BACKGROUND

“General Long has given orders to build shelters for our horses here and to break up our old camp, for this indicates that we are to remain here. But, the first report I heard from General Long was that he said we would be here several days only. So I hardly know what to think or what to write to you. I fear we shall not return soon and that I shall not see you again until my furlough.” -Lt. W. B. Pettit

WINTER QUARTERS 1864 – A hyper-authentic 4-day soldier life experience event recreating the Fluvanna Artillery to full scale in their February 1864 camp. From Thursday to Sunday we will follow an original battery’s hours of service to the minute—every Stable Call, every drill, every Reveille, Retreat, and Tattoo. By Sunday we’ll be as close to a functioning Civil War artillery battery as is possible in 2026.

This event is BY INVITATION ONLY and will adhere to strict authenticity standards to include kit, age, and weight. All participants are expected to look and act like 1864 artillerymen from the Army of Northern Virginia. The focus will be on the minutiae of military life—horse care, camping, cooking, and drilling, a day in the life of a soldier! If you went to any of the Liberty Rifles' or 1st Section’s 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!

Rations: Food for both horse and man matching exactly what was provided to the unit being portrayed will be issued. All participants must arrive with an empty haversack.

Registration: Fee will be $85 for all participants. You must register via the link above and pay at www.paypal.me/winterquarters.

Thursday through Sunday: By registering, you acknowledge that attendance from 4pm Thursday to 10am Sunday is required for all participants.

THE FLUVANNA ARTILLERY

The men who served in the Fluvanna Artillery came from a rural area of the Virginia Piedmont west of Richmond along the Rivanna River. With an 1860 population of about 10,000, and just over half enslaved, the Fluvanna County economy was dependent upon agriculture. While few of the men on the Fluvanna Artillery rolls were property owners of any great standing, and even fewer slaveholders, their occupations were reflective of a community supported by a plantation economy. Most were either farmers, farm laborers, or farm overseers, and the remainder employed as tradesmen or on the Rivanna Canal that connected local plantations to Virginia markets.

Originally formed as two light artillery batteries in the summer of 1861, the Sons of Fluvanna Battery and Fluvanna Light Artillery would merge into the Fluvanna Consolidated Battery in 1862 (most often referred to as the “Fluvanna Artillery” afterwards). Usually attached to Nelson’s Battalion of the Artillery Reserve, their baptism of fire did not come until the summer of 1862 near Richmond. The Fluvanna Artillery suffered their first battle casualties during the Seven Days. Recuperating near Richmond for most of the summer, the artillerymen missed the action at Second Manassas and were held in reserve with their 6-pounders at Sharpsburg. Covering the retreat of Lee’s army back across the Potomac, the Fluvanna Artillery were heavily engaged at Shephersdstown, losing a gun and caisson.

The Fluvanna Artillery would fall under the command of Captain John Massie in October 1862, who was not a Fluvanna man but instead the popular former adjutant of Nelson’s Battalion. As the Army of Northern Virginia’s artillery scattered to ensure adequate forage for their horses, the battery spent a pleasant four months in their winter quarters at “Camp Comfort,” building huts so warm and sound that most men slept in their shirts and drawers. A skilled violinist in the camp attracted the attention of the local girls in Caroline County, and the men hosted a dance. Rations were issued in adequate quantities and the battery even acquired a cow, which supplied the men with milk for the winter.

Trading in their 6-pounders, the Fluvanna Artillery, now armed with three Light 12 Pounder “Napoleon” Guns and one 3 Inch Rifle, followed Nelson’s Battalion to its new assignment in the artillery reserve of General Richard Ewell’s corps in the spring of 1863. The Fluvanna Artillery occupied several positions at Gettysburg but were never engaged. Having sent their wagons ahead during the retreat, the battery lost a dozen men, their five black servants, and their wagons carrying the Fly Tents, mess gear, and cannoneers’ knapsacks containing their winter clothing (which they had not turned in for storage before the start of the campaign) when the unguarded wagons were surprised by Federal cavalry.

The Fluvanna Artillery guarded Kelly’s Ford throughout the autumn of 1863, marched through the Bristoe Campaign, and were hotly engaged in November, suffering 8 casualties. The battery constructed their winter quarters at Frederick’s Hall with Fly Tent-roofed log huts and lumber stables but were ordered back to the front on February 6 in response to Meade’s demonstrations along the Confederate lines. Rather than being sent back to their recently built huts, the Fluvanna Artillery was ordered to establish a new winter quarters closer to the front, not far from the Plank Road east of Orange Court House.

The officers of the Fluvanna Artillery resented the inconvenience and requested Sibley tents and additional clothing and blankets for the men. Two dozen men were sent home on leave, many with horses, and nearly another two dozen found themselves on other detatched duties. The remainder of the battery settled back into camp life. A far cry from their former “Camp Comfort,” meals prepared by the battery’s cooks changed little, composed mostly of beef, cornmeal, salt, rice, a bit of coffee. The company baggage wagon was sent to Fluvanna County to gather additional supplies from the soldier’s families. The daily schedule of roll calls, stable calls, inspections of quarters, and drill was monotonous, but maintained the organization’s discipline. While the number of both horses and men were lower than usual, routine care of animals, harness, ammunition, and equipment kept the gun detachments, drivers, and Spare Men busy.

IMPRESSION GUIDELINES

GENERAL

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 or the Liberty Rifles, and will not be the case at Winter Quarters. All participants MUST conform to the following requirements and guidelines, and all uniforms and equipment must be made with period patterns, materials, and construction.

Participants must be of an age and weight to reasonably appear like a Civil War soldier. 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.

Leather should be blacked on one side only, uniforms and equipment should be exact copies of extant originals, and 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.

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, modern underwear, modern socks, modern glasses, modern haircuts, or any other anachronistic items are wholly unacceptable.

Group Buy options will be available for most of the items in these guidelines at www.cwgroupbuy.com.

CLOTHING

“We shall have plenty of clothing for the men tomorrow. I shall supply myself with pants, shirts, shoes, socks and jackets. You need not trouble yourself about these things for me. I lost my yarn gloves in my knapsack and, if you can, I would be obliged if you could knit me a pair.” -Lt. W. B. Pettit

Bring lots!

The Fluvanna Artillery was accustomed to comfortable winter quarters, support from their home county, and officers that made every effort to ensure the men had adequate (and even an excess of) warm clothing even as the war dragged on. While the cannoneers had recently lost all of their baggage to include their mattress ticks, extra flannel shirts, and overcoats, requisitions were made to alleviate the situation. Nearly two complete sets of uniforms were provided to the men, as well as additional blankets and overcoats for those who needed them.

Participants are REQUIRED to have at least one blue grey wool Richmond jacket. A second blue grey wool Richmond jacket, a jeans 4-button jacket, or even a logwood jeans Richmond jacket is highly encouraged in addition to the first blue grey wool jacket.

Participants are highly encouraged to bring two pairs of government issue pants, both cotton issue shirts and a wool flannel shirt, and overcoats.

As a guide for how much to bring, participants should be heading into camp wearing one set of clothing, with another set of clothing and a blanket or overcoat filling their knapsack, and an extra blanket tied into a bedroll. If you are having difficulty making it fit, have a sack of excess stuff in addition to the above, or have a trunk despite being an enlistedman, you’ve gone a bit overboard and need to scale it back. These guys were trying to live comfortably while still being able to haul all of their baggage in one wagon.

Jacket

1. Richmond Clothing Bureau jacket made of imported blue grey wool is REQUIRED.

2. A second Richmond Clothing Bureau jacket made of imported blue grey wool.

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

4. A Richmond Clothing Bureau “Type 2” jacket made of logwood jeans is acceptable as a second jacket.

*Miscellaneous uniforms, “commutation jackets,” citizen’s coats, Tait jackets, other-than-Richmond blue grey wool jackets, and uniforms with linings other than plain white cotton osnaburg, are unacceptable without prior approval.

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

Overcoat

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

2. None. If you do not have a very high quality overcoat, go without. We’d prefer you have an extra blanket instead of a mediocre overcoat.

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.

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.

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 also perfectly 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.

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.

BAGGAGE

Knapsack

Knapsacks are strongly encouraged for all participants. 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.

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

*Drivers and other mounted men should strap their baggage to off horses or their saddles. Mounted men can pack their baggage in knapsacks and can strap those knapsacks to off horses, as this is noted to have been done by the Fluvanna Artillery.

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.

2. Properly made (not mainstream sutler row junk) mattress ticks are acceptable for drivers (who had them strapped to off horses while the cannoneers’ ticks were in wagons that had been captured.

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.

Haversack

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

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

Tentage

The Fluvanna Artillery’s enlistedmen were housed in Sibley tents in February 1864, with additional Wall Tents and Fly Tents utilized for other purposes. All tentage for the event will be provided by the event organizers.

Mess Equipment

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.

ARMS AND ACCOUTREMENTS

1. Enlistedmen WILL NOT WEAR BELTS or any other equipment.


*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.

*Earlier in the war most if not all of the members of the Fluvanna Artillery carried large knives. While most of those that remained were lost with the capture of the battery’s baggage after Gettysburg, it is reasonable to assume that some drivers, who kept their baggage on the off horses of their teams and did not lose it, may still have had them.

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.

SADDLE

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 BLANKET

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.

HALTER

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

2. Halter-bridle.

3. Rope halter.

4. 1848 pattern artillery halter with halter chain as opposed to a leather hitching strap.

HEADSTALL

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

2. Halter-bridle.

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

BIT

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 BAG

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