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vol10-2
General George Sykes
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Field Commander’s Report
Well lads, this month some of us will be attending the annual National Regiment’s NCO/Officer School in
Gettysburg. There, we will attempt to polish our drill and learn new maneuvers for the coming year. The
Brigade encampment is scheduled for the last weekend in March. Refer to the Brigade Schedule for more information.
Please note the information on this year’s event registration requirements later in this issue.
Don Rivera
Field Commander,
Sykes’ Regulars
Brigade Schedule
February March, April, 1999
Date: 26 - 28, February, 1999
Place: National Guard Armory, Confederate Avenue, Gettysburg, PA
Event: National Regiment NCO School
Info: Reservations are at the Howard Johnson Motel on Steinwehr Avenue. The school gets under way
with breakfast at 0730 hours on Saturday. We expect to depart for home at noon on Sunday. There will be
a show-and-tell on Saturday evening.
Uniforms: Bring rifles, bayonets, and swords, as applicable. Do not bring caps or cartridges. Uniforms
are optional.
Directions: The armory is located near the Lutheran Seminary, and faces Confederate Avenue. However, access is from the rear of the armory.
Date: 26-28 March, 1999
Event: Sykes’ Regular’s Drill and Comradery Weekend
Place: Murphy Farm, Harper's Ferry Nat. Park
Info: A work out the winter kinks and renew friendships weekend.
This is not an event open to the public.
" I have just returned from the site of our 26-28 March, 1999 encampment. It is on a piece of land overlooking the Shenandoah River and adjacent to the
national Park. The total size of the property is approximately 400 acres, 200 of which are clear. Conservatively, it is the most impressive site for
camping that I have seen in my years in the hobby.
We will be camped at the far end of the property, on a rise overlooking the river. It is quite incredible. There are acres of fields which are clear, and the place is far enough away from the road that modern sounds will be
minimal.
We will establish a camp near the edge of the land overlooking the river. Our vehicles may be parked nearby. There is a firepit already there, and it is surrounded by loose field stone. Some of us may not want to leave on
Sunday. "
The land was occupied by Union troops during the war, and some earthen
fortifications are still visible a short distance into the wooded area near our camp. The view from the top, where our camp will be set up, will take your breath away.
Uniforms: Late war, with clean weapons. You will tent on the farm.
Directions: In order to get there, take U.S. 340 to Harpers Ferry. Continue to the top of the hill at Bolivar Heights. At the traffic light, turn into the road leading to the NPS Visitors' parking lots, but almost immediately after
turning from U.S. 340, turn right and follow the road about 200 yards to a stop sign. Turn left and drive another 200 yards to the entrance to the Murphy Farm.
Once through the gate, follow the gravel road around to the right until you come abreast of the old farm house. There, the gravel road makes a "Y". The left branch of the road goes to the house. We want to take the right branch
and follow it another 1/4 mile to the end of the field, where we will set up camp.
Date: 23 - 25 April, 1999
Place: Ft McHenry National Military Park, Baltimore, MD
Event: Fort McHenry
(National Regiment)
Info: Encampment at the fort. This is our annual pilgrimage to the shrine of our National Anthem.
Commissary and Company street cooking, Battalion tactics, firing, Church services, Cavalry, Infantry,
and Artillery demonstrations, and the opportunity to visit the USS Constellation. This year, this event is
an NR event.
Uniform: Late-war uniforms, dog tents, canteens, clean weapons, darkened leathers, and polished brass
are the order of the day.
Directions: I-70 to Baltimore, take the exit just South of the Harbor Tunnel (Fort Avenue). Follow the
signs to Fort McHenry which is at the end of Fort Avenue.
The Regular
Excuse the winter time mailing schedule on the Regular folks. We will soon be back to the first of the
month mailings. All we need are some antics to write about as we get out of winter encampment. Sick call
reports don’t make for interesting reading.
Regulars in the Movies
The Regulars again participated in the making of a historical documentary this month about the life and
times of a Mr. John Brown. Most of the filming we participated in was at Harper’s Ferry (Gee, what a great
place for it). The documentary was filmed by Robert Kenner productions. Mr. Kenner and his small staff
have worked on several historical documentaries for public television to high acclaim. This reporter had
viewed some of his work on the 1918 Influenza flu epidemic and was duly impressed. We hope to see this
current production previewed in May 2000.
Notably you might recognized the marines who attack the engine house at Harper’s Ferry during the final
hours of John Brown’s ill fated raid. You may also recognize the shadowy figure of John Brown.
The reason I say ‘may’ recognize is that the director’s method in filming was somewhat abstract and may
be somewhat difficult to track actual faces. He never concentrated on faces but figures in action, clothing
and still life articles. It was very artistic. In any event we hope that our small contribution will enhance the
story even though we were unable to contribute as much historical accuracy as we may have liked or were
capable of. The Regular will carry a reminder when the special is to air.
Winter Encampment
Miner’s Hill Virginia, 1863
Dear Father,
This is your wayward son once more hoping you are well. As for myself, if I survive the boredom and
wretched routine of this place with my senses intact, I’ll hopefully be recognizable to you as your son.
I try my best to be of stout heart but every day takes a fraction away. My comrades and I do the best we can
and once we are done feeling sorry for ourselves we occupy ourselves with diversions of our own making and
try to be constructive. We have built ourselves a fine little domicile of the most modern design. It is four
walls and a chimney. The chimney has taken some work but we have built the structure against a hillside
and have tunneled a natural flue. We sit at night and smile as we listen to other not so brilliant architects
stamp out their barrel chimneys in the middle of the night.
To see the barren landscape around this place you would think we were an army of beavers. Many nights my
muscles were in knots after the fatigue duty of hauling trees. But for all of the army, I would think I was
standing in the most desolate land on earth.
We had another new regiment march into camp yesterday and the rest of the lads and I of course go to see
what new fish are being introduced to the pond. We have become somewhat dispassionate with our new
cellmates and never miss an opportunity to make sport of their inexperience. To me, this is even losing its
luster. I’ve decided to go the opposite direction and help those I can rather than watch them come to harm.
We are all in this together, and if they are on my flank and falter, guess who will be in for it next.
What riles me the most I think though is the absolute idiocy of some of the officers here. They are chosen
through election in some cases political appointment. Some are of natural talent as soldiers, but they are a
small minority. Most are egotistical fools with not a brain between them. They don’t think that we see how
unknowledgeable they really are but we have seen it all. Some make honest effort, but many do not and
these are the ones that we fear will one day be at the head of our regiment during a critical time. I fear for
the other lads as our Regular officers have our trust. We know that we will not be lost through ineptitude
and we will measure up to that trust and do the job. I saw one of these new officers the other day shouting
orders to a tree to practice. After I was done chuckling I gave him credit for at least marshalling the troops
needed against an attack of lumberjacks.
My health is holding steady. I fare better than some thanks to our hearty family stock. My friend Tom isn’t
so lucky and finds himself spending much of his army career at the sinks. He has a wonderful dance that gets
him there in time to avoid an embarrassing display. Having so much time in one place one must do
something so he has come up with a rating system for sinks and is planning on writing a critical essay on
design and comfort of said sinks. He intends to make sure the upper echelons receive it and he is willing to
make a stubborn plea for his case. An intelligent mind seated in one place can be a dangerous thing.
I had a run of luck at poker the other night. (Don’t tell Mother). I never fancied myself much of a gambler
but entertainment is somewhat limited. I did take pleasure in bluffing my good friend Paul out of a pot that
night. It was good fun. He wins most of the time anyway.
My best friend Harold and I are working on a soldier’s show. We both like to sing and we know quite a few
other lads who enjoy the limelight. We are hoping to put together some classical skits and plays and then of
course attune them to the more base nature of our fellows. It should be a first rate night. I’ll be sure to write
you a review.
Give my love to Jan and tell her that I’ll be back no matter what. I plan on making it through this because
she is there waiting for me.
Your Son in the Army,
James
From the Desk of the First Sergeant
One of Sykes' goals this year is for every military member who does not already have a frock coat to obtain
one. In conjunction with that, those who already have frock coats should look to tailoring them to fit better.
When choosing a new frock coat, it goes without saying that you should be mindful of material and
workmanship, but you must also be mindful especially of fit. One size larger or smaller is not "close
enough." Let the Iron Brigade buy their everyday frock coats "off the rack"; this is our Class A dress
uniform so we can look and feel sharp while we are being all we can be.
An infantry company was authorized the services of seamstresses, and a soldier with a knowledge of
tailoring was granted "special duty" consideration for working on the regiment's uniforms. There is no
reason for the dress uniform to be too short, too long, too tight, or too baggy. The neck should be tight
enough so the collar stands up (I have seen some so loose that another head can poke through it); the
shoulder seam should not fall off your natural shoulders nor ride above them; the sleeves should extend just
past the narrowest part of the wrist; the skirt should be mid-thigh (that is, between crotch and knee, not hip
and knee); and the bottom button and tail buttons should be just below your waist so your belt (buckle on
the navel) rides just above them. Some of the better coats also have padding in the chest as a stiffener.
The better quality (and slightly more expensive) coats are well made and will fit and ride well on the body.
The least expensive ones will need the most work, and eventually the expense of alterations will bring the
cost up to that of a better coat anyway.
One of the most important alterations is the length of the skirt, because it defies modern thinking. If you
need to shorten the skirt, don't hem it. The edge should be raw (the material was of such tight weave that a
raw edge would not unravel as modern material does). If you have unraveling problems, a very small bead
of clear water-based glue along the inside edge will solve the problem. Use Elmer's or something similar.
The "no stitch" stuff that sewing shops carry will seep through and show on the surface if
the material gets wet. Originals, when they began to show signs of fraying, were dipped in various animal
urines if you want to be "authentic." Don't use iron-on hem tape because it will show whenever the wind
blows a corner of the skirt up.
The worst looking misfit is around the neck. Another item of issue was the neck stock, which covered the
neck and prevented the soldier from turning his head too far in either direction or lifting it up and down.
The coat collar should stand up and rest against the neck stock. A loose collar allows the entire coat to shift
around on your body looking for the sloppiest position it can find before coming to rest.
You don't have to go overboard with alterations. We are not looking for Lord & Taylor's exact dimensions.
Find the most obvious necessary modification and make that one if nothing else. This is a dress uniform; it
should fit at least as well as a good suit. It's the job of the 4-button to look like jogging sweats.
Steve Hanson
2nd US Infantry
Sykes’ Regulars
A lead on a good book on Regulars.
From our spy in the heart of the deep south, Mark Vlahos
Greetings. With the shortage of material published on the Regulars-every book on the subject brings excitement and
should be an integral part of the serious Regulars library. I just purchased a new book published in 1998 called: Army Blue, The Uniform of Uncle Sam's Regulars, 1848-1873, by John P. Langellier.
It is published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 77 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310, phone (610)593-1777 (book is
available thur publisher). Book lists for $79.95, I bought mine thru Edward R. Hamilton, Bookseller, Falls Village,
CT 06031-5000 for $55.96 plus $3 shipping.
The photos, drawings, diagrams, and print are excellent in quality, similar to Echos of Glory. It is well researched and
laid out, covers Mexican War uniforms too. The book is twice as thick of Echos of Glory and deals only with the
Regulars! Cheers from Arkansas.