The primary purpose of the 1st Confederate Battalion
is to portray a common mid- to late-war Confederate infantry battalion and
to support and respect the authority and decisions of the First Brigade,
Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) to which this battalion is attached. To
this end, members of the battalion shall comply with all ANV requirements
and standards with the following additional criteria and restrictions.
Battalion: Staff shall be appointed by the battalion commanding
officer and shall maintain a minimum of one adjutant, one engineer (assigned
by Brigade headquarters) one sergeant major, and one ordnance sergeant.
No officer above the rank of captain is allowed except
as is appointed to staff.
No NCO above the grade of first or orderly sergeant is
allowed except as is appointed to staff.
Company Organization: No company, whether field or self-supporting,
shall field more than the following acting officers at a given event: one
captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant.
No company, whether field or self-supporting (except
the color company) shall field more than the following acting NCOs at any
given event: one first or orderly sergeant, three sergeants, four corporals.
The color guard shall consist of no more than six men
and shall field no more than the following acting NCOs: one sergeant, five
corporals. It is desirable that the color guard consist of men drawn from
all companies present.
These maximums are based on the chain of command: If
higher ranks are not filled, lower ranks could be more numerous, providing
the maximum total of officers and NCOs is not exceeded (e.g., a company
fielded without a company could have one acting first lieutenant and two
acting second lieutenants).
The general impression being sought is that of a mid-
to late-war infantry battalion on campaign, supplied through the Richmond
Depot. Jackets are to be replicas of the types issued through the Richmond
Clothing Depot (types II and III) as made by Charlie Childs, Shirley Miller,
Lynn Bull and others. Although much variety in the details between individual
impressions can exist, a certain amount of uniformity should be visually
prevalent, particularly within companies.
No women "soldiers" are allowed.
Minimal hat cords and brass are allowed, and those only
upon approval of the battalion commanding officer.
Slouch hats are strongly encouraged. Kepis are tolerated,
and forage caps are strongly discouraged.
No modern eye wear will be tolerated. Contact lenses
are strongly recommended. Otherwise period frames for glasses are required.
Officers: Recognizing the campaign impression sought and the lower
grades of rank held by battalion officers the following is included for
your consideration: Officers should try to dress down; foppish frocks and
braiding are strongly discouraged. Officers' rank is strongly suggested
to be born on the collar and shoulder straps are discouraged. No sashes
are to be worn in the field save for parade and special, full-dress occasions.
Use of common enlisted style jackets, trousers, and gear is encouraged.
Weapons: All weapons are to be of infantry types only. All rifles
and smoothbore muskets are to be equipped with bayonets. Two-banded rifles
are strongly discouraged but, if necessary, should be carried only be sergeants.
The so called M1863 Remington "Zouave" rifle is not allowed; neither
are repeating or breech-loading weapons.
Each field company is allowed two wall tents or one
wall tent and one fly which will be pitched at the head of the company street.
Officers and staff only shall have wall tents. The battalion quartermaster
and/or his representative will be the first to officially arrive on an event
camp site and set up the camp. If any individual or group arrives earlier
and sets up tents, he or they may be required to move if the camp has to
be changed to accommodate the quartermaster's plan.
Surface authenticity shall be required at all times (i.e.,
tent flaps should be allowed to open without exposing anachronisms.
Minimal furniture shall be placed in company streets.
Camp stools, etc., should be placed in tents when not in use so not as to
impede traffic while improving the camp appearance. Camp tables are limited
to designated flies and officers' and staff tents only.
Weapons shall be properly stacked on the color line or
company street, depending of space restrictions, during dry daylight hours
and properly wrapped and stored in tents during the night or damp weather.
Fire pits shall be dug only at the ends of company streets
unless specified by battalion staff officers or the event host.
Burning fires shall never be left unattended. All fire pits will have a
nearby full bucket of water and a heavy blanket within immediate reach and
visibility. Other full buckets of water shall be placed within reach for
emergencies as well.
The battalion shall use the standard Hardee's Rifle
and Light Infantry tactics only. Rifles will be loaded from the "V"
position. Bayonets will be fixed in the "V" position and using
the left hand on the bayonet.
A school of the battalion shall be held annually and
representatives from each unit are strongly encouraged to attend.
Battalion drill will be held at least once at each event. All units and
individuals present at an event must participate in said drill or shall
be excluded from the reenactment.
There will be a recruit drill on Saturday mornings of each event at 0800
hours. This drill will be conducted under direction of the sergeant major,
by an officer and/or senior NCO of his choosing. For this drill a recruit
is considered to be anyone not having reenacted for one full year. Captains
may direct anyone who they feel requires additional training to attend this
drill.
The colonel at his descretion will drill each of the companies in company
drill throughout the season.
All weapons shall be inspected in respective companies
prior to falling into battalion line. Weapons failing inspection must be
repaired or replaced immediately. Any weapon failing inspection on the field
shall cause the bearer to break ranks and return to camp. In order to pass
inspection, a weapon must be either struck bright or blued. In either case,
it must be clean and bright metal must be bright and shiny. There will be
no rust on the bartrel or furniture. The weapon's bore must be clean with
no trace of residue in the breech. The lock must be in good working order.
The stock must not be cracked or broken. The ramrod must be of proper length.
The bayonet, even an original, must be clean and free of rust, even inside
the socket. This also pertains to officers' sidearms.
The senior NCO of each company shall be responsible for
making certain that the weapons are cleaned after each day's firing at any
given event.
No individual may consume alcohol prior to fielding with
the battalion.
All companies will be already formed and counted off
in the battalion line at the designated formation time. To this end, companies
will gear up and order themselves prior to said time in their respective
company streets and march as individual units to said formation.
All battalion formations require all members to have
on his person a serviceable canteen filled with water.
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