Confederate impression - 31st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Dear Sirs,

I have taken the time and dedicated research to bring you the following information. I have attached it to this post as a Word Document.**

My hope that we may only further our understanding of the history and uniforms pertaining to 31st Regiment. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience with any thoughts, rants, & etc. and be sure to take a look at the LR impression guidelines:

http://www.libertyrifles.org/schedule/2009/allegheny.html

Very Respectfully Your Obt Servt

J.C. Spellman

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Confederate impression - 31st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers

Some additional comments...

1. The Requisition for Clothing and Company Equipage written on 26 August 1861 reports these military items as being the most available: canteens + straps (37% of men had them), haversacks (36%), blankets (47% of reg’t, 23% per man). So, I’d suggest that if someone has to bring military items, these should be them.

2. When the regiment was first created, they had all those wacky combinations of arms (as described). However, Allegheny was seven months later and they definitely tried to find more modern guns since then. Even Johnson made use of those Federal arms discarded at Allegheny. So, I’m not saying get rid of your flintlocks and fowlers but limit them and your early-war pistols and knives, as the men found them impractical (this is NOT May-June 1861).

3. Lastly, keep Ashcraft’s statistics in mind. From his 322-man sample, the largest occupational categories were: farmers (68%), attorneys (4%), and students (3%). Perhaps base your civy impression of these, farming being the most represented. Don’t fret if you want to look more prim and proper. This does not limit you to overalls, boots, and flannel/knit shirts, agrarian societies tended dress more fashionably in the mid-late 1850s anyway.

[csuniforms]

Re: Confederate impression - 31st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers

Hello, Your research is outstanding and I applaud you. Good work and I look forward to seeing the final result.

Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms

[mtodriscoll]

Re: Confederate impression - 31st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers

Both docs were good reads - well done.
Thanks for the info.

It's interesting that while they apparently had no socks or shoes...
I. Stockings (pairs) – 0 on hand; 1980 required
II. Shoes (pairs) – 1 on hand; 1319 required

They did appear to have tents and poles...
V. Common Tents – 102 on hand; 0 required
VI. Common Tent Poles or Pins – 102 on hand; 0 required

So does this imply that we should be doing this event in December with tents and no socks or shoes? :wink_smil

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Confederate impression - 31st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers

Excellent research, Mr. Spellman. Those are great sources.

The Roy Bird Cook Collection has a narrative history of the regiment that sheds additional light on the situation:

http://www.libraries.wvu.edu/Roy_Cook_JPG/1561_02.01.14/History_31st.pdf

It's important, I think, to note that the requisition is a requisition for clothing, camp, and garrison equipage "for six months commencing August 1, 1861."

That is, it appears to be an estimate of what will be needed, compared to the stores on hand. Any clothing listed as "on hand" would I believe be unissued items in the possession of the quartermaster. Clothing in the possession of the troops is theirs, having been signed for and deducted from their allowance, or brought from home.

While the unit is described in the above history as being woefully equipped in spring and early summer -- not even having cartridge boxes for everyone and having cartridges ruined by being carried in the men's pockets -- there doesn't seem to be any document showing how completely the unit was equipped by December, just inferences that it wasn't well enough.

Interesting to note, though, that as of August first they have a full complement of common tents and poles. Somehow this makes me suspect that they weren't too terribly bad off in other respects.

I also found the timing of the return interesting. Lee showed up on site in August, 1861, and I can imagine he had something to do with the inventorying of stores on hand and the notification to higher authority of what they would need for the rest of the year.

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Confederate impression - 31st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers

Thanks everyone for not grilling me too hard.

Any clothing listed as "on hand" would I believe be unissued items in the possession of the quartermaster. Clothing in the possession of the troops is theirs, having been signed for and deducted from their allowance, or brought from home.

Mr. Schaffner- You know, this point had never crossed my mind before. It is slightly confusing to discern "on hand" as being "excess material in storage" or "being currently worn". So, thank you for pointing that out and making it more clear.

However confusing, the presented narratives still substantiate the lack of supplies in December 1861. And you're right, I don't think we'll ever specifically know unless some miraculous, detailed account comes forth but at least we're closer!

[fire_zouave]

Re: Confederate impression - 31st Regiment, Virginia Volunteers

Jason,
Well done!