Confederate Artillery at 165th Antietam
Overall Confederate Commander
Kevin Dawson
Phone: 434-258-2483 email: tiny82@vt.edu
Section 1 Section 2
Dennis Clem James McVicker
Uniform & Equipment Standards
The Confederate Artillery impression will represent Army of Northern Virginia artillerymen during the Maryland Campaign of September 1862.
This is not intended to represent a generic Confederate artillery battery from some unspecified point during the Civil War.
Everything carried or worn should be appropriate to an artilleryman campaigning with the Army of Northern Virginia in September 1862.
The overall appearance should be that of soldiers who have just completed the hard summer campaigning of 1862 and crossed the Potomac into Maryland.
Clothing may be worn, faded, repaired, and mismatched.
Equipment should show use.
Coat or Jacket
Preferred — Richmond Clothing Bureau Jacket
An appropriate early-war Richmond Clothing Bureau jacket constructed from period-correct wool or jean cloth is strongly preferred.
Artillery branch trim is appropriate when supported by the pattern being reproduced.
Red trim should not be added indiscriminately to every Confederate jacket simply to identify the wearer as an artilleryman.
Preferred — Documented Artillery Jacket
A documented Confederate artillery jacket constructed from appropriate grey or brown-grey domestic cloth is acceptable and encouraged.
Appropriate red artillery trim may be incorporated when documented to the particular pattern. Please follow your command's guidance.
Accepted — Plain Confederate Military Jacket
A properly constructed plain Confederate military jacket of appropriate:
- Grey jean
- Brown-grey jean
- Cassimere
- Satinet
- Other documented period wool
is acceptable.
Accepted — Confederate Frock Coat
An appropriate Confederate military frock coat constructed from documented period materials is acceptable.
Not Accepted
- Later-war jackets inappropriate to September 1862
- Generic costume-quality "Confederate" jackets
- Bright modern red trim
- Polyester or synthetic wool
- Jackets covered with excessive artillery insignia
- Modern sutler garments lacking appropriate construction
Artillery does not automatically mean red-covered uniforms.
Trousers
Preferred
Richmond Clothing Bureau-style trousers constructed from appropriate:
- Yarn-dyed jean
- Grey jean
- Brown-grey jean
- Other documented Confederate military cloth
Accepted
Other properly constructed Confederate military trousers appropriate to the Army of Northern Virginia in 1862.
Accepted
Appropriate civilian trousers constructed from period materials and patterns.
Accepted in Limited Numbers
Captured Federal issue trousers.
The Maryland Campaign provides a reasonable context for some Federal clothing and equipment appearing among Confederate troops, but captured Federal trousers should not become the dominant appearance of the battery.
Not Accepted
- Later-war patterns
- Modern trousers
- Modern work pants
- Costume trousers
- Polyester or synthetic fabrics
Shirts
Preferred — Confederate Issue Shirt
A Confederate issue shirt constructed from cotton osnaburg is strongly encouraged.
Accepted
Properly constructed civilian shirts of:
- Wool flannel
- Printed cotton
- Plain cotton
- Linen
- Other documented period materials
Headgear
Preferred — Civilian Hat
A properly constructed civilian hat appropriate to the 1860s is an excellent choice.
Appropriate materials include:
- Fur felt
- Wool felt
- Other documented materials
Hats should possess a believable period shape.
Preferred — Early Richmond Artillery Kepi
A properly researched early-war Richmond artillery kepi is highly appropriate.
Documented examples include artillery caps utilizing red broadcloth with contrasting dark-blue elements.
Accepted
Appropriate Confederate military caps constructed according to documented early-war patterns.
Not Accepted
- Modern cowboy hats
- Oversized theatrical slouch hats
- Costume kepis
- Later-war caps inappropriate to 1862
- Excessive artillery insignia
- Modern hat shapes
Footwear
Appropriate footwear includes:
Preferred
- Confederate military shoes
- Proper civilian shoes
Accepted
- Federal issue shoes
- Appropriate civilian boots
Shoes should display normal campaign wear and repair where appropriate.
Not Accepted
Modern footwear except where medically necessary and specifically approved.
Baggage
The Confederate artillery impression will operate in campaign order.
Artillerymen did not necessarily carry their baggage in the same manner as infantrymen.
Whenever practical:
Cannoneers should place their baggage on the gun carriages rather than carrying a full infantryman's load.
Mounted artillerymen will carry baggage according to their mounted role.
Drivers should secure appropriate baggage to their horses where practical.
Cannoneers should retain immediate personal necessities such as:
- Haversack
- Canteen
The resulting appearance should be distinctly that of an artillery battery on campaign, not infantrymen who happen to be standing beside a cannon.
Blankets
Preferred / Accepted
- Confederate military blanket
- Appropriate civilian blanket
- Captured Federal blanket
- Documented coverlet
- Appropriate carpet blanket
Ground Cloth
Preferred
Confederate painted oilcloth.
Accepted
Captured Federal gum blanket.
Accepted
None.
Knapsack
Preferred
Appropriate Confederate knapsack.
Examples may include documented Confederate patterns associated with the period, including appropriate Kibler/Mexican War-style patterns.
Accepted in Limited Numbers
Captured Federal double-bag knapsack.
Reluctantly Accepted
Blanket roll.
Cannoneers should remember that baggage could be transported with the battery rather than necessarily being carried on the man's back throughout operations.
Haversack
Preferred
Plain Confederate cotton haversack copied from an original or documented period pattern.
Appropriate painted-cloth Confederate haversacks may also be used when documented.
Accepted in Limited Numbers
Captured Federal black tarred haversack.
The overall appearance should remain predominantly Confederate.
Canteen
Preferred — Confederate Tin Drum Canteen
Confederate tin drum canteen is strongly preferred.
Accepted
Other documented Confederate canteens appropriate to the Army of Northern Virginia.
Accepted in Limited Numbers
Appropriate captured Federal canteens.
Personal Accoutrements
This is one of the most important distinctions between the artillery and infantry impressions.
Cannoneers
Cannoneers should not automatically wear infantry accoutrements.
A man serving the piece does not need:
- Infantry cartridge box
- Infantry cap box
- Bayonet
- Cartridge-box sling
- Musket
- Full infantry belt equipment
unless his particular documented duty requires those items.
For the standard gun detachment:
Less is better.
The focus should be on the equipment actually required to serve the piece.
Waist Belts
Where a belt is appropriate to the individual's role, acceptable Confederate patterns may include:
- Roller buckle
- Frame buckle
- Forked-tongue buckle
- Other documented Confederate patterns
Captured Federal waist belts may appear in limited numbers where appropriate.
Avoid the indiscriminate use of flashy Confederate belt plates merely because they are commercially available.
Sidearms
Cannoneers should not automatically carry revolvers or sabers.
Sidearms should correspond to actual duty.
Mounted personnel and appropriate NCOs or officers may carry sidearms where historically justified.
Campaign Appearance
The battery should display the natural variety expected among Confederate soldiers after months of campaigning.
Appropriate appearance may include:
- Faded clothing
- Patched clothing
- Repaired garments
- Worn shoes
- Replacement trousers
- Mixed shades of grey and brown
- Civilian garments
- Limited captured Federal equipment
- Dust and natural staining
Avoid artificially destroying new clothing simply to make it appear old.
Wear should look earned rather than manufactured.
At the same time, weapons, implements, and artillery equipment should remain properly maintained.
Campaign-worn does not mean neglected.
What We Do Not Want
The Confederate Artillery should not become the stereotypical image of every man wearing:
- Identical bright-red kepis
- Bright-red trimmed jackets
- Matching trousers
- Sabers
- Revolvers
- Infantry accoutrements
- Oversized Confederate belt plates
That creates a modern reenactor interpretation of Confederate artillery rather than a convincing field battery of September 1862.
Variation should come from documented material culture, not randomness.
Modern Items
Modern items must remain completely concealed.
This includes:
- Cell phones
- Smart watches
- Modern eyeglasses
- Plastic bottles
- Modern tobacco products
- Modern lighters
- Modern food packaging
- Modern footwear
- Modern clothing
- Other obviously modern objects
Necessary medications may be carried but should be concealed in an appropriate container whenever practical.
Phones carried for emergency purposes must remain silent and out of sight.
Grooming & Personal Appearance
Hair and facial hair should present a believable appearance for a Confederate soldier in 1862.
Avoid:
- Obviously modern hairstyles
- Modern jewelry
- Visible modern accessories
- Unnatural hair colors
- Other features that unnecessarily detract from the historical environment
Modern tattoos should be concealed whenever practical.
The Standard
The Confederate Artillery should look fundamentally different from an infantry regiment.
Cannoneers are artillerymen.
Their clothing reflects Confederate supply.
Their personal equipment reflects their duty.
Their baggage travels with a battery.
Their gun is the center of their military function.
Expect:
Richmond and other documented Confederate military clothing.
Civilian hats mixed with appropriate military caps.
Osnaburg and documented civilian shirts.
Confederate shoes with some civilian and captured Federal footwear.
Confederate tin drum canteens and cotton haversacks.
Limited captured Federal equipment.
Light personal baggage.
Minimal infantry accoutrements on cannoneers.
Campaign-worn clothing.
Well-maintained guns and equipment.
The men have marched through Virginia, crossed the Potomac, and entered Maryland after months of campaigning.
They should look like it.
But when the order comes to bring the battery into action:
The gun must be ready.