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150th Breakthrough at Petersburg,
1-2 April 2015
1-2 April 2015
This living history on 1-2 April 2015 at the Breakthrough site is a component of a five day symposium sponsored by Pamplin Park commemorating the 150th anniversary of Petersburg's fall.
Units portrayed will be the 6th Maryland (US) and the 37th North Carolina. The actions portrayed, in real time and at actual locations, will be : (1) the advance by the Keifer’s Sixth Corps brigade as it breached a section of the works defended by Lane’s Brigade ; and (2) the counterattack at Mrs. Banks’ house by remnants of Lane’s Carolinians and Thomas’ Georgians which blunted Hamblin’s advancing Sixth Corps brigade.
All participants must arrive as late as early evening at Pamplin Park on Wednesday, 1 April. The living history will conclude before noon on Thursday, 2 April. Depending on NPS authorization, Federals will either bivouac at Fort Fisher or on CW Trust property. At early dawn, Federals will advance and commence the skirmish when signaled by cannon from Fort Fisher. Guests of Pamplin’s symposium will follow the advancing Federals to the works. Confederates will bivouac at the same works originally manned by the 37th NC, maintain an all night picket in rifle pits outside the works and defend the works as best as possible during the Federal advance.
Working knowledge of the duties of pickets will be a plus. (Follow this link for a handy, free booklet about the duties of pickets : http://www.zipcon.net/~silas/Drill/guidespickets.htm) Each side will need sufficient blanks for the two skirmishes. After the works have been taken, Confederates will retreat to the vicinity of Mrs. Bank’s house. Disorganized advancing Federals will eventually follow and be pushed back. Post skirmishes, participants may remain and assist in further living history presentations conducted by Pamplin Park, the Civil War Trust and the NPS.
Being a one night and one day event, rations will not be issued.
Overall coordinator for the event is Chris Mattingly and assisted by Silas Tackitt. Mattingly is a contact person for the Sixth Maryland (US) whose ranks will be filled primarily by the Arsenal Guard out of Maryland. Tackitt is a contact person for the Thirty-Seventh North Carolina. The primary company portraying them is to be announced. Reenactors interested in either side may contact Tackitt by pm through the Authentic Campaigner or by email to silas (at) zipcon.net
This living history represents one of the last opportunities of the 150th cycle to do something where it happened and in real time as it happened. It's going to be good. See you in the trenches.
- - - Updated - - -
Confederate Impression Standards
for Company I of the 37th North Carolina Troops
for 150th Breakthrough at Petersburg
1- 2 April 2015
"The chaff was winnowed from the wheat."
- from a Lane's Brigade regimental history.
for Company I of the 37th North Carolina Troops
for 150th Breakthrough at Petersburg
1- 2 April 2015
"The chaff was winnowed from the wheat."
- from a Lane's Brigade regimental history.
The last six months of the war were hard on Lane’s Brigade. All recognized that the end was near, but the question was how long could the Confederacy last. The brigade had been active since the Wilderness Campaign and did not receive any opportunity to rest and refit. When not on active campaign, they entrenched and performed picket duty. The ration issue on paper was poor ; the ration issue received in the field was worse. Condition of clothing was generally “poor.” Desertion was common. Fuel had become scarce.
Lane’s Brigade was composed of five infantry regiments from North Carolina : the 7th, 18th, 28th, 33d and 37th. The brigade commenced the Wilderness Campaign with 2050 armed, effective troops. Four months later, battle casualties and campaign hardships had reduced the brigade down to 833 armed effectives. Present for duty numbers increased over the next three months, peaking around 1900 soldiers in November. However, soldiers present declined to about 1400 by February.
With further hardships and desertions in over the next thirty days, armed effectives would have been even lower. At the Breakthrough, average company size may have been about twenty men in a two hundred man regiment.
How They May Have Appeared
Per General Lane, "A great deal of the clothing furnished us was received from the quartermaster department of North Carolina.” The remainder came from Richmond or was manufactured themselves.
"Early in the winter [of 1863], while camped at Moss Neck below Fredericksburg, we commenced making shoes, and continued it with great success until the closer of the war. Good shoemakers were detailed and sent home for their tools. All of the lasts were made in camp, and the leather was furnished by the quartermaster department of North Carolina. The "big-footed" men were always provided for first ; and to make our stock of leather go as far as possible, the quarters of the old worn-out shoes in camp were regularly gathered up and revamped.
"Our wagons were always kept in good order, and the oil used on the harness was made in the brigade from the hoofs of beeves furnished by the brigade commissary
The brigade’s clothing condition was inspected and found to be "fair" in August, "poor" in September, "bad" in October and "better than reported last time" in November due to receiving supplies from North Carolina. Reports for January and February found the condition as being "poor" once again.
Despite the gloomy prospects, military appearance of the men was reported as being "good" on all reports from August through February. General sanitary condition was similarly “good” on all reports. The Inspector General’s Office on 29 October 1864 reported, “The health of the brigade was never better, most of those reported sick being slightly so.”
Personal cleanliness was “neat” through January. A reason could be the self initiative by the men :
"Our men made large quantities of turpentine and lye soap for their own use and for sale whenever they could find purchasers. That which I [General Lane] bought and sent to the rear was pronounced excellent by those who used it.
Brigade Ordnance Sergeants reported on 3 March 1865 that “more accoutrements on hand than their commands could carry in the event of a move. Many of the cartridge boxes are made for waist belts only, and as many of the men prefer them without shoulder belt, they have not been required to take them.”
Impression Standards for the 37th North Carolina Troops
The below items in the impression standards are noted by preference. The first item is the most preferred. The each item down the list is an allowable, but less preferred, item. Although some allowance is allowed for individual items at the bottom of the spectrum, each participant is expected to have the bulk of his uniform and kit toward the higher end of the spectrum, not the lower end.
1. JACKET
Any of the three below types of jackets work as well as the others. With so many bolts of blue/gray, English Army Cloth (EAC) and with so many finished jackets in EAC coming through the blockade via North Carolina, you cannot go wrong with a blue/gray jacket. Gray is equally acceptable.
- a. North Carolina Depot Jacket. This is the most preferred jacket as records reveal that when clothing was issued to Lane’s Brigade, it nearly always came from North Carolina. Gray was the predominate color of the cloth purchased for State clothing. Buttons should be either North Carolina state seals or sun bursts with the sunburst type more likely. The expected life of a jacket in the field was four to six months. Well worn jackets would be the norm.
- b. Peter Tait. These imported jackets from Ireland come in blue/gray kersey commonly described as English Army Cloth (EAC). Collars, epaulets, and button types on Tait jackets run the gambit. Some Tait jackets had no trim ; some had blue or red trim ; some had colored epaulets and collars ; some didn’t ; and some were piped instead of trimmed. Accordingly, no firm rule for this impression can be established for Tait jackets other than plain collars are fine ; blue collars are fine ; red collars not as fine.
- - i. For example, McComb’s Tennessee/Maryland Brigade of Heth’s Division was a mere two brigades to the west of Lane’s Brigade immediately before the breakthrough. A soldier in the 63rd Tennessee wore a jacket with blue collar, blue epaulets, and block I buttons.
- - ii. Another soldier in the 2nd Maryland Battalion of the same brigade wore a Tait jacket with blue collar and no epaulets. This soldier had replaced the original buttons with one Maryland button at the top and seven Federal staff officer buttons.
- - iii. An infantryman in the old 2nd Virginia of the Stonewall Brigade wore a red collared Tait jacket without epaulets.
- - iv. Artillerymen in Crutchfield’s Brigade applied red wool to their jackets which implies they received plain or blue collared jackets.
- c. Richmond Depot Types II & III. Blue/gray English Army Cloth. Buttons vary.
2. TROUSERS:
The life expectancy of trousers is much less than for jackets. All trousers would also have been be dirty, frayed, and generally in worse condition than the jackets.
- a. “McRae,” and Richmond Depot patterns in gray jeans, cassimere, satinette, English blue/gray, “French blue” English kersey. Richmond Depot pattern trousers match the basic style of a pair of trousers identified as North Carolina issue. Tait pattern trousers also work.
- b. Don’t wear Federal trousers. Yes, they’re blue, but they’re not the same blue as Royal blue.
- c. Don’t wear plaid, striped, checked civilian trousers.
3. HEADGEAR :
- a. Civilian felt hat, North Carolina issue felt hat
- b. North Carolina issue or CS kepi styles. Colors in gray and English Army Cloth. Jean, satinette, cassimere also fine.
- c. Captured Federal headgear discouraged. If used, it must be well worn and beaten.
- d. No regimental numbers, company letters, bugles, harps or other brass junk allowed. No exceptions.
4. FOOTWEAR :
- a. Shoes were in short supply within the army, but Lane’s Brigade did make efforts to cobble new shoes and repair old ones.
- b. Don’t even consider bringing modern boots or shoes.
5. SHIRT :
- a. “Hollyday” (plain white cotton), “McRae” (blue/gray flannel), “Seldon” (blue striped cotton English import) styles of shirts or any other shirt style identified as a North Carolina issue item.
- b. Civilian/homemade types. Plain cotton, woven checks or stripes. Battle shirts are fine as an inner layer, but not as an outer layer. Save the battle shirt for the 155th’s.
- c. Allowed, but discouraged : Federal issue gray or tan flannel shirts.
6. DRAWERS.
- a. Canton flannel is your friend. There won’t be a clothing inspection where each soldier is required to drop his trousers and prove he wears drawers underneath. However, soldiers with chattering teeth are likely not wearing drawers.
7. SOCKS.
- a. Any period types in cotton or wool.
8. GREAT COAT.
- a. Federal great coats allowed, but not encouraged. An account from McGowan’s Brigade, which earlier manned the same works occupied by Lane’s Brigade, shows that the South Carolinians viewed opposing Federals as a source of clothing, gear and rations. Forays to seize Federals for their blankets and great coats certainly occurred. Accordingly, some great coats would be seen, but they would have been the exception, not the rule.
- b. Consider making an “army blanket coat.” Source : https://web.archive.org/web/20130512...oatproject.pdf
9. WEAPON.
- a. Inspection reports from the last six months indicate the troops were armed with “.58 calibre” weapons. Accordingly, Richmond, 1861 Springfield and 1853 Enfield rifle muskets are the arms for the evening. 1842's and Austrians not allowed.
- b. Not all soldiers had bayonets, but functional bayonets appropriate to the weapon are encouraged.
10. ACCOUTREMENTS.
- a. Richmond Depot, English, Confederate painted canvas accouterments and belts. No slings. Limited use of captured US boxes (patterns of 1857, 1861). No buff leather items. No “russet” leather.
- b. An inspection report from 3 March 1865 indicated :
- - i. “Ordnance Sergeants report more accoutrements on hand than their commands could carry in the event of a move. Many of the cartridge boxes are made for waist belts only, and as many of the men prefer them without shoulder belt, they have not been required to take them.”
- c. Cartridge Box.
- - i. No cartridge box slings on Confederate boxes as noted above. Order of preference : Confederate types identified to North Carolina usage, types by the Richmond Depot in 1864-65, English import infantry boxes, and painted cloth boxes. Try not to use captured US boxes.
- d. Waist Belt.
- - i. Order of preference : Confederate types identified to North Carolina usage, types issued by the Richmond Depot in 1864-65, frame buckles, forked-tongue buckles, English imports buckles, and painted canvas with iron roller buckles. Federal issue belts and buckles are discouraged.
- e. Bayonet Scabbard.
i. Order of preference : Confederate types identified to North Carolina usage, types issued by the Richmond Depot in 1864-65, English import scabbards with frogs of the correct pattern. Limited use of Federal scabbards (two and seven rivet patterns).
- f. Cap Box.
- - i. Order of preference : Confederate types identified to North Carolina usage, types issued by the Richmond Depot in 1864-65, and English import boxes. Very limited use of captured US patterns.
- g. CANTEEN.
- - i. Confederate issue tin drum
- - ii. Wooden Gardner and Nuckolls patterns.
- - iii. Federal pattern smoothside and corrugated are both tolerated.
- h. HAVERSACK.
- - i. Unpainted cotton haversack such as a Moses Alexander bag.
- - ii. Painted cloth haversack such as a Bayley style bag.
- - iii. Allowed, but discouraged : US issue haversacks.
- i. MESS GEAR.
- - i. Tin cups, small boilers, small tin plates or bowls and the usual types of flatware. No stainless steel.
- j. RATIONS.
- - i. Fresh beef, salt pork, bacon, potatoes, parched corn, peanuts and any other foodstuffs common to southside Virginia in early spring of 1865. The issue of hard bread appears to have been limited. If you must bring crackers, don’t bring many.
11. KNAPSACK.
- a. Mexican War style packs such as the Kibbler and Johnson styles
- b. Isaac & Campbell.
- c. Blanket rolls preferred over Federal bags.
- d. Discouraged, but allowed : 1853/55 Federal double bags.
12. BLANKET.
- a. Blankets were scarce, so limit your bedding to one blanket. North Preferred : Carolina or Confederate issue military blankets of patterns common to North Carolina troops in the ANV in 1865.
- b. Discouraged : captured Federal blankets.
- c. Don’t bring : Civilian bed blankets, coverlets, quilts, carpet blankets should be limited as most of these items were used up by 1865, or retained by civilians for their use.
13. GROUND CLOTH:
- a. Painted canvas preferred.
- b. Federal gum blankets.
- c. No oilcloth/rubber blanket is also correct for this scenario.
14. TENTAGE
- a. No tents.
- b. For this impression, shelter halves are practically useless. They wouldn’t have gone beyond the trenches to the picket line. Their use in the trenches is skeptical. If it rains or snows, you might want the half to jerry rig some shelter in a trench. If you have one bring it, but understand that you probably won’t get much opportunity to be under it.
15. OTHER
- a. Pioneer Tools
- - i. Axes, hatches, shovels, spades and picks. Bring period style only.
- b. No modern glasses, wrist watches, cell phones, or other modern items.
HISTORICAL SOURCES :
- Regimental history of the 37th : https://archive.org/stream/cu3192409.../n757/mode/2up
- Regimental history of the 7th : https://archive.org/stream/cu3192409.../n415/mode/2up
- Regimental history of the 18th : https://archive.org/stream/cu3192409...e/n31/mode/2up
- Regimental history of the 28th : https://archive.org/stream/cu3192409.../n535/mode/2up
- Regimental history of the 33d : https://archive.org/stream/cu3192409.../n625/mode/2up
- History of Lane’s North Carolina Brigade : https://archive.org/stream/southernh...e/206/mode/2up
- Dr. J.B. Alexander’s Reminiscences of the Last Sixty Years : https://archive.org/stream/reminisce...ge/80/mode/2up This has sketches of the 37th NCT in various places of his reminiscences.
- Appomattox and the Return Home, by Lt. Walter Montgomery, 12th NCT : https://archive.org/stream/histories.../n317/mode/2up
- "The Condition of M'Gowan's Brigade During the Winter of 1864-65," in The history of a brigade of South Carolinians, known first as "Gregg's" and "McGowan's" by J.F.J. Caldwell : http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-...page&q&f=false
; and https://archive.org/stream/historyof...e/188/mode/2up
- "Closing Incidents of 1864," in Lee's sharpshooters; or, The forefront of battle. A story of southern valor that never has been told (1899) by William Dunlop : https://archive.org/stream/cu3192402...e/220/mode/2up
RESEARCH ARTICLES :
- The Virginia Army Uniform: A Conjecture by Fred Adolphus : http://www.adolphusconfederateunifor...y-uniform.html
- The Confederate Soldier at Fort Mahone, Battle of Petersburg, April 2, 1865 by Fred Adolphus : http://www.adolphusconfederateunifor...rt-mahone.html
- A Comparison of NC & CS Clothing Supply in Heth's Division : http://www.blueandgraymarching.com/a...-cs-cloth.html
- ANV Inspection Reports for Lane's Brigade : http://www.blueandgraymarching.com/t...rigade-nc.html
ONLINE STANDARDS POSTED BY OTHER REENACTING GROUPS :
- Company C, 28th NCT at Petersburg, 1865 Compiled by Dave Hunter : http://www.northstaterifles.com/28.htm
- North Carolina Confederate Impressions by Date from the Cape Fear Living History Society : http://www.cflhs.com/Resources/CS_IM...NS_BY_DATE.pdf
- Authenticity Guidelines by the the Princess Anne Greys / Lee's Sharpshooters : http://princessannegrays.weebly.com/...uidelines.html
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