“General Joseph E. Johnston now took command of the army. He restored the soldier’s pride; he brought the manhood back to the private’s bosom. The artillery was rubbed up and put in good condition. The wagons were greased, and the harness and hamestrings oiled. We felt that we had a home and a country worth fighting for, and if need be, worth dying for. A new era had dawned; a new epoch had been dated. We soon got proud; the blood of the old Cavaliers tingled in our veins.”

BACKGROUND

Sailors Creek, Prelude to Invasion, Warlike Along the Rapidan, Silent Machines, Hell-Spot at Port Republic, 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg, I Hear the Distant Thunder, Petersburg: June 1864, and now our most ambitious effort yet--WE SOON GOT PROUD. 1st Section and the Liberty Rifles will be hosting this full battalion scale, hyper authentic immersive event in Georgia. We’ll be portraying the Army of Tennessee’s 2nd Battalion, Reserve Artillery — all three batteries: the Jefferson Artillery, Barbour Artillery, and Nottoway Artillery--as they conducted live fire target practice outside of their winter Quarters at Dalton in April 1864. As always, we will be recreating the unit to scale, obsessing over the details, taking no shortcuts, and making no excuses. Officers will be mounted, the batteries’ trumpeters will regulate all activities, and cannoneers will practice their skills firing authentic recreations of period ammunition at long range targets. The details and immersive setting will be the focus of the event, in an effort to recreate the scene as it was in April 1864!

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 have an idea of what to expect. If you missed those events, this is your chance to get in on a real authentic Civil War experience like nothing ever recreated before!

When: April 5-7, 2024
Where: Northwest Georgia
Drill: All participants will utilize the standing gun drill as prescribed in Instruction for Field Artillery, adopted in 1860. A popular illustrated version of the manual can be found here: https://archive.org/details/artillerydrill00unkngoog
Rations: Food matching exactly what was issued to the 2nd Battalion, Reserve Artillery, both man and horse, will be provided. All participants must arrive with an empty haversack.
Registration: Registration is $95 for guests and Liberty Rifles and 1st Section members, payable in two installments ($50 first installment, $45 second installment). PayPal address is WeSoonGotProud@gmail.com and sent “to a friend.”

UNIT HISTORY

After the disaster at Missionary Ridge, the artillery of the Army of Tennessee was in a shambles. Many batteries had already been equipped with obsolete ordnance before losing guns in action, and the artillery branch of the Army of Tennessee as a whole had been slow to adopt the modern battalion organizational structure that had become predominate throughout the rest of the armies. The dismissal of General Bragg in favor of General Joseph E. Johnston would begin to change this.

By the Spring of 1864 the artillery throughout the Army had been reorganized and was in the process of being reequipped. A new Reserve Artillery had been created—three battalions of three batteries each. The 2nd Battalion was organized as follows:

Reserve Artillery – Lieutenant Colonel James H. Hallonquist

2nd Battalion – Lieutenant Colonel Samuel C. Williams

Jefferson Artillery (Mississippi) – Four Light 12 Pounder Guns (Napoleons)
Barbour Artillery (Alabama) – Two 6 Pounder Guns and two 12 Pounder Field Howitzers
Nottoway Artillery (Virginia) – Four 10 Pounder Parrott Rifles

Settled into winter quarters near Dalton, Georgia, the battalion got new pieces of harness, some new guns, and was expecting more for the Barbour Artillery. The batteries even anticipated the arrival of new matching flags to replace the mishmash of guidons from their previous service in other organizations. Many horses had been sent home with drivers for the winter to ensure they would be fed, and the battalion still reported a shortage of 73 horses to be functional in the field. Horses remaining in camp were kept washed with tobacco juice to ward off vermin, and new horseflesh was expected soon as well.

To learn the tendencies of new guns and maintain their gunnery skills, the battalion rotated onto the practice range to point their guns at wood and canvas targets ranging from 600 to 1,000 yards distant. In early April, a collection of the battalion’s horses pulled guns onto line and the men marched with a portion of their baggage to spend a couple days at the range.

BATTERY DETAILS

Jefferson Artillery

Organized for state service in April 1861 from the cotton plantation county of Jefferson, Mississippi, the Jefferson men initially expected to form a cavalry company. When accepted into Confederate service as an artillery company, the unit took the name “Jefferson Flying Artillery” in hopes of being a horse artillery battery. They would see service as a mounted artillery battery, however, with the cannoneers serving on foot.

Serving under Hardee’s command, the Jefferson Artillery was hotly engaged at Shiloh, abandoning one gun due to casualties among their horses and replacing it with an abandoned U.S. gun found shortly thereafter. They would later fight at Perryville, Murfreesboro, and, rearmed with Napoleons, at Hoover’s Gap and Chickamauga. Luckily not on the line at Missionary Ridge, the experienced, veteran battery escaped unharmed and would head to Dalton to winter as part of the new 2nd Battalion, Reserve Artillery.

Barbour Artillery

Organized in April 1862 as part of Hilliard’s Alabama Legion, the Barbour County, Alabama men who joined the new artillery company were somewhat older and had avoided the initial patriotic fervor of the previous year. Soon detached from the legion to serve as an independent artillery company, the Barbour Artillery would serve in East Tennessee in and around Cumberland Gap and Knoxville until General Buckner’s troops were ordered to join the Army of Tennessee. The battery would arrive in time to see action at Chickamauga where it suffered several casualties to men and horses, though it would escape loss at Missionary Ridge and the subsequent retreat.

Nottoway Artillery

Organized in June 1861, the Nottoway Artillery would be a unique cultural mix—half composed of relatively well-to-do men from Nottoway County in the Piedmont region of Virginia, which had the largest slave population percentage in the state, and half from the poor counties of the southwest portion of the state which had negligible slave populations.

The battery would serve in Southwest Virginia, East Tennessee, and Eastern Kentucky and was engaged at Middle Creek, Princeton, and in numerous smaller skirmishes throughout the region. In September 1863 the battery joined the thousands of troops from Virginia who were sent to aid the Army of Tennessee. The Nottoway Artillery dueled with Federal artillery at Chickamauga, suffering no casualties save for several horses. The battery again lost only horses in the retreat from Missionary Ridge, though they also abandoned their disliked 12 Pounder Blakely Rifle.

The men were disappointed not to return to Virginia, and in January 1864 petitioned unsuccessfully to be returned to their home state in exchange for reenlisting for the duration of the war. The battery instead found themselves preparing for the coming campaign in Georgia as part of the new Reserve Artillery.

IMPRESSION GUIDELINES

GENERAL

The March 1864 inspection reports for the Reserve Artillery and receipts from the Quartermaster Department from the 1st Quarter of 1864 show the expected issues of clothing and equipment being distributed to artillery units resupplying and reequipping in the winter quarters at Dalton. Throughout the winter the 2nd Battalion would be provided with large quantities of jackets, pants, cotton shirts and drawers, socks, shoes, blankets, and caps, with the latest mass issue having come five days before the dates being portrayed at We Soon Got Proud. The battalion’s officers were able to purchase woolen shirts from the Quartermaster, and some even procured enlisted jackets. The horses that remained in camp benefitted from large issues of curry combs, horseshoes, watering buckets, and salt.  It is evident from the receipts that in early April, the battalion was at least adequately furnished and supplied with Confederate Central Government equipment and clothing while they awaited additional ordnance and horses.

The idea behind these impression guidelines is to recreate the known conditions of the 2nd Battalion, Reserve Artillery, and offer a best guess for the unknowns based on surviving documentation and an understanding of the workings of the Confederate Quartermaster Department in relation to the Army of Tennessee. Our goal is to create a battalion impression.  This means some degree of matching patterns of uniforms, haversacks, canteen types, etc., is most appropriate, with a focus on replicating the look of a battalion that was being issued clothing and equipment from the government.  We are not definitively stating that the 2nd Battalion only had X, Y or Z, but we do assert that a Confederate battalion in this context during this period of the war, didn't have 50 unique haversacks and jackets made of 50 different fabrics.  All items worn, carried, or stowed in your gear MUST be original or high quality reproductions. Mediocre, mainstream, or reenactor grade reproductions are entirely unacceptable.

For much of the equine side of Civil War living history, one simply having a horse has been an excuse to let subpar uniforms, equipment, and decorum slide. This is not the case with 1st Section and the Liberty Rifles, and will not be the case at We Soon Got Proud. Horses must be appropriate representations of Civil War artillery mounts and not require special treatment to include pads, non-standard bits, and anything beyond being thrown on the picket line with an armful of hay in front of them.

CLOTHING

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

Jackets

1. Columbus Depot jackets copied from any of the numerous surviving original examples, made of grey or brownish grey wool and cotton jeans, lined in osnaburg, and WITH BLUE INFANTRY TRIM, are encouraged.

2. Copies of the red-trimmed jacket worn by Sergeant Edward Crozier of the Jefferson Artillery in the latter part of the war.

3. A drab or undyed military jacket copied from an original with Georgia provenance, such as the example taken from stocks in Atlanta by an Iowan and sent home.

*Miscellaneous uniforms, “commutation jackets,” and citizen’s coats are unacceptable without prior approval.

Receipts for issues to 2nd Battalion show that batteries had been provided with new government jackets throughout the winter, with a large number of men wearing jackets less than a week old at the beginning of April. Jackets worn by participants need not appear brand new, but as the battalion had yet to wear their clothing on campaign, ragged jackets are unacceptable.

Pants

1. Grey jeans pants with provenance to the Army of Tennessee.

2. Other military-style pants made out of similar grey, brownish grey, or drab domestic cloth.

3. Undyed or drab Georgia Hospital and Relief Association pants.

*Avoid U.S. Army pants, citizen’s pants, or pants made of oddball fabrics. As with jackets, the members of 2nd Battalion had been issued enough pants in the previous several months for each man to have received two pairs, and ragged pants are unacceptable.

Shirts

1. Confederate issue shirts made of cotton osnaburg are very strongly preferred. There is no excuse not to have a government issue shirt. You may carry a spare wool or plain or printed cotton citizen’s shirt, but “homespun” checked cotton shirts as a first option are unacceptable.

Drawers

1. Government issue drawers made of cotton osnaburg.

2. Citizen’s cotton, wool, or knit drawers.

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

Overcoat

1. None.

2. Imported British Army overcoats, domestically made Confederate overcoats, overdyed U.S. Army overcoats.

While they were in different locations at the time, all of the batteries that would form the 2nd Battalion, Reserve Artillery had been issued a significant number of overcoats the previous winter. While none were issued in the Winter of 1863/1864, it is a reasonable assumption that some from the previous winter were still around.

Headgear

1. Columbus Depot kepis with applied red trim.

2. Columbus Depot kepis without trim.

3. Imported British Army Hats. Many men from all three batteries had been issued black wool hats just prior to Chickamauga, and any remaining in April were likely quite worn.

4. Citizen’s hats.

*Avoid Richmond kepis and other random military caps other than those noted above.

Shoes

1. English or Confederate military shoes.

2. Citizen’s shoes or boots.

3. Federal Bootees if that is all you have.

Socks

1. Confederate issue white cotton socks.

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

BAGGAGE

Mounted men will carry their baggage on their saddles. Drivers will strap their baggage to the off horses or pack a bedroll if they do not have an assigned team. Cannoneers will typically store their knapsacks in a wagon when marching, if possible. Cannoneers must carry their haversacks and canteens.

Canteens

1. Tin drum canteens on plain webbing, sewn cotton, or leather slings.

2. Wood “Gardner” pattern canteens.

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

Haversack

1. White cotton osnaburg haversack copied from the original used by Private Moses Alexander of the Barbour Artillery.

2. Plain government issue haversacks copied from a surviving original.

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

Knapsacks

Knapsacks are strongly encouraged for all artillerymen who are not mounted. The 2nd Battalion had been provided knapsacks after arriving in Dalton. The three acceptable options 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 knapsack.

3. U.S. Army knapsack.

*Hardpacks, knapsacks other than those listed above, and anything other than high quality reproductions are not acceptable. Pack a bedroll if you don’t have an appropriate knapsack. Bedrolls should be secured with coat straps, repurposed canteens straps, or appropriate cordage. Modern jute gardening twine and craft store leather laces are unacceptable.

Blankets

1. Confederate issue, imported, and citizen’s blankets are preferred, and high quality Federal blankets are perfectly acceptable. Grandma quilts, modern surplus blankets, and poor quality reproductions are unacceptable.

Ground Cloths

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

Tentage

1. The enlistedmen of the Jefferson Artillery and Barbour Artillery were housed in Fly Tents and no other tentage is acceptable for these batteries. Individual detachments are encouraged to make one.  For further information and instruction on how to make a Fly Tent, see: https://www.libertyrifles.org/research/uniforms-equipment/confederate-tents

2. The enlistedmen of the Nottoway Artillery were housed in Sibley Tents and no other tentage is acceptable for this battery. Proper hand sewn Sibley Tents will be provided.

3. Officers of all batteries, and the battalion staff, were housed in Wall Tents. Proper hand sewn Wall Tents will be provided.

ARMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS

Cannoneers will not wear belts or any other equipment. Staff Sergeants only may choose to wear sabers or not, or carry a revolver or not.

*If you show up wearing a military waist belt, you’ll be told to leave it in the car. That would have been Ordnance Department property, not something you could acquire to hold up your pants. Get suspenders or pants that fit.

HORSE EQUIPMENT

Harness:

Captured and reissued U.S. Army artillery harness. The Nottoway Artillery, whose teams will be the focus of the mounted aspect of the event, utilized primarily U.S. Army Grimsley saddles and standard harness that had been issued to them. If you have headstalls and halters that match the 1848 pattern to include halter chains, bring them—receipts for their issue show up in the batteries’ records through 1863. Note that the sets of captured and reissued U.S. Army harness did not include halters, bridles, and blankets, so the guidelines below should be followed for those items.

Riding Saddles:

1. Citizen’s saddles, Texas saddles to include the Atlanta Arsenal version, and non-descript C.S. McClellan saddles.

2. Clarksville Ordnance Harness Shops Jenifer saddles, with or without valise, for members of the Nottoway Artillery.

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

*Clarksville McClellan saddles are unacceptable.

Saddle Blankets:

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

2. Imported British blankets and domestically-made wool blankets. The batteries had been resupplied with a significant number of woolen saddle blankets over the winter.

3. Carpet, citizen’s blankets and coverlets, U.S. Army sleeping blankets, etc.

Halters:

1. Rope halters. The common Confederate halter intended for use on wagon mules had found their way onto artillery horses by 1864 and receipts show many had been issued to the 2nd Battalion.

2. Halter-bridles.

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

Headstalls:

1. Southern-made headstall in fair, russet, or black leather.

2. Halter-bridles.

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

Bits:

1. Southern-made forged “loose ring” curb bits, typically issued with a leather curb strap, especially versions with the slobber bar associated with issue from Georgia.

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.

Nosebags:

1. None. Use a 50 pound tax-in-kind or grain sack in its place.

Combs, brushes, etc.:

1. Grooming equipment will be stored with battery property under the charge of the Quartermaster Sergeant and distributed at Stable Call. Mounted men may carry their own if they so choose.