Federal Artillery at 165th Antietam
Overall Federal Artillery Commander
Jonathan Wright
Phone: 336-215-1762 email: 1strockbridgetreasurer@gmail.
Section 1 Section 2
Jay Ryan Sean Kudrick
Uniform & Equipment Standards
The Federal Artillery contingent will portray Army of the Potomac field artillery during the Maryland Campaign of September 1862.
Uniforms, equipment, baggage, and personal items should represent what would reasonably have been worn and carried by Federal artillerymen campaigning through Maryland in September 1862.
The overall impression is:
Army of the Potomac Field Artillery — Maryland Campaign — September 1862.
Coat / Jacket
Preferred — Artillery Mounted Service Jacket
The Artillery Mounted Service Jacket, commonly referred to today as the Federal artillery shell jacket, is the preferred garment for this impression.
The jacket should be a high-quality reproduction of a Schuylkill Arsenal or documented contract-manufactured example appropriate to 1862.
The Mounted Service Jacket is one of the garments that most clearly distinguishes a Federal artilleryman from a Federal infantryman.
If you own a properly constructed Artillery Mounted Service Jacket, we strongly encourage you to wear it.
Second Choice — M1858 Fatigue Blouse / Sack Coat
A properly constructed Federal fatigue blouse is also highly appropriate.
Both lined and unlined examples appropriate to 1861–62 are acceptable.
A quality fatigue blouse is preferable to a poorly constructed artillery jacket.
Do not add red piping or artillery trim to an infantry fatigue blouse.
Trousers
Preferred — Sky-Blue Mounted Service Trousers
Properly constructed Federal mounted-service trousers of sky-blue kersey are preferred.
These are particularly appropriate for field artillery and help distinguish the artillery impression from Federal infantry.
Mounted trousers should reproduce documented 1861–62 arsenal or contract examples.
Accepted — Sky-Blue Foot Trousers
Properly constructed Federal infantry-pattern sky-blue trousers may appear in limited numbers.
Accepted in Limited Numbers — M1858 Dark-Blue Trousers
Appropriate dark-blue Federal trousers may appear in small numbers where supported by an early-war impression.
They should not dominate the battery.
Not Accepted
- Civilian trousers without prior approval
- Later-war patterns inappropriate to September 1862
- Modern trousers
- Synthetic fabrics
Headgear
Preferred — M1858 Forage Cap
A properly constructed Federal issue forage cap appropriate to the early-war period is strongly preferred.
Appropriate artillery insignia may be worn when documented.
Accepted — Black Civilian Hat
A properly constructed black civilian felt hat appropriate to the 1860s is acceptable.
Civilian hats should be based upon documented mid-19th-century examples and possess an appropriate:
- Crown
- Brim
- Hatband
- Shape
- Finish
Hats should exhibit a natural campaign appearance rather than being excessively shaped or decorated.
Accepted in Limited Numbers
High-quality private-purchase forage caps or kepis appropriate to 1862.
Not Accepted
- Modern cowboy hats
- Theatrical slouch hats
- Costume forage caps
- Excessive insignia
- Modern hat shapes
- Later-war insignia inappropriate to the portrayal
The battery should maintain a recognizable Federal military appearance while allowing the natural variation expected among soldiers who had been campaigning throughout the summer of 1862.
Federal forage caps should predominate, with appropriate black civilian hats
Shirts
Preferred — Federal Issue Shirt
A properly constructed Federal issue shirt is preferred.
Appropriate examples include:
- Domet flannel issue shirt
- Wool issue shirt
Accepted — Civilian Shirt
Properly constructed civilian shirts appropriate to the period are acceptable.
Materials may include:
- Cotton
- Linen
- Wool flannel
- Documented printed cotton
Drawers
Preferred
Federal issue canton-flannel drawers.
Accepted
Properly constructed civilian drawers.
Socks
Period-correct wool socks are preferred.
Appropriate civilian hand-knit socks are acceptable.
Modern athletic socks must not be visible.
Footwear
Preferred — M1851 Jefferson Bootees
Properly constructed Federal issue Jefferson bootees/brogans are strongly preferred.
Accepted
Appropriate Federal mounted-service footwear or civilian shoes and boots may be used when appropriate to the individual's duty.
Drivers and other mounted personnel should consider the practical requirements of their particular position.
Not Accepted
Modern footwear
Baggage
Artillerymen should not automatically carry their baggage like infantrymen.
The battery has transportation.
Use it.
Knapsack
Preferred — Federal Double-Bag Knapsack
A properly constructed Federal double-bag knapsack appropriate to 1862 is preferred.
Cannoneers should place their knapsacks on the gun carriages whenever practical.
Accepted
Appropriate period bedroll.
Blankets
Preferred — Federal Issue Blanket
Properly reproduced Federal issue wool blanket in appropriate:
- Grey
- Brown
- Grey-brown
Blankets should reproduce documented Federal examples in material, weave, dimensions, and markings.
Ground Cloth / Poncho
Preferred — Federal Rubberized Poncho
A properly reproduced Federal rubberized poncho is strongly encouraged.
Accepted
- Federal gum blanket
- Appropriate painted ground cloth
Shelter
Preferred — Battery-Level Shelter
Do not automatically bring an individual shelter half simply because you are portraying a Federal soldier.
Shelter arrangements for the event will therefore be coordinated through artillery command.
Artillerymen should not automatically equip themselves according to infantry camping practices.
Haversack
Preferred — Federal Issue Painted Haversack
Canteen
Canteens are an area where 1862-specific details matter considerably.
Preferred — Smoothside Canteen
Coverings may include documented shades of:
- Grey
- Brown
- Blue jean
Not Accepted
Later-war canteen configurations inappropriate to September 1862.
Personal Accoutrements
This is perhaps the most important distinction between a Federal artillery impression and a Federal infantry impression.
Cannoneers
Cannoneers should not automatically wear infantry accoutrements.
A man actively serving a field piece does not need to be covered with:
- Infantry cartridge box
- Cartridge-box sling
- Infantry cap box
- Bayonet
- Bayonet scabbard
- Musket
- Full infantry belt equipment
unless his specific assignment requires those items.
Equipment should correspond to actual duty within the battery.
Waist Belts
Cannoneers should wear waist belts only when appropriate to their particular assignment and impression.
Mounted personnel, NCOs, officers, and others whose duties require belts should use properly constructed Federal equipment appropriate to 1862.
Do not wear equipment simply because you own it.
Campaign Appearance
The battery is portraying soldiers in the middle of the Maryland Campaign, not troops standing for an arsenal inspection.
The men have already endured the campaigning of the summer of 1862.
Clothing may appropriately exhibit natural:
- Fading
- Wear
- Repairs
- Patches
- Dust
- Perspiration staining
- Worn footwear
- Variation between garments
Do not artificially destroy new clothing simply to make it look old.
Wear should look earned rather than manufactured.
At the same time, the equipment upon which artillerymen depended should be properly maintained.
This includes:
- Guns
- Implements
- Harness
- Leather equipment
- Ammunition equipment
- Personal weapons
The distinction is important:
The soldier may look tired. His equipment should look ready for action.
Modern Items
Modern items must remain completely concealed within the immersive area.
This includes:
- Cell phones
- Smart watches
- Modern eyeglasses
- Plastic bottles
- Modern tobacco products
- Modern lighters
- Modern food packaging
- Modern clothing
- Modern footwear
- Other obviously modern items
Necessary medication may be carried but should remain concealed whenever practical.
Phones carried for emergency purposes must remain silent and completely out of sight.
Grooming & Personal Appearance
Hair and facial hair should present a believable appearance for a Federal soldier in 1862.
Avoid:
- Obviously modern hairstyles
- Unnatural hair colors
- Modern jewelry
- Visible modern accessories
- Other unnecessary modern intrusions
Modern tattoos should be concealed whenever practical.
The Standard
The Federal Artillery should immediately read as a working Army of the Potomac field battery during the Maryland Campaign of September 1862.
The preferred appearance is:
Artillery Mounted Service Jackets predominating among the enlisted men.
Federal fatigue blouses providing a strong secondary garment.
Sky-blue mounted-service trousers predominating.
Federal forage caps predominating, with appropriate black civilian hats and M1858 dress hats providing natural variation.
Federal issue shirts with appropriate civilian alternatives.
M1851 Jefferson bootees and appropriate mounted footwear.
Early Philadelphia and New York smoothside canteens.
Federal painted haversacks.
Federal issue blankets.
Proper Federal knapsacks transported with the battery whenever practical.
Minimal unnecessary infantry accoutrements on cannoneers.
Proper mounted equipment for drivers and mounted personnel.
Campaign-worn clothing.
Well-maintained guns, harness, implements, and equipment.
Most importantly:
Cannoneers should look like cannoneers.
Drivers should look like drivers.
Mounted personnel should look mounted.
And the men around each gun should know their jobs.
When the order comes to move the battery forward, the gun crew should be capable of going into action as a military organization—not simply preparing to perform a firing demonstration.
The men may be worn.
The battery must be ready.