Portraying the Appomattox Liberty Guard, June 1861

BACKGROUND

“The enlistment was rapid and soon the tramp of soldier boys drilling and preparing for the fray, and the hep, hep, hep of the cadet drill-master, were familiar sights and sounds on the streets and old fields at and about the court house.”

The Liberty Rifles and National Park Service are hosting a living history program at Appomattox Court House National Historical Park. The event will interpret the forming of the Appomattox Liberty Guard, which would later be mustered into Confederate service as Company B of the 46th Virginia Infantry. The Appomattox Liberty Guard was formed in June 1861, being one of three infantry companies raised in the county that Spring. Initially numbering around 80 men, the company was commanded by Virginia militia officer Captain William Abbitt, with his brother George and brothers John and James Lawson serving as his lieutenants. In a larger sense, this living history program intends to interpret the initial mobilization of the Confederate war machine in Virginia. The Appomattox Liberty Guard’s experience was hardly unique, and in that vein we are seeking to broadly interpret a common theme in Virginia in the Spring of 1861. We look to illuminate the patriotic fervor and fledgling military logistics that defined the experiences of soldiers and civilians in Appomattox County and throughout the region.

REGISTRATION

This event is for invited participants only. Registration fee is $35 for both LR members and guests.

IMPRESSION GUIDELINES

Outer Garment

  1. Grey wool overshirt trimmed in black as per images of men in local companies.

  2. Plain overshirt in grey, red, or blue wool, or checked wool or cotton.

  3. Military frock coat made of grey wool or jeans, either plain or simply trimmed, are acceptable especially for NCOs.

  4. Citizen suit. A few very high quality citizen suits are acceptable and must be approved in advance.

Oddball fabrics and wild trim patterns or colors are unacceptable. An overshirt being preferred for this event does not mean that you can wear any reenactor “battle shirt” you have. If your overshirt is trimmed, it should be done in black, and ideally in a manner that mimics those worn by members of what would become the 46th Virginia.

Pants

  1. Pants made from grey or greyish brown wool or jeans *with black stripes on the side seams.*

  2. Citizen pants if approved in advance.

Shirt

  1. Citizen's shirt to be worn under an overshirt or coat. These may be of any appropriate type to include plain white cotton, calicos, or knit. One could even simply wear an undershirt beneath an overshirt.

Drawers

  1. Any citizen’s drawers of cotton or wool fabric or knit are acceptable.

Headgear

  1. Black citizen’s hat, with or without one side pinned up with a red or blue silk cockade.

  2. Military “McDowell” style cap of blue or cadet wool are acceptable.

Please avoid oddball hats, caps made of material other than blue or cadet cloth, caps with fuzzy leather brims, and Richmond kepis. Just wear any good citizen’s slouch hat if you do not have anything else.

“Sicilian,” “Corsican,” or “Liberty” Caps

  1. A copy of the cap worn by a member of the 46th Virginia, or similar.

  2. None.

Members of the companies that would form the 46th Virginia Infantry were regularly photographed wearing the cloth caps that were the popular 19th Century revolutionary symbol, they appear in images drawn by a member of the regiment, and one worn by a member of the regiment survives in the collection of the American Civil War Museum. Not a knit stocking cap, these caps were typically made of blue or red cloth, trimmed, often had a sweatband, and were particularly large. They could be worn under a regular citizen’s hat and draped down the side of the wearer’s face, or worn over a cap. As per the surviving original, they appear to have been produced in bulk in one large size and then stitched or pinned to fit the wearer’s head, or over the wearer’s cap.

Courtesy of the American Civil War Museum, Richmond, VA.

Cockade

  1. A copy of the cockade worn on the shirt of a member of the 46th Virginia in 1861.

  2. A copy of the cockade worn on the hats of members of the 46th Virginia in 1861.

  3. A copy of a cockade with 1861 Virginia provenance.

  4. None.

Like Liberty Caps, patriotic cockades appear frequently in images of members of the local companies that would form the 46th Virginia. While certainly not required, pinning a cockade to your shirt, or using it to pin up the side of your hat, is very acceptable. Various shades of blue appear to have been particularly common in Virginia-made cockades, with red and white also being seen. Images of members of the 46th show cockades both with and without streamers.

Footwear

  1. Citizen’s shoes or boots.

  2. U.S. Bootees if that is all you have.

Canteen

  1. Plain tin drum canteen on a cotton or leather sling.

  2. U.S. Army canteens and wooden canteens are unacceptable. Just bring a big cup if you can’t get yourself a tin drum canteen.

Haversack

  1. None. Put your mess utensils in a poke and keep them rolled up with your blanket.

  2. A plain cotton haversack of a style that is not obviously a later government issue piece.

Mess Equipment – The common reenactor “canteen half” plate is inappropriate for this scenario. Get an actual plate or bowl, or deal with eating from a cup.

Knapsack

  1. None. Use a bedroll.

  2. Knapsack with early Virginia provenance to include a variety of hardpacks and locally-made pieces such as the “Pritchett” knapsack are acceptable in limited numbers.

  3. Citizen’s valise, carpet bag, or small piece of luggage.

Blanket

  1. A citizen’s wool blanket or coverlet.

  2. Please avoid U.S. Army blankets if possible. Old timey grandma quilts, Woolrich blankets, and surplus blankets are unacceptable.

Ground Cloth

  1. A piece of oilcloth yard goods, citizen’s rubber cloth, or rubber raincoat is acceptable.

  2. None.

Arms and Accoutrements

NONE! The Appomattox Liberty Guards had yet to be issued weapons and participants will not bring muskets and accoutrements. Personal knives and such are acceptable.

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 TO THE STEP. Modern haircuts, ponytails, modern underwear, modern socks, modern glasses, and inauthentic or inappropriate kit, etc., are unacceptable. As food will be provided all participants are expected to arrive with an empty haversack and not bring any food of their own into the event.