Bentonville Guidelines
Preface
It is my hope that you and your units may find Lt. Williams’ recommended guidelines helpful. Please keep in mind that these are what is stated – recommendations. It is neither my desire nor intent to make demands upon you or your units but most all of us can benefit with suggestions and tips on how to mold our impressions to better suit the historical considerations of the events that we attend together. Not only do we as reenactors benefit, but the public does as well for they get a more accurate view of what we are there to educate them about. To that end I have asked Lt. Williams and the rest of our AIG staff to be prepared to offer similar guidance and recommendations for future events we will attend. Neither he, nor I, pretends to be the final authority on such things and we are both always open to additions, corrections and constructive criticisms you may wish to offer. We will always run these guidelines by unit commanders first, or those you may wish to designate for your command, so as to incorporate any agreed upon changes before the document is shared more fully to your membership.
At that point I would urge you to disseminate the document as fully to your membership as is possible by way of digital and printed newsletters you regularly publish or by direct hand out at events and meetings etc… In this way we will try to give our men timely opportunity to tailor their impressions if they are so capable and inclined.
J.H. Stepp, Brig.Gen., Cmd’g
The Carolina Legion & 1st Brigade Southern Division
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Recommended Uniform Standards
For General J. H. Stepp’s Division,
Bentonville, NC Reenactment, 2010
For General J. H. Stepp’s Division,
Bentonville, NC Reenactment, 2010
Prepared by:
1st Lt. Robert A. Williams
AAIG, Carolina Legion
The Confederate military force that opposed Sherman’s advance through North Carolina was, in fact, a combination of three distinct Southern armies. They included General Joseph E. Johnston’s veteran Army of Tennessee, troops from General Braxton Bragg’s Department of North Carolina, and General William J. Hardee’s amalgamated Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. As such, adopting a single impression for such a heterogeneous body of men to fit all scenarios is a virtual impossibility. Rather, the guidelines as offered below represent a composite sample of uniform types that would have been seen at the Battle of Bentonville. One consistent theme that is strongly encouraged is the use of as much Confederate manufactured equipment as possible vs. captured Federal accouterments. While surely some Union gear was in use, many of the Southern forces came from local or coastal defense garrisons and had no opportunity to acquire such items. Choices are listed in order of preference. It goes without saying that clothing and equipment should be constructed of proper materials and according to authentic patterns in use at the time.
Headgear
1) A well constructed slouch hat in gray, brown or black with appropriate ribbon and binding. This includes Federal style Hardee hats. Avoid Federal hat cords and shapeless hillbilly type hats. Hat brass should be at a minimum.
2) A gray or butternut forage cap or kepi of jeans cloth or blue-gray English army cloth. These may have various configurations of branch of service trim. Many erstwhile coastal artillerymen served as “red infantry” at Bentonville, so red caps are acceptable in some units.
3) An occasional Federal blue forage cap is also allowed but discouraged.
Note: The wearing of nipple picks or friction primers on caps/hats is a modern reenactorism and detracts from an otherwise good impression.
Jackets/Coats
1) A six-button jeans cloth shell jacket of either NC Depot, SC (Charleston), or GA (Milledgeville) pattern.
2) Columbus Depot pattern jacket also of gray jeans with blue collar and cuffs.
3) An untrimmed 7-9 button Richmond Depot pattern jacket of either gray jeans or blue-gray kersey is also suitable since many of the men had seen recent service with the Army of Northern Virginia.
4) Frock coats and civilian coats are fine in limited numbers as are imported Peter Tait English manufactured jackets. Hand worked buttonholes are strongly recommended. A plain, serviceable look is the best look. Always.
Buttons
According to jacket. Most any type with documented period use is acceptable including those ubiquitous “CSA” buttons.
Trousers
Lots of leeway here with gray, brown, or various shades of blue jeans being the norm. Pattern should be of period design. No modern pants. Captured Federal trousers are OK if that’s all you got, but should be kept to a minimum.
Footwear
Period shoes are a must.
1) Civilian or Confederate made army shoes in either black or russet.
2) English made import shoes, buckle or tie styles.
3) Federal army issue brogans.
Socks
Wool socks in a variety of colors are recommended. Gray or brown are suggested. Cotton knitted socks are also authentic but do not wicker moisture as well. Please no modern hunting socks with brightly colored top bands.
Shirts
Belts
Plain civilian pattern belts with roller buckles or Confederate made belts with a brass “Georgia Frame” buckle are always a good choice. Captured Federal belts are also OK. However, at this stage of the war, rectangular brass “CSA” buckles or rounded-corner “CS” plates were a frequently issued item and numerous examples have been recovered at Bentonville and other sites from the Carolinas Campaign.
Cartridge/Cap Boxes
Confederate made boxes of either black or russet leather are preferred but Federal issue items are certainly OK. English made import items are an excellent choice. Cartridge box may be worn on belt or with sling. Avoid use of Federal breastplates if sling is worn.
Shoulder Arms
Three banders only. While the M1853 Enfield is clearly the best choice, Springfields are likewise fine. Smoothbore muskets (M1816 Conversions, M1842 patterns) are also appropriate in limited numbers since some of the coastal garrison troops still carried these antiquated weapons.
According to the 145th Bentonville website; " 25. No Zouave, Hawkins, or Mississippi rifles. No two-banders will be allowed on the battlefield. Henry and Spencer rifles are perfectly acceptable for FEDERAL USE ONLY at this event."
Canteens/Haversacks
Tin canteens of the CS drum or Federal patterns (either smoothside or bullseye) are best. Wooden canteens are also fine provided they are of correct construction. The Gardner pattern is much preferred. CS white cotton haversacks are suggested over Federal painted types but either is appropriate.
Tin ware
Cups should be tin, not speckleware or enamelware.
Blankets
Made of wool of documented patterns including “NC” blankets, gray or brown Federal types with or without “US” stitching, or civilian styles. Homespun bedding including quilts and floor cloths are also fine.
Other Items
Avoid the penchant to wear “bling-blings” or other non-military items on your uniforms. These include Irish harps, fraternal order badges, coon tails and other superfluous adornments on caps or uniforms, or anything else where you are trying to make a statement.
A final word about this event: Carry as little as possible onto the field. Learn to share cooking gear, tentage, etc. Form messes. Leave superfluous stuff in your car. As General Richard Ewell once said, “The road to glory can not be followed with a lot of baggage.” If you find yourself asking what difference all this really makes, then this event is probably not for you. Plus your impression won’t detract from others who do make the effort .A unit’s impression is only as good as that of its least authentic member. Let’s hope it’s not you!
For further reading and research on this subject see:
Mark L. Bradley, Last Stand in the Carolinas: The Battle of Bentonville
Time-Life Books, Editors, Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy
Ron Field, Brassey’s History of Uniforms: American Civil War Confederate Army
In addition to Lt. Williams’ reading list above, for those who may desire and have time for additional reading on Bentonville, I would like to add the following - J.H. Stepp:
Mark A. Moore, Moore’s Historical Guide To The Battle of Bentonville:
This is the perfect companion to Bradley’s Last Stand in the Carolinas listed by Lt. Williams above as it provides detailed tactical level maps of the engagement, photos of the battlefield as it appears today as well as period images and contextual battle narrative too. Bentonville was fought over a three day period and over a wide expanse of land. It can be a complicated and confusing engagement to follow without good maps which is what Moore provides in admirable fashion.
Nathaniel Cheairs Hughes, Jr., Bentonville: The Final Battle of Sherman & Johnston
While Bradley’s book on Bentonville is likely the most definitive study to date of the battle, particularly in regard to the tactical aspects of the fighting, Hughes offers a good study as well and incorporates more of a broader strategic context for the engagement.
There are a number of regimental and unit histories written by veterans of the battle as well as the published reports in the OR’s for those wanting more detail. Feel free to contact me for more stuff calculated to make your eye glass lenses thicker should the above not satisfy.
