commander's message - unit portrayals - artillery guidelines - looking '62 - camping - hints & suggestions


1. Only full-scale artillery allowed – no mountain howitzers, and must have fully equipped limber.

2. Uniform – head gear is a forage cap - no civilian, slouch or other type head gear. Officers can wear a kepi (as much of their kit was private purchase). Artillery Mounted Service jacket (or fatigue blouse), bootees (i.e. brogans) or artillery ankle boots permitted. Period issue canteen, haversack, blanket roll or knapsack. Refer to “Looking 1862”portion of the web site.

3. No camp furniture – this includes stools, chairs, tables, and other “lawn furniture”.

4. No metal cooking grates

5. Tenting – is being research and will be announce shortly, but shelter halves, under the tarpaulin (or under the stars) will most likely be preferred, - it’s August or September 1862, only few if any  common (“A”) tents and no wall tents were being transported by field artillery on campaign at this point in the war.

6. No small arms (swords, pistols, rifles, carbines, etc.) – don’t even bring them. Officers may carry a sword and side arm.

7. Rank - Officers and NCO's are assigned by the artillery coordinator prior to the event - all other attendees are to arrive as a private, no exceptions. Typical command structure for a battery of two sections or a single section/piece (based on the scenario) is one Captain (section or greater), a Lieutenant per section, a Corporal per gun detachment as Gunner, other NCOs as necessary such as Chief of the Piece.

8. No female “artillerymen.” If a women is discovered in the ranks she will be asked to leave immediately.

9. Camp - no women or children are permitted in the artillery camp except as temporary visitors and they will be escorted at all times, the escort to be assigned by an officer or NCO.

10. Drill - Hunt, Barry and French drill per the manual must be followed and this drill will be enforced with NPS modifications which are: (1) worming the piece to remove foil; (2) priming the piece #3 does not place his hand over the vent to hold the primer in place; (3) before the fire command #3 moves to his position clear of the vent and wheel. No dry sponging on field pieces.

11. Section chief and gunner commands are limited to the HBF manual. For example there are no commands: prepare to fire, priming the piece, lid open, lid closed etc.

12. Standard implements must be used - no shepherd crook rammers, wrought iron implement stands, or other contraptions, only field artillery issued equipment for the time period, no unit guidons.

13. A Military atmosphere is maintained and proper protocol observed for the entire event starting 18:00 hours Friday until the end of the event.