Compelled to Yield: 160th Appomattox — The Liberty Rifles

BACKGROUND

The Liberty Rifles and 1st Section, in partnership with Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, will be hosting “Compelled to Yield,” a living history event to commemorate the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Appomattox and the subsequent surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia. Aside from both U.S. Army and civilian impressions, we will be recreating several Confederate units to full scale, to include both the remnants of a mounted artillery battalion, as well as heavy artillery equipped as infantry. The crux of the event will be presenting well-researched public interpretive and interactive programs.

This event is BY INVITATION ONLY and will adhere to strict authenticity standards to include kit, age, and weight. If you went to any of the Liberty Rifles' immersive regimental events you already know what to expect. If you missed those events, this is your chance to get in on a real authentic Civil War experience!

Registration

Registration is $45 for both Liberty Rifles members and guests.  Registration will only be complete after submission of this fee.  After filling out the form, send a PayPal payment “to a friend” (to avoid fees) to 1stSectionArtillery@gmail.com.  To send a check, please email michaelclarke24@gmail.com for instructions.  THE CUTOFF FOR REFUNDS IS MARCH 15, 2025.

IMPRESSION GUIDELINES

The idea behind these impression guidelines is to create an informed approximation on the appearance of the Army of Northern Virginia in April 1865 through research and an understanding of the workings of the Confederate Quartermaster and Ordnance Departments in Richmond. Our goal will be to create uniform battalion impressions.  This means some degree of matching patterns of haversacks, or matching canteen types, or matching knapsack types is most appropriate.  The idea is to replicate the look of units that were being issued clothing and equipment from the national government.  We're not definitively saying that the the units we will portray only had X, Y or Z, but we do argue that a Confederate unit in this context during this period of the war, didn't have 50 different unique haversacks, and 50 different jackets made of 50 different fabrics, etc.  All reproductions must be high quality, utilizing correct patterns and appropriate materials.  

JACKET

  1. Richmond Clothing Bureau “Type 2” or “Type 3” jacket made of imported blue grey wool.

  2. Imported Peter Tait & Co. jacket of the styles associated with the ANV (plain, with solid color collar facing, or with both collar and epaulette facings), ideally with red facings.

  3. A jeans “Four Button Jacket” copied from one of the several surviving originals with Virginia provenance is acceptable.

*Miscellaneous uniforms, “commutation jackets,” citizen’s coats, uniforms with linings other than plain white cotton osnaburg (or linen for Tait jackets), and earlier jeans Richmond jackets are unacceptable without prior approval.

For additional information on Richmond jackets, see Richmond Depot Jackets by Dick Milstead.

Blue grey wool Richmond “Type 2” and “Type 3” jackets, an imported Peter Tait & Co. jacket, and a simple four-button jacket made of grey jeans.

PANTS

  1. Richmond Clothing Bureau pants made of imported royal blue kersey, imported blue grey wool, or vegetable dyed grey or brownish-grey jeans.

  2. Other military-style pants made of similar domestic cloth.

*U.S. Army pants and pants made of oddball fabrics are unacceptable.

SHIRT

  1. Richmond Clothing Bureau shirt made of white cotton osnaburg.

  2. Other Confederate government-issue shirt made of white cotton osnaburg.

  3. Plain wool flannel shirt.

  4. Citizen's shirts. We're trying to limit the number of "homespun" check shirts, not because they're wrong, just very over represented.  So if you have a nice cotton print shirt, or plain cotton or wool citizen's shirt, go with that over the homespun.

Private Henry Redwood, Lt. Thomas Tolson, and Private Henry Hollyday’s Richmond Clothing Bureau pants.

An original Richmond Clothing Bureau shirt.

DRAWERS

  1. Richmond Clothing Bureau drawers made of white cotton osnaburg.

  2. Other Confederate government-issue drawers made of white cotton osnaburg.

  3. Citizen’s cotton or wool drawers.

  4. NONE. Being seen wearing modern underwear is wholly unacceptable. If you don’t have acceptable period drawers, go commando.

An original pair of Richmond Clothing Bureau drawers.

For additional information on Richmond Clothing Bureau pants, shirts, and drawers, see Richmond Depot Clothing – Volume II by Dick Milstead.

HEADGEAR

  1. Richmond Clothing Bureau artillery cap with machine-bound oilcloth visor, made of blue grey satinette and red wool in the two color combinations associated with Richmond’s late-war production.

  2. Richmond Clothing Bureau infantry cap with machine-bound oilcloth visor, made of blue grey wool or satinette.

  3. Citizen’s “slouch” hats or imported black British hats are acceptable.

*Please avoid oddball hats, shapeless hat blanks, forage caps, US dress hats, wheel hats, and kepis other than proper Richmond caps with machine-bound oilcloth visors. Just wear a good citizen’s slouch hat if you do not have an appropriate Richmond cap.

Richmond Clothing Bureau artillery caps manufactured in 1864 or 1865, with their distinctive color combinations, machine-bound oilcloth visors, oilcloth chinstraps, oilcloth sweatbands, and osnaburg linings.

FOOTWEAR

  1. Domestic or imported military shoes.

  2. Citizen’s shoes or boots.

  3. U.S. Army Bootees if that is all you have.

SOCKS

  1. Confederate issue socks, ideally made from white cotton or wool.

*Please avoid outlandish colors and patterns. Rag wool socks are unacceptable.

CANTEEN

  1. Confederate arsenal refurbished and reissued U.S. Army canteens.

  2. Plain tin drum canteens on a plain webbing, sewn cotton, or leather sling.

  3. Wood “Gardner” pattern canteen on a plain webbing, sewn cotton, or leather sling.

A government issue haversack (identified to Pvt. Henry Neal) made of 27” wide cloth with a machine sewn cotton drill sling that was likely produced by or acquired via contract by the Richmond Arsenal.

HAVERSACK

  1. Confederate haversack copied from an original government-made example.

*This is an easy way to create some uniformity within a company. Simple cotton haversacks such as the " Neal," or “Goulding” bags are great options. Haversacks made of carpet, tapestry, ticking, etc., are unacceptable.

KNAPSACK

Knapsacks are encouraged, especially for participants portraying light artillerymen. The acceptable styles of knapsacks for this event are as follows:

  1. “Knapsack with straps” –the common design of Confederate knapsack today often called the “Kibler” or “Mexican War” knapsack.

  2. Imported British “Isaac and Campbell” or “Ross and Co.” knapsack.

  3. “Reissued” U.S. Army knapsack.

A typical Confederate “knapsack, with straps” as produced by arsenals and contractors throughout the Confederacy.

BLANKET

  1. Imported British blankets in blue-grey and white, other Confederate issue blankets, citizen’s blankets, and U.S. Army blankets are all acceptable.

*Old timey grandma quilts, Woolrich blankets, surplus blankets, and regionally-specific Northern coverlets are unacceptable.

GROUND CLOTH

  1. Confederate issue painted canvas ground cloths, typically 6’ long and around 3’ wide, are acceptable. U.S. Army gum blankets are also acceptable. Painted floorcloths and other oddball waterproof covers should be avoided.

OVERCOATS

  1. Imported British overcoats and domestically-made overcoats are acceptable. U.S. Army overcoats are acceptable in limited numbers.

ARMS

  1. P-1853 Enfield rifle muskets and M-1855, M-1861, and Richmond rifle muskets are all acceptable. Bring one if you have one

*All arms must be cleaned originals with no “patina” or defarbed reproductions. All must be clean, oiled, and in excellent working order.

ACCOUTREMENTS

Painted cloth and leather belt and cartridge box issued through the Ordnance Department in Richmond beginning in February 1863.

  1. Domestically made Confederate issue cartridge boxes, cap boxes, belts, and scabbards with ANV provenance are preferred. Richmond Arsenal oilcloth and leather belts and cartridge box belts, as well as plain roller buckle or frame buckle belts are encouraged.

  2. Imported British belts, cartridge boxes, cap pouches, and scabbards.

  3. U.S. Army accoutrements if that is all you have.

*Cheap sutler row accoutrements with big white nylon stitches are unacceptable.

TENTAGE

  1. No tentage other than fully hand sewn Fly Tents and Confederate-made shelter halves are acceptable.

MESS EQUIPMENT

  1. Individual participants should not bring any mess equipment beyond the personal utensils in their haversacks unless asked to by the event organizers. Cast iron skillets and camp kettles will be provided.

For additional information on Confederate mess equipment and how to identify period cast iron, see Biscuit Bakers and Camp Kettles by Craig Schneider.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS

Any personal items must be original or accurate reproductions of period items. “Old timey” jugs, Mason jars, or other items are prohibited. Cell phones, modern tobacco, lighters, ragg wool gloves and socks, or any other anachronistic items are wholly unacceptable.

We are placing high expectations for personal appearance and behavior upon the participants of Compelled to Yield. Modern haircuts, ponytails, modern underwear, modern socks, modern glasses, and inauthentic or inappropriate kit, etc., are unacceptable. As rations will be issued and all participants are expected to arrive with an empty haversack and not bring any food of their own into the event.

LIGHT ARTILLERY GUIDELINES

Those portraying cannoneers will follow the same guidelines as above, but will not need to bring any accoutrements. Those portraying drivers and other mounted men will also follow the guidelines above, but will carry their baggage on their saddles and also need to pay particular attention to the guidelines below.

HORSE EQUIPMENT

Artillery Harness:

  1. Confederate-made harness to include rope traces and carriage saddles for the off horses.

  2. U.S. artillery harness as necessary. At a minimum, avoid U.S. saddle blankets and replace with Confederate ones. Replace U.S. halters, bridles, and surcingles with Confederate ones.

Saddles:

  1. Clarksville Ordnance Harness Shops and other Confederate-made McClellan saddles.

  2. Clarksville Ordnance Harness Shops Jenifer saddles and Texas and citizen saddles.

  3. U.S. Army McClellan saddle if you have no other option.

Saddle Blankets:

  1. Spanish moss blankets or pads. If you have one, bring it.

  2. Imported British blankets and domestically-made wool blankets.

  3. Citizen’s blankets and coverlets, U.S. Army sleeping blankets, etc. Please avoid U.S. Army cavalry saddle blankets.

Halters:

  1. Halter-bridle.

  2. Clarksville Ordnance Harness Shops “single ring” halter in fair, russet, or black leather.

  3. Citizen’s halters.

  4. U.S. Army halters if you have no other option.

Headstalls:

  1. Halter-bridle.

  2. Southern-made or citizen’s headstall in fair, russet, or black leather.

  3. U.S. Army headstalls if you have no other option.

Bits:

  1. Southern-made forged “loose ring” curb bit, typically issued with a leather curb strap.

  2. Southern-made forged plain curb bits, copies of dragoon bits, or citizen’s curb or snaffle bits.

  3. U.S. Army bits if you have no other option. 

Reins:

  1. Cotton webbing or folded and sewn cloth reins, sewn to the bit.

  2. Fair, russet, or black leather reins, sewn to the bit.

  3. Leather reins, buckled to the bit.

Nose Bags:

  1. Confederate-marked or plain grain bags are preferred.