Battle Road 2000 - The 225th

April 14 - 17, 2000


Our Heritage Through Living History


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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. For planning purposes all participants & participating units must be registered by April 1.
  5. Participants should be in authentic/appropriate dress of the 1770's period when reporting to the event. (See clothing section.)
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. Pistols may not be worn or used, except by mounted soldiers.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. Any musket failing inspection will have a brief interval to make repairs, and must be reinspected.
  16. Platoon Commanders and/or Sergeants should inspect muskets after each event, allowing enough time for a failed musket to be cleaned or repaired.
  17. A safety meeting will be held with Platoon Commanders prior to each event for coordination of battlefield scenarios.
  18. 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.
  19. Ramrods will be kept in the pipes, except during inspection of muskets.
  20. 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.
  21. 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".
  22. In general the safety rules of the BAR/BB/CL apply for this event.

B. BLACK POWDER:

  1. 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.
  2. Black powder must be kept away from visitors and spectators at all times.
  3. 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.

C. CLOTHING:

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.

  1. 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.)
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

D. EQUIPMENT

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.

  1. 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.
  2. Knapsack, snapsack, and wallet: may be used for carrying food, water, foiled cartridges, tools, fork & knife, tin cup. Haversacks acceptable but not preferred.
  3. 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.
  4. Canteens: period style, made of wood, leather, gourd, or tin.

Back to BRY2K: Information for Reenactors.

Last updated: 23 Feb 2000

Webmaster: Sue Felshin