Portraying Hood’s Division
Suggestions by 1st Lieut. Thomas B. Williams,
Assistant Adjutant-General,
Medich’s Battalion.
For the living history program our battalion will be presenting at the Antietam
National Battlefield Park, we will be portraying the men of Hood’s Division of the
Army of Northern Virginia. Fortunately, there is much evidence of how the army
appeared and how it was equipped at the Battle of Sharpsburg on September 16-17, 1862.
Background.
By the time Confederate General Robert E. Lee was able to consolidate the Army of
Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland, the officers and men in the ranks were in a
pretty used up condition. The soldiers had been involved in active campaigning since
the spring. They had fought McClellan’s army in the Seven Days Battles around
Richmond, engaged Pope’s federal army in the Second Manassas Campaign, and then
marched to Sharpsburg in western Maryland via Frederick, Maryland. On the way to
Sharpsburg, Hood’s Division also fought a delaying action against the pursuing Yankees
at South Mountain and rear guard action from Boonsboro to Sharpsburg.
Lee’s army numbered about 55,000 men of all arms as it prepared to cross the Potomac
River on September 7. By September 17, however, he had approximately 35,500
men
present to face McClellan’s army of over 90,000. The ANV became severely reduced in
numbers during those ten days because of several factors, including a lack of shoes,
drastically reduced rations, and outright mass desertions, as many men felt they
joined the army to defend the South, not carry the war to the North. Also, many
soldiers from the northern Virginia counties merely slipped away from the army to see
loved ones as well as get some food to sate their hunger and clothing to replace
ragged uniforms. The ANV lost over 11,000 men killed, wounded and missing at
Sharpsburg. About three weeks after the battle, the army’s returns showed more than
60,000 men present for duty as stragglers caught up, political holdouts returned to
the ranks since the army was again south of the Potomac River, and sick and wounded
soldiers were released from hospitals throughout Virginia.
The reality, however, was that it would still be some time before the Confederate
Quartermaster Department was able to adequately resupply Lee’s army while the task of
the Commissary Department was always a challenge.
The Condition of the Soldiers.
Many civilian observations of the ANV at that time paint a consistent picture of men
who wore tattered (or well-worn) clothing and many men being barefoot. While their
rifle barrels were reportedly shiny, their clothing lacked uniformity and their
equipment was otherwise deficient. The soldiers suffered from hunger as they were on
half-rations, if they received any rations. Parched corn and green apples were staples
of the ANV, which caused dysentery of almost epidemic proportions among the ranks. The
rolls show large numbers of men absent due to sickness.
For clothing, uniforms that had not been replaced by the quartermaster department
since the spring were consequently replaced with homemade uniforms, civilian clothing
and captured federal uniforms from the field at Second Manassas or the warehouses of
Harpers Ferry after its surrender to Jackson prior to the Battle of Sharpsburg.
Weapons within the companies were not uniform and bayonets, in particular, were in
short supply.
Suggestions for Portraying the Men of Hood’s Division.
This will not really be too difficult for most of the members of Medich’s Battalion
because most of the affiliated companies ordinarily portray mid-war soldiers. Based on
what is known about the condition of Hood’s Division at the time of Sharpsburg and
using a little individual creativity, a good impression can be created for this
project with little effort. For instance, I still have an old shirt I wore for many
years. Its cuffs and neck are frayed and a seam of the shoulder yoke is ripped, which
I believe make it perfectly suited for my impression. I also have a well-worn civilian
style vest to wear.
The following suggestions might be considered to enhance individual impressions for
this project.
First, do not have your uniforms cleaned before reporting for duty at Sharpsburg. In
fact, if your uniform is too neat looking, you might consider rolling on the ground a
bit to wrinkle it up and get it dirty. Do not polish your brass buttons.
Jackets. While there is evidence that some of the Texans of Hood’s Division were
issued frock coats at the beginning of the war, it’s not likely that many would be in
evidence by the time of Sharpsburg, which was at least 15 months since they arrived in
Virginia from Texas. A sprinkling in the ranks would be acceptable, but a company with
everyone wearing frock coats or any type of similar coat cannot be supported by the
evidence. If a company is outfitting a new recruit for this event and a frock coat is
all that is available for him to wear, that would be okay. Shell jackets, either
Richmond Depot or Columbus Depot, would be most appropriate, as well as civilian
coats. A few captured Yankee coats in the ranks would have been evident. If a jacket
has epaulets or belt loops, a missing button that leaves the adornments flapping would
be a nice touch (the buttons can be replaced after the event). If in doubt about what
to wear, bring two or three coats and we can see how your company looks. Remember, the
companies were not uniform in appearance.
Headgear. Kepis and bummer caps would be appropriate although it appears slouch hats
and civilian hats of various types were perhaps more common. There are accounts of
soldiers wearing dirty, ragged uniforms being seen sporting new civilian hats.
Trousers. A good representation of civilian trousers would be appropriate in addition
to military pants because trousers typically wore out faster than jackets. A patch of
cloth over a knee would be a nice touch (unless there is a real hole at the spot, it
can be removed after the event). I have a pair of navy civilian trousers with a hole
in the rear (don’t ask how it go there!) that should work nicely for my impression.
Even some federal trousers were evident in the ranks of Confederates at Sharpsburg.
Shirts. Almost anything military or civilian would be okay. Cravats were not likely to
be seen on soldiers in campaign mode. (Think about it.)
Footwear. Typical military brogans would be appropriate. Some members might want to
even go barefoot if the ground around our bivouac is acceptable. Shoes were definitely
in short supply and many men were without shoes. If you go barefoot, dirty up your
feet – clean feet would not have been apparent on hard-marching soldiers!
Equipment. Canteens were plentiful as well as gum blankets or federal rubber blankets.
Either knapsacks or blanket rolls are appropriate. Inspector General reports of Hood’s
Division reveal there was a shortage of bayonets. Bring them anyway – they can be left
in the car if a reduction of bayonets will improve our portrayal. Ditto for tents –
the wagons were definitely not up so tents were not available. Shelter-halves can be
stored in the cars and brought out if there is bad weather.
Each of us should be thinking of things to be doing while in bivouac during the day
when visitors to the park will be in the area. Playing cards and dice for games would
be good. Reading period newspapers and books would be appropriate. Mending torn
clothing could pass the time for some. Writing letters home would be a nice touch.
Bring correct paper, though. Laid weave paper that can be purchased at office supply
stores is quite correct for this purpose. (Antique laid paper by Southworth in either
a cream, ivory or blue color will fit the bill). Trim it, however, from the 8.5x11
inch sheets you buy to 8x10 inch dimensions, which was a common size of paper in the
mid-19th Century. Just remember that we are in bivouac preparing to do battle at any
moment. If you can go a day or two without shaving before reporting for duty, it will
make you look prettier!
I look forward to seeing everyone at Sharpsburg later this month.