To Prevent the Effusion of Blood, January 7-9, 2011

Six Months from today...

Friday, 09 July 2010 15:19 |

Written by Pete Berezuk |

...a group of living historians will be saying their good byes and begining to process their experiences at Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter on the 150th Anniversary of the Federal Garrison's movement and the firing on the Star of the West.

Many fine individuals have already answered the call for living historians to participate in "To Prevent the Effusion of Blood". Do you want to participate in this immersion event and have these memories?

If you do, then you need to answer the call and register. The slots for civilian women and children of the Federal Garrison on Fort Sumter are already filled. The available postions for civilian laborers at Fort Sumter are filling quickly. Both the Federal Garrison and South Carolina Militia are looking for stalwart men to fill the ranks and stand with them. We are also looking for Secessionist civilians to participate still.

We are accepting registrations through 7 November 2010, but to ensure you have the role and experiences you want you need to register and register soon.

Please click on Registration at the top of the screen for registration information. You'll also find information on material standards and the historical background for this 150th anniversary of the War Between the States event occuring on the original ground in Charleston, South Carolina.

If you have any questions about the event please contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I look forward to working with all of you to recreate history...

respectfully,

Peter M. Berezuk
Event Coordinator

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Federal Trousers Bully Buy

Friday, 02 July 2010 09:11 |

Written by Pete Berezuk |

One unique item we are asking our Federal Participants to have is a pair of Dark Blue Federal Foot Pattern Trousers. Chris Sullivan of the Stony Brook Company has graciously offerred to support "To Prevent the Effusion of Blood" by offerring his Federal foot Pattern Trousers in Dark Blue at a 10% discount to registered TPEB participants. There are thousands of pairs of Stony Brook Company trousers in the living history community. Chris Sullivan has invested years of research and experience into his craft. He also recognizes the constraints of a living historian's pocketbook and offers his trousers in both a Museum Grade and Commercial Grade. Both grades are acceptable for the TPEB Federal Garrison. Chris also has period correct artillery red worsted wool trousers stripes for Corporals and Sergeants.

Details of how to take advantage of the Bully Buy will be provided to each participant upon receipt of their registration form and payment. This Bully Buy runs until 1 September 2010, so if you are interested you need to register as soon as possible and contact Chris Sullivan to take advantage of it.

TPEB Registration information is available here.

The Stony Brook Company Website

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Last Updated (Friday, 02 July 2010 10:08)

Desired Militia Impression

Friday, 25 June 2010 12:05 |

Written by Pete Berezuk |

Desired Militia Impression

Since publishing the draft Militia Standards, I've received a number of good questions about what we desire to see our participants as South Carolina Militiamen wearing. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I asked Greg Deese to have his picture taken in a representative Militia Kit.

Click on the image for a larger copy

Our desired Militia impression is of a mobilized citizen member of the 17th Regiment, equipped in accordance with the South Carolina Militia Law. Here are some notes for clarification.

- Our example is wearing civilian clothing of pre-1860 patterns, materials and construction. The Beat Militia had no uniform requirements and we will have considerable lee way in the dress of our Militia participants. We do ask that our participants consider the expected weather in January in the Carolina Low Country and wear clothing appropriate to exposure to the elements.

- The weapon our example is carrying is an 1842 Model smooth bore Musket in .69cal. These weapons were produced at both National Armories as well as under contract for the State of South Carolina (the 'Palmetto' Musket). There were in excess of 12,000 weapons of this type in the Charleston Federal Armory when it was seized in December 1960. The Militia was required to maintain their own weapons, so in addition to pre-1860 military arms we will allow civilian fowlers, rifles and shotguns.

The Accoutrements our example has on are of the old 1839 Federal pattern with white buff belts. The South Carolina Militia Law required that Militia Men keep and maintain cartridge boxes or powder horns and shot bags appropriate for thier weapon. Because of this research we will have considerable lee way given to our militia participants in bringing accoutrements appropriate for thier chosen weapon.

My hope is this is helpful to our registered and planned participants. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

My thanks to Greg Deese for taking the time to get his picture taken in a representative kit.

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Last Updated (Friday, 25 June 2010 13:49)

Desired Federal Impression

Friday, 25 June 2010 12:05 |

Written by Pete Berezuk |

Desired Federal Impression

Since publishing the Federal Garrison Standards, I've received a number of good questions about what we desire to see our participants as Federal Soldiers wearing. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I asked Brian Sharp to have his picture taken in the required Federal Kit.

Click on the image for a larger copy

Our desired Federal Impression is of a U.S. Artillery Regular wearing the proscribed uniform based on the 1857 U.S. Army Regulation and the applicable General Orders of the period up to December 1860. Here are some notes for clarification.

- The desired head wear is the Dress Hat proscribed by General Order #3 of 24 March 1858. For Enlisted men of the Artillery. the Dress Hat is to be looped up on the left hand side with a brass eagle, have a red worsted wool cord, a single black ostrich plume and a pair of brass crossed canons on the front. In addition, a brass company letter and regimental number will be provided to all participants at the event.

- Next he is wearing a sky blue foot pattern overcoat. Since our event is occurring in January, we've decided to require our participants to bring an overcoat. Because the overcoat will be covering the other coats, participants can choose to bring either a fatigue jacket (four button sack coat) or an Artillery Trimmed Frock Coat.

- Our example is wearing a pair of foot pattern trousers in dark blue wool with a 1 inch red worsted stripe indicating his rank of Sergeant. The 1857 US Army Regulations set the trouser color to dark blue and we are requiring our Federal participants to have dark blue trousers.

The weapon our example is carrying is an 1842 Model smooth bore Musket in .69cal. These weapons were produced at both National Armories in Springfield and Harper's Ferry. This weapon is finished bright and was the only weapon available to the Federal Garrison in December 1860.

The Accoutrements our example has are those proscribed in the 1857 U.S. Army Regulations. We are not going to get nit-picky with specific patterns since a mix of old 1839 pattern accourtrements and the new 1858 pattern accoutrements were available in 1860. The main thing we will be looking for are that the belts are blackened (be they made from Buff, Bridle or Waxed leather) and that we prefer hand sewn items vice riveted items. The only thing we will not accept are the late civil war 1864 pattern accoutrements with primarily riveted construction. Please ensure you have the belt and box plates required. You note our model has a Sergeant's Belt Plate to denote his rank.

My hope is this is helpful to our registered and planned participants. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

My thanks to Brian Sharp for helping us out by braving the South Carolina heat at Fort Moultrie to have his picture taken in head to toe wool.

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Last Updated (Friday, 25 June 2010 12:41)