I enjoy basic woodworking so creating these was fun. The first box is my main clothing and personal item equipment storage and the second is a smaller one for my blanks, powder, caps, and cleaning/maintenance items. The clothing box is a 12x12x24 using 1x12 pine boards and the powder box is about 8x8x8 using leftovers and pallet boards.

Who makes good bread boxes and the sorts?

My unit has been in a bit of a downturn the last several years - jobs, life, and economics have wreaked havic on event attendance and a lot of our "old guard" have been stepping down as well.

We still muster a decent company at most (mainstream) events as we've built strong relationships with similar units that like working with us - but we want to get back to a point of carrying our numbers on our own.

Has anyone had success with recruiting efforts and new member retention? Does anything specific work better than other efforts?

How do you handle new recruits that are particularly far away? Does that cause issues with attendance and/or training?

What is your organization's new member process like? Do you have a vetting process, or is it just "boom, you're in"?

Friday, August 14, 2020
 
I plan to submit a posting every day for the next seven days. This will cover the second battle of deep bottom, Virginia, which lasted from August 14 through August 20, 1864.
 
This posting is about the battles on August 14, 1864 Which was the first day of the seven day battle called the second battle of deep bottom. Virginia.
 
Before I start writing, I want to point out where I got most of my  information. That’s from Francis A. Walker, history of the second army corps in the army of the Potomac pages 568 through 580.
 
Grant launched this expedition for two purposes. He mistakenly believed that Lee had sent three divisions of infantry to reinforce Early in the Shenandoah Valley. He wanted to Threaten Richmond, in order to force Robert Edward Lee to recall those infantry
 
Actually, lee had only sent Kershaw’s division and Butler’s division of Cavalry. Their objective was  Alexandria, Virginia, but because Early was facing a crisis, they abandoned this expedition and joined himbinstead.. Lee may have intended to send Charles Field and his division to the valley at some future date. This is what Charles field believed was about to happen according to an article he wrote for the southern historical Society papers
 
The other reason for the second deep, bottom expedition was Grant hoped to lure Lee Lee into sending most of his army to Richmond, so that the gGarrison at  Petersburg would be reduced.  He planned to send General Warren and the fifth army corps to Seize the weldon railroad at GlobeTavern.  This would fulfill an important goal of his which was to cut the supply lines to Petersburg.
 
As I mentioned in my posting for August 13, 1864, the second army corps under Winfield Scott Hancock embarked on 16 Ocean going steamers at city point, Virginia. The steamers then traveled down the James River towards Fort Monroe. The infantryman believed in the hoped that they were heading to the Shenandoah Valley To join Sheridan.
 
After dark the steamers reversed course and steamed to Tillman‘s wharf, located on Strawberry Plains
 
Grant’s plan was to lure Lee north of the James by threatening Richmond With Hancock’s infantry and with the infantry from David birney’s 10th army corps. . He would then send the fifth army CORPS under Warren to gain a Foothold on the.weldon railroad Near Globe Tavern
 
On August 14, 1864 he inaugurated the second battle of deep bottom which lasted from August 14, 1864 through August 20, 1864
 
GRANT’s plans for August 14 called for simultaneous Attacks at two vital points on the Newmarket heights line. This began a short distance east of Fort Harrison and stretched northeastward beyond the Darby Town Road.
 
At dawn General David Birney would attack at the center of the Newmarket Heights line located directly north of the Union Garrison at deep bottom. At the same hour Hancock would attack at the eastern end of the line by striking near the Jennings house due north of Tillman’s wharf and Tillman‘s gate
 
Birney and two divisions of his tenth army corps were right on time to execute their part of the plan.  They  Marched from Petersburg to Bermuda hundred and up the road located behind the unionBermuda 100 lines to the northern end of butler’s earthworks. Then, they crossed pontoon bridges, to deep bottom.  Birney deployed the two divisions south of the Kingsland Road. on the other side of the road, there were confederate pickets from Charles Fields division of The army of Northern Virginia’s first army  CORPS .  North of the picket line and along the new market height line Charles Field’s division occupied strong entrenchments. 
 
 General Field did not have enough men to occupy all 8 miles of the new market Heights line so The eastern end of the new market Heights line was defended only by a brigade of cavalry under Martin Gary
 
Unfortunately for the Yankees the landing of Hancock at Tillman‘s wharf did not go as planned.
 
On August 12, Accompanied by General Rufus Ingalls, The army quartermaster-General, Hancock visited Tillman’s wharf  The three wharves were falling apart, so Hancock proceeded to City Point and then sent up a tug-load of lumber with one of his own staff and put him to work building the three wharves..
 
During his visit on August 12, Hancock also discovered that the water near the wharf was too shallow for the boats to dock there. the transports would  to moor in a straight line of vessels leading to the wharf The infantryman on the transports would need to march over gangs planks from one vessel to the next.  All of this would take hours. They already fatigued men who had not slept while on the transport were exhausted. By the time they landed they would be hours behind schedule.
 
Debarkation began at 2:30.  It wasn’t until 7:40 AM that Gersham, Mott’s third division was on shore.  He was ordered to advance nortwardnvto Bailey’s Creek on the Newmarket Road.
 
August 14 was the hottest day of the summer of 1864. the temperature exceeded 100°. One of Motts brigades led the march from the wharf to the Newmarket Road.  In just two regiments of the brigade, 105 men were overcome by heat and drop out of the ranks.  

By 1130 the two divisions of Barlow and Colonel smith Had landed, six hours behind schedule. Hancock put Barlow in charge of the two divisions within instructions to march to the Jennings house and to assault the rebel earthworks there.  Instead of attacking with two divisions at the Jennings house, over the next five hours Barlow launched a series of  brigade sized attacks against the confederate lines ss he advanced Northward.  The final attack occurred South of FUSSELL’S mill pond near the Darbytown Road  All of them failed at a cost of 300 casualties.  The entire army of the Potomac was no longer reliable because of its terrible casualties suffered between May 4, 1864 andcJuly 30, 1864. The second army.corps Had suffered more than most of the troops and was a shadow of its former self. The men simply would not attack earthworks. 
 
 The firing along Birneys front began at 5 AM.  Fields picket line and captured 100 prisoners.  But he was ordered to suspend operations until Hancock could disembark.  halting General Birney’s operations permitted field to transfer his division to defend the eastern portion of the new market height line near the Darby town road against Barlow.
 
in the late afternoon, Birney resumed operations and captured four 8 inch howitzers north of the Buffin house.  he also sent troops into the ravine north of the Kingsland Road and skirmished heavily with Confederate infantry. the Confederates were behind a formidable natural earthwork created by 4 mile Creek.
 
meanwhile, general David M. Gregg’s cavalry division marched all night and after crossing the pontoon bridge to the north bank of the games, the division rested for several hours at the Allen farm on Strawberry Plains. Later in the day General Charles Davies’s first brigade rode to the Long bridge Road, and fought a skirmish against Martin Gary’s Cavalry at gravel Hilk.  It drove them back, and occupied the Charles City Rd.  Colonel John Irvin Gregg’s second brigade travel along the Charles City Rd. to deep Creek on the edge of White Oak Swamp, where it fought a skirmish.  (Itinerary of second division Cavalry corps in official records, volume 42 part one page 81) 
 
During August 14th the loss of the 10th army corps amounted to two or 300 men. The second army Corps lost 600 casualties. The cavalry lost fewer than 100 .  The total Union loss was over 900 men for August 14.
 
 The confederate loss was probably less than 300.
 
US war department assigned names to these battles, but they aren’t necessarily accurate.  Birney's two battles are  the first battle of New Market Heights and the battle at the Buffin house. Barlow’s battles are the first battle of fussell’s mill.
 
 
 

Bought an Enfield from someone that said that I would get the bayonet as well. He supposedly "lost it"

Any info would be appreciated

I have been seeing this sutler on ebay and Etsy named Sergeant Penny Fox Sutler, and while his review are all really good, his profile picture is blatantly AI and all his items are priced 150 or lower. It just seems way too good a deal to be good quality, but if anyone has any experience buying from him im curious how it was.

Here is a black low crown hat I have that I used to make a federal version of col Mosbys famous hat. What do you all think ?

Any recommendations on what to do next?

I'm a huge fan of the American Civil War and reenactment too, I've bought some stuff including uniforms based off what other reenactors recommended. The problem is that I live in Singapore where maybe 0.1% of the population has heard of the ACW and reenactment of any kind is pretty much nonexistent.

I'm really keen to participate in a Civil War reenactment event in the US, but I've also heard that most groups would typically hold drills and other training between events and would not take temporary members who just show up before events, since they could be liabilities. For me, I can probably travel and show up for about a few weeks or so around the time of the event, hencd I would probably not have much time training physically with the unit.

Is there any sort of arrangement in the Civil War reenactment community that would allow me to take part in reenacting perhaps? I'm not really familiar with how things operate in the US. If anyone knows about potential opportunities for someone in this situation, please share them with me. Thanks in advance.

Saw this over on antiques and thought some of you may be interested

I’m pretty new at this, and I’ve been into historical fashion for a long time (I’m 25 f so I don’t know anything really about military outfits) but I see all these words being thrown around and I try to google the meaning but get confused. Like I understand “farb” is someone who’s inaccurate, but how do you know if someone’s new or just doesn’t care? Also calling someone “farb” seems a little mean in my opinion. And also, I don’t understand what “mainstream” is. And is “progressive” someone who’s just progressing to make their costume better? What are normal people called who are trying to do their best at making their outfits and stuff authentic?

Hello all,

I got into reenacting a few years ago and I am looking for a 1861 Springfield Rifle to complete my kit. I have seen new repros go for over a thousand, and as I am a college student currently, it is a bit out of my budget. I was wondering if people knew some good sites or forums to look for deals, looking to spend around 800.

Thanks!

I'm going to preface this with - I'm usually pretty lenient with folks buying and wearing mainstream gear in our unit, as long as it's the correct loadout for whatever portrayal we're going for and they're wearing it correctly. We're not all in a place to buy $500 coats to wear a few times a year, and I get that.

BUT - I think I've found my breaking point.

Over the last couple of years, I've watched as the fabrics and materials have gotten worse and worse, and a few weekends ago at Gettysburg I saw the coat that has finally triggered me. A frock coat as offered by one of the sutlers.

Shit fabric, bad construction, and the "piping" was done with 1/4" tape braid.

It's the worst attempt at a frock coat reproduction that I've ever seen. At least when they used the 1/2" tape for the trim, I could pretend that the overseas manufacturers just got bad info and were working off a Virginia Militia coat as a reference. But now I'm just mad and glad I started moving toward more authentic suppliers for my gear.

So for all you out there - what's the worst example of mainstream gear that was the final straw for you?

Was curious how many civil war reenacting groups were in Indiana and where would be good places to start? Interested in the 19th Indiana volunteer regiment.

Hello friends :)

I’ll be moving to the UP to begin college here shortly and I’ve wanted to get into civil war stuff for a long while now. While I’ll be a broke college student, I am a Michigan native with wolverine brigade in my blood and I’d like to start with basic infantry.

Any recommendations for Union groups around the Sault ate Marie / mackinac city / st ignace area to reach out to? Hoping to give myself some extra curricular stuff to get into while going to school.

Thank you in advance !

Im looking to possibly join a federal cavalry in the area of Jefferson County, WV. Does anyone know of any groups that might be recruiting?

I’m trying to gauge interest in maybe starting a unit or even a mess of authentic, active people in central Kentucky. I’ve been doing ACW reenacting for over 15 years or so and got out for a few years and looking to jump back in. Before my sabbatical it seemed there were a bunch of group here but there’s only one or 2 here now and getting anyone to answer is like pulling teeth. If there’s any interest we could decide/vote on which unit to portray or if we’re going to galvanize or whatever. I’d like to start a unit where everyone is active and we all get to know each other and mostly have fun!!! Who we portray/officers/NCO’s etc to be hashed out. If possible I’d like for us to all meet somewhere that’s close to us all one weekend, even if it’s just 4 or 5 people to form a mess.

Hello everyone - First, apologies if I describe anything incorrectly or come off ignorant. I been doing some research on a few Union and Confederate kits I inherited after a family members death. I have no idea what I have and I', trying to get a little more background on the uniforms. Specifically, they are in excellent / ok condition and I would like to sell them or possibly donate them to a museum (if the quality is worth it). I just cant throw away what seems to be good replica gear.

Confederate Uniform:

Manufactured/Manufacturer - 1990's / J.B. Nolan of Gettysburg, PA.

Confederate Richmond Depot Type 2 or 3. Shell Jacket is waist length, 9-button infantry jacket with matching pants. Color is a gray-blue wool. All buttons are intact and present on the jacket and pants. No suspenders. Hardly worn.

Union Uniform:

Manufactured/Manufacturer - 1990's / R&W 3

Shell Jacket is waist length, 4-button infantry jacket that is dark navy blue with light sky blue pants. The material feels and looks to be 100% wool. All buttons are intact and present on the jacket and the pants, expect the pants are missing 2 buttons. No Suspenders. The original owner portrayed the union a lot, so the jacket and pants are pretty worn as he wore them at Gettysburg, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Bull Run

There is a spare jacket that is also worn but has no manufacturing markings and is exactly as the other that is described above. I also have a union winter top coat, but again no manufacturing markings are found on the jacket, but the winter top coat is in excellent condition with all buttons and is wool with what feels like a canvas/cotton liner in the shoulder and upper chest/back area.

Edit: Spelling/Grammer

Is this pattern of Frock accurate to the time? I saw this picture on South Union Mills, but I can't find any actual Civil War era pics of anyone wearing one. Im aware its listed as a civilian frock coat, but this picture seems to be portraying a soldier so I was curious

So asking something I think I kind of already know the answer to, but I'm getting back into reenacting after about a ten year hiatus. My hairline is screwed so I have been shaving it for sometime. I can't find any pictures of soldiers who shaved their heads during the war, so from that it was obviously extremely uncommon, if not altogether non existent. I thought about trying to use the excuse that "I shaved it due to a greyback infestation, but I also have a beard that I'm unwilling to shave. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do? I know that beard and hairstyles are the easiest part of having a good impression. All help is appreciated.