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Field Commander’s Report
Last month we attended probably the best National Regiment’s NCO/Officer School in a number of years. It was well run and productive, and the classes were sized for learning. Soon, we have the opportunity to put this learning to practice. The turn-out was commendable, although a few men had last-minute problems and could not make it. Special commendation is due Logan McGrane for his serious attention to his duties as drummer. Logan worked very hard on both days, and we were proud of him. We expect to see him in the ranks with us this year. Well done, lad. If you have not sent in your event registration money to Jim Nickle yet, please do so soon.

Don Rivera
Field Commander,
Sykes’ Regulars

Brigade Schedule for
March - April, 1999

Date: 26-28 March, 1999
Place: Bolivar Heights, MD
Event: Spring Encampment
> Info: A work out the winter kinks and renew friendships weekend. You will tent on the 400-acre Murphy Farm. This site is out of the public’s eye, and security is good. We will need a key to access the gate, so make certain that you let your section NCOs know when to expect you on Friday evening, or Saturday morning. Reveille will be at 0700 hours Saturday followed by breakfast. We have a full schedule on both days, so get there early if you can. We expect to let you go by 1430 hours on Sunday. BRING WATER and TOILET PAPER, as it is a beautiful but primitive area. Bring caps and cartridges too. Remember, this is a military encampment.
Uniforms: Late war, with clean weapons.
Directions: Take U.S.340 to Harpers Ferry, WV. Drive to the NPS Visitors’ Center entrance opposite Bolivar Heights, and turn into the park entrance road. Immediately upon turning you will notice a road to your right. Turn right and follow the road for about 100 yards until you see a stop sign. Turn left at the sign, and drive approximately another 100 yards to a gate. Once through the gate, follow the road back toward the old farm house. Opposite the house the road offers a “Y”. Take the right-hand road and follow that back to the camp site.

Date: 23 - 25 April, 1999
Place: Ft McHenry Historical National Military Park, Baltimore, MD
Event: Fort McHenry
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 Company Mess
(ha, HAAA!!!!!)
Gentlemen,
The time is here to let everyone know the food situation for the March encampment; As of the NCO School in February the two military units of Sykes Regulars have designated their Lance Corporals as Allan Thompson and James "Tank" Nickle. Their main duties will be the overseeing of the commissary. These members will be in charge of taking care of company owned cook gear, arranging for foodstuffs, and maintaining as near period as possible the general care and function of the company kitchen. To accomplish these tasks the 1st Sergeants of the military units will be assigning other members of the companies to details as necessary. I wish to make clear at this time the following statement: "NO MEMBER OF EITHER UNIT SHOULD FEEL COMPELLED TO EAT AS PART OF THE COMPANY MESS. THIS IS ENTIRELY A VOLUNTARY DECISION AND CAN BE CHANGED FROM EVENT TO EVENT AS MEETS MEMBER'S NEEDS." The Lance Corporals will be contacting members through email and their respective NCO's to determine who wishes to eat with the company mess for each event. Therefore, if you wish to eat with us please let either Allan or Tank know thru email or let your section NCO/1st Sergeant know at least one week before each event.
The cost of food will be split among the participating members of the commissary and each man who agreed to eat with the company at that event will be expected to pay his share. At this time it is expected that the company mess will provide breakfast for each full day in the field (usually Saturday and Sunday) and dinner on days in which we will be in camp at night (usually Saturday). It is the Lance Corporals’ expectation that each man will provide for himself for the noon meal as this is sometimes eaten in the field and should most often consist of haversack type rations. Also, this will allow each member to have some individuality in choice of food they wish to eat. Also, members who wish to bring their own food are welcome to use the company cook gear as long as that does not interfere with the company mess.
Be advised that members using the cook gear will be required to be part of clean up details so that we may maintain the gear in the best condition possible.
Therefore, if you wish to be part of the company mess for the upcoming encampment on the weekend of 26-28 March, please reply so to this message. Also, if you are a section NCO or 1st Sergeant and know of members who are not on this email list please let them know what is going on and get back to us concerning this message. Thank you all for your cooperation.

Respectfully yours,
Allan Thompson, LCpl, 2nd US Infantry
James Nickle, LCpl, 4th US Infantry

National Regiment NCO School
Winter hibernation was gratefully interrupted by the National Regiment’s Officer and NCO school the weekend of February 28,29. This year was the best attended school to date with 135 to 150 members of the NR endeavoring to improve their impressions and keep the NR at the top of their game for the coming campaign season. The classes were broken down into smaller groups this year to better reach the inquiring minds and address questions.
A good contingent of Regulars attended to review and further their knowledge of drill. Several of our officers and NCO’s were in charge of teaching sessions. Some of the topics that were covered included: what goes into a good forage cap and how to wear it. (Don’t be surprised if you see the entire NR wearing their forage caps at jaunty angles.) File closers were covered by our own Don Rivera and Frank Hall and later Steve Hanson covered Skirmish drill. This year points were made about officer escorts and skirmish reserve companies and how reserves replaced casualties and skirmishers with fouled weapons. We also learned the vital role of the bugler in the skirmish line. Commands were difficult to relay by voice over a large area and the bugle was more effective than the drum. Look forward to more detailed analysis of skirmish drill in upcoming articles.
One of the classes expounded upon the qualities of leadership necessary to lead men in the military and in battle. More importantly we learned what it takes to lead men within the confines of the artificial world of the Civil War reenactor. A democratic military organization that will only be lead by the consent of the governed is a much more difficult task in comparison to the real military where you follow the orders or go to the stockade.
We also learned this year’s version of how to stack arms. I think it’s a matter of switching hands on the stack. I also think that the rear rank number two man has to hold the left ear of the front rank 1 man while holding his breath. If the rear rank man fails to hold his breath then the rear rank number 1 man has to knock the stack down with much force and stand on his head for three minutes. Don’t hold me to this though, I wasn’t really paying attention. I guess it’ll take another year to learn till it changes again.
We then went through the battalion drill of the stick legions. Long rods were used in lieu of privates. We practiced the double column of companies which is the hallmark formation of the NR. The dress parade was also practiced in this fashion. The NR dress parade is always a popular formation for the audience on the field.
The 5th NY Zouaves practiced the bayonet drill for the school with the addition of fencing with bayonets. A drill of one on one where adversaries explore inner and outer lines of attack and defense. It was an excellent demonstration of close order combat using the cold steel.
Those that attended the school will be passing on the valuable information they learned. We encourage anyone that aspires to being an NCO to go to this school each year and take our own NCO test. Even if you don’t, come out and learn more about what goes into our impression. We need to challenge ourselves to improve so that we keep ourselves passionate about the hobby and the history of the Civil War.

From the Desk of the First Sergeant.
Having had to prepare insightful lessons for the NCO school, the First Sergeant was unable to write a report for this month’s Regular. The official explanation is as follows:
“All my company records were burned with the trains when McClellan changed base" and left us as rear guard. A few hundred burning wagons makes a real good roadblock.” Those of you wishing to challenge this explanation are invited to the desk of the first sergeant and arm wrestle to settle the question.
Look to the last page of the Regular for an illustration of what should be present in your kit.


March Encampment
Well, Lads. It’s time to get to work. There are guns to be cleaned, brogans to be worn out in drill and brass to polish and shine.
Sykes’ Regulars will start the season with a comprehensive shakedown at a beautiful site on the Murphy Farm near Harpers Ferry. The site overlooks the Shenendoah River and if we can believe the reports from our captain, it is one that we will not soon be forgotten.
What we hope to accomplish is a general shakedown of equipment (see what we have, see what we need and see what we need to get rid of). Be sure to bring all that you would have on the company street. We also need to shake off the rheumatism and succeed in remembering our right from left by drilling through the basics and the complex. We will also be looking at our company street impression and establishing a standard for the year which will be policed with inspections by the first sgt. and the officer at large.
We also hope to encourage open communication between all ranks and files in order to improve our impression. We need input and feedback. The more we talk the more we know about what all may contribute.
Last but not least, we will be renewing our comradery and getting together as a team of historical specialist in the subject of the United States Regular. We also may have a beauty contest but don’t count on it.
We have a full schedule. So make sure you work out furiously before the event. Three miles runs with full pack before the event should help. Make sure you start roughing up your feet by sticking them in hot sand because sobbing over blisters will not be tolerated. We also will be coming up with a brand new creative punishment program. The First Sergeant is very excited.
Sykes’ Regulars will also be debuting our very own bugler on Saturday. We will, in the future, learn skirmish drill by bugle. We’ll have a tape available soon so you can play the calls every day on your way to work and torture your families and friends at home. There has been a push for more bugling in the hobby and we intend to have the best bugler, so once again the volunteers will squirm with envy and avarice at those damn Regulars.
The company mess will be available once again for your dancing and dining pleasure. We will be restructuring with a re-emphasis on cholesterol and grease so that we have a balance with our modern healthy diets. For those of you patronizing our company bistro, please let your section leaders know you will be dining with us. Breakfast and dinner will be available on Saturday and Sunday will have very nice champagne brunch without the champagne. Bring your own haversack lunch for both days and bring stuff to trade with your pards.
In addition, make sure you bring a great coat and several blankets or be ready to spoon with your favorite comrade. The weather might be a little nippy. We should have a great weekend so get psyched lads.