HISTORY of the 1st Virginia Infantry (US)

In April 1861 President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 volunteers and requested that Virginia furnish three regiments of infantry. While Virginia seceded in response, Virginians nonetheless answered the call of the Union. The 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment (US) was organized in May 1861 in Wheeling, composed of Unionists from the western counties of Virginia and some Pennsylvanians and Ohioans from border counties. After three months of service, which included their first action at Philippi, the regiment was reorganized into a three-year regiment under the command of Colonel Joseph Thoburn and accepted into service by Francis Harrison Pierpont, Governor of the Restored Government of Virginia. Sent to garrison Romney, the 1st Virginia would conduct patrols and skirmish with Rebels at Blue’s Gap. In the Spring of 1862, the 1st Virginia would join General James Shields’ division serving in the Shenandoah Valley, fight at Winchester, and endure a hard campaign in response to Stonewall Jackson’s offensive in the Valley. In June, as the Virginians of the Stonewall Brigade advanced at Port Republic, the 262 Union men of the 1st Virginia were rushed to the front and prepared to counterattack along the banks of the Shenandoah River.

IMPRESSION GUIDELINES

GENERAL

The idea behind these impression guidelines is to recreate the known conditions of the 1st Virginia Infantry (US) based upon their surviving returns and receipts and offer a best guess for the unknowns based upon letters and diaries from members of the unit and an understanding of how the U.S. Quartermaster and Ordnance Departments supplied troops in the field.

APPEARANCE AND CLOTHING SHOULD BE WORN—the 1st was in the middle of a hard, active campaign that saw them discard much of their baggage.  Don't do something silly like cake a new uniform in mud—you’ll be given a brush and made to clean up, but certainly feel free to bring your well-worn blouse, threadbare pants, or busted shoes if you have them. All items worn, carried, or stowed in your gear MUST be original or a high quality reproductions. Mediocre, mainstream, or reenactor grade reproductions are entirely unacceptable.

May 17, 1862

“Accordingly, on the next day marched at seven A.M., arriving at Catlett's at four P.M. Duryea's brigade was encamped here, being drilled, and an admirable place it was for the purpose. The men of the Third Brigade being rather badly clad were the object of considerable ridicule from these well-dressed men, and the majority of them being from the West, were not devoid of interest to them, as Duryea's men were from the East. After several encounters they became more respectful in language and deportment, as they found the Western men would not stand the "chaffing."

May 18, 1862

“The next day marched two miles beyond Falmouth, on the Rappahannock River, immediately opposite Fredericksburg, and bivouacked early in the evening, having marched eighteen miles. There were many new troops here, all apparently from New York and the New England States. The First was a curiosity to these men, they not knowing that there were any Virginia troops in the Union army. Of course their approbation of the brigade and General Shields took the form of cheers and offers of service, which warmed the hearts of Shield's men and almost made them forget their rags, though reminded of them at first by very unpleasant remarks from some of their indiscreet comrades, who, it may be observed, were taught a lesson in good manners by some of these rather ragged fellows, and the latter, by an event the next day, were further forcibly reminded of them. The following day General McDowell's division and two brigades of Shields's division were reviewed by President Lincoln and Secretary Stanton. The Third Brigade, being so badly clothed, was not included in the review.”

– Private Charles Rowling, 1st Virginia Infantry (US)

CLOTHING

All clothing must be made with proper construction techniques, correct patterns, and 100% natural fiber cloth to closely mimic original goods.

Blouse

1. Fatigue blouse, lined or unlined. No altered blouses, no extra buttonholes, no shortened blouses, no reenactor grade homemade blouses with giant stitches in white thread, NO TEAL BLOUSES, NO EXCEPTIONS.

2. Commercial blouses are acceptable in limited numbers.

NCO chevrons

1. All NCOs are encouraged to wear appropriate chevrons. If you are not wearing chevrons you must wear pants stripes.

Pants

1. Footman pants made of sky blue kersey, Schuylkill Arsenal or contract made.

2. Dark blue trousers are acceptable in limited numbers.

NCO pants stripes

1. NCOs are encouraged to wear appropriate pants stripes. All corporals should have a ½” stripe on their pants and all sergeants should have a 1 ½” stripe on their pants. If you are not wearing pants stripes you must wear chevrons.

Shirts

1. U.S. Army domet flannel or wool flannel shirts are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. There is no excuse to not have a government issue shirt. You may carry a spare plain or printed cotton shirt, but “homespun” check shirts as a first option will be unacceptable.

Drawers

1. U.S. Army canton flannel drawers.

2. Citizens drawers.

3. None. Being seen with modern underwear is unacceptable.

Headgear

1. Forage cap, “Type 1” or “Type 2” or commercial caps in limited numbers. NO TEAL CAPS.

2. Low crown citizens hats, ideally black, are perfectly acceptable. Modest hat brass is acceptable.

Footwear

1. U.S. Army bootees.

2. Citizens shoes or boots.

BAGGAGE – LIGHT MARCHING ORDER!

June 6, 1862

On the 6th two or three wagons succeeded in reaching the regiment with a few barrels of bread and sugar. This relief was timely. These wagons were then used for taking the knapsacks of the men to the rear, which, while depriving them of little comforts, was a great relief on the march. Wonderful energy and perseverance were necessary on the part of the quartermaster, assisted by Wagon-Master Holliday, to get these wagons up, which was appreciated by the men.

– Private Charles Rowling, 1st Virginia Infantry (US)

Knapsack

1. NONE! The 1st Virginia had put their knapsacks, extra clothing, and much of their personal baggage in storage earlier in the campaign.

Blanket

1. Grey or brown U.S. Army sleeping blanket may be carried as a bedroll. Use a coat strap, old canteen strap, scrap of worn out suspender, or period cordage to tie your bedroll. Craft store leather laces and jute gardening twine is unacceptable.

2. None.

Ground cloth

1. Rubberized or painted ground cloth.

2. None. If you do not have a high quality reproduction, do not bring one.

Shelter Half

1. “Type 2” shelter halves are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED, as the regiment had recently been issued them. Heavy canvas sutler row shelter halves are unacceptable. If you do not have an appropriate shelter half, do not bring one.

Haversack

1. Painted haversack copied from any surviving original.

Canteen

1. U.S. Army “smoothside” canteens of the “early war” Philadelphia or New York styles. New York canteens should have a stopper capped with a domed tin washer and a chain attachment, a sewn cotton drill sling, and be covered in grey, brown, or blue jeans, or uniform cloth. Philadelphia canteens should have a long straight stopper capped with a plain washer and string attachment, a sewn cotton or leather sling, and typically be covered in grey satinette “canteen cloth.” Corrugated Philadelphia “bullseye” canteens are unacceptable.

EQUIPMENT

All equipment shall be high quality reproductions in terms of construction and materials used.  

Waist belt

1. Private’s belt with sewn keeper made of either blackened buff, waxed, or bridle leather.

2. Private’s belt with keeper cut off. If all you have is a belt with a brass keeper, cut the keeper off.

NCO belt

1. The Ordnance Returns for the regiment shows that a small number of NCO belts were worn, with no more than one in each company. First Sergeants only may choose to wear the NCO belt or not.

Cartridge box

1. 1861 pattern cartridge box with plate. 1864 pattern boxes are unacceptable.

Cartridge box belt

• About half of the regiment wore their cartridge boxes on their belts and did not have a cartridge box belt. Participants may choose to wear a blackened buff, waxed, or bridle leather cartridge box belt or leave it at home.

• About half of the men who wore a cartridge box belt did not have the breast plate. Those who wear their cartridge box on a cartridge box belt may choose to remove the breast plate.

• No more than 1/4 to 1/3 of the regiment should have both a cartridge box belt and breastplate.

Cap box

1. Arsenal or contract made cap box.

Scabbard

1. 2-rivet scabbards.

ARMS

The 1st Virginia was carrying a wide array of weapons in the Valley in 1862. Any of the below muskets and rifle muskets were in use by the regiment and are acceptable. All arms and bayonets shall be in EXCELLENT working order, clean, functioning, and safe.

• Model 1855 or 1861 .58 Springfield Rifled Musket with bayonet.

• Enfield Rifled Musket with bayonet.

• Austrian Lorenz in either .54 or .58 with bayonet.

• Belgian, French, and German .69 muskets with bayonet.

• Model 1816 or 1842 .69 smoothbore musket with bayonet.

Gun sling

1. Gun sling made of oiled leather. The regiment was well equipped with gun slings and as such slings are highly encouraged. British, canvas, and black leather gun slings are unacceptable.