliest pattern of the model 1858 was stipulated to have a sloping visor. Forage caps with an exaggerated posterior height and sloping visors are commonly called McDowell style forage caps.)
For images and information on the headgear, click on this link:http://howardlanham.tripod.com/link105.htm
Federal Frock Coat
Dark Blue Trousers (just like we had at rich Mountain)
Shoulder Scales for enlisted men (to be worn on the Frock only for dress parade)
White Dress parade Gloves
1842 Springfield or Harpers Ferry Smoothbore musket.
Appropriate Bayonet
Two Rivet or all sewn scabbard for bayonet.
.69 Cal. Cartridge Box.
Waste belt with leather keeper.

All other federal uniform items are the same as early war Federal Impressions.

[Coatsy]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

Good luck on this guys. I hope it is a big sucess and keep the authentic side informed about 2009! Charleston is a great city to visit!! :D

Greg send me a PM or email about the event if you would please sir.

[SCTiger]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

No problem Herb, Fort McAllister is one of the best State parks in the nation. I just have to get the ball rolling here in SC before the big opening salvo. The lessons of April, 2004 and the success of the Re-Occ are not lost to me. Those who were there will know what I mean.

In the distant future, 2010 season, I would like to hold a "Seige Artillery School" in preparation for the big disagreement in 2011. If we don't do it, someone else will.

Suddenly I have a need for a well made US Artillery Frock.

[Western Blue Belly]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

O.k. Mr. Deese, you have thrown out the hook and I'm bitin' on it. Just reel me in!!

[SCTiger]

Talking Numbers

After talking wih several experienced event hosts and looking at the historical records, I want to establish some numbers for this series and give you a "long view" of what is going on:

2008 LH: Pilot run, maybe 20-30.

2009 LH : Bicentennial Event, 80 US Regualrs , 40-50 Militia, 20 Citizens, (150). medium to heavy.

2010 LH: Seige Artillery School: Early Summer, Early Fall. 30-50 US. Militia muster. Light event

April 11, 2011 : 150th Sesquicentennial (let's make this happen).

So any equipment purchased could be used for up to 4 events. The militia and citizens gear would have wide PEC usefulness. The US Regulars early gear will help out with other early war events, such as Manassas, plus we aren't waiting until 2011 to get this produced. I don't believe in single usage equipment (one shot), I would like to see gear that could be used though a good portion of the war. Such as Type 1 Forage caps, Single breasted frock coats, 1839 pattern Cartridge boxes etc. Some of it will have to trail off after 1862. You will get plenty of mileage and use. This will also give the vendors an adequate response times for these items.

The SC Militia around Charleston could number up to 500 during the period. For our purposes I would like to see an authentic garrison of US troops (80) and a representative amount of militia. During the 150th the Militia should increase, especially for artillery crews.

The US garrison was manned as follows, the 1858 staff is similar, I will get the list at a later date (1861 example):

MAJOR ROBERT ANDERSON
Captain J. G. Foster
Captain Abner Doubleday
Brevet Captain Truman Seymour
Lieutenant G. W. Snyder
Lieutenant Jefferson C. Davis
Lieutenant Theodore Talbot
2nd Lieutenant R. K. Meade Jr.
Surgeon Samuel Wylie Crawford
1st United States Artillery = Non-Commissioned Officers
Ordnance Sergeant James Kearney
Quartermaster Sergeant William H. Hammer
Regimental Band NCO's
Sergeant James E. Galway
Corporal Andrew Smith
Company "E", 1st U.S. Artillery = Non-Commissioned Officers
1st Sergeant Eugene Scheibner
Sergeant Thomas Kiran
Sergeant William A. Harn
Sergeant James Chester
Corporal Owen McGjuire
Corporal Francis J. Oakes
Corporal Charles Bringhurst
Corportal Ellerbrook
Company "H", 1st U.S. Artillery = Non-Commissioned Officers
1st Sergeant John Renehan
Sergeant James M. Mahon
Sergeant James Carmody
Sergeant John Otto
Corporal Christopher Costolan

All of these "artillerymen" were also equipped as "infantrymen", as to the specific uniforms, I am still researching those and any help would be appreciated. It would appear that single breasted frocks, fatigue blouses, 1858 hats and forage caps all were in service. There were no artillery officers, the commanders were infantry types commanding Artillery NCO's & Enlisted. There was a small garrion band of around 17 members.

As you can see there are opportunities for quartemaster, ordnance, surgeon (1) and artillery/infantryman. If you have any event experience in those posts, I would like to hear from you.

I want to make this a memorable series of events, that will be interesting, challenging and will result in a quality commemoration to the start of the bloodiest war in American history.

[elcid01]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

Greg,
Interested in this. Seems to have alot of potential if done right. Who is the SC militia POC?

thanks

[SCTiger]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

The POC for the SC Militia is Brian McGarrahan

AC handle

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/...ber.php?u=3248

Brian Hicks is the US Commander, Garrison Staff & Officers, Fort Labor Force, Support & Musicians.

I will be handling the US Artillery.

As of this writing there is no Citizen Coordinator, nor have any Citizen Types stepped forward. (read job opening)

I would also like to make one other explanation. IF the 08 & 09 are supported by the top people and the total of participants is only 30, thats alright. I realize it's close to Christmas, short notice, conflicts with Fort McAllister and Eric Tipton's Bummers. I'll take what I can get, but I don't begrudge anyone for supporting those other events, however; for Spring 2010 and April, 2011, I will be aggressively seeking participants and I want to make this a memorable event.

[Mississippian]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

Greg,

Have you talked to anybody at the NPS about the 150th Ft. Sumter in 2011? That sounds like a great event idea, and it's never too early to coordinate.......

Will MacDonald

[btfire]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

To anyone who may fly into Charleston: We will provide shuttles to and from the event on Friday and Sunday. Contact me in the weeks prior to the event with your flight information so we can set up a shuttle schedule. Should there be any items you cannot take on the plane and you want to have them for the event we can work out a shipping plan and I can deliver the items to you at Moultrie. Just contact Greg Deese or me with any questions...
Brian

[SCTiger]

Concerning 2009

I would like to repeat this event in 2009 but, I would like to distance it away from the Piney Woods and Bummers. So if you have a "sweet spot" date, like late April or early May, make a suggestion. I have dumped December 2009 due to Bummer's and ITPW.

The 2008 event is still on but, at a reduced scale. For April, 2011 I would like the support of this forum, and I will make the necessary adjustments to make that happen.

[SCTiger]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

We have a registration page, if you desire to attend this year, visit:

http://www.trampbrigade.com/Events/registration.htm

[btfire]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

The full Federal Guidelines are posted, thanks to Federal Commander, Brian Hicks.

Militia members, remember if you are missing any equipment, you may be fined up to five dollars. Get out that period SC currency...

[elcid01]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

PM sent in reference to Spring 2009 event.

cheers,

[Coatsy]

Re: Fort Moultrie LH Dec. 12-14, 2008

Thanks for getting the detailed list of preferred gear up on the web guys! Ft. Moultire is a great site and I am glad I've got the time to participate this year!