Wet Regulars at Gettysburg

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The Regular The Official Newsletter of Sykes Regulars June Regular

Field Commander’s Report

June 2000
Since last we met, we have endured the inclement weather southeast of Richmond, and at Gettysburg. The Wilson’s Wharf event, while small, was interesting in that we were combined with the 6th Wisconsin and 5th New York to form the third company. Skirmish duty was our orders to begin the Saturday battle. This was more of a reaction to the enemy’s moves, rather than the usual scripted movements. Thus, our actions were decided by what the enemy did, and we spent about 45 minutes coaxing him out, and then containing him until it became hot enough to be pulled back to the confines of the earthen fort.
On Sunday, we attacked the fort, and came away happy to be leaving for home and warm showers and hot meals. The rain that was forecast only bothered us during the evening hours of both days, and the flies that we had been warned about left us by dinner on Friday. We surmised where they had gone, but good taste prevents me from mentioning this.
We attended the Memorial Day weekend at Gettysburg, as the Forgotten Regulars, and this event too was wet, as this time it rained both days. Undaunted, the Regulars performed their drill to the complete satisfaction of the NPS, and the few wet spectators. Our presentation was enhanced by the beautiful notes of Bugler Adam Leonard, when he played Taps from atop the hill at the conclusion of each presentation on Saturday.


Brigade Schedule June - July, 2000

Date: 17,18 June, 2000
Place: Camp Sykes, Brownsville, MD
Event: Work Weekend
Sykes’ Winter Quarters
(See article on Winter Quarters)
Info: We will meet at the McGranes in the morning to organize work parties and start the construction of winter huts. If you plan to come down please bring a potluck food item and a haversack lunch so that we don’t eat the McGranes out of house and home. For more information contact Larry and Julie at 301-432-7538, Don Rivera at 301-432-7458 or Jim Wassel at 610-515-0962.
Uniform: Work clothes, work boots, swimsuit if you are inclined for the pool at the McGrane homestead at the end of the day. No Civil War attire required.
Tools: Chain saws (with gas), axes, shovels (spades), work gloves, rope, and a good work ethic.
Tentage: None unless you’d like to camp
Directions: U.S.340 to MD Rte. 67, towards Bonosboro. Exit to the right at Brownsville Road, drive to Main Street (100 yards) left to the first right, Brownsville Pass Road (200 yards), drive to the top of the hill. The McGranes are on the left.

Date: July 1-2:
Place: The Blackhorse Tavern & Marsh Creek Farm. Gettysburg, PA
Event: 138th Anniversary Battle of Gettysburg.
Info: For registration packets, write to PO Box 3482, Gettysburg, PA 17325-3482, telephone number 717 338 1525, or go to www.gettysburg.com. NR unit response deadline is 16 June
Uniform: Four-button sack, kerseys, clean weapon, blackened leathers, polished brass, canteen, food, cartridges, caps, forage caps, rubber blankets.
Tentage: Dog tents
Directions: The latest word is that the event will be held at the scene of the filming of Gettysburg near the Eisenhower Farm. For the latest information, either call the 717 number above, or check out our Website, or the NR Website. We will post the latest information there as we get it.

Date: 22 - 23 July, 2000
Place: Gettysburg, PA
Event: Meade’s Head Quarters, National Military Park
Info: The annual trip back to help George Gordon Meade at the battle of Gettysburg. This year, we will be on the knoll above the Leister House, where the Ladies of the Frederick Relief Society set up. It should be considerably cooler there and we hope to see all of the usual officer types, and as many enlisted as can make it.
Uniforms: Enlisted will wear four-button sacks, kerseys, will bring clean weapons, blackened leathers, polished brass, canteen, food, NO cartridges, NO caps, forage caps, rubber blankets. Officers will remember their kits.
Directions: Set up will be near the Cycloroma, down from the Vistors’ Center.

Condolences for Comrades
Sykes’ Regulars sends their condolences and sympathies to two of our comrades who’s fathers have recently passed away. Steve Hanson and Pete Brooks. The loss of a loved one is always a hard thing and it is times like these when comrades are there for one another to make the burden less. Memorial donation for Steve’s father can be sent to: Rockingham Nutrition &Meals on Wheels/PO Box 520/Epping, NH 03042 and/or Rockingham Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice/ 137 Epping Rd, Exeter, NH 03833.

Report from the Field

Owing to the fact that this reporter wasn’t present at ‘Wilson’s Wharf’, he will refer the kind reader to the Commander’s report where a synopsis of the weekend’s affairs are proffered by none other than Captain Rivera.


The Forgotten Regular
Gettysburg, PA
Saturday Morning my father and I arrived on the field at the Leister House to find sitting comfortably about, three Regulars of fine reputation and bearing: First Sgt. Steve Hanson, Captain Hutchison and our new recruit Mike Ubele. As we arrived a few drops of H2O were falling with not much commitment and we were hoping for the best. As events turned around, the rain gods had something completely different in store.
We began setting up our canvas along the fence row in bivouac style and we struggled mightily at times with our design and architectural innovation. As the rain seemed imminent we broke out as many gum blankets as we possessed and cocooned our shelters to ward of the coming deluge. The large company fly was erected and it was fortunate that it was in attendance because much of the weekend was spent beneath it. For the rains did indeed come.
As the lads filtered in we soon were of a number to represent the ‘Forgotten’ Regulars well. Our first show was to be at 11:00 and the second at 2:00. We gathered together our caps and ammunition and placed them in a strong box marked ‘explosives.’ It seems that a new black powder ranger had been hired at the park and even though we all had experience with our ‘explosives’ we wanted to make a good impression so we placed them within separated into plastic baggies. We had barely enough for the demonstrations so lets start rolling cartridges Regulars.
We had some time before the first show so a coffee run was made because we are never allowed any fires at the park. We dispensed the ‘soldiers’ joy’ into our tin cups and awoke our brain cells a degree or two.
It was decided that for our demonstration we would show our expertise in ‘load in nine times’, bayonet drill and manual of arms. Unfortunately for our first show our expertise was a tad bit rusty. Having no prior drill, our first show left something to be desired. Non the less we left the audience appreciative and needless to say we were drilling directly after the first demonstration. Our skills soon were polished and the following shows were rust free.
By this time the rain had begun somewhat in earnest so we accustomed ourselves to the smell of wet wool. The company was soon gaggled beneath the company fly and a new level of togetherness and proximity was the standard. Personal body odor aside, the lads grew chummy with exchanges of history and news from home. Soon decks of cards were seen and the old faithful game of whist soon was warding off the pangs of isolation underneath our fly.

When we tired of a round of cards we took the raw recruits out and further exposed them to the joy of bayonet drill. There is never anything quite like the pain of the holding a ten pound rifle out in mid air for the ’lunge out’ in this poetic ’ballet for men.’
A small controversy and discussion evolved around the ’high quartre’ parry. Whether to keep the hand grasped around the rifle or keep the fingers behind the rifle when warding off the blow of a sabre. Mike Ubele acquired a bayonet drill manual and settled the question with the evidence of a figure ’grasping’ the rifle as opposed to supporting it from behind. Ah. Nothing like a good question about drill tactics.
We held our second show for a damp public and Admiral Hutchison beguiled the audience with the full and stirring saga of the Regular soldiers in the Civil War. Not a dry eye was seen, but that could have been due in part to the rain that fell steadily from the sky.
There was a humorous instance when Captain Rivera ceremoniously knocked his hat from his head during a ‘present arms.’ With much dignity, he picked up his well worn chapeaux and placed it back on his skull and continued with his duties as if nothing had happened. A true professional in all regard.
With our duties concluded, we rang ourselves dry and broke company to later reassemble at the ‘Villa de Hutchison’ for a fabulous barbeque. The cook for the evening was our own master chef, Mr. Pete Brooks. He manned the grill cooking everything in sight with his able ‘assistant master chef’, Jim Wassel at his side. Initially the ‘chief pyromaniac’ Tank Nickle, dowsed the briquettes with copious amounts of lighter fluid and the feast was soon underway. We felt much more important in the grand scheme of things when we have titles so of course we gave ourselves one. At the barbeque we had to erect an umbrella as the rain was by no means finished with us. We decided to bring the food inside as it tasted much better dry then wet.
The libation flowed, the conversation raged and the comradery was as invigorating as usual. We were soon watching another episode of that most excellent series ‘Sharpe’s Rifles.’ We applauded when the French were once again handily whipped by our hero Sharpe and of course he always has the most lovely women on the peninsula chasing him about for which we admire him greatly.
Hutch then made us watch a marine promotion film from the 1930’s. We were all greatly impressed with the training of marines ‘back in the day.’ We especially liked the flapping arms drill.
The lads would like to thank Master and Mistress Hutchison for kindly having our rabble to their lovely home. Your hospitality was truly magnanimous.
When the festivities ended at the Hutchison digs our small band repaired to the newly christened ‘O’Rourkes’ formerly Buckleys. Not much had changed other than the fact that the lovely ladies that had previously waited on us were now running the place. The song books were in attendance and so were some the singers and soon the room was filled with martial tunes. We sang ourselves hoarse and salved our throats with the darkest and ‘litest’ of ales. The clock soon struck ‘late’ and we ambled back to camp to find a dry bunk. We had moved our gear into the barn of the Leister House and we organized ourselves by candlelight to maximize our comfort on the hard straw available in the barn. While Tank was organizing himself a feathered bomber pilot who resided in the rafters scored a direct hit on Tanks forehead. A tirade of curses ensued that would have made a teamster blush. Luckily for our feathered friend our ammo was safely locked away.
The rain had subsided by this time and during the night, a dense and ghostly fog enveloped the battlefield. This reporter looked for ghostly specters of the dead who had lain on this field 137 years ago but only encountered the soft silence of a dreary and damp night on hallowed ground.
The morning soon arrived and we twisted the kinks from our backs and pulled on our brogans to go in search of coffee and a greasy breakfast. We didn’t have far to walk to get to some of the worst home fries in town. We ate our fill and ambled back to camp and scrubbed the rust from our rifles. The rain soon again reared it’s ugly head and we climbed beneath the fly and whiled the morning away till it was time for our show. Amazingly we had an audience of historical stalwarts unafraid of rain. We dutifully performed our demonstration and marched back to camp at ‘secure arms.’ Lunch arrived and we ate amongst hands of whist and watched the rain fall. The rain increased and by the time of the next show we still had an audience arrive. Rising to our posts we marched off in the rain and represented the forgotten men who served their country with no state recognition or aid and deserved our tribute for doing their duty as United States Regulars. We were proud to do this for this is what Memorial Day was set aside to do; pay tribute to all men who wore the uniform of a United States Soldier and served their country in time of need. May we never forget them.

Written by the Editor

Sykes Regulars Winter Quarters Becomes Reality
Some said it would never happen. Some said it’s too much work. Well, Sykes Regulars has taken the first step towards building a winter encampment the like of which has not been seen for the last 137 years. (At least that I know of.) The first step is completed. The work of five stalwart men and one boy has already cleared the land for ‘Camp Sykes’ (tentative name).
The first weekend in June, Don Rivera, Jason McConnell, Paul Van Brundt, Jim Wassel, Logan McGrane and Larry McGrane (and his mighty tractor) cleared a quarter acre of land on the slope of South Mountain. The land belongs to the McGrane family who have selflessly donated it’s use to the Regulars. It is a beautiful site on the mountain where just down at the base McLaws division passed on it’s way to Harpers Ferry.
We gathered on a beautiful Saturday morning at the McGrane homestead. We fortified ourselves with coffee, gathered our tools and set off up the mountain. Larry had chosen and excellent spot and had run the tractor through to make a road to the place that we will soon call Home. There was a lot of low lying brush and small trees that needed to be cleared so with a variety of tools we set to work. Don started with the machete and cleared the road of and small trees still remaining. Paul joined him with the trimmers. Larry took his tractor and pushed and pulled trees and brush down while we cut and cleared all that was left in his wake. Jason adopted the weed whacker and Jim Wassel yeilded the chain saw. Logan later joined in with his axe and razor sharp wit. We cut, pulled and dragged and we accomplished quite a bit by the time lunch time rolled around. We repaired to the McGranes where Julie provided us with an excellent lunch and fortified us for the afternoon’s work. Itching to get back to work we marched back up and grabbed our tools. By the end of the day we cleared at least a quarter acre and made room for lots where a good number of log huts can be constructed. We have a company street and we will have plenty of area for a company mess and a common area when necessary. The slope is not drastic and the soil is excellent. What is even better are the trees that grow on that slope. They are straight maples, perfect for fashioning building timbers. Flat rocks are in abundance for building chimneys. It is indeed a perfect spot. The week following several plots were leveled and made ready for construction.
Look at the plot plan on the rear cover of the Regular. What everyone has to do that is interested in this incredible project is to choose bunkmates and help build their own hut. If you don’t feel comfortable with tools, don’t let that dissuade you. We will have folks there that do. If you have any construction skills or have used a chain saw in the past, we need you. All you need is a passion for this project and a good work ethic and the rest will take care of itself. The month of June is fallow so we will have a work weekend on the 17th and 18th and will decide on another at that time. We will be building the prototype that weekend and we will publish the ‘how to’s’ and ‘don’t do’s’ in the coming Regulars. First Sgt. Hanson has already done a lot of research on hut construction and several of our unit are versed in building things. We should have no trouble building these simple structures. It will take work so be prepared to be just a little sore but nothing manly men can’t handle. It will be more than worth it.
We will take the lumber from the surrounding woods and for expediency’s sake we will use chain saws but we will also be using a lot of hand tools to make the huts look as realistic as possible. There isn’t anyplace to plug into anyway.
Some of the basics of the winter hut:
Usually 8’x 8’ in size which can vary. The height will be roughly 4’ to 6’ high. It will accommodate 4 men with bunks built into the walls. The hut will have stone fireplace with the chimney extraneous to the structure. The floor can be dirt or a wooden plank floor can be constructed. We will be trying to get cut offs from a local lumber mill for planks. The roof will be a simple ridge and rafter set up with canvas (dog tents or a frames) as the roofing material. We will be chinking the logs with a clay, straw and cement mix that we hope will stand up to the elements over time. We won’t do this till the fall so we can let the logs dry and shrink.
If you are interested in this project, contact comrades with whom you get along and organize your hut mates. Or just show up and we’ll figure it out there. With the manpower that shows up we will keep building and the ones that contribute can lay claim to their very own domicile. This may sound like a daunting project but we will have folks there who know what they’re doing and with a little teamwork we’ll have huts popping up everywhere. We will start construction on one to two huts the first weekend and hopefully clean the camp area of debris and level more lots.
This project is new and will give the unit something to inspire it. There is nothing more gratifying than building something with your own two hands. It is also something that only a few units have attempted and few if any have accomplished. We will be able to use this place as our home base where we will conduct drill and our spring shakedown. Let alone be able to have a winter event when the snow flies. If these huts are constructed correctly they will be very warm in the winter.
Often times our hobby can get boring with the same type of events. But that’s only because we let it. If we are inspired and are willing to work at it we have many avenues of history and the Civil War to explore. This winter encampment is one of them. Please try to make time in your schedule to help make these winter quarters a reality. An awful lot has already been accomplished and with very few men and only in a day and half. Even if you come out for a day it will be worth it. Larry and Julie also have a wonderful in ground pool for hot workers at the end of the day. Larry will also put us up overnight or if you feel like camping there is plenty of room. If you think you may come for the weekend, please bring some barbeque food like potato salad, or something to throw on the grill so we don’t eat the McGrane’s out of house and home.
We thank Larry and Julie McGrane for letting us have this great opportunity. Lets not let it go to waste. We are Regulars and when Regulars put their minds to it we are capable of great things.
Imagine if you will, climbing a trail and in the distance you see and arbor with pine adorning it with snow on the ground all around. A sign attached reads; ‘Camp Sykes’ and beyond that sign you see a First Sgt taking roll of a company dressed in great coats in front of huts with chimneys spilling smoke. The officer is on the porch of his quarters going over his daily reports and the company mess is in full swing making breakfast for the men.

Imagine if you will.
Then, build it and they will come.

The following are excerpts from “Hardtack and Coffee” on the life lived in a log hut.

‘ It is true that regiments commanded by strict disciplinarians were likely to and did keep pretty close to regulations. Many others approximated this standard, but still there then remained a large residuum who suited themselves, or, rather, compelled to by superior authority: so that in entering some camps one might find everything betokening the supervision of a critical military spirit, while others were hurly-burly lack of plan that a mere plough-jogger might have been, and perhaps was, the controlling genius of the camp. When troops located in the wood, as they always did for their winter cantonments, this lack of system in the arrangement was likely to be deviated from on account of trees.’
When cold weather came on, the soldiers built the stockades to which I have already mentioned. The walls of these structures were raised from two to five feet, according to the taste or working inclination of the intended occupants. Oftentimes an excavation was made one or two feet deep. When such was the case, the walls were not built so high. Such a hut was warmer than one built entirely above ground. The size depended on the number of the proposed mess. If the hut was to be occupied by two, it was built nearly square, and covered by two half shelters. Such a stockade would and often did accommodate three men, the third using his half-shelter to stop up one gable. When four men occupied a stockade, it was built accordingly, and covered by four half shelters. In each case these were stretched over a framework of light rafters raised on the walls of the stockade. Sometimes the gables were built up to the ridge-poles with smaller logs, but just as often they were filled by an extra half-shelter, a rubber blanket, or an old poncho.
The chinks between the logs were filled with mud, worked to a viscous consistency, which adhered more or less tenaciously according to the amount of clay in the mixture. It usually neede renewing after a severe storm. The chimney was built outside, after the southern fashion. It stood sometimes at the end and sometimes in the middle of one side of the stockade. It started from a fire-place which was fashioned with more or less skill, according to the taste or mechanical genius of the workman,, or the tools and materials used, or both.
The fireplaces were built of brick, of stone, or of wood. If there was a deserted house in the neighborhood of the camp which boasted brick chimneys, they were sure to be brought low to serve the Union cause in the manner indicated, unless the house was used by some general officer as headquarters. When built of wood, the chimneys were lined with a very thick coating of mud. They were generally continued above the fireplace with split wood built cob fashion, which was filled between and lined with the red clayey soil of Virginia, but stones were used when abundant. Very frequently pork and beef barrels were secured to serve this purpose, being put on above another, and now and then a lively hurrah would run through the camp when one of these was discovered on fire. It is hardly necessary to remark that not all thes chimneys were monuments of success. Too often the draught was down intead of up, and the inside of some stockades resembled smoke houses. Still, it was “all in the three years,” (this of course wasn’t a saying of the Regulars) as the boys used to say. It was all the same to the average soldier, who rarely saw fit to tear down and build anew more scientifically. The smoke of his camp fires in warm weather was an excellent preparative for the smoking fireplace of winter quarters.
Many of these huts were deemed incomplete until a sign appeared over the door. Here and there someone would make an attempt at having a door plate of wood suitably inscribed; but the more common sight was a sign over the entrance bearing such inscriptions, rudely cut or marked with charcoal, as: ‘The Whisting House’ or ‘Brooksy’s Snoritorium’ or ‘Palace de Putz’ or ‘Jason’s Dunny’ and other titles equally absurd, expressing in this ridiculous way the vagaries of the inmates.
Come with me into one of the log huts. I have already spoken of its walls, its roof, its chimney, it fireplace. The door we are to enter may be cut in the same end with the fireplace. Such was often the case, as there was just about or more soldiers located together it was oftener put in the center of one side. In that case the fireplace was in in the opposite side as a rule. In entering a door at the end one would usually observe two bunks across the opposite end, one near the ground (or floor, when there was such a luxury, which was rarely), and the other well up towards the top of the walls. I say usually. I depended upon circumstances. When two men only occupied the hut there was one bunk. Sometimes when four occupied it there was but one, and that one running lengthwise. There are other exceptions which I need not mention; but the average hut contained two bunks.
The construction of these bunks was varied in character. Some were built of boards from hardtack boxes; some of barrel staves laid crosswise on two poles; some men improvised a spring bed of slender saplings, and padded them with a cushion of hay, oak or pine leaves; others obtained coarse grain sacks from an artillery or cavalry camp, or from some wagon train, and by making a hammock like arrangement of them thus devised to make repose a little sweeter. At the head of each bunk were the knapsack or bundles which contained what each soldier boasted of personal effects. These were likkely to be under clothes, socks, thread, needles, buttons, letters, stationary, photographs, etc. The number of such articles was fewer among infantry than among artillerymen, who, on the march, had their effects carried for them on the gun carriages and caissons. But in winter quarters both accumulated a large assortment of conveniences from home, sent on in the boxes which so gladdened the soldier’s heart.
The haversacks, and canteens, and the equipments usually hung on pegs inserted in the logs. The muskets had no regular abiding place. Some stood them in a corner, some hung them in a corner some hung them on pegs by the slings.
Domestic conveniences were not entirely wanting in the best ordered of these rude establishments. A hardtack box nailed end upwards against the logs with its cover on leather hinges serving as a door, and having suitable shelves inserted, made a very passable dish closet; another such box put upside down on legs, did duty as a table small, but large enough for the family, and useful. Over the fireplace one or more shelves were sometimes put to catch the bric a brac of the hut; and three or four legged stools enough were manufactured for the inmates. But such a hut as this one I have been describing was rather high toned. There were many huts without any of these conveniences.