The Regiment was comprised of ten companies from seven counties in south-central and southwestern Virginia. The men were predominantly rural working-class people with such humble occupations as farming, cabinet making, overseeing, clerking, and milling. There was a strong Scotch-Irish heritage. Their religious leanings were predominantly Protestant; a few were Episcopalian, but most were Presbyterian, Methodist, or Baptist.
The uniform and equipment of the Regiment will be consistent with the early to mid-war period. All members will purchase their uniforms and equipment either through the Regiment or from a list of approved suppliers with the guidance of the Uniform Committee.
Any member wishing to augment his kit with a dark-grey late war Type II or Type III style jacket may do so provided that he has a correct Type II jean-wool jacket first.
Trousers will be the Richmond Depot military-issue trousers in medium grey jean-wool, like in the jacket. Civilian-style trousers and Federal-issue trousers will be permitted provided they are properly constructed as approved by the Uniform Committee.
For the Richmond Depot jackets and trousers, all visible top stitching and button-holes are to be hand worked. Civilian-style and Federal-issue trousers may have machine top stitching. However, all button-holes and eyelets should be hand worked. Sewing machines of the period were straight-line machines and had no capacity for button-holing. Jacket buttons are to be brass block "I" or Virginia State seal. Trouser buttons should be stamped tin, japanned tin, bone, or horn.
All button-holes should be hand worked. Buttons should be glass, bone, stamped tin, or japanned tin, with bone or white glass about 1/2 to 5/8 inch in diameter being the most common.
No desert boots, engineer boots, Wellingtons, Hush Puppies, etc. will be permitted, with the single exception that minor children/musicians, who will grow too fast, will be permitted to wear plain toe desert boots so long as they are blackened all over (including the soles) and have leather laces. Upon reaching the age of 16, all minors will be required to obtain properly constructed brogans.
Wool socks are acceptable, but you must use caution when looking for correct wool socks. Most wool socks sold by sutlers at events are not correct.
No unshaped "hillbilly" blanks, derbies, "Indiana Jones," gangster, John Wayne, cowboy, etc, hats will be permitted. Only styles that would have been found in Virginia in the 1860's will be acceptable. If any member has a doubt about the correctness of a hat, he should check with the Uniform Committee first.
Kepis will be of medium grey jean-wool and constructed according to the pattern as described in the Confederate Sketchbook (this book is currently out of print, but the Regiment has copies that may be consulted). Kepis will be fully lined and have either a leather or blackened cotton duck or twill sweatband.
A military-style vest should be of jean-wool; color is optional, but grey is recommended or dark grey kersey wool. Civilian-style vests should be of a jean-wool or some kind of wool broadcloth. Acceptable vest patterns are described in the Confederate Sketchbook.
All button-holes will be hand worked. Military vests should have cuff-sized Virginia State seal or Federal "eagle" buttons. Civilian vests may have covered, bone, flat brass, gutta percha, etc. buttons.
As far as flintlock muskets are concerned, for safety reasons they are generally not encouraged at reenactments. For living history activities, however, the Regiment will permit certain models to be used for display purposes. These models are the M1816, the M1835/40, and the Virginia Manufactory models (1806-1821).
Any member planning to purchase a weapon for use with the Regiment should check with the Regiment's Ordnance Officer first.
Large belt-slung knives such as "Bowie," "Arkansas Toothpick," etc. are strongly discouraged. If you need a knife, carry a pocket knife; it's more correct. A "Barlow"-type pocket knife would be a good choice.
The other acceptable bag is the black-tarred Federal-issue bag. The early-war pattern is recommended. The Regiment will consider keeping a small supply of these bags on hand for members.
The shoulder straps should be shortened so that the bag rides high on the hip. The properly worn bag should not ride low on the buttocks.
The Regiment, therefore, recommends two types. One is the C.S.-issue Gardner pattern wood drum canteen made of either cherry or cedar wood. The strap should either be natural canvas duck or mattress ticking approximately 5 to 6 feet in length.
The other is the Federal-issue model 1858 smoothside canteen. Although the model 1858 canteen was issued in both smoothside and bullseye designs, the smoothside appears to have been more prevalent during the early-war period. The canteen should be covered. Dark blue 100% wool or brown jean-wool are the best choices. The strap may be canvas duck or a cotton web strap, although you may want to get a russet-colored leather strap with a roller buckle, which was quite common during the early-war period.
As with the haversack, the shoulder strap should be shortened so that the canteen rides high on the hip, resting on top of the haversack.
The Regiment will attempt to keep a small inventory of canteens on hand. Federal-issue model 1858
canteens will be covered in brown jean-wool.