Back in March Dan McGraw and I talked about putting on something at his amazing property, known as Sugarbush, and thanks to Dan’s desire to offer his property to help us have quality living history experiences, he is hosting an event on the weekend of August 21st.

This post is an open invitation to anyone who has the right kit and the desire to practice crafts the soldiers of 1864 had honed to expertise-digging trenches and making abitis. This confederate event will focus on the North Anna campaign and the men of the 13th Virginia Infantry entrenching in preparation for Grant onslaught.

So far we have nine or ten guys signed up. Terry Sorchy has kindly offered to set up rations, Andy Ackeret is researching entrenching techniques,I have done some work on unit portrayal while Dan of course is organizing all of us.


In preparation for the event, Dan McGraw said I could play with researching the unit and the time period- a task I relish. After looking over many regimental and personal histories, I believe the following impression and time frame gives us the most historical material to play with so with Dan’s permission we will be portraying a portion of the North Anna timeframe. North Anna gives us a chance to build field works standing up and not on our bellies digging at night like the soldier’s did at other battles. Second, a journal I have has a nice description of the digging. I have provided that entry below. Finally, the journal tells us what they ate. Below are the specifics of the unit.

13th Virginia Company A, Montpelier Guard (formed near Orange Virginia)
2nd corps Ramsuer’s Division
Pegram’s Brigade (Colonel Hoffman commanding)including:
13th
31st
49th
52nd
58th Virginia’s

JOURNAL ENTRIES
From the journal of George Q. Peyton, a soldier who joined the army in February of 1864 thus brought fresh eyes and pen to the Overland Campaign.

Wednesday May 25th
“Threw up a line of works on the north side of the railroad about a mile below the junction. Some firing along the lines but not as much as yesterday. The ground was soft and wet, so we did not have much trouble in digging our ditch. We worked by details, each man 10 minutes or so at a time” (we’ll use this 1o minute format in our work)

Thursday May 26th
We stayed quiet in our ditch all day. It rained several hours. Occasionally artillery and rifle fire on our left but nothing serious… . We have been drawing hardbread since Summerville…drew cornmeal, salt pork-meal 1 ½ pounds and pork ½ pound a day. NOTE: on the 23rd they received bacon, hardbread, sugar, coffee and molasses. “They were small quantities of the last three.”

UNIFORM GUIDELINES
Typical 1864 with Richmond manufacture jackets in English cloth or jean-worn gear with a smattering of federal gear.

TOOLS
The North Anna line had been pondered by General Lee way before he arrived thus his army retired to the position in an orderly fashion. His wagons with the digging tools would likely have been on hand so we will not be just using bayonets and cups to dig our ditches as post war romanticism tended to define all diggings done in the war. Shovels, axes and picks are the order of the day.


OTHER INFORMATION
Dan and others will post and information becomes available. Between DD's event and this one, we have a chance to practice our late war skills. Also for those who do not have confederate kit, we have enough to lend so contact Dan McGraw or myself if you need help with kit.

CONTACT IF YOU'RE COMING
Via this forum, contact Dan if you are planning on attending.

Steve Acker

The event location is 30 miles north of Green Bay. The address is: 3905 Sugar Bush Road, Lena WI.
Dan

The event site has several similarities to the topography of east-central Virginia. Our defensive position will be located on good ground overlooking a small wheatfield that is surrounded by thick woods and lowlands. There will be good cover and shade. The land has a pond and a period style home. There are few modern intrusions and will support an immersion experience.
Regards,
Dan

The following men have committed to the event:
SGT Steve Acker
SGT Andy Ackeret
Terry Sorchy
Jason Reinholz
Scott Gutzke
Jim Schumann
John Baumgart
Dan Barker
Dan McGraw
Jasper Massey
Tim Ruyle
Kyle Karoliussen
Mark Krausz
Brandon Ledvina

Dan or Steve,
Are you planning on digging any of the trenches before the August 21 event date? Or will all the digging be done at the event? Please count me in for the event.
Thanks,
Kyle

The timing looks good for me I'd be interested in attending also.

Tim Ruyle

I'm game.

Bully!

Jasper

Kyle,
As of today the plan is to begin work that weekend. With enough guys and tools we can put out 20' of North Anna stle field work with abitis in a weekend. At least that is our goal.

Steve Acker

Fourteen men are currently ready for duty at North Anna with Company A, 13th Virginia Infantry Regiment. Five men have joined the ranks this week and there is room in the ranks for a few more. The company roster on page one has been updated. Attrition has reduced the officer and NCO ranks. Sergeant Steve Acker has taken command of the company. Sergeant Andy Ackeret will also be present for duty.

The following link was provided by Steve as a reference for period tools. We will be using period tools and methods to construct the earthworks. Several of the men who have committed to the event have also offered to bring their period tools.
Here is the link:

www.libertyrifles.org/research/tools.html

Dan

I had an opportunity to talk with Steve, Andy and Terry during the past few days. The planning and research for the event is moving forward very well. As many of you know, Steve is on medical furlough, but will be present for duty at North Anna. The research by Andy and Steve has been outstanding. The scenario and construction of the entrenchments will be accurate and supported by ANV records. There is some good research info on previous posts to this thread that should be reviewed by participants. More info will be posted in updates.
A few lads expressed interest in the entrenching event while at Galena this past weekend. Please let me know ASAP if you would like to participate. Most of the event updates are being done via email. The participant list will be closed on August 3rd.
Regards,
Dan McGraw

If anyone is on the fence about this event, or is wondering what can be expected there, please see the attached notes. They give a good idea of how soldiers of the Civil War entrenched during the Overland Campaign. They will also give you an idea of what we are trying to re-create.

-Andy Ackeret