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Mail the Editor with Submissions for the Regular or if you have a good picture you'd like to see on this site.
Field Commander’s Report
For those of you who attended the drill weekend at the Murphy Farm, you remember the beauty of the location, and the success of our weekend activities. As with all first weekends in the new year, this one started roughly, but as the men worked on their drill, it soon developed into a worthwhile event. In addition to remaining quiet in ranks this year, the Regulars will not march with their free hand swinging, but with it at their sides. Moreover, the men will not turn their heads when counting "Twos". These new facets of Sykes' Regulars drill, coupled with the "closeness" of our wheel movements, were soon perfected at the farm. We will continue to work on them this year. Just as the National Regiment leads the was in the hobby, so will the Regulars lead the way as we develop and improve our drill.
Those who could not attend the drill weekend, will get a chance to catch up at Ft. McHenry. Moreover, they will have the opportunity to hear first hand of the exploits of the men who did.
Brigade Schedule,
April - May, 1999
Scheduled as: Primary Brigade event.
Date: 23 - 25 April, 1999
Place: Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, Maryland
Event: Fort McHenry
Info: A Late War Living History weekend, outside the star fort. This is the annual Fort McHenry weekend, and this year it is a NR event. Colonel Doom will again be the post commander, so we must be prepared to protect our own Infantry Commander, Major Hutchison. Let us not sleep the sleep of the unprepared. Let us come to the fort and be ever vigilant. We will set up camp on Friday. The fort will provide breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, and the evening meal on Saturday. This is a National Regiment event.
Uniform: Sack coat, kersey trousers, fatigue hat, polished brass, clean weapon, darkened leathers, canteen, dog tent, blankets, and foul weather gear (just in case).
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.
Scheduled as: Secondary Brigade event
Date: 15 - 17 May, 1999
Place: New Market, VA
Info: The annual trek to altar of modern Southern Pride. If sufficient interest is mounted, we will field a company. Make certain that you check with your section NCO before driving into the midst of the enemy.
Uniform: Sack coat, kersey trousers, fatigue hat, polished brass, clean weapon, darkened leathers, canteen, dog tent, blankets, and foul weather gear (just in case).
Directions: I-81 to New Market, Virginia, and follow the signs.
Status: Primary Brigade event.
Date: 28 - 30 May, 1999
Place: Gettysburg, PA,
Event: The Forgotten Regular
Info: This event, at the Leister House, more than any other that we do, should bring out a large number. We are the Regulars, so we should support the event that honors those men who went before us. We will once again sleep on the battlefield, and present to the public the life of the Regular. For Brigade pride, this is a maximum effort event.
Uniform: Sack coat, kersey trousers, fatigue hat, polished brass, clean weapon, darkened leathers, canteen, dog tent, blankets, and foul weather gear.
Directions: U.S. 15 to Gettysburg, take the Tanneytown Road exit to the Leister House which is located just below the Visitors' Center, near the Cyclorama, and across from the "tower".
From a Man who was there....
Excerpt from "Ten Years in the Ranks"
The Memoir of Agustus Meyers, 2nd US Infantry
From our position I had a good view of the open fields and the locality made such and impression on my memory, that I had no difficulty in recognizing it many years afterward when I revisited the the scene. The road to the right and left of us was filled with troops of Sykes's division. I noticed that Warren's brigade, which I recognized by the Zouave uniforms of the Fifth New York, was posted in some depressed ground in front of the road in advance and at some distance to our left.
I think it was some time after two o'clock in the afternoon that picket firing became more frequent and kept on getting closer. We lined up against the rail fence watching the fields in our front anxiously. Presently I noticed a company of the "Duryee Zouaves" leave their regiment, deploy as skirmishers, and enter the woods opposite them and in a little while we heard the crack of their rifles. Then we realized that the enemy was driving in our pickets and preparing to attack us.
Two pieces of woods formed almost a right angle about five hundred yards from our position and in the corner there was a wide gap through which I could see the country for a mile or more beyond. I noticed a great cloud of dust which seemed to be approaching, and when it neared the gap I could make out that there were horses, but was not sure whether it was cavalry or artillery from the dust they raised.
My doubts about this were dispelled in a few minutes when I saw a sudden puff of smoke and heard the familiar sound of a shell passing over our heads. We heard the command to lie down and obeyed it promptly, throwing ourselves face down in the thick dust of the road. The shots now came in suck quick succession that I judged a full battery of six guns was firing at our battery, stationed directly in the rear of my regiment only a few yards away, which lost no time in replying and whose guns roared with deafening effect close over our heads as we lay in the road. Amid all this noise and the bursting of the enemy's shells among and behind the battery, we could sometimes hear the groans of a wounded battery horse.
As I explained before, we had some protection from this fire, inasmuch as the road was sunk about two feet, and only one of the many shells fired burst directly over our heads, killing two and wounding three men of Company G., next to my company on the left. While this firing was going on, I think each man tried to make himself as thin as possible- I know that I did.
From the Desk of the First Sergeant
Purchase 'The Annotated Casey's ,
A Drill Manual for Reenactors' for $7.50 .
Acquire this helpful manual to improve your drill
and your impression.
Contact First Sergeant Stephen Hanson by
email
hansons@cadmus.
com
Also available at events.
(If you buy one of these manuals the First Sgt. may look more kindly upon you when it comes time for fatigue duty.)
March Encampent
First event! ...... Excellent Event !!!
The March Encampment was a great success in as much as you're taking your chances in the merry month of March. Because the editor was wearing his lucky socks, a rain storm that was forecast to soak our feet skirted us and traveled to parts not cared about. Though cold at night, the valiant Regulars bore the frigid night and awoke to shake out the cob webs of a long winter hibernation. It was truly good to be back in the wool once again.
A good number of lads arrived on a moonlit Friday night and set up bivouac camp along a ridge overlooking the Shenendoah River. We were the guests of a Mr. Murphy who's farm is adjacent to Harper's Ferry National Park. Thanks go out to Mr. Murphy and to Peggy Rivera for securing this invitation to this truly beautiful site. Murphy's Farm also contained a foundation that bore the John Brown Engine house for a time during the turn of the century. It was a site used inspirationally by many African Americans in their own quest for heritage. In addition, actual breastworks were to be found down the ridge overlooking the river. These gun emplacements and works were built to guard against attack from the river route in the rear of the position. Thousands of Union troops camped on the acres adjacent to our site.
Bundling up that night the lads bore the brunt of low 30 degree temperatures. Those who were experienced in weathering these temperatures did so with but cold feet in the early morning hours. Those that were not so well prepared were forced unceremoniously to the fire or more shamefully to their steel carriages where the heater granted a few hours of contorted slumber. For future icy encampments, the formula for a warm civil war sleeping bag is as follows: Lots of straw, at least two blankets, a gum blanket and of course the ever faithful great coat. Long underwear is also helpful. Make sure to wrap one blanket beneath you another on top and then tuck the gum blanket around the entire cocoon. The gum blanket is key as it keeps all the heat from escaping. Wear your great coat to bed and wrap the cape around your head so only your nose is exposed for necessary oxygenation. Of course your dog tent is sheltering you and if you can close the ends you're good to go. Pay attention to your feet and make sure they are wrapped well because the extremities are the first to lose heat.
The morning sun brought into view the beautiful scene of the great Shenendoah River curving it's way towards the Potomac at Harper's Ferry. There was plenty of field space for drilling and the tree line was a perfect spot for our bivouac. The company mess was in full swing under the watchful and competent Tank Nickle with the able assistance of his commissary protege, Allen Thompson. Soon the coffee was boiling, the bacon frying and the eggs were scrambling. The lads were summoned to roll call and were informed that camp inspection was in the offing. Camp inspections will be a more regular occurrence this year as we are making efforts to improve our camp impression to the general benefit of us all. The lads had their tents and their contents in order by 8:00AM and if the tent had only one occupant it was made to appear that at least two soldiers were residing in it. All other effects were neatly placed to accommodate the perusal of our ever loving Captain and First Sergeant.
After the inspection the men set about their personal chores such as cleaning rifles and polishing brass for rifle inspection. The Captain's canny eye caught even the smallest gathering of rust particles and the infraction was duly recorded by the 1st Sgt.
Once our gear was found to be in order the lads adjourned to the drill field where the yearly phenomenon of relearning our right from left and the re-embracing of synchronous marching was our lot. We gradually worked our way back to our sea legs and soon the basics returned like a long lost friend. We were concentrating on the finer polish points of drill such as keeping our arms at our sides while moving and keeping our heads forward while counting off. The ever present discipline of keeping quiet in ranks was one we wrestle with time and again but is one that separates us from the rest.
Company drill went as well as could be expected for a mass of hibernating soldiers. As everyone remembered "On the right by files into line" the inevitable mass traffic jam ensued with everyone running into a clump. It was more like a rugby match.
The one big mental block and obstacle to the coordinationally challenged was the infamous wheel. The Captain came up with an ingenious if not uncomfortable solution for keeping the line from separating during the wheels. Each man in the line was to grab the pant leg of the man next to him while wheeling. Once the company got over the usual giggling over the manliness challenging suggestion we found to our chagrin that the Captain was not kidding. The giggling soon turned to grimaces. Fortunately most of the lads were secure in their manliness and we started to wheel with an unbroken line. The First Sergeant was very proud of his boys. After we got used to it, the pants grabbing became easier. Hopefully not too easy. Fortunately we will have to wheel in the future without this drill aid and it will surely prove to be an incentive to do a better wheel. Remember the rule: Lean in and look out. From the outside of the wheel in, the files slow down successively to the pivot and keep that elbow contact or the Captain will make us grab pants.
After company drill and lunch the skirmish drill was invoked. We practiced moving the line for and by the flanks and leap frogging while firing in the advance and retreat. We also fired while moving the line laterally left and right. While moving the soldiers steps one step out of the line forward to fire while his file mate moves past him in the rear. This leap frog continues till the halt and then the file mates resume their original positions on the line. Watching the guides was emphasized to keep the integrity of the line.
In addition, the skirmish drill was greatly enhanced by the sound of the bugle echoing the commands of the Captain. We are indeed fortunate to have the services of Mr. Adam Leonard and Mr. Ryan Spahr our company buglers. We hopefully will soon have a tape of the skirmish drill bugle calls for everyone to learn. Bugling and commands by other instrument were an integral part of the Civil War soldier's life. The hobby is placing more emphasis on this aspect and we are endeavoring to do our part. Thank you buglers for your practice and your dedication.
Special mention is also given to Mr. Logan McGrane for his fine drumming. We are indeed lucky to have this young lad in our ranks.
Saturday ended with a fine Irish fare of corn beef and cabbage that couldn't have been better prepared or received by a more deserving band. The dinner served as a late tribute to the patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick.
The Regulars milled about the mountain ridge over the Shenendoah, smoking their pipes and cigars bathed in the red light of a glorious sunset. It had been a good and productive day.
The majority of the crew found their way to Charlestown, and the Iron Rail Pub where we celebrated the birthday of our brother in arms and chef of fine Irish cuisine, Mr. Tank Nickle. Tank decided that this year he would start growing younger. We drank a toast to his new found youth and began to sing. We didn't stop until we were hoarse. Thankfully we had a room to ourselves and only tortured a few unlucky patrons. The room was filled once again with the customary brotherhood and comradery that the Regulars can claim as their own. As the night wound down we made our way back to camp and our warm bunks where the night was much more friendly temperature wise than on Friday night. Corporal McConnell took fire watch and was lucky to have his goatee intact in the morning. Make sure if you sleep by the fire you have a small breastwork erected so that you don't roll into the fire.
Sunday morning dawned to chores and flapjacks well made by Mr. Tank. Chores were accomplished, rifles cleaned and brass polished. The NCO's and officers held a meeting to better organize themselves and delegate duties. After camp and rifle inspection we once more took to the field to practice company drill. Corporals drill entailed firing position, manual of arms and stacking arms. Two finer points that we are trying to perfect is the 'Right about March' and 'Order Arms'. When the order for "Right About March' is given it is initiated on the right foot with the left foot landing and the right foot being brought up next to it as the soldier turns. He then starts again in the opposite direction on the left foot. 'Order Arms' has a new small wrinkle in that when the rifle is lowered to the ground, the butt of the rifle is held an inch or so off the ground before it is finally placed onto the ground. These fine details can sometimes seem unnecessary but if they were they would not have been placed in the Army Manual. Everything has a reason and as the professional army we have a duty to those fine details. It makes us who we are.
The Captain then took us back to perfect 'By Company into line', On the Right by files into line' and the infamous wheels. We were getting better but of course more practice is in order and we will soon be back to more coordinated fighting trim as the campaign season progresses.
Sgt. Mastapeter conducted us through the rudiments of Bayonet drill. Everyone came out of the drill without a bayonet in his eye. A good start.
After some supplementary drill the lads started to break the camp down and police our fine campsite. We were sorry to have to say good bye to this lovely bivouac.
At the end the unit as a whole sat down to a debriefing to discuss the weekend and gather opinions and suggestions. Practicing better communication is one of the units major goals this year and we will continue in having these debriefings at the end of events. If we have any beefs or suggestions this is the time to bring them up. In this way we hope to make our unit strong and vital for the telling of the story of a war that should never be forgotten.
Written by the Editor
Bugle Call
The Jonah is Back!!!!
This month's Jonah of the Month award goes to Mr. Ryan Spahr for the classic spilling of liquid on to the fire. Paying no attention to the Jonah easement placed around the cooking area, Ryan infiltrated and carried out his Jonah mission with enthusiasm and aplomb. His dumbfounded expression and shrugging of the shoulders carried on once more the continuing saga of the Jonah. Armed volunteers are being solicited for maintaining the integrity of the 'Jonah free zone'. If this all important zone is not maintained, Jim ("Get OUT of my kitchen!") Nickle promises that blood will be shed.
A Call for Thespians, Actors, Comedians, Singers, Gymnasts, Mimes, Jugglers, Sword swallowers, and anyone who enjoys being the Center of Attention.
The Regulars are once more called upon to supply their talents to production that will be taking place at the Wildnerness event this June. For those of you who remember our triumph at the Antietam event last year, we are endeavoring to top that extravaganza. Anyone who is interested in working behind the scenes or in front of the scene is encouraged to do so. We had an awful lot of fun with the minstrel show and audience seemed to like it too. We laughed quite a bit and that's what it's all about. So if you have ideas for a skit (dramatic or comedic) or a musical number, lets us know.
Jim (people,people,people)Wassel, and Tank (Why do I always have to do the women's role) Nickle will be producing our part of the program along with the members of the 5th NY and the 96th PA. Keep in mind that this is a period piece and all subject matter should be of the appropriate time. Taking classic pieces of theatre and butchering them till they are absurd is our specialty. Tank and I will be at Frt. McHenry getting some ideas together. So pitch in. We'll make you a star. (or a fool. whichever way it works out so that everyone is laughing).
From the Desk of the 1st Sergeant
(This article is a repeat of an article written for the October issue last year. It has valuable information on what type of gear should be in your kit. The First Sergeant oughta know.)
Let's all try to revamp our kits a bit over this winter for next year. The first step is to let go of some of the 20th Century we've been lugging around. We won't miss it for a few weekends a year, and it will make our experience that much more enjoyable. It involves something very simple: Put together a "cleaning kit" and a "toiletries kit" to replace our 20th Century stuff. Each contains just 7 items, but they include everything you need for keeping your weapon, leathers, clothing, and body clean and in good repair for a weekend. Both together can be contained in a common lunch bag (although they should be kept separate for health reasons.
1. You don't need a huge orange modern gun cleaning kit. Your rammer, musket tool, and a worm, (all things that would have been issued with your musket for its care and maintenance), plus a cotton rag that can be cut into patches and a little period bottle with a cork for oil is all you need. The rammer is stored in your musket, the musket tool and worm go in the front pocket of your cartridge box (in a small bag to keep them from falling out and getting lost), and the bottle can be wrapped in the cotton cloth to put in your cleaning kit. A small patch of emery cloth can also be put in your cartridge box for the immediate care of the occasional rust spot that appears out of nowhere.
2. A tin of shoe polish can be slowly melted (be careful not to let it boil) and poured into a candy or cap tin (about the same size) and a reproduction period label can be glued to it.
One of the most difficult things to find today is a real-bristle brush with a wooden handle. If any of you discovers a cache of them anywhere, scarf them up - almost everyone in Sykes needs one. You will recover your investment (and maybe a little profit) at the very next event. The tin and one or two shoe brushes go in your cleaning kit. This is all you need to care for all your leathers.
3. You don't need a can of Brasso or a tube of some sort of WonderShine. Another candy or cap tin will contain a considerable lump of NeverDull. It is not a liquid that is heavy and can be spilled, not a paste that can melt in heat and leach out of whatever it is in, and is
not in a tube that may explode if crushed. It can't ruin anything else you have no matter how much you abuse it. A piece of soft cloth (either heavy cotton or flannel) for a cleaning rag, and you have everything you need for taking care of all your brass and even the metal of your musket. A button stick is handy to prevent the polish from getting on the clothing or leather on which the brass is mounted. These two items go in your cleaning kit.
4. A clothing brush (an extra shoe brush) will clean your wool. Dip the tips of the bristles in water and it will remove dust and even dried, caked-on mud from your uniform. Again, this is a difficult item to find, but it is the way wool was cleaned before dry-cleaning was invented.
5. A housewife can be included in this cleaning kit also to take care of minor tears, unraveled stitches, and popped buttons. It should include just a bit more than those ready-made ones at the sutlers. At the very least, you need one extra button for your 4-button, one for your vest (and kepi), and one for your suspenders (or your shelter half).
An extra pair of shoe laces will come in handy one day. Beyond that, a patch of dark blue wool and a patch of light blue kersey will let you repair holes that suddenly appear in your uniform at odd moments.
6. These seven items (bottle of oil, tin of bootblack, shoe brush, tin of metal polish, button stick, clothing brush, and housewife), plus an oil rag and a polish rag, replace all sorts of modern things you've been lugging around for years. And they all fit in a draw-string bag half the size of a common sandwich bag that will fit in one corner of your knapsack.
7. A "toiletries kit" composed of a toothbrush, a tiny bottle of tooth powder, a comb, and a cake of soap wrapped in a huckaback cloth about the size of a washcloth or a small hand towel will take care of your body for a weekend. Those of you who are clean-shaven or sport any sort of trim to the natural growth of facial hair also need at least a straight razor and possibly a shaving brush for the tourists to see. Those who give free reign to facial hair don't really need these items but should have them in the event of lice. All this fits into a bag half the size of your cleaning kit. For those who need contact lens implements, disguise them by putting the modern containers inside period containers. They won't get contaminated, they won't be left out to be seen, and you don't have to "go to your car" just as a formation or some work detail looms its ugly head over the company.
That's it. Now you don't have to hide in your tent or get caught with something modern laying about while doing common things that soldiers would be doing all the time. Everything you have can be cleaned and maintained with these few items. They are not just extraneous "period" decorations to display in your tent; they can be used to replace the 20th Century and lighten the load of stuff you need to lug around for every event.
Between events, they are stored in your knapsack, are out of the way, and won't be forgotten for the next event. The only maintenance required is to be sure you refill anything you use.
First Sgt. Stephen Hanson
2nd US Infantry
Sykes' Regulars