CONFEDERATE GUIDELINES
July 1864, miscellaneous units from the Army of Northern Virginia engaged in the Wilderness Campaign.
The overwhelming majority of the first 400 POW's sent to Elmira came from the Harris Farm engagement on May 19-20, 1864 in the Wilderness. The units represented were primarily from Ewell’s Corps, Rodes & Gordon’s Divisions. Tar Heels were the largest group with a respectable number from AL, GA, LA, VA, 2 from TN & 1 lone Mississippian. These troops spent their first weeks of captivity at Point Lookout before being transferred to Elmira.
Clothing should reflect a level of wear & uncleanliness indicative of active campaigning & approximately 1 month of captivity. Various states of disrepair are acceptable as long as it meets public decency standards.
There were no CS officers represented in Elmira.
Community tentage will be required to achieve a reasonable resemblance to the above pictures. There will be no stick huts, arbors or other makeshift accommodations.
If you have a common tent (A) inform your impression coordinator.
It would be beneficial to recruit/register as messes of 4-5 complete with tentage.
All Confederate personnel are expected to camp within the confines of the established "prison grounds".
Tents will be placed in predesignated wards, in the order in which you arrive. If you want your tent next to a specific person, arrive together.
No civilians will be allowed to camp within the "prison grounds".
DO NOT BRING ANY WEAPONS OR FIREARMS OR ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT! Advise your coordinator if you are interested in being part of a color guard for the memorial ceremony at the National Cemetery.
Expect a prisoner intake inspection. It would behoove you to remove all unnecessary modern articles from your person by Friday night
Expect your movements to be restricted to a relatively confined area throughout the weekend. You will not have freedom of movement without a guard escort.
The Chemung River flows next to the event site for potential laundry, bathing & fishing subject to US guard allowances.
CLOTHING
Enlisted:
Coats: Confederate pattern jackets and coats (RDII, NC State, Frocks, sacks) primarily in wool kersey, jean cloth, or satinette in grey, butternut or brown colors. No coat is also acceptable.
Trousers: Confederate/civilian pattern made of jean or satinette in grey, butternut or brown colors. NO SKY BLUE, documents indicate uniform articles of Federal issue were prohibited/confiscated/altered.
Shirts: Appropriate period pattern & materials.
Drawers: Appropriate period pattern & materials. May be worn as the sole outer garment as long as adequate measures are taken to insure an acceptable public appearance. In other words, don’t let your freak flag fly.
Footgear: Personal choice. Shoes/boots must be of a period pattern & must be worn during all marches. Barefoot in camp is acceptable.
Headgear: Kepi, slouch or none
NCO’s – Expect to serve as a private. Final quotas will be designated by the CS impressions coordinator based on final registration numbers. Rank insignia in accordance with ANV uniform regulations. All other clothing/equipment requirements the same as noted for enlisted.
ORDNANCE & ACCOUTERMENTS
NCO’s/Enlisted:
NO FIREARMS or LEATHERS for CS personnel. Honor guards for the memorial ceremony will be pre-designated.
Canteen: Smooth or bullseye with canteen cover, cotton strap preferred. It would be advisable to marke your canteen for identification purposes as water resupply will be obtained through the use of fatigue details
Haversack: Tarred/untarred, civilian materials
Knapsack: CS patterns only. Expect to have Federal issue items confiscated. Blanket roll preferred.
CAMP/GARRISON EQUIPMENT
NCO's/Enlisted:
Tentage: Common tent (4 -5 men per tent), NO SHELTER HALVES OR FLIES. If you have a tent expect to have 3 other men assigned to your tent. If you do not have a tent you will be assigned to one. Attendees are encouraged to organize & register as messes of 4 or 5 with a tent.
Mess gear: Personal choice. Expect meals of a watery nature.
Blankets: Grey/brown wool, civilian, carpet or quilt
PERSONAL ITEMS
Your choice. Shaving gear, soap, pipe, letters from home, CS/US money, watches, coins, Bibles etc. Expect valuables or contraband to be confiscated/removed from your person during intake inspection.
East end of camp, looking west circa late fall 1864. Most likely taken from the observation tower on Water Street.
Photo courtesy of the Chemung County Historical Society
East end of camp, looking west post December 1864. Buildings perpendicular to the stockade wall replaced the tentage.
Photo courtesy of the Chemung COunty Historocal Society
CHEMUNG COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
CHEMUNG COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BY SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE EVENTS STANDARDS.
Registration Application