The 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry
Federal Command Staff Wolcott 2007
Command Staff:
Will Eichler has accepted overall command of the Union forces for the Skirmish at Walcott Mill. Will was chosen for his high authenticity standards. He is extremely knowledgeable concerning Union tactics and soldiering. Will's leadership skills and ability to reach out and help others improve their authenticity, he became our 1st and only choice for Federal Commander. Will has been instrumental in raising the Michigan's reenacting bar.
The are extremely pleased to have Will as our Overall Federal Commander,
The Skirmish at Wolcott Mill event committee
Federal Commander Will Eichler
Gentlemen of the Army of the Potomac,
Greetings! As we draw closer to the revitalized Wolcott Mill event, I write this letter to let you know a little about the event. The Wolcott Mill event will be different in some ways than the event you might have attended in past years and this letter will help you plan for the changes.
The Scenario:
Battalion Structure and Details:
We will portray a battalion detached from the 17th Maine to brush off the Confederate probing force for the weekend. Because of this, we will not have a complete staff. I hope we will have two to three companies in the battalion. Each company will have as close to 20 men in rank and file plus the officers and sergeants as we can get. The following structure is set for the weekend:
Lieutenant Colonel – Will Eichler
Quartermaster - unassigned
Sergeant Major – Sam Lowe
General Guide/Clerk – Tim Sheehy
Senior Company Commander – Scott Cummings
2nd Company Commander – unassigned
3rd Company Commander (if needed) – unassigned
Special orders
All company commanders will be responsible for organizing their companies.
Drill for the weekend will be by Casey’s.
Parade rest will come from the manuals not the regulations.
Individual Impression
A thanks goes to Chris Suppelsa for his work on the uniform guidelines. He did the first draft that is edited in its final for here. Thanks, Chris!
Federal Uniform Guidelines for Skirmish at the Mill
By Chris Suppelsa
Purpose - The purpose of these guidelines is to attempt to recreate men of the 4th Michigan Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Antietam Campaign in September of 1862. We are portraying the actions in and around Shepherds Town, Va. at the end of the Antietam Campaign.
General Notes - As the purpose of these guidelines is to create a generic representation of the Army of the Potomac, we ask that there is to be no state or unit specific equipment in the ranks. This includes but is not limited to New York State Jackets, Corps Badges, and Ohio Breastplates. Thank you for your cooperation.
All items are listed in order of preference.
Headgear
Canada Hats - ( Maroon in Color and manufactured of wool felt) - ( for authenticity purposes, all the hats will be inspected for accuracy. No other colors will be allowed. Each Canada Hat will also include the proper tassel.)
The 4th Michigan were very proud of their Canada Hats. There are statements in their personal journals indicating their refusal to wear government issued hats up to the time they came under the command of Colonel Harrison Jeffords in 1863
Federal Forage Cap
Civilian Slouch Hat
Note- all headgear should be devoid of any insignia.
Coats
Federal Schuylkill Arsenal Fatigue Blouse
Federal Contract Fatigue Blouse
Federal Dress Coat
Shirts
Civilian Shirt - ( The 4th Michigan were partial to blue and white check civilian patterned shirts. If you have one please wear it.)
Federal Issue shirt – either arsenal or contract made
Trousers
Federal Schuylkill Arsenal Trousers
Federal Contract Trousers
We ask that all soldiers endeavor to wear sky blue trousers. The 4th Michigan were issued sky blue trousers after the Seven Days Campaign. They would no longer have dark blue trousers. The dark blue trousers would have been returned with the issue of the sky blues.
Drawers
Federal Issue Drawers
Civilian Drawers
Socks
Federal Issue Socks
Civilian Socks
Note- Every participant is encouraged to bring at least 2 pairs of socks.
Shoe
Federal Issue Shoes
Since we will be in the field all day on Saturday and moving quite a bit, boots are discouraged to care for your feet. Boots were popular with the men during long breaks in camp, but not as much while on campaign. We encourage you not to find out why this weekend!
Belt
Federal Belt with Leather Keeper
Federal Belt with Brass Keeper
The brass belt keeper we have in the hobby was not issued until the first quarter of 1864 so wouldn’t have been at the Antietam Campaign. If you have a choice, please bring the earlier style with the leather keeper.
Cap Box
Federal M1857 Cap Box
Federal “Shield Front” Cap Box
Bayonet Scabbard
Federal 2 Rivet Model
Federal 7 Rivet Model
As with the Belt, the 7-rivet scabbard was a later war model. If you can, please bring the two-rivet style.
Cartridge Box
Federal M1861 .58 Cartridge Box with cartridge box strap
We also strongly encourage the use both the box and sling plate. Also, please bring tins for your cartridge box if you have them.
Haversack
Federal Regulation tarred Haversack
Canteen
US M1858 Smooth side Canteen
US M1862 Bullseye Canteen
Note – As newer research shows that leather slings were more common in the early war.
Firearm
M1861/M1863 Springfield Rifled Musket
M1853 Enfield Rifled Musket
1842 Springfield Musket - (Limited numbers) - (Most companies had received their new rifled muskets by then.)
The 4th Michigan started the war with buck and ball smoothbore muskets. Depending on when the individual Companies received replacement rifles they could have been issued an 1853 model Enfield or a 1861 Model Springfield.
Note - It is recommended that all firearms be “defarbed” and all must have a matching bayonet
Blanket
Federal Blanket – with “US” chain-stitched on the center if possible
Ground cloth
Federal Gum Blanket
Federal Poncho
Overcoat (Optional)
Federal Enlisted Man’s Overcoat
Tentage
Federal Shelter Half
Note - Each man should carry only one shelter half. Iron tent pegs are discouraged. We have no documentation that the triangle shaped ends so popular from some modern manufacturers were ever made. For that reason, please refrain from using them.
Knapsack
Federal Knapsack
Blanket Roll
Mess Gear
As a rule, all participants should possess a cup, plate and utensils. It is recommended that all participants form into “messes” of 2-4 men in order to divide the workload and to carry mess equipment such as a hatchet, skillet, small coffee pot etc…
Personal Items
All personal items such as cards, nightcaps, and pipes are welcomed, as long as they are appropriate to October 1863. Still, please bear in mind that you are portraying a soldier on campaign, and would have to carry all of your possessions with you.
