**DUE TO LIMITED SPACE, THIS EVENT IS ONLY OPEN TO LR MEMBERS AND INVITED GUESTS.**

This event will be a full immersion experience portraying the 2nd New Hampshire of the New Hampshire Brigade (2nd, 5th and 12th NH Infantry) that had been stationed at Point Lookout, Md. The event will be held in Fort No. 3, which has been reconstructed on the original site by the Friends of Point Lookout, and includes barracks with bunks and three additional buildings, all of which have fully operational wood stoves.

Bob Crickenberger and the Friends of PLO have gone through pain staking efforts to accurately recreate this fort, to include barracks with bunks enough to hold about 100 men, officer's quarters, and guard shack, all of which have multiple functioning wood stoves and were constructed using original US Army Engineer blueprints.  Just like the New Hampshire boys, we, too, will be knocking the rust off and sharpening up on our drill for the better part of the weekend. 

Unit History

The 2nd New Hampshire Infantry Regiment was formed in June 1861 and composed of men of very diverse backgrounds from across the state. Over the course of its term of service, the regiment would find men born in 27 countries in its ranks. Sent to Washington in the summer of 1861, the regiment would fight at Bull Run clad in grey uniforms. Over the next two years, the 2nd New Hampshire would campaign with the Army of the Potomac, fighting in all of the Army’s major engagements save for Antietam and Chancellorsville, during which times the regiment was temporarily detached to the Washington defenses. Attached to the 2nd Division of Sickles’ 3rd Corps, the regiment would bring 354 men onto the field at Gettysburg with cartridge boxes full of experimental Gardiner Exploding Musket Shells. Positioned in support of a battery at the forefront of the salient at the Peach Orchard, the regiment endured a fierce short range artillery barrage with several men exploding after their cartridge boxes were struck by shrapnel. In the ensuing retreat in the face of McLaws’ Division the 2nd would suffer 193 casualties, including the loss of 21 of their 24 officers. Later that month, the 2nd New Hampshire, along with several other hard-hit New Hampshire regiments, was transferred to the District of Saint Marys to recuperate while guarding the hospital and prison at Point Lookout, Maryland under the command of the regiment’s first colonel, now Brigadier General Gilman Marston. The regiment relished in a relatively relaxed assignment at Point Lookout, guarding the Prison Pen, garrisoning a number of small forts in the vicinity, liberally partaking in sutler goods, and building chapels, Masonic Halls, and other structures for their enjoyment. Until a large number of new substitute draftees arrived and used them in attempts to desert, the men of the 2nd utilized a large collection of small boats it had amassed to set crab pots and rake for oysters. The presence of the substitutes also necessitated the establishment of a Police Guard for the first time in months. By early 1864, the 2nd New Hampshire was, on paper, nearly back to a full regimental strength of 1,000 men, and only furloughs and detached duty kept the company ranks below the 90s. By mid-February, the regiment was anxiously awaiting the arrival of a USCT regiment, whose presence would permit more than half the regiment to return home on furlough by the end of the month.

It's encouraged to make a "Box from Home" that would be a VERY appropriate for this scenario. "Hardtack and Coffee" provides some great insight. Additional period chairs, bottles, books, boxes, etc. are all completely welcome to help create the atmosphere in and around the barracks.

• DUE TO LIMITED SPACE, THIS EVENT IS ONLY OPEN TO LR MEMBERS AND INVITED GUESTS.

• Cost will be $40 for members and guests. This fee covers all meals and a donation to the Friends of Point Lookout for the upkeep of this unique site. The fee can be sent via PayPal “to a friend” to LibertyRiflesEvents@gmail.com

• All meals will be prepared by a commissary detail, and field music will be your alarm clock and dinner bell.

• A sutler will be present and offering extra food and drink to soldiers. An exchange for period script will be conducted prior to the event. No modern cash will be accepted.

• Do not bring any rounds or caps.

Impression Guidelines

GENERAL:  

The idea behind these impression guidelines is to recreate the known conditions of the 2nd New Hampshire Infantry based upon their 4th Quarter 1863 and 1st Quarter 1864 Returns, images of the men in the unit at Point Lookout, and letters and diaries from members of the regiment. All reproductions MUST BE HIGH QUALITY, utilizing correct patterns, appropriate materials, and proper construction.

Appearance and clothing should generally be in very good order. By February 1864 the veterans in the 2nd New Hampshire had spent more than half a year as garrison soldiers, while the newer members of the unit had never seen field service at all. 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.

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

Headgear:  

• Forage cap, “Type 1” or “Type 2,” or a commercial cap is required. NO TEAL CAPS.

• Citizen’s hats, ideally black low crown varieties, are strongly encouraged for off duty wear. These will be put away for all military formations.

• Hat Brass – Images of New Hampshire men at Point Lookout show that there was little attempt made to continue to reapply the large amount of brass and silver decorations that characterized their earlier state issue caps after nearly three years, and few of the men who had originally been issued it were still present anyway. Keep hat brass modest and reapplied early silvered decorations very limited.

Overcoat:

• A sky blue kersey Footman Overcoat is required. A few Mounted overcoats are acceptable (you must contact the organizers first).

Blouse, Dress Coat, or Jacket:

• Fatigue Blouse, lined. Receipts show lined blouses issued to virtually every member of the unit in late 1863 and early 1864. Bring one, even if you bring one of the other acceptable garments below.

• Dress Coat. Very high quality Dress Coats ONLY are acceptable and encouraged in addition to your Fatigue Blouse.

• Commercial blouses, frocks, and jackets, and even a few Mounted Services Jackets with the red or yellow trim removed are all very acceptable.

NCO chevrons:

• All NCOs are required to wear appropriate chevrons.

Vests:

• Military style vests in dark or sky blue are strongly encouraged. If you have a high quality one, wear it.

• Citizen’s vests in modest styles and colors are acceptable in limited numbers. If we see a plaid monstrosity its going in the river.

• None.

Pants:

• Footman pants made of sky blue kersey, Schuylkill Arsenal or contract made. Several pairs of Mounted pants were issued to the regiment at Point Lookout and are an acceptable option (you must contact the organizers first).

NCO pants stripes:

• NCOs are required 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.

Shirts:

• U.S. Army domet flannel or wool flannel shirts are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED. There is no excuse to not have a government issue shirt.

• Wool or printed cotton citizen’s shirts are very acceptable.

Drawers:

• U.S. Army canton flannel drawers.

• Citizens drawers in wool or cotton.

• None. Being seen with modern underwear is unacceptable.

Footwear:

• U.S. Army bootees.

• Citizens shoes or boots.

BAGGAGE:  BRING IT ALL!

Knapsack:

• Double bag knapsack. If you have a high quality reproduction, you should bring it. If you do not have a high quality reproduction, do not bring a knapsack. The regiment endeavored to be fully supplied with knapsacks, but the last of the missing and condemned knapsacks were not replaced until shortly after the time we are portraying.

Blanket:

• Two grey or brown U.S. Army sleeping blankets are preferred. Most soldiers were provided with two and put one in storage during the warmer months.

• If you do not have a second U.S. issue blanket, you may bring a non-military blanket. Thrift shop grandma quilts are unacceptable.

Ground cloth:

• Rubberized or painted ground cloth.

Shelter Half:

• “Type 2” or “Type 3” shelter halves are strongly encouraged, both because each soldier in the regiment had one and because they work great to block drafts in the barracks. Heavy canvas sutler row shelter halves are unacceptable.

Mattress Tick:

• A mattress tick of proper material and construction is required if you plan on drawing your straw ration. Make a single large one with a bunkmate beforehand if you can.

Haversack:

• Painted haversack copied from any surviving original.

Canteen:

• U.S. Army canteens of the “mid war” Philadelphia or New York styles. Corrugated Philadelphia canteens should have a stopper capped with a full tin cap and a string attachment, a cotton twill tape sling, and be covered in any of a variety of jeans or uniform cloth. “Smoothside” 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. If all you have is a “smoothside” canteen with a string attachment for the cork, you should endeavor to modify it to more closely approximate an 1862 Philadelphia canteen by replacing the cork with the proper long version and using the appropriate leather sling.

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

Waist belt:

• Private’s belt with brass keeper made of bridle leather.

• Private’s belt with sewn keeper made of either waxed or bridle leather.

• Private’s belt with keeper cut off.

NCO belt:

• The Ordnance Return for the regiment shows that no NCO belts were present in Companies D and F in early 1864. Sergeants will wear an ordinary Private’s Belt.

Cartridge box:

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

Cartridge box belt:

• All cartridge boxes must be worn on a cartridge box belt with appropriate breastplate.

Cap box:

• Arsenal or contract made cap box.

Scabbard:

• 2-rivet scabbards and 7-rivet scabbards are equally acceptable.

ARMS:  All arms and bayonets shall be in EXCELLENT working order, clean, functioning, and safe.

Rifle Musket:

• Model 1855, 1861, or 1863 .58 Springfield Rifle Musket, appropriately defarbed, with bayonet, is strongly preferred.

• Enfield Rifle Musket, defarbed, with bayonet, is acceptable in limited numbers.

Gun sling:

• Gun sling made of oiled leather IS REQUIRED. The regiment was fully equipped with gun slings and so we shall be as well. British, canvas, and black leather gun slings are unacceptable.

ADDITIONAL ITEMS:

Point Lookout is an excellent opportunity to stock the wall next to your bunk with a variety of period trinkets. Unfortunately, for many this means grabbing their wife’s 1920s purple glass bottle windowsill decorations or old Ball jars thinking they look “old timey” enough. They don’t. Take the opportunity to do some research before packing your kit for the event.

Any personal items must be original or accurate reproductions of period items. “Old timey” bottles, jugs, Mason jars, or other items are prohibited. Boxes must be properly constructed and marked appropriately. Knit good are strongly encouraged, but modern tartan scarves and miscellaneous knit hats that “look pretty close” are prohibited. With this event being immersive in nature, cell phones, modern tobacco, or any other anachronistic items are wholly unacceptable.

We are placing high expectations for personal appearance and behavior upon the participants of Winter 1864. Modern haircuts, ponytails, modern underwear, modern socks, modern glasses, inauthentic or inappropriate kit, etc. is unacceptable. Displaying modern tattoos is unacceptable. As rations will be issued all participants are required to arrive with an empty haversack and not bring any food of their own into the event.

Know your duty calls! Click here to find audio files of duty calls to be heard at the event. You'd be well served to learn them, especially the meal calls! The calls are as follows:

1. Reveille - Three Camps; Hessian; Dutch; Quick Scotch

2. Breakfast - Peas Upon a Trencher

3. To the Color (Assembling the Company)

4. Dinner Call - Roast Beef

5. Retreat - Begins and ends with The Three Cheers: We will most likely "Troop the Line" which the command is "Troop Beat Off."

6. Tattoo - begins with The Three Cheers and the Doublings, and ends with the Three Cheers and the Doublings