Company Information

Company Equipment
What basic equipment will you need as a member of the Veterans Reserve Corps? Well to begin with, you need to know whether you're a Union soldier or a Confederate soldier. And to do that, you need to keep in touch with the Unit NCO, W.C. Marlow at Unit Headquarters.

Once you have the basic information, here is the beginning of a list for you to use as a foundation for building your historical persona

Uniform -

General Orders No. 124, 15 May 1863
Enlisted Men - "Jacket of sky-blue kersey, with dark blue trimming, cut like the jacket for the United States cavalary, to come well down on the loins and abdomen.
Trowsers - present regulations"

General Orders No. 158, 29 May 1863
Officers - "Frock Coat - of sky-blue cloth, with dark-blue velvet collar and cuffs - in all other respects, according to the present pattern of officers of infantry.
Shoulder Straps - according to present regulations, but worked on dark-blue velvet.
Pantaloons - of sky-blue cloth, with double stripe of dark-blue cloth down the outer seam..."

Equipment -

Cartridge box, belt, haversack, A frame tent

Weaponry -

According to historical record, here is what the men in the Veteran Reserve Corps were allowed to carry as their defense equipment.
Most regiments carried smoothbore muskets (either the U.S. M1842 or imports from Austria, France, or Prussia)
The 6th, 9th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 16th, 19th, 22d, and 24th Regiments carried the latest model Springfields.
The 8th was armed with Enfields.
Second Battalion men, most of whom had the use of only one arm, received swords (NCO or musician's models) and pistols. The pistols were largely Lefaucheux, Savage, and Starr. (br> If anyone has pictures of the above weaponry, send them as a jpg or gif to us via email and we'll add them to the page for pictoral reference.

Special Equipment -

wheelchair (if needed), personal items such as playing cards, tin cup, tin plate, supply crate

Don't worry, we will do our utmost to help you put these items together, listing sutler's, patterns, and more.

Company Information
We'll update this section with books, reviews, and other information which will help you learn how to be the best re-enactor you are capable of being. If you find books that have information you feel is relevant to our organization, please feel free to send the name of the publication and other pertinent info to us.

Historical Tidbits
We'll keep you up-to-date with actual snippets of history regarding the Veterans' Reserve Corps.
For example: Were you aware that members of the Veterans Reserve Corps members who formed part of the Honor Guard at Lincoln's funeral procession? This, and other fascinating historical facts will be presented here for your enjoyment and enlightenment.

And Just who was Eligible?
Under General Orders No. 130, Adjt. General's Office, 15 May 1863, the exact injuries and conditions which disqualified men from being transferred to or enlisted into the Invalid Corps was laid out exactly. If you'd like a copy, contact the Unit HQ. Otherwise, Chris Daley has added it to his information on the Veteran Reserve Corps at his new website Visit this neat site!!.

Reenactor's Swap Section
Where reenactors come to list their equipment for resale, check for items they might need, etc.

Tentage and Camp Equipment:

  1. Utility trailer, enclosed (Interior dimensions 4.5' W x 8.5' L x 5'H) - $1,000
  2. 12' x 12' Wall Tent (flame retardant, ropes, poles and staked incl.) - $200.00
  3. Dining Fly 12' x 12' - $50.00
  4. Large "A" Frame tent - $75.00
  5. Folding Wooden Table (36" x 23-1/2") $50.00
  6. folding Wash stand with mirror & metal wash basin (closes up to double as a 24" x 18-1/2" table) - $50.00
  7. Rough table for inside of "A" frame tent (12" x 24")
  8. Barrel stand
  9. 3 folding wooden chairs - $5.00 each
  10. 3 wooden boxes with lids (12' x 12' x 7-1/2" interior dimensions - great for carrying ropes and stakes) - $10.00 each
  11. Wooden box with lid (15-1/4" x 15-1/4" x 7-1/2" interior dimensions) - $15.00
  12. wooden box with lid (for carrying and storing oil lamps) - $10.00
  13. 2 small black oil lamps - $5.00 each
  14. 2 large red oil lamps - $8.00 each
  15. 2 candle lanterns - $15.00 both
  16. Heavy rod iron cooking grill (31-1/2" x 17", with staking legs attached & canvas bag for storing grill) - %50.00
  17. 3 rod iron landern holders - $5.00 each
  18. 4 rod iron hooks - $2.00 each
  19. Small flat steel grill with 6" legs (12" x 22") - $20.00
  20. rod iron hand made spatula & fork set (36" long) - $25.00
  21. rod iron hand forged spit set - $25.00
  22. rod iron lantern holder - $20.00
  23. 2 rod iron hand made grill lifters - $5.00 each
  24. Canvas bucket - $20.00
  25. 4 wool & polyester blend blankets - $5.00 each
  26. Small bellows - $10.00
  27. 9" cast iron skillet - $10.00
  28. 10" cast iron skillet - $10.00
  29. 2 cast iron quart size pots with lids - $10.00 each
  30. 2 quart cast iron pot - $10.00
  31. 2 basins for washing dishes in - $5.00 each
  32. 2 metal spatulas - $3.00 each
  33. 2 gallon enameled pot & lid - $10.00
  34. 1 gallon enameled coffeepot & lid - $10.00
  35. Enameled tea kettle with lid - $5.00
  36. Enameled 10" frying pan - $5.00
  37. 5 enameled tin plates (10" size) - 1.00 each
  38. 4 enameled tin plates (8" size) - $1.00 each
  39. 2 deep dish enameled plates (9-1/2" size) - 1.00 each
  40. 5 enameled bowls (6" size) - $1.00 each
  41. 6 enameled cups - $1.00 each
  42. Wooden box with lid (storing cooking utensils) - $30.00
  43. 11" x 3" wooden bowl - $5.00
  44. Set of 3 small & 1 oblong wooden bowls - $10.00
  45. Enameled ladle - $5.00
  46. Large stainless steel slotted spoon - $2.00
  47. Wooden knife & fork set - $5.00
  48. Small wooden ladle - $2.00
  49. Small wooden scoop - $2.00
  50. Small wooden scoop - $1.00
  51. 2 Home made cooler covers (for 24" x 15" x 15" coolers) - $10.00 each
  52. Cooking apron - $3.00
  53. 3 hand crocheted pot holders - $3.00 all
  54. 3 reproduction soda bottles - $1.00 all
  55. 1 Small & 1 Large glass jars with lids - $3.00 both
  56. Black metal butter tray - $1.00
  57. Stainless steel cooking cup with lid - $6.00

Uniforms, Civilian Clothing, and Personal Accoutrements:

  1. 2 Confederate frock coats (A sized 22" neck, 52" waist, 18" arm inseam, 39" length / B sized 18" neck, 45" waist, 18" arm inseam, 36" length) - $150.00 each
  2. 4 prs of pants (match frock coat - sized 48" x 31", 44" x 31", 42" x 30", and 40" x 30" - all with 2" hems) - $30.00 each
  3. Grey kepi (used) - $5.00
  4. Union shell jacket and pants (Coat - 24" neck, 20" arm inseam, 30" length / Pants - 43" x 28" with 2" hem) - $150.00 set
  5. 1 Lg white cotton shirt with pearl buttons - $10.00
  6. 1 XL white cotton shirt with pearl buttons - $10.00
  7. 2 XXL off white cotton shirts with brown wooden buttons - $8.00 each
  8. 1 XXL navy blue cotton shirt with tin buttons - $10.00
  9. 3 XL grey firemen's shirts with bibs - $10.00 each
  10. 1 L grey firemen's shirt with bib - $8.00
  11. 1 pr grey cotton fall front trousers (44" W x 32" inseam) - $15.00
  12. 1 pr grey cotton fall front trousers (41" x 31") - $15.00
  13. 1 pr grey cotton fall front trousers (38" x 30") - $15.00
  14. 1 pr grey cotton fall front trousers (33" x 31") - $15.00
  15. Grey wool civilian's pants (38" x 25" with 4" hem) - $30.00

Contact the Unit HQ if you would like to purchase any of the above equipment. Check back as we add more offerings of equipment, clothing and accoutrements.

Unit Headquarters
Back to our Home Page.

Sutler's Corner
A listing of Sutler's who provide uniforms, shoes, patterns, and equipment for Civil War re-enactors. Check out a more complete listing of Civil War Sutlers at the Sutler's Net site.

This website was designed and is maintained by M.J. Marlow. Any questions, queries or comments regarding this site should be directed to the Unit HQ.

Clip art courtesy of Civil War Archive and Response-o-Matic

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