Liberty Rifles and 1st Section Winter Quarters

[The Maryland Line]

The Liberty Rifles and 1st Section Winter Quarters event was a smashing success! We portrayed the Fluvanna Artillery, Army of the Valley, February 1865 in Rockfish Gap, VA. From the sinks to the rations to the huts, all the way down to the camp trash that was strewn about, every detail was thought out and meticulously copied from original examples. Hope you enjoy the images as much as we enjoyed the event!

https://www.libertyrifles.org/photos/2018/winter-quarters/

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[CSchneider]

Re: Liberty Rifles and 1st Section Winter Quarters

Just a few of the things the Liberty Rifles, 1st Section, and some great artillery folks like David Thomas, Paul McCurley, and others accomplished with the Fluvanna Artillery portrayal at Winter Quarters 1865, that rarely, if ever, are seen at even "progressive" reenactments:

-an organizational structure that matches the original unit, and functions as was intended. Artillery batteries were referred to as a "company" for a reason.
-giving participants a sense of the labor required to keep an artillery company in the field. Stable Calls, Watering Calls, and Fatigue Calls filled almost every spare minute not spent drilling. Artificers worked diligently throughout the day repairing harness that was constantly breaking, using the tools prescribed in the Ordnance Manual.
-working with the ammunition and tools that were actually present in the limber chest, not tin foil packets and welder's gloves--unloading cases of actual ammunition from a wagon, packing ammo in tow, ripping open wooden friction primer packs, cutting paper fuzes with a tenon saw.
-issuing proper rations that matched what the original unit received, not some kinda sorta approximation of it. And getting water from a creek.
-having authenticity requirements, not "guidelines," and sticking to them.

On the "authentic" side of the hobby, there's really no reason these things shouldn't be the norm. Port-o-johns? Here's a shovel. Water buffalo? There's a creek over there, or at least wooden barrels. Mini-battalions so you can have more flags and officers? To hell with that. You're a field officer? Get a horse. Want to have mounted artillery like this at your event? Standards are up there ^^^. Match them.

-Craig Schneider