Nevada Civil War Volunteers Authenticity

The purpose of reenacting is to accurately reflect life during the War of the Rebellion and, in this manner, educate the public on life during the 1860s.  To this end, all clothing and equipment should be as authentic as possible.

Our members are urged to equip themselves as authentically and as soon as possible so that they can maximize their participation at NCWV events.  When an individual joins the NCWV, the Chief of Staff will assign a veteran member to assist and advise the new member in the procurement of equipment.

It is understood that equipping oneself can be a very expensive.  As such, a 18 month  period is given for each member to fully equip themselves.   Until such time, the NCWV will attempt to outfit the new member so that he can participate in NCWV events.  Veteran NCWV members may have equipment that can be temporarily loaned out.  It should be understood that this may not always be possible.  Equipping oneself with non-period gear is strongly discouraged.   In other words, no polyester pants, sunglasses, etc.; if it didn't exist before 1866, it doesn't need to exist in the Nevada Civil War Volunteers of today.

You can purchase your equipment through a wide variety of Sutlers.  Your veteran member will be able to help you obtain sutler addresses for catalogs or web sites.   Always, always, contact your veteran member before you buy.  Your veteran member will help you identify what equipment you need and where to get it.  In this way you will be less likely to purchase non-period (farbe) equipment.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

Confederate Uniforms

• Wool Shell Jacket or Sack Coat:  Shell Jacket is the most common and therefore most preferred.  Gray or butternut.  Use Confederate "I" buttons instead of the usual "CSA" buttons that most jackets come with.
• Wool Trousers:  Gray, butternut, or sky blue.  Sky blue, although less common, is appropriate and useful if members are needed to galvanize Federal troops.
• Suspenders:  Recommend 100% cotton ticked or canvas; other styles now sold were not as common during the Civil War.
• Kepi, Bummer, or Slouch Hat:  Slouch hats were far and away the most common and, for the most part, without decoration.  Kepis and Bummers are also accepted.
• Beltplate:  Brass, oval, marked CS or square, marked CSA.

Union Uniforms

• Sack Coat:  Wool, dark blue, four button front.
• Wool Trousers:  Sky blue
• Suspenders:  Recommend 100% cotton ticked or canvas; other styles now sold were not as common during the Civil War.
• Kepi, Bummer, or Slouch Hat:
• Beltplate:  Brass, oval, marked US.

GENERAL EQUIPMENT

• Cotton Shirt:  Almost any authentic color, small calicos, white or checked.   Shell or Mother of Pearl buttons.  No wood buttons; those were only put on underwear.
• Brogans:  Black (US or CS) or Tan (CS).
• Socks:  Gray Wool.
• Waistbelt:  Black (US or CS) or Brown (CS).
• Cartridge Box:  Black (US or CS) or Brown (CS).  Confederates tended to hang their Cartridge Box directly on their waistbelt.  Yankees mostly used a shoulder strap (black) with a Brass Eagle Breastplate.
• Cap Box:  Black (US or CS) or Brown (CS).
• Rifle-musket:  3-band Springfield or Enfield.  Confederates preferred the 3-band Enfield.
• Bayonet and Scabbard:  Specific to the Rifle-musket.
• Haversack:  Black Tarred (US or CS) or White Cotton Duck (CS).
• Canteen:  Dish Style, Wool covered Dark or Sky Blue (US or CS) or Drum Style (CS).
• Drawers (underwear):  Made of muslin; makes wearing wool trousers a little more bearable.
• Eyeglasses:  If you wear glasses you should consider a pair of period style frames and loose the "photo-grays".  While contacts might be a reasonable substitute, the dirt from camping out on the ground and the smoke from battles and campfires, as well as the difficulty of cleaning contacts in a camp environment may make contacts a significant problem.

SECONDARY EQUIPMENT
(good stuff to have if you plan to camp authentic)

• Tin Cup, Tin Plate, Wood or Bone Handle Knife, Fork (three prong), and Spoon.
• Blanket:  Wool, Gray or Brown.
• Gum Blanket or Poncho.
• Period Tent (or Shebag):  More often than not Yankees had tents.  Its size depended mostly on rank.  (Private:  1/2 Dog Tent (shared with another private's 1/2 Dog Tent); NCO: Wedge Tent; Officer:  Wall Tent.)  The higher in rank, the bigger the tent.  Confederates, on the other hand, were lucky to see a tent.  Most made do with a blanket--a fact frequently ignored today--or shebag.  A shebag is a makeshift tent or lean-to, made of scraps of canvas or gum blanket.
• Folding Stool:  Wood with canvas seat.
• Candle Lantern:  Nice to have when the wind blows.
• Camp Chest:  Wooden Box large enough to hold a Cooler to keep you food and drinks cool.

AUTHENTIC CAMPING

The Nevada Civil War Volunteers encourages its members to camp authentic; but, this is not an absolute rule.  The decision to camp authentic is up to each individual,  but all members must be prepared to attend all formations in the authentic camp. 

Anything not period (i.e., drink cans, plastic cups, hamburger wrappers, &c.) is strictly forbidden from sight in the authentic camp.  Items such as these must be disguised or hidden from view or not brought into the authentic camp.  Cover up any sleeping bags, plastic coolers, and other such items with period style blankets or ponchos and keep them in the tent at all times.

If an individual plans to camp modern, stay in a motel, or go home for the night, it is his responsibility to learn the event schedule and attend all formations.   Daily event schedules are available from the Commanding Officer or Chief of Staff.

LEVELS OF AUTHENTICITY

Level 1.  Hint of period dress. 

People wearing some period or period-looking clothing.  Modern clothing and  accessories are freely mixed with period items.

 

Level 2.  Participants look old-timely to the uninitiated.

Textiles may not be correct, garments may have zippers, and contemporary items that look old are used.  Other anachronisms such as modern glasses and shoes are accepted.

 

Level 3.  Participant looks authentic from a short distance.

Clothes are correct for the period and all obvious anachronisms such as modern glasses, watches, etc., are eliminated.  If hair isn't exactly correct, it isn't obviously modern.  Speech and actions not consistent with the period are not allowed.   This is the FIRST level where there may be an audience and the MINIMUM level of authenticity for NCWV members.

 

Level 4.  Participant is authentic.

All clothes and accessories are either original to the period or museum quality reproductions.  Participant actions and speech are in character with the benefit of Hollywood stereotypes.  This is the level of authenticity to reach and maintain.

 

Level 5.  First Person Impression.

Participant knows their history, what they do in their daily lives, and know the issues of the time.   Political correctness is acceptable for the period in question.  This is the level of authenticity to strive for.

 

Level 6.  Participant believes he is from the past--not recommended!

MILITARY STRUCTURE

 The organization of the military and its associated rank structure for the Nevada Civil War Volunteers is as follows and applies to both Union and Confederate forces.

 The formation of an infantry or cavalry company is based on the premise of a minimum of six members organizing to form a company.  The rank structure of this initial company organization will be 1 sergeant and 5 privates.  As each company recruits new privates to its ranks, promotions of officers will be based on the following ratios:

    5 privates + 1 sergeant                                                                                        =          6 men

  8 privates + 2 corporals + 1 sergeant                                                                 =        11 men

12 privates + 3 corporals + 2 sergeants + 1 lieutenant                                        =        18 men

16 privates + 4 corporals + 3 sergeants + 1 lieutenant + 1 captain                     =        25 men

20 privates + 5 corporals + 3 sergeants + 1 lieutenant + 1 captain                     =        30 men

24 privates + 6 corporals + 4 sergeants + 2 lieutenants + 1 captain                   =        37 men

28 privates + 7 corporals + 4 sergeants + 2 lieutenants + 1 captain                   =        42 men

32 privates + 8 corporals + 5 sergeants + 2 lieutenants + 1 captain                   =        48 men

 The formation of an artillery battery is based on the premise of a minimum of 3 members organizing to service a gun. The rank structure of this initial gun crew will be 1 sergeant and two privates.  As each gun crew recruits new privates or as new guns are added to the battery, promotions of officers will be based on the following ratios:

            1 gun:      2 privates + 1 sergeant                                                                             =          3 men

               3 privates + 1 corporal + 1 sergeant                                                         =          5 men

               4-5 privates + 2 corporals + 1 sergeant                                                    =      7-8 men

2 guns:     gun crew for each gun as list above + 1 lieutenant                                 =    7-25 men

4 guns:     gun crew for each gun as listed above + 2 lieutenants + 1 captain        =  15-35 men

6 guns:     gun crew for each gun as listed above + 3 lieutenants + 1 captain        =  22-52 men

 Typically a Federal Artillery Battery consisted of six (6) guns while a Confederate Artillery Battery consisted of four (4) guns.

 The brigade command structure will be based on the number of infantry and cavalry companies or artillery batteries each commanded by a captain using the following ratios:

            1 company/battery:             no brigade command structure

2-3 companies/batteries:     Major as brigade commander and 1 adjutant

4-5 companies/batteries:     Lt Colonel as brigade commander and 2 adjutants

            6+ companies/batteries:      Colonel as brigade commander and 1 adjutant for every 2 companies/batteries.

It is recommended that all appointments and promotions of rank at the company/battery level be by general election of the members of the company/battery.  All appointments and promotions of rank at the brigade level must be by general election of the brigade members.  Company and brigade elections should be held after January 1^st either at a tactical event or before the first spectator event of the year.

Nevada Civil War Volunteers
Bylaws * Safety Standards * Safety Questionnaire * Cavalry Certification
 Staff * Events * Authenticity * Sutlers 
Membership Application
1st Nevada Volunteer Battalion
  3rd Co., Bttn of SS, McGowan's SC Brigade