View of the area where the 83rd PA will camp for
the TAPS 150 event at Berkeley Plantation
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Re-enactor Information and
Impression Guidelines for
“Birth of An American Tradition”
Taps 150
Harrison’s Landing, Virginia, June 22-24, 2012
Berkeley Plantation
12602 Harrison Landing Road,
Charles City, VA 23030 GOOGLE MAP
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THE EVENT
This event is on actual ground (Harrison’s Landing) where the Army of the Potomac came to rest following the Seven Days Battle. For those interested in doing a battle scenario there is a Seven Days event being held the week prior in Elizabethtown, PA.
What this event will be is a living history event depicting the soldiers of the 83rd PVI, 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. There is no battle scenario (powder burning) since there will be no Confederate units with which to engage. There will be opportunities for living history demonstrations, dress parade, a review by President Lincoln and General McClelland as happened 150 years ago. This is a wonderful chance to be part of the commemoration of the tradition of Taps that began at the location.
Harrison’s Landing June-August 1862
In addition to the soldier impressions, we would welcome quality civilians in roles that would make sense (e.g., contrabands, laundresses, even USSC) at an event that portrays the army after the Seven Days. Each and every impression outside of the 83rd PVI requirements listed below will have to be approved. A rule of thumb is: “If it was not here during the time period of late June-August, 1862, it will not be portrayed.” If you have a question please indeed ask.
The event over the weekend is more than just a Civil War re-enactment. It will have other components. Concerts each evening will feature music of the Civil War and Taps, plus there will be representation of the organizations TAPS 150 and Bugles Across America which will set up displays near the mansion and Tavern. There will be numerous buglers along with drum and Fife Corps adding to the musical favor of the weekend. The focal point of the weekend will be the re-dedication of the Taps 150 monument on Saturday June 23 at 1100. The monument, originally erected in 1969, will be formally re-dedicated in ceremonies on the grounds.
The Taps Monument at Berkeley Plantation
The area set up for the 83rd PVI is in a large field away from the mansion and surrounded on three sides by trees (the fourth side is the James River) with easy access for unloading. Parking for re-eactors in be in a field a few hundred feet away and concealed by trees.
For those re-enactors who truly want an event unencumbered by modern surroundings, this event will provide a chance for that
GENERAL INFORMATION
Participants will portray soldiers of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry encamped at Harrison’s Landing in the summer of 1862. If you have any questions about these guidelines please contact Michael Schaffner at m.a.schaffner@comcast.net.
If you believe you can contribute to this event with a different impression, such as a visiting civilian, laundress, “contraband,” or the like, please contact Michael with your proposal. Include a description of your impression and camping requirements and we’ll see what we can do.
Registration and Ranks
Reenactors who register as groups may have one officer for every 15 registrants and one NCO for every 5. Captains and first sergeants are subject to approval by the event organizers depending on how many total registrants we get and how many companies we form. (Our focus is on operational skills in an 1862 army.)
Individuals registering not as part of a group must do so as privates but can state a preference for higher rank. After registration closes we will form companies and select the leadership cadre according to registrants’ preferences and the needs of the event
SCENARIO GUIDELINES FOR TAPS 150
The goal of military reenactors at this event will be to faithfully portray the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry during their stay at Harrison’s Landing in July and August of 1862. Every one of you will have the special privilege of experiencing a little of what they experienced on this very site 150 years ago.
We will go live at 7 p.m. Friday night, June 22; at that point you’re in the Federal army. Officers will be responsible for giving appropriate orders, noncoms for overseeing the work, and privates for getting the work done.
Period rations will be issued on duplicate provision returns and wood on the appropriate requisition. You will sleep on the ground in dog tents and some of you will have to fall in for guard mount, which will begin Friday evening and continue through Sunday morning (we’ll limit the number of posts and so arrange the schedule that no one will be impaired for the drive home).
In addition to guard mount there will be fatigue details to get water, cook, police the campsite, and the like. We will also have several dress parades according to the schedule. For these you’ll be expected to show up with shined brass, blackened leathers, and clean weapons.
But it won’t all be work. We’ll have a number of activities representing day to day camp life, including a few or all of the following: sick call, mail call (including boxes from home), auctions of the effects of the deceased, boards of survey to determine responsibility for missing or marred equipment, and encounters with local civilians.
You’ll also have down time in which to chat with your comrades, play cards, visit the neighboring mansion (though you’ll need a pass for that), and simply listen during the day to concerts from modern and period bands.
Speaking of music, you can expect to hear the full range of camp calls on the bugle. If you don’t already know them, this will provide a great way to learn. Plus There will be two opportunities of skirmishing by the Bugle so it will be a good idea to familiarize yourself with them.
We encourage first person and will provide background information to you in advance on the 83rd, including where they came from and what they went through before they got to Harrison’s Landing. Modern visitors will come through camp during the day and both period and modern bands will play, but we’ll try to stay in 1862.
We have the honor of portraying one of the hardest fighting regiments of the Civil War, and of contributing to the experience of those coming to celebrate the birth of Taps where it actually occurred. It will be a great experience, and great fun.
Participants will portray soldiers of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry encamped at Harrison’s Landing in the summer of 1862. If you have any questions about these guidelines please contact Michael Schaffner by clicking HERE
If you believe you can contribute to this event with a different impression, such as a visiting civilian, laundress, “contraband,” or the like, please contact Michael with your proposal. Include a description of your impression and camping requirements and we’ll see what we can do.
Registration and Ranks
You may register individually or as part of a group. Reenactors that register as groups may have one officer for every 15 registrants and one NCO for every 5. Captains and first sergeants are subject to approval by the event organizers depending on how many total registrants we get and how many companies we form.
Individuals must register as privates but can state a preference for higher rank. After registration closes we will form companies and select the leadership cadre according to registrants’ preferences and the needs of the event.
Uniform Requirements
At the time of this event, the 83rd PVI has seen hard fighting but nonetheless has prepared for a review by the President and the army commander. As a general standard, all brass should be polished, leather blackened, and weapons cleaned. Clothing should be brushed clean with no obvious filth, missing buttons, or un-mended tears.
Clothing
The enlisted uniform will consist of a forage cap, fatigue blouse, sky blue trowsers, and army issued bootees. Quality reproductions will prove more comfortable and attractive, but while garments from high-end vendors are desirable they are less important than a neat and soldierly bearing.
The army issued domet or gray flannel shirts. Participants may wear these or other shirts of period make and construction.
Period drawers will work best for you but I won’t even pretend we’re going to check.
You should have gray or off-white wool socks. Period cotton socks are acceptable, but also their own punishment.
Noncommissioned officers will wear appropriate rank chevrons. Trowser stripes are desirable.
Commissioned officers will dress at their discretion, bearing in mind that the army commander and the President will see them.
Officers should have sashes for parade.
We expect officers and noncommissioned officers to set an example of neatness and military appearance.
Camp and Garrison Equipage
Enlisted men will have smooth-side canteens with either leather or cloth straps, painted haversacks, and one shelter half per man. We strongly discourage stainless steel canteens, but will accept such if it’s all you have.
Officers will have smooth-side or private purchase canteens, enlisted or private purchase haversacks, and one shelter tent (two halves) each.
Ordnance – Accoutrements
Enlisted personnel will have cleaned and freshly blackened cartridge boxes with belts, waist belts with leather or no keepers, and two-rivet scabbards.
Cartridge boxes will have US plates, cartridge box belts will have eagle plates, and waist belts will have US buckles.
Sergeants should have noncommissioned officer buckles for their waist belts.
Ordnance – Weapons
The quarterly ordnance return from the end of 1862 shows the 83rd PVI armed with 201 Springfields and 18 Enfields, but does not distinguish between the 1855, 1861, or contract Springfield.
Based on this, enlisted personnel should bring an 1861 Springfield, with an 1855 as a second choice, and an Enfield as third. If you only have an 1863 Springfield we’ll squint and call it a Colt contract variant.
Bring twenty rounds of ammunition for firing demos – 40 to 60 grains per round, wrapped in off white or brown paper (masking paper works well) with no staples or glue.
All rifle-muskets should have a bayonet that fits and a functional locking ring. All rifle-muskets and bayonets must be clean, free or nearly free of rust, and pass a safety inspection at registration.
We will pay close attention to this – a dirty or unsafe weapon will keep you out of the event.
Officers should have a foot officer’s sword and belt with eagle plate.
Other Items
We encourage period cutlery, tin boilers or muckets, and tin plates or canteen halves. You can also bring a light steel skillet. Please don’t bring cast iron frying pans, anything stainless steel, or any enamelware, speckled or otherwise.
Rations will be issued and will cover your nutritional needs for the weekend. If you have special dietary needs please let us know and we’ll try to accommodate.
You may bring additional food in any case, but it must be something reasonably accessible to the soldiers of the 83rd PVI at Harrison’s Landing and it must be wrapped in parchment paper, wrapping paper, or cloth.
Since we’ll portray the 83rd during the approximately five weeks they spent at Harrison’s Landing, you may bring additional appropriate baggage such as books, newspapers, magazines, bottles, boxes, stationery, chess sets, dominos, cards, and the like.
Keep it reasonable, though, and authentic to 1862 – we will do a spot check of haversacks and other gear at registration. We will politely ask you to remove any non-period items, confident that they got there by mistake.
Additional standards
It should perhaps go without saying, but here’s a list of what we don’t want to see:
*corps badges, harps, thistles, Masonic emblems, hat brass, animal appendages
*modern glasses
*wrist watches
*ear-rings or jewelry in lip or nose
*eccentrically colored or styled hair
*hair below the collar or a pony tail
Women may portray men in the ranks but should make every reasonable effort to conceal their sex.
For that matter, endomorphic men of a certain age should lose weight and look younger, too. If you figure out how to do that, please let me know.
All that said, we assume that anyone interested in registering for this event has a sincere interest in American history and in honoring the boys of the 83rd PVI. Work with us, and we’ll happily work with you.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
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QUESTIONS??
If you have any questions or concerns about the event from
the standpoint of Civil War re-enacting, ask!
All that said, we assume that anyone interested in registering for this event has a sincere interest in American history and in honoring the boys of the 83rd PVI. Work with us, and we’ll happily work with you.
BIRTH OF AN AMERICAN TRADITION EVENT 
