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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[SCTiger]

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]

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

thanks

[SCTiger]

The POC for the SC Militia is Brian McGarrahan

AC handle

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/member.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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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

[btfire]

The full Federal Guidelines (http://www.trampbrigade.com/Events/deatiledfederal.htm) 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]

PM sent in reference to Spring 2009 event.

cheers,

[Coatsy]

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!

[SCTiger]

Hopefully with the 2009 Ft. Moultrie in late May, we can support Ft. McAllister in December. I hope to have a large pool of Georgia-South Carolina Militia that can be called upon. I also would like more Federals to turn out. I will have some further research to post on the Tramp Brigade website next week, relating to the SC Militia and Fort Moultrie, it will be interesting to read.

[btfire]

We have decided to play a little game of Rounders on Sunday at the Moultrie Event. This is not a sideshow and we are looking for competition. I play to win, and I hope everyone else does also. The Federal fellows have not a chance agains the South Carolinians...

[ley74]

Greg:

You've got me. When you state donation, there is no fixed fee? May I send a PayPal or do I send the funds directly to the SCCRR?

Looking forward to a Low Country December...

[Pvt_Sullivan]

Looking forward to a Low Country December...

Ley,

We'll have the welcome mat rolled out for you and return the favor after the great Glendale/Malvern Hill you all pulled off up in Ole Virginia.

Thanks for having a ramrod I could borrow. If the opportunity presents itself, I owe you a pint or two at Poe's Tavern...

[SCTiger]

Ley,

If there is a cover fee, I will inform you first, but with less than 50 people involved for this year, it's more of a "being there" kind of event with minimal expenses. I am glad to have your support, and I appreciate your help at Glendale-Malvern Hill. We will take donations for the South Carolina Battlefield preservation and we will have a high stakes poker game for the CWPT Saturday night.

We really need support from campaigners outside our state.

[Charles Heath]

Looking forward to a Low Country December....

Ley,

Are you going aerial or surface transportation by way of Orange County? :eek:

If the latter, and that gas sipping car of yours can hold two more bodies from Maryland, then there may be the seedcord for the start of another Event Roadtrip Carpool of Glory. It won't be as lively as the Vicksburg NPS LH roadtrip with Harry Canoli as the "Beerfinder of the Interstate," but one never knows. *

Heck, even Phil Campbell may be interested in this one. Stay tuned.

*With apologies to Matthew Fontaine Maury

[SCTiger]

I spoke with the Lead Ranger today and the event is still on. We won't have to outlay any huge sums of collateral or charge any high registration fees. We could take up a small gratuity for incidental expenses through donations on the site. We will enjoy the full support of the staff. I am going to cap the December event at 65, because of the short notice. That will translate to 25 Federals, 25 SC Militia and roughly 15 Citizens, I would like an answer by August 15. We have around 38 interested so far. This is a rare opportunity to practice your pre-war impressions and gain some background experience.

I am looking at 120 for the May 2009 iteration. 60 Federals, 40 Militia, and 20 Citizens. If you can't attend 1858, then register for 1859/60. Those supporting the pre-events, will get preference for the 2011, 150th Anniversary. It's really looking excellent. I will be moving to North Charleston next month, so I will have more opportunities to promote and support the event.

Thanks to everyone so far that has supported this, we will certainly return the favor.

[Western Blue Belly]

Boy it's going to be a loooonnnngggggg drive!

[Coatsy]

But the long drive will be worth getting to shoot Deese out of a cannon! :tounge_sm

All in all Moultrie is nice in December.

[Western Blue Belly]

I'm sure that the event will be worth the drive. However I may arrive missing one arm and one leg as they will be floating in my gas tank!

[ley74]

Charles:

Casa de Watson is open for business. Surface transportation and my car knows the way (Kershaw County is kind of like going through Orange here in Virginia). Only kidding... As always, the company more than offsets the cost of gas.

The last piece of equipment is in and will be installed on my frock as soon as the CR Newsletter is out the door. It will require the removal of the only officer rank I have ever held. Aw shucks, we sure had fun.

With no Winter of '64 I need something to get me into trouble.

[OldKingCrow]

I am already planning my trip to view this event in DEC. I love the Charleston Harbor Fort(s). I spent a week last Dec on an intensive history based visit of the area. I got to do little mainstream-ish (my lane) LH whilst I was there.

I am going up to spectate Westville / Sparks of Seccession in Oct
then Ft Moultrie in Dec to finish out my 2008 authentic-spectating season.

Looks like a pre-war 4th Qtr 08 for certain sure

Woohoo!

[ley74]

Ley,
It won't be as lively as the Vicksburg NPS LH roadtrip with Harry Canoli as the "Beerfinder of the Interstate," but one never knows. *

*With apologies to Matthew Fontaine Maury

Since there are certain things one cannot purchase in the south on Sunday, I am making provision this time.:D