The Lt. Col. commanding orders that the following Rules of Engagement be published for the battalion. The Lt. Col. extends his thanks to John Duffer of the Moocows living history group and Kevin O'Beirne of the Columbia Rifles for the general template and material used for these Rules of Engagement.

Tom Cummings
Acting Lt. Colonel
Commanding
Recreated 2nd Virginia

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

The event sponsors and Confederate battalion field and staff want this event to be as realistic and as safe as practicable, and we certainly want to avoid injuries.

After the participants enter the CS camp on Friday, these Rules of Engagement, together with General Orders No. 1 (Standing Field Orders) will govern the battalion. All men of the battalion shall be familiar with General Order Nos. 1 and 2.

The Rules of Engagement are:

1. The single most important thing to bring to this event is a good attitude. This will not be a dangerous or extremely difficult event but it is also not for the faint of heart or the constant whiner. Participation will be continuous from Friday evening to Sunday morning. While there will obviously be periods of physical rest, there will not be any "mental downtime", no dance, and no opportunity to return to your modern vehicle (unless there is an emergency) from the time you leave it in the parking area on Friday until Sunday morning.
   
   
2. Confederate participants are asked to be onsite (in camp, in uniform) by 5:00 p.m. Friday because battalion activities will start by this time (please try to arrive onsite prior to 5:00 p.m. Friday). Commissioned officers and sergeants MUST be in camp, in uniform, by 5:00 p.m. Friday so please plan your travel and arrival time accordingly. All members of the battalion should be in the bivouac by 11:00 p.m. Friday evening. The battalion will be dismissed in the participant parking area prior to noon on Sunday morning.
   
   
3. There will be guard duty and picket duty. Please have a basic understanding of these essential military duties. We recommend Dominic Dal Bello's book, Instructions for Guards and Pickets as a study guide.
   
   
4. Drill will be by William Gilham's manual. Participants must know and be able to practice skirmish drill per Gilham's manual - if you are not 100 percent certain that you know this without "re-enactorisms", please read up on it in the manual.
   
   
5. This event is in late October and it may be quite cold at night. Plan your attire accordingly. Overcoats are highly encouraged, as are 100 percent woolen mittens. An extra pair of woolen socks is suggested because the potential exists that your feet may get wet. Campfires may be limited or banned entirely when the battalion is in the face of the enemy. (This pertains primarily to sentinel positions and not to the entire regiment. Safety is our main goal)
   
   
6. We will re-create the casualties of the 2nd Virginia at Payne's Farm as realistically as possible. The battalion staff will determine the number of, type of wound and persons who will be casualties for this event. If you would like to volunteer to be a casualty for the event, please let Mike Chapman know at dustyswb@comcast.net. There will be a limited number of casualties per the historic record. Volunteers will be told of their "fate" and will be instructed not to share this information with their comrades before or during the event. The uncertainty of battle in 1863 did not allow anyone to know their fate in advance of a fight, or the fate of their friends. Casualties at Payne's Farm will be an important part of the scenario and we hope they will walk away a different perspective of a soldier's life during the war.
   
   
7. Participants are asked NOT to portray a casualty if they are not chosen to do so. We ask this because we are trying for historically correct casualty ratios. The "battle" will be "fought" at realistic ranges.
   
   
8. The success of the event depends on participants willingly following the instructions given to casualties. Follow these instructions exactly. If you are a "casualty", behave accordingly and play the part. After being "wounded" you may be on the field for some time, so be prepared - it may be cold. "Wounded" will remain so for the entire night, so mentally plan ahead and act accordingly.
   
   
9. This is a "semi-immersion" event for Confederate participants. Please behave in a period-correct manner, particularly when the battalion is preparing for "battle", during the "battle" and, most of all, in the aftermath of the "battle".
   
   
10. If captured you will be held prisoner by the Federals throughout the entire night and released on Sunday morning. Prisoners shall act appropriately. The reality of the situation would have many more guards so forget about making escape attempts (none are documented for this regiment at Payne's Farm). "Acting up" in a non-period manner will be grounds for expulsion from the event. The guards will be instructed to act in a period-correct military fashion toward their prisoners.
    
    
11. If you are wounded or captured, you will be temporarily separated from your weapon and accoutrements. Each casualty will be given at least THREE tags for your weapon and accouterments, because they will be taken from you at when you are captured or after you are wounded, and placed under close guard. On Sunday morning your belongings will be returned. After you are "captured" or "wounded" you will affix the tags to your own weapon and accoutrements.
    
    
12. While it is unlikely the men of the Confederate battalion will encounter "civilians" of the period, if such encounters occur, however, the men are to treat "civilians" in a period-correct fashion.
    

Again, this is a semi-immersion event. If all behave accordingly it can be one of the best events any of us have ever attended. The cooperation of everyone in the ranks - from private to field officer - is essential for making this happen. Please know and understand these Rules of Engagement and prepare for your participation in this event accordingly. And do not forget your three tags!