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The New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association in conjunction with the NJ Civil War 150th Committee has worked out an agreement with the National Park Service and the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association to conduct a Preservation March.
This event will take place on Saturday June 12, 2010.
This event will take place on Saturday June 12, 2010.
This is a rare opportunity to march the route that the 13th New Jersey Volunteers used on July 1, 1863. General Slocum’s 12th Corps actions of the first day of the Gettysburg Campaign are often overlooked.
The camp will open at the Daniel Lady Farm at 3:00 PM Friday, June 11th for early campers. The march will start at the Daniel Lady Farm on Hanover Street at 10:00 AM, proceed over the fields of the farm, to Benner’s Hill, where Dr. David Martin, author of Gettysburg, July 1 will give a talk on the 13th New Jersey and their actions at the Battle of Gettysburg.
The regiment will deploy as skirmishers across Benner’s Hill before being ordered to withdraw and reinforce the ranks at Spangler’s Spring.
During the march, be prepared to ford the Rock Creek and traverse areas of the battlefield seldom seen by reenactors! Andy Megill will be portraying Colonel Ezra Carman of the 13th. There will be a Living History program in progress at Spangler’s Spring which we are encouraged to join!
Authenticity Guidelines and safety regulations will be strictly enforced as we are the guests of the NPS and 13th NJVI while on park property!
The route of the march is approximately 3 miles long. This Preservation March is modeled after the NJCWHA’s successful South Mountain march of 1999; which raised over $14,000! The proceeds of this march will be used to enhance Trenton’s Civil War Flag Gallery, the projected Archives Exhibit Gallery, the New Jersey State Museum’s 2013 Civil War exhibit and to promote the educational endeavors of the NJ Civil War 150th Committee.
A pledge of at least $100.00 is expected from each participant.
Please ask your family, friends & neighbors to help support your march!
Authenticity Guidelines for the Gettysburg "Preservation March":
UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT
The basic "kit" (uniform and equipment) for military members of 13th NJVI will reflect that of an infantryman in the Army of the Potomac during the late Spring of 1863. Every effort to present a quality, authentic and credible portrayal will be facilitated. The Authenticity Guidelines are in place to guard against inferior, unauthentic and anachronistic items. The basic kit and other acceptable items are set forth below:
Headgear
Each military member shall possess a regulation Federal forage cap that shall adhere to the original regulations. For events where the 13th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry is being portrayed, said cap should have affixed to it a corps badge for the 1st Division, 12th Army Corps and may also have affixed a brass company letter or regimental numbers. All other "hat brass" should be removed. Brass infantry horns, Irish harps, Masonic emblems and other questionably authentic devices shall not be worn. Given the time frame of the march, slouch hats will be permitted in the ranks.
Coats
Each military member shall possess a regulation fatigue coat, better known as a four-button sack coat. These coats should be lined, have hand-sewn buttonholes and be blue indigo in color. A regulation frock coat may be worn for this event. Bear in mind that the march is on June 12 and that it may be warm out.
Trowsers
Each military member should have at least one pair of regulation sky blue kersey wool foot pattern (infantry) trowsers. These trowsers should have a high waist with finishing.
Shirts
A regulation issue domet flannel shirt, or in lieu thereof, a wool contract issue shirt are preferred. A second shirt of lighter weight cotton or linen of an appropriate pattern may be worn. All shirts should be made of natural fabric, have correct buttons and hand-sewn buttonholes.
Braces
Military members may use braces (suspenders), although these were not issued to soldiers during the Civil War. The material and pattern should be authentic in nature.
Footwear
Each military member should have a pair of regulation brogans. Officers and NCOs may wear boots of a pattern approved by the Authenticity Committee.
Rifle& bayonet
As per the New Jersey quarterly Ordnance Dept. reports, Co. K of the 13th NJ was listed with 32 Enfield rifle-muskets and 5 Springfield rifle-muskets for the second quarter of 1863. No reports listed for the first quarter. The third quarter listed 32 Enfields again and 4 Springfields. The last quarter listed 35 Enfields and 3 Springfields. Obviously the P1853 Enfield is the preferred model for the primary impression of Co. K for 1863, with the Model 1861 Springfield being acceptable in the proper ratio to Enfields present in the ranks, although it's not clear as to how the limited number of Springfields were distributed within the Company. M1842 Springfields are also acceptable for this march.
As for the bayonets, reproductions are available for both the Enfield and Springfield rifle-muskets, although for active campaigning, an original will hold up much better due to the superiority of the steel.
Waist belt, cap box & bayonet scabbard
As per regulation, the belt preferably of buff or waxed leather, oval US plate and leather keeper (brass keepers generally appeared in 1864), the scabbard preferably with 2 rivets or all sewn. Others will be permitted, but the other style is preferred.
Cartridge Box and Sling
Regulation M1855 cartridge box with buff or waxed leather sling, with a US plate attached.
Haversack
Regulation 1851 pattern black waterproof tarred canvas. Painted roller buckle or unfinished iron. Haversacks should feature the inner bag.
Canteen absolutely required!
Primary impression should be a smoothside (M1858), with a cloth cover and a strap of white coven cotton duck or cotton twill drilling. NY depot canteens used a chain attachment for the cork stopper while the other depots generally used a doubled 20 inch length of cotton or linen twine. Bullseye models and leather straps are also permitted.
Knapsack
Not required for the march, although if you wish to wear one the regulation M1855 knapsack with waterproof painted canvas & dyed leather straps is acceptable. In lieu of a knapsack a blanket roll will be permitted.
Blanket
A 100% wool blanket of a gray, brown or gray-brown color. The blanket should be approximately 80 inches in length and 67 inches in width. Blankets had dark stripes averaging 3 inches wide approximately 5 inches from both ends of the blanket's length, the ends being left unfinished. The regulation weight was 5 pounds. A black yarn stitched into the center of the blanket should feature the letters US and were generally between 4 and 5 inches in height.
Shelter half
If planning on joining in on the Spangler's Spring Living History encampment; a shelter half in required! There is only room for 50 of the marchers to camp at the spring. Please inform us if you wish stay there so we can make the arrangements.
Gum blanket
As per regulation, infantry used gum blankets as opposed to ponchos, to be made of "good, strong material" and vulcanized or coated with india rubber or gutta percha. Grommets should be 3/8s inches or smaller and spaced as per regulation.
Please contact me for more information at tomburke@njcivilwar150.org