The Hedgesville Dispatch
The Newsletter of Co E 2nd VA Vol Inf.
Stonewall Brigade

As Winter Camp drew near, word went out that Mother Nature had done its nastiest this year in and around the Capon Bridge area of which our beloved Camp George is located. Capt. Galleher had been in contact with the property’s care taker and was informed that one to two feet of snow still remained on the ground and a lot of drifting had also occurred. As the weekend of Winter Camp due nearer and after several situation updates later, the Captain had to put the word out that Winter Camp 2003 had officially been canceled. However, on an unofficial note, the weekend was still a go for those members living in the area that wanted to gather for a scaled down version of Winter Camp if they owned a good 4x4 with tires in good condition. Roughly six members were able to make it to camp and they stayed in the 27^{th’s hut. All huts were inspected for weather related damage and surprisingly all huts survived the heavy snows and are reported to be in as good as shape as when last seen on work weekend. Although the weekend was officially called, the few members that were able to make it to Camp George enabled the Captain to still lay claim to the fact the in all his 18+ years, Winter Camp has always been held. Only the SWB could overcome such conditions!}

(March 29th or April 5th ?)

As mentioned above, there is a whole lot of snow at CG. Unless Mother Nature soon begins to cooperate with lots of above 50-degree days and hold off on the snow, our March 29th drill date could be in jeopardy. However, as all our veteran members well know, Spring Drill is our most important weekend of everything we do. Spring Drill cannot and will not be canceled. The April 5th weekend is the official backup weekend for Spring Drill. Until otherwise informed, Spring Drill will be held, as scheduled on the March 29th weekend. However, it is critical that you plan now and make any necessary arrangements to make yourself available for either weekend should it become necessary to postpone our drill until the following weekend April 5th. So, for now, Drill is set for Friday, March 28th. It is mandatory for all members of 2E as well as all members of the Brigade. Please drive carefully and arrive as early as possible.

Friday

Noon- Arrive as soon as possible

0600- Post the Guard/Pickets/Sentinels

1000- Recall the Guard

1000- Extinguish Lights

Saturday

0600- Wake-Up

0615- RollCall

0630- Awkward Squad/ Police Detail/ Veteran Drill

0715- Recall

0730- Breakfast

0830- SWB Drill (NCOs)-School of the Soldier & Company / Company Officers'

Battalion School

Noon- Recall/ Lunch/ Sutlers'

0200- SWB Drill (Officers)-School of the Platoon & Company

0430- Recall

0500- SWB Boat Race

0600- Dinner

0800- Minstrel Show (?)

0900- Extinguish Lights

SUNDAY

0600- Wake-Up

0616- RollCall

0630- Awkward Squad/ Police Detail/ Veteran Drill

0700- Recall

0715- Breakfast

0800- Church Call (15 minutes)

0900- SWB Drill (officers)-School of the Battalion & Skirmish

Noon- Recall

1215- The General/ Dismiss the SWB

____________________________________________________________________________

*The total drill for the weekend will be 10 hours and 15 minutes.

A few members have not yet paid their dues and have thus far failed to make arrangements for payment with the Treasurer. Unless you have decided that you are not going to continue being a member of 2E, your dues are now in a past due status and payment is due now. As in the past and required by all our members, you have to pay to play. Please submit your check to Roger or save postage and bring your dues to Spring Drill. Dues are $20 per regular member. If you have some circumstance that would or will prevent you from paying your dues now, contact Roger and make some arrangement for when you will be able to take care of this.

Send your dues to: Roger Boschetto

The events listed below that are designated with an astrick (*) are maximum effort.

Mar 29-30 Spring Drill *

April Open (remember Spring Drill is the last weekend in March and McDowell is the 1st

May 2-4 Battle of McDowell *

May 23-25 Kernstown Living History

June 6-8 National CW Museum *

July 18-20 1st Manassas Living History

August Open

September Ridley Creek State Park * or

October "War on the James"

Nov 15 SWB Banquet

Presently no word has yet been received as to which events will make up the brigade schedule for this season. Most likely this will be hammered out sometime during Spring Drill.

Regarding Gettysburg. As you can see from the full compliment of events listed above in section two, both the 140th battle reenactment and the living history are on the same dates. Between the two events, the brigade minus one unit is sponsoring the living history and not the 140th battle event. Additionally, as a reminder to our members that attended the Stover Dam event this past October, all were in general agreement that we choose the living history over the 140th mega event. Thus it is for this reason that the living history is listed in the above-proposed schedule.

Policy to be enforced.

As you are all aware, the vast majority of our time at living histories/reenactments, other than the time spent on the drill or battlefield is spent in our camp area. Our camp is where we sleep, cook, eat, clean and upkeep our weapons and uniforms and generally where the majority of the unit congregates at any one specific time. It is the place where most 1st person interaction takes place. As the unit president I feel it's my responsibility to protect the sanctity of the unit and therefore the sanctity of our camp area, wherever it may be. To that end I am requesting that smoking of cigarettes take place out of camp and out of sight of the members of the unit. This should not shock anyone. We've prided ourselves on being a quality unit, which holds itself to high standards. A quality unit is a quality unit all the time, not sometimes or when the mood strikes, but all the time. If you're a smoker of modern cigs I suggest first trying period ways of using "the weed". Smoking a pipe and chewing tobacco (not modern "snuff" like Skoal and Copenhagen, etc) were very prevalent during this time period and would actually add to your impression, provided they're removed from the modern wrapping they come in. Less prevalent but still acceptable would be smoking cigars. These would have been rare treats for CS soldiers in the field but this is another way of using tobacco. Please notice that smoking "roll your owns" is not mentioned as an alternative. From all the research into the subject I've done it appears that it was not socially acceptable for gentlemen of the time to smoke cigarettes. Smoking cigs was new to this country and had been introduced by French descendants in Louisiana as a way for women to enjoy tobacco. If anyone has documentation that ties Virginia troops to smoking cigs in the field I'll gladly add "roll your owns" to the list of acceptable tobacco products. If you cannot live with the alternatives mentioned above you are asked to kindly leave the camp area before lighting up. However, you must first gain permission to leave the camp from your Corporal or Sergeant. Do not just walk out of camp. As with anything we must use common sense, if someone wishing to have a cig wakes up at 2:30am and there is no one else in camp awake, by all means partake. Also I am not asking you to walk great distances before indulging. In the past few years I cannot think of a campsite we've had where someone wishing to smoke a cig would have had to walk more than 50 yards. Just out of camp and out of sight will do just fine. Thanks for helping to insure that our company advances its group impression and continues to be recognized as a quality unit.

Jerry Stiles

Jerry Stiles and Jim Turner, our two Standards Committee representatives, report two areas of needed improvement throughout the brigade, and in particular, our own unit.

Braces with the metal clasps are not correct. Several sutlers (example SG Marinos in Gettysburg) carry braces that are of correct material and design. An alternative to braces could be a civilian belt.

Blankets are another problem item. If your blanket has modern stitching and/or the fabric is made of or consists of such modern fabrics as nylon, polyester etc., then that too needs to be upgraded. Blankets in particular are a high visible item and needs immediate attention. If you need to upgrade please contact Jim Turner or Jerry if you need help finding a source.

When we hit the field this year each member is to have his own (correct for the period) musket cleaning kit. No excuses for not having one will be accepted!

1). A small vessel for oil

2). Any musket tools that would be applicable to the musket you carry

3). A rag for applying oil to your musket

4). Cleaning patches

5). A small cloth poke bag to keep all of the above in

Period style oil vessels can be had from "The Village Tinsmith" or "Carl Giordano Tinsmith". The contact information for these sources is listed below. The containers are inexpensive.

The musket tools you should already have in your possession, but if you do not, please get them from the sutler of your choice. If you own an Enfield musket see section #11 **

A rag for applying oil can be made from a cotton weave that closely resembles fabric of the period. This can be obtained from just about any fabric store in your area very inexpensively. Same thing with the cleaning patches. Buy several yards so you'll be good for the entire season.

By now you should all have several poke bags you use to keep your rations in. Make or purchase one to keep your cleaning kit in.

You'll notice steel wool is not listed. This should not be in your kit. A paste for removing rust can be made by mixing ashes from the fire with a little water. Apply it with an extra rag.

Village Tinsmith Carl Giordano

www.cas-dixie.com/villagetinsmith.htm www.cg-tinsmith.com