Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

[Michael Comer]

Living history the weekend of Oct 3-5 in New Madrid, MO. We will interpret some of the CS forces that garrisoned New Madrid in Oct. 1861. We will be right on the river and will do regular garrison routine: guard, fatigue, drill etc. with some other things thrown in. This will also be in conjunction with the City of New Madrid's fall festival. We will have the levee between us and the town to block many of the modern intrusions, but Saturday will have public coming to see what we do and there will be an educational factor to the event. More information to follow - this is just a place marker for those making their calendars.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

Information will be posted here and on this FB page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1529615937282789/

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

Impression will be the 11th Arkansas. They were the first CS unit to move into New Madrid. Prior to that it had been garrisoned only by Jeff Thompson' Missouri State Guard Cavalry.

Here is some information on them. If anyone would like to raise a company for this, please let me know.

http://www.couchgenweb.com/civilwar/11thindx.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/11th_Ar...antry_Regiment - has a nice photo of the colors they had at New Madrid along with the specs on them too.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

One of the things the 11th Arkansas was part of was the construction of Fort Bankhead which guarded the northern end of New Madrid's river front. As part of the event, we will be building Fort Bankhead - well, not the whole fort but a gun emplacement that will overlook the river. So, if you want the experience of doing some period dirtwork, come to New Madrid next October.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

Impression is changed to 12th Ark. My error. The 11th was actually sent to Island #10 just upstream and the 12th was at New Madrid. We have permission and support of the city to build the gun emplacement and they will provide rations.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

I'm happy to say we will have a wagon and team to carry tentage and supplies from our Friday camp to our riverside one and to do some heavy work on building the gun emplacement.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

Beverly Simpson will be the civilian coordinator for the event. New Madrid had a population of about 1,000 at the time of the war and were very pro-Confederate. If you are interested or know someone that might want to portray some of the civilians that were here, please let Beverly know.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

I am very pleased to announce that Herb Coats will be raising a company for the event. That give us two companies. I would like to have at least one more so that companies can rotate out of assignments. Let me know if you'd like to help raise part of the 12th Arkansas.

[Coatsy]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

Michael, thanks for the vote of confidence. I've gotten some great feedback from my Georgia crew, as well as others in Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, etc. Looking forward to it!

[Mcguire]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

Mike, I'm in on this one.
Herb, would love to fall in with the AG for this. Let me know what the boys are going to do!

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

It will be good to see you Dave. The Cracker Mess rides again. I believe we started that at BGR didn't we?

[Coatsy]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

Dave, we are going to have something of an All-Star WIG company for Garrisoning New Madrid. You are 100% welcome to fall in with us. Michael should have the guidelines out soon and we'll go from there.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

IMPRESSION GUIDELINES:

Coat: Frock coat with or without trim. If trimmed should be blue or black.
Civilian sack or frock coat
Commutation style jacket
Civilian overshirt

Trousers: Military CS pattern of brown or grey jean with or without black stripe down seam.
Civilian pattern trousers

Hat: Civilian hat – various styles of proper fabric and pattern
Kepi – jean or other period fabric. No trim

Shoes: Civilian style shoe or boots
Documented CS style shoe
Federal brogan as a last resort

Socks, shirts and drawers to be of proper material and pattern

Weapon: Civilian rifle or smoothbore
Civilian shotgun or fowling piece
Brunswick, Prussian, Belgian or similar smoothbore
’42 Springfield or earlier American flintlock convertsion
No flintlocks, Enfields or ’61 Springfields

Bayonet is optional but obviously should fit the weapon if carried. If carried, it will be fixed for guard duty, inspection etc.

The 12th was poorly armed with a mix of weapons that had been reworked at the depot in Memphis. We want to replicate that look. If you have an old beat up gun that you are normally embarrassed to take to an event, it will probably work at this one. I have not come across any mention of flintlocks however, so we will only have percussion system weapons.

Canteen:
Tin drum canteen
Wooden canteen of known pattern

Belt:
Roller buckle
Belt with militia style buckle or plain plate
Frame buckle
Unmarked oval buckle
Horter Magee and George CS marked buckle
Federal buckle as a last resort

Side knives of proper period construction and documentation may be worn on the belt.

Cartridge Box:
Horter, Magee and George
Baton Rouge Arsenal
Generic CS box of proper construction and materials
Federal box with plate removed as a last resort
Leather or cloth slings. All boxes to have tins

Cap Pouch:
Horter, Magee and George
Baton Rouge Arsenal
Generic CS box of proper construction and materials
Federal box with plate removed as a last resort

Haversack:

Documented pattern of cloth CS haversack
Federal haversack as last resort

Blanket:

Civilian blanket
Patchwork quilt
Carpet blanket
All of the above are mentioned in eyewitness accounts of CS troops in this area at the time

Groundcloth:

Painted or oiled groundcloth preferred
Gum blankets accepted

Knapsack:

Mexican War/Kibbler style knapsack
Hard frame knapsack
Single bag knapsack
Blanket roll
Hobo roll
NO Federal Knapsacks

Tentage:

Tents are encouraged at this event.
Common tents/A frame 6X6 preferred. Other sizes allowed
Sibley tents show up in a wood cut in Harper’s Weekly as being here when the town was captured.
Officers may have common or wall tent

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

I'm very happy to announce that Eric Fair will be raising a company for the event.

[Michael Comer]

Re: Garrisoning New Madrid Oct. 3-5 2015

If you arrive on Thursday or Friday morning, I will give everyone that is interested my award winning guided tour of the Battle of Island # 10 and Siege of New Madrid.