17-21 May 2011

[Charles Heath]

Just putting a marker in the books for an 1861 event that may rival the incredible Winter 1864 series of events in terms of level of detail, and that is neither a mean feat nor an idle jest.

The dates above are Tuesday through Saturday, which allows for travel time, battlefield visitation, defunking operations, etc., on each end. This is neither the time nor place to say more, but needless to say it will be a fine time, and participants may enjoy certain aspects of this hobby that haven't been delivered in 15 to 20 years in this region or setting.

"Two Roads to Sumter" by Bruce Catton would certainly be fine reading at this point in time.

Don't ask questions. You won't get answers.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

If only there was some level of interests in Uniform Bingoing...with respects to a certain Institution in the lower Valley...

Paul B.

[elcid01]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

Silly Rabit, THE CITADEL is in Charleston SC..

Great talk on this event in G berg the other weekend, looking forward to how it shapes up. lots of interest in the MG.

Skip

[North_State_Rambler]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

Out of curiosity, would anyone be interested in signing up for an all flintlock company, sporting grey frock coats and Hardee hats? Flintlocks in question would be any version of the 1816 pattern, or similar models, to include Charlevilles if absolutely necessary. If we can get 30 folks interested in this impression, we can have ourselves a company. Otherwise, there will be no room for the Flintlock weapons system at the event. Contact me via PM or email if you are interested. The cut-off deadline for raising this, or other companies, appears to be Labor Day 2009.

[North_State_Rambler]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

A brief update-- scratch the frock coat and hardee hat from the potential flintlock company standards. The event organizers have already composed the standards for a potential flintlock company, but are not giving hints as to what they are.

Some folks have asked what the event is going to be. Here is what I know: we are looking at a Camp Lee, Virginia, late spring of 1861 event based around the arrival of troops from the Southern Colonies...I mean, states into the Richmond area. The event is going to be four to five days long, and consist of civilian as well as military impressions. Event logistics, authenticity standards, &c are still being worked out, or if worked out, are being held close to the organizers' chests. From what has been released, this looks to be a majorly fun AND authentic event with opportunities to do a whole lot of things that we don't normally do at shows themed around battles, &c.


For those with flinters (according to the A/C poll, there are at least 60 of us), this is a rare opportunity to field en masse and interpret a popular style of early-war company that to my knowledge has not been seen on the field in a long time. It is also the chance for the truly manly men to demonstrate that not only are they unafraid of this weapon system, which strikes fear into the hearts of so many folks, but are adept in its use and capable of bellying up to the bar to present a slice of history that is beyond most folks. I don't know when, or if, another opportunity for this time of interpretive/commemorative exercise will present itself again. So holler now, or forever hold your piece.

[North_State_Rambler]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

Richmond Daily Dispatch: November 19, 1860.


" We are informed that requisition has been made on the War Department for 1,000 more of the smooth-bore percussion musket, and it is supposed that there are about 4,000 now in the hands of the volunteers. We shall soon have, therefore, 10,000 of them. 10,000 flintlock muskets, of the United States make, equal to quality to the others, and with flints in them, have been reserved by the Commissioners from the arms sold to Mr. Anderson, until 5,000 of the new rifle musket have been manufactured. These reserved muskets are such as the Army used in Mexico, and are considered, by high authority, as not at all inferior to the percussion musket.

A contract has been made for the requisite accoutrements, 500 sets of which have been delivered, and the delivery will progress at the rate of at least 300 sets a week until the wants of the volunteers are supplied. The State, therefore, is nearly ready to send 20,000 infantry to the field."

[North_State_Rambler]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

Some idea of the general prevalence of flintlocks, available to units heading to Richmond in 1861:

Richmond Daily Dispatch January 4, 1861

"Letter from Charleston

...The number of arms in the United States Arsenal, which is now in full possession of the State, has been greatly exaggerated.--They do not exceed 25,000 stand, instead of 70,000, and many of them old flint locks."

Richmond Daily Dispatch: January 18, 1861.

" Quantity and Description of Ordnance and arms at Fort Moultrie, Castle Pinckney, and Charleston Arsenal:

Fort Castle Charleston
Moultrie. Pinckney. Arsenal.
42-pounder iron guns. - 4 -
32-pounder iron guns 14 - -
24-pounder iron guns 16 14 -
8-inch iron columbiads 10 - -
8-inch iron sea coast howitzers 5 4 -
24-pounder iron flank howitzers 4 - -
12-pounder brass field howitzers 2 - -
6-pounder brass field guns 4 - -
6-pounder old iron field guns - - 2
24-pounder old iron field howitzers - - 5
Funt-lock muskets, calibre 69 - - 502
flint → lock muskets. Altered to percussion - - 5.720
percussion muskets, calibre 69 - - 693
percussion rifles, calibre 54 - - 2,808
same, altered, with long range sites - - 6
← flint → -lock Hall's rifles - - 566
percussion rifled carbines - - 4
percussion carbines - - 9
← flint → -lock pistols - - 815
percussion pistols - - 300"

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

Stay tuned...post with Event Guidelines Coming Soon...

As a teaser...

Grey Frock Coats, Grey Overshirts, Blue Roundabouts, Grey Roundabouts, Coatees, Civilian Clothing...

For those wondering, yes there will be a place for M1816 muskets Flintlock or Conversion for those wondering...

Paul B.

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: 17-21 May 2011

Richmond Dispatch.Tuesday morning....July 16, 1861.

The militia call.

The Militia rolls are like the census tables. They serve only as valuable depositories of information. From the one, the Government may select its subjects of taxation; from the other, its soldiers for the field. The American system of volunteering has deprived the militia of the practical utility it once had. It has been copied by Great Britain with great success, and that kingdom considers itself impregnable against French invasion from its large and well trained volunteer forces in every county. The British Government has paid much attention to this new service, and the militia system has virtually gone out of use in the kingdom.

Our Government has been very negligent of both services. It has allowed the militia system to degenerate into a mockery, and it has taken no pains to provide a substitute, by encouraging the volunteer system. The States have relapsed into a criminal negligence on the subject of defence. They have left the whole business of arms and the army to the Federal Government. Our own Virginia Armory was turned into a flouring mill. Not a gun was manufactured in the State, except occasionally a rifle by some gunsmith of the mountains, who had almost forgotten his trade, and who would sometimes make a gun to keep up the recollection of his calling.

The only traces of military knowledge and skill remaining in the States were the result of private enterprise and individual talent. The people alone kept the military spirit alive; the State Governments ignored and neglected it. Volunteer companies would spring up and flourish a while, then they would languish and fall into decay. The prospect of war would kindle the flames; the decline of the danger or of the probability, would extinguish them again. But for the military schools, which filled the country with good-officers; but for the volunteer companies of the cities, which served the same purpose of the schools in filling the towns with capable commanders of companies; but for the large quantity of arms, which a Southern Secretary of war, foreseeing the danger in the distance, ordered into our Southern arsenals; but for the volunteering spirit to which these circumstances gave efficiency, the South would have been in as object a state of defencelessness as Poland or Lombardy or Maryland. The federal government on which they relied as their military protector, has turned to be its assailant.

The South owes none of her safety to her militia system. As a means of active war the militia is perfectly inefficient. It is of value only as a depository of men from which soldiers may be drafted by the Government, when they do not volunteer in sufficient numbers. That time has not yet come; for vastly more men have volunteered in Virginia than have been accepted into the service.--Those who have been rejected have been rejected for the want of arms. If they would ensure their acceptance into the service, they have only to provide themselves with arms. The most practicable source from which these may be obtained, is from the large stock of double-barrel shot guns still in the country.--A bayonet attachment has been invented for this arm, and the use of the Minnie ball or the wire buckshot cartridge makes it as efficient as any of the improved arms. The country rifle, also, may often be obtained in sufficient numbers to equip a company or two in a county. The use of the Minnie instead of the round ball in these, makes them fully as destructive as the famed Enfield rifle. Let the volunteers understand this fact: No company will be rejected, but every one promptly received, provided it is armed; and as many as twenty-five thousand volunteer forces may be raised in Virginia in addition to those now in the field, armed with the weapons we have pointed out.

It is not intended by calling out the militia in the counties of the North-side, to put a stop to the raising of volunteer companies.--These will still continue to be received for twelve months or for the war, as heretofore; and it is certainly practicable for as many as one additional company for each county to be organized and to be equipped with guns or rifles. The great want of the Government is men with arms in hand; and they prefer companies pledged for twelve months or for the war, to militia unarmed, undisciplined, and bound to serve only for a brief period of a few days or weeks.

Large preparations are making in different parts of the South for the manufacture of arms. In a few months there will be no deficiency in this department of defence. Meantime the want must be supplied by the best substitutes that can be had, and no volunteer companies will be rejected if they possess arms of the species that have been indicated. The call for the militia is doubtless designed partly for the purpose of bringing out all the available arms of this description which the country affds. Another object is to promote the volunteer movement. If it does not add to the effective strength of the army in any other way, the call will, we trust, contribute largely to it in encouraging the volunteer movement. There is scarcely a man in the community whose pride does not rebel against a compulsory service. The part of private in a volunteer corps is honorable from the fact that it is a service of choice and not of compulsion. --We therefore hope to see a large impulse imparted to the volunteer movement by the militia,...