The Riflemen's Standard
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TThhee RRiifflleemmeenn’’ss SSttaannddaarrdd Volume VIII ♦ ♦ ♦ November 2014 (1864) ♦ ♦ ♦ No. 7 The Official Newsletter of the PPALMETTO RRIFLEMEN && NNEW YYORK ZZOUAVES Palmetto (S.C.) Sharpshooters & 17th N.Y. Veteran Volunteers Volume VIII, No. 8 The Riflemen’s Standard Thursday, November 13th, 2014 Volume VIII, No. 8 Thursday, November 13th, 2014 The “Rifleman’s Standard” is the monthly publication of the “Palmetto Riflemen” & “New York Zouaves,” a group of American Civil War Living Historians and Reenactors, it is sent out via e-mail the first Thursday of each month. All submissions are welcome, and should be sent to the Editor. CONTENTS OF THE STANDARD Quote . 2 From the Field Desk – Captain K. Robison . 2 Comments from the Company Commander Attention to Orders . 2 Announcements, notices, advertisements, and other items of interest Marching Orders – Events Schedule . 3 Upcoming events and activities for the year School of the Soldier – The Sergeant . 3 – 6 Articles about reenacting, drill, improving your impression, etc. Company Songster – The Fall of Charleston . 7 Period music, songs, and poetry, written prior to January of 1865 Company Classroom – 17th N.Y. Veterans in November 1864 . 8 – 11 Historical articles about people, places, or events prior to January of 1865 After Action Reports . 11 – 12 Reports from reenactments, living histories, etc., from unit members COMPANY STAFF Captain Kenneth H. Robison II [email protected]; (803) 345 - 2025 1st Sergeant Matthew E. Wilbanks [email protected]; (864) 638 - 7598 Corporal Charles E. Ferguson [email protected] Company Website – http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~scprnyz/MainPage.html On the Cover: Photograph of the Officers of the 17th N.Y. Veteran Volunteers, ca. 1865 Company C, Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, & Company H, 17th N.Y. Veteran Volunteers Page 1 Volume VIII, No. 8 The Riflemen’s Standard Thursday, November 13th, 2014 "It is interesting to talk about the privates and line officers. We all admire the generals and our eyes kindle and beam, and our ♦ ♦ ATTENTION TO ORDERS ♦ ♦ ears are full of enthusiasm as we pay deserved tributes to their fame. But it is to the private soldier and the line officers, many Hawkins Zouave Uniforms. The Hawkins of them just as brave as the most famous general, to whom full Zouave Uniforms of the company are justice has not been, and can never be done.” available for purchase by company members. The package Captain George Hillyer, 9th Georgia Infantry Regiment includes the fez, sash, gaiters, jacket, vest, and trousers; the price for the set will be $350 or purchased individually at the prices listed as follows: Jacket - $200; Vest - $40; Sash - ♦ ♦ FROM THE FIELD DESK ♦ ♦ $40; Gaiters - $25; Fez - $40; Trousers - $70. Turnaround time on production of the uniform, if the materials are on- Greetings All, hand, is about four to six weeks. When having your measurements taken it is important that the measurements I hope all of you are well and in the best of health and are correct. It is suggested that you have someone else spirits. The year is almost complete, and while other units measure you to be sure. For more information contact might already be in winter quarters, we are far from done. Michael Zatarga at [email protected]. The 150th Sandersville event has come off as a great success and was greatly enjoyed by all who attended; those To Arms! Recruiting for the Company. Do who missed it have missed quite an event! A report on the you know of someone who is interested in event will be published in the December newsletter, however a Reenacting or the American Civil War? If so take a few few pictures have been posted with this edition. moments to talk with them about the hobby, if they show an This Saturday, November 15th, we have a last minute interest invite them to come out and join us for an event. living history at Greenlawn Cemetery in Columbia, South New recruits are always welcomed into the Company, and Carolina. It will be a timeline event, with several different era’s we will be glad to get them get involved. The company has represented, if you are able to attend please be on the lookout recruiting flyers and brochures available for members use; for an email with more information. these can be taken and placed at local libraries, school, civic The final event for 2014 will be the 150th Fort McAllister centers, and other public places. Anyone interested in near Richmond Hill, Georgia. This is a company MAXIMUM obtaining the materials or more information on how to do EFFORT event, all members are encouraged to try and be in recruit contact Captain Robison at [email protected]. attendance if at all possible. Be sure and get your registration in as quickly as possible. If you have not received the registration packet contact me and I will see that you receive one. This is sure to be a great event, and certainly worth the trip. Mark your calendars for January 30th, 31st, & February 1st, this is the weekend of the Annual Company Meeting and Lexington Museum Living History. We have several important matters that need to be discussed this year. With that said I hope that you are all well, and I look forward to seeing you on the field soon. Until then, Toujours Pret! Kenneth H. Robison II, Captain, “Palmetto Riflemen & New York Zouaves.” Company C, Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, & Company H, 17th N.Y. Veteran Volunteers Page 2 Volume VIII, No. 8 The Riflemen’s Standard Thursday, November 13th, 2014 ♠ April 2015 (1865) ♠ 8th to 12th: 150th Appomattox, Virginia 17th to 19th: 150th Potters Raid, Camden, So. Carolina ♦ ♦ SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER ♦ ♦ DUTIES OF THE SERGEANT From the "Customs of Service for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers." By Augustus V. Kautz, ca. 1864. ♦ ♦ MARCHING ORDERS ♦ ♦ 365. IT is difficult to draw the line between the duties of The following is the event schedule of the company, the corporal and those of the sergeant. There is really no covering the next six months. If you are aware of an event that great difference in their duties. Sergeants generally have should be added to this listing, email the information to larger details under their charge, and have corporals under [email protected]. their direction to assist them. They are usually entrusted with more responsible The events are indicated by date and the name of the event. duties, and they are Any event marked with a (+) represents a Company Maximum supposed to have greater Effort Event. A maximum effort event is an event that all experience, and to approach members of the company are encouraged to be present at and nearer the commissioned take part in. officer in a knowledge of all military matters. ♠ December 2014 (1864) ♠ 366. Sergeants generally 5th to 7th: Battle of Congaree Creek, South Carolina have a more general (+) 12th to 14th: 150th Battle of Fort McAllister, Georgia supervision of the men, whilst corporals have more ♠ January 2015 (1865) ♠ of the detail to attend to. The 16th to 18th: Battle of Fort Fisher, North Carolina company should be divided 30th to Feb. 1st: Festival of the Bayonet, Lexington, So. Ca. into a number of squads proportionate to the number ♠ February 2015 (1865) ♠ of duty-sergeants in the company, with a 6th to 8th: 150th Rivers Bridge, South Carolina proportionate number of Sat., 14th: 150th Burning of Columbia, South Carolina corporals, who should have (+) 20th to 22nd: Battle of Aiken, South Carolina charge when the sergeants are absent. ♠ March 2015 (1865) ♠ 367. They are 6th to 8th: The Columns, Florence, South Carolina responsible for the camp and (+) 20th to 22nd: 150th Battle of Bentonville, North Carolina garrison equipage which the 26th to 28th: Battle of Cheraw, South Carolina squad has in general use. They have charge of the preliminary instruction of the men in their various duties, Company C, Palmetto Sharpshooters Regiment, & Company H, 17th N.Y. Veteran Volunteers Page 3 Volume VIII, No. 8 The Riflemen’s Standard Thursday, November 13th, 2014 and must preserve order in their squad, and see that the men do the guard report for the officer of the guard, and, in general, not absent themselves without proper authority. is responsible that all the members of the guard under him 368. The most important duty of sergeant is that of file- perform their duty. closer. Posted in the rear of the company when paraded, it is his 376. Where the posts are numerous, sergeants assist the duty to see that the men pay attention to their duty, preserve corporals in posting the sentinels. They must see that the order, march properly, and keep closed. corporals comprehend the orders and are capable of 369. In time of battle, it is his duty to keep men in ranks, instructing the sentinels; and when a sentinel calls for the not to allow them to fall out on any pretext, and to prevent corporal of the guard, it is the duty of the sergeant to see them from misbehaving before the enemy. He is even required that the corporal obeys the call promptly. to shoot men down when they attempt to run away in times of 377. The sergeant carries the keys of the prisons, sees danger. that the prisoners are duly locked up at night and sent out to 370. The men must not be permitted to fall out to attend the work in the morning, and that those sentenced to close wounded without orders; the battle must be won first, and then confinement on bread and water are not visited or fed by the wounded can be taken care of without endangering the any of the other prisoners or members of the guard.