Battle Road
Committee
Lexington Minute Men
2nd Massachusetts Regiment
4th Middlesex
Regiment/85ème Régiment de Saintonge
1st Foot Guards
5th Regiment of Foot
10th Regiment of Foot
Stand your ground; don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to
have a war, let it begin here. -Captain Parker
Whoever looks upon them as an irregular mob will find
himself much mistaken, they have men amongst them who know
very well what they are about. -Lord Percy
Xxx Xxxxx, Chairman
xx Xxxx Xx
Xxxx, XX xxxxx
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
xxxxx@xxx.xxx
|
MILITARY GUIDELINES FOR REENACTMENTS
CONDUCT IN THE FIELD AND ORGANIZATION
- The Battle Road Committee (BRC), as the event coordinator, has documented
the following guidelines to ensure a safe and memorable event for all participants.
The information contained in this document is taken from generally accepted
rules and regulations used in national living history events.
- With some of the events taking place in Minute Man National Historic
Park (NHP), certain "Rules of Engagement" outlined in this document
must be adhered to under government regulations while on NHP land. As liaison
for these ceremonies, the NHP has requested that, for the most part, questions
or comments be forwarded through the BRC.
- Pot-hunting is not permitted in or around NHP. We ask you as living
historians and educators to respect the integrity of these historic sites
and their irreplaceable archaeological record.
- For planning purposes all participants & participating units
must be registered by April 1.
- Participants should be in authentic/appropriate dress of the 1770's
period when reporting to the event. (See clothing section.)
- Each infantry company will consist of: a Captain, a Lieutenant,
a 1st sergeant, two sergeants, a eldest corporal, two corporals, and
minimum of 30 privates. Each company will be divided into 2 platoons,
one commanded by the captain and the other by the lieutenant. Each
platoon will consist of a sergeant, 1 corporal and a minimum of 15
privates. One platoon will be assigned the 1st sergeant and the other
the eldest corporal who will act as safety officers to the respective
platoons.
- Platoons will be formed according to their respective Militia/Minute
Companies, keeping the autonomy of each group intact, whenever possible.
In the event that a Company has less than the designated numbers, on the
day of the event, units may be merged to complete a platoon formation.
- Please ask all your members to come prepared to play a private if
they have not been asked by the organizers to serve in an officer or NCO
capacity.
- While on NHP property, there is no opposed
firing. Participants are not allowed to portray a wounded or dead
person. These rules are strictly enforced by the NHP. All firing will
be inclined at a minimum of 45 degrees to the left or right of
opposing troops and in all areas, on or off NHP land, no firing
is permitted within 30 yards of opposing forces. Outside of the NHP,
muzzles are to be elevated above opposing forces. Any and all action
must be broken off by the Platoon Commander if opposing forces are
within the above distance.
- No opposing force may come within 10 paces of any fallen
troops. Although pilferage of a dead or wounded person may be crowd
pleasing, this practice will not be allowed at Battle Road 2000.
- Fields of Fire must be maintained at all times by each Platoon Commander.
Volley firing or "firing at will" are both acceptable as long
as Platoon Sergeants maintain their troops in a line formation. This procedure,
due to the relatively small areas in which to operate, is designed to avoid
accidents when different platoons are maneuvering on the field.
- Pistols may not be worn or used, except by mounted soldiers.
- The use or carrying of original/vintage firearms is not acceptable
for safety reasons. The Belgium musket will not be allowed due to safety
concerns.
- All ranks must submit to musket inspection at the NHP, prior to or
during the event. Every unit firing in the NHP will have to under go
an additional safety check by an NPS Black Powder Safety Officer.
- Any musket failing inspection will have a brief interval to make repairs,
and must be reinspected.
- Platoon Commanders and/or Sergeants should inspect muskets after each
event, allowing enough time for a failed musket to be cleaned or repaired.
- A safety meeting will be held with Platoon Commanders prior to each
event for coordination of battlefield scenarios.
- The firing of muskets will take place only in designated reenactment
areas, and only in an organized and supervised manner, as determined by
each Platoon Commander.
- Ramrods will be kept in the pipes, except during inspection of muskets.
- Campfollower-spectators may march behind the respective
Armies but are not allowed on the field during any of the battles for
any reason. Unless you are willing to follow the event clothing guidelines, please dress in modern
clothing while observing the weekend events.
- A CEASE FIRE may be given by an Officer, Platoon Sergeant, or
participant who observes a safety violation, or potential danger. A cease
fire may be called by either voice command or by raising a hat at the end
of a sword or musket, or by the music playing "Cease Fire".
- In general the safety rules of the BAR/BB/CL apply for this event.
B. BLACK POWDER:
- Black powder must be pre-rolled in cartridges only, and must contain
no more than 110 grains of FF or FFF powder. Cartridges can be rolled with
paper or newsprint. The ends may be twisted or taped but not stapled. Extra
cartridges, unable to be carried in a cartridge box, should be wrapped
in tin foil (baked potato style) in groups of 10 cartridges and carried
in a wallet, knapsack, snapsack, or haversack.
- Black powder must be kept away from visitors and spectators at all
times.
- All ranks will be required to retain empty cartridges in their knapsack,
snapsack, wallet, haversack, or leather cartridge box. The potential
danger to the public, especially children, warrants all of us to take extra
precautions in policing the field before leaving for the next event. Platoon
Commanders and Sergeants will be issued bags for policing the field after
each event.
Participants are required to dress in authentic/appropriate clothing for
the 1770's period for Eastern Massachusetts. To achieve the specific look
of this time and region, Western frontier and native dress are not
acceptable; this includes hunting shirts with fringe, beads, and a general
"buckskin" appearance. The appropriate clothing includes a
sleeved outer garment: coat, jacket, sleeved waistcoat, smock (but not
caped, fringed "rifle/hunting shirt"); gown, jacket, shortgown,
etc. Militia companies may not field in matching clothing (coats or
waistcoats). These guidelines will be enforced on Saturday for those who
are in view of the public: for reenactors on the field, massed music,
picket/interpreters, and campfollowers. For further information, see the Clothing Guidelines.
- No ANACHRONISMS such as: cameras, cigarettes, plastic items, wrist
watches, non-period glasses or sunglasses, etc., will be used in sight
of any spectator while on the field. (You may bring your camera, but do
not use it on the field in sight of spectators while a scenario is being
played out. We suggest you wrap it in cloth to make it less obvious. Please
hide it in a pocket or bag when not in use. Because of the expense of period
glasses, modern glasses will be accepted if not too obvious -- wire
frames only.)
- For safety and authenticity purposes clothing should be of natural
fiber such as wool, linen or cotton. Polyester, nylon, Velcro, fringe or
other manmade fabric presents a safety hazard and should not be worn.
- Any accoutrements such as Company pins, logos, nameplates or any other
paraphernalia not authentic to the period must not be worn.
The Battle Road Clothing Committee will be running its annual Clothing &
Accouterments Seminar on January 29, 2000, and may sponsor
workshops and/or sewing bees this winter, as it has for the past two
years. Detailed information about clothing and equipment can be found
at the BRCC's Web site at http://www.18cnewenglandlife.org/.
Watch for changes on the site throughout the winter and spring, as well
as the schedule of seminars and workshops.
General Notes: All weapons will be inspected according to NHP
standards. Any weapon not passing inspection may have repairs made and be
reinspected prior to participating in the event.
- Muskets: reproductions of a British Brown Bess, French Charleville,
or other period smoothbore muskets are preferred. They must be equipped
with Frizzen cover and Flashguard. Belgium Reproduction Flintlocks are
not acceptable.
- Knapsack, snapsack, and wallet: may be used
for carrying food, water, foiled cartridges, tools, fork & knife, tin
cup. Haversacks acceptable but not preferred.
- All edged weapons such as swords, bayonets, tomahawks, or knives must
remain sheathed with the exception of calling a cease fire. No hand-to-hand
actions are permitted.
- Canteens: period style, made of wood, leather, gourd, or tin.
Back to BRY2K: Information for Reenactors.
Last updated: 23 Feb 2000
Webmaster: Sue Felshin
|