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Thursday, May 07, 09:16:33am [ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, [2], 3, 4 ]

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Date Posted: 01/23/05 6:55:12pm
Author: Phil McBride
Subject: Re: LFR Update
In reply to: Doug Cooper 's message, "LFR Update" on 01/22/05 5:32:38am

Great Post, Doug. Good information and the foot-high soldier gear was a treat to see. BTW, my Starbuck red kepi came in the mail Saturday, and it's a keeper for sure. Nonetheless, damned if it won't feel funny knowing I'm dressed as an artilleryman and my topknot is standing out and making the best target in the woods.


>You will likely be getting this in e-mail form from
>Danny and Jon, but thought I would post here as well:
>
>18th Battalion Georgia Infantry, the "Savannah
>Volunteer Guard."
>
>An old line Georgia militia artillery unit with quite
>a pedigree, they did indeed serve as infantry after
>arriving in Virginia in summer 1864 and were the 18th
>Georgia Battalion Infantry (wartime designation - SVG
>is the militia formation name). In fact they were to
>be merged with the 60th Georgia Infantry (letter from
>commander William Basinger) but the evacuation and
>retreat superseded that. Before Virginia they served
>in coastal forts in Georgia and Charleston (even
>Wagner), likely as both infantry and arty.
>
>After arriving in Virginia in early June 64, they
>served in the lines at Chaffin's Bluff east of
>Richmond on the James River. Major William Basinger
>was their commander and there is a new link on him
>with much excellent info including letters and field
>reports. He was likely wearing a frock coat based on
>photos and a letter he wrote after the battle - see
>the link here on the Basinger family (scroll down to
>William's CW info near the bottom):
>http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/2077/B/Basing
>er.htm
>
>Col Crutchfield was their Brigade commander, an
>artillery officer who would be killed leading the
>brigade in the charge at Sailor's Creek.
>http://www.saylerscreek.org/tour/cs_account01.html
>
>This is an account by a 10th Virginia Battalion Arty
>soldier but is representative of what it was like for
>our boys
>http://www.mdgorman.com/Written%20Accounts/Periodicals/
>retreat.htm
>
>Supposedly there is a body of more info resident with
>a descendent in Florida and I am waiting on that now.
>I am trying also to correspond with Jon Basinger, who
>established the website on the family above.
>
>There is some excellent information available on what
>they did at Sailor's Creek, and that can be found in
>an account in the Richmond Dispatch of April 12, 1896
>here:
>http://www.saylerscreek.org/tour/cs_account04.html
>
>One must take the above with a bit of skepticism. The
>actual Union casualties caused by the Guard were
>likely much lower as the number cited here (275) is
>over half that suffered by Seymour's entire Division.
>They probably did capture a color as Basinger relates
>in several letters on the Basinger site. Neither did
>2250 Confederates cause 5000 Union casualties. The
>Guard did have 85 men that day and acquitted
>themselves nobly, and thus are emblematic of the brave
>remnants of the army that gave their all in a last
>stand. They were all killed (25), wounded (27) or
>captured (33).
>
>Here is a Sailor's Creek Order of Battle:
>http://www.nps.gov/apco/anvcav.htm Note that you are
>the only unit in the event not actually part of DuBose
>Georgia Brigade during the battle.
>
>Uniforms
>
>Except for some references to "charcoal gray with red
>trim" uniforms and red caps, there is precious little
>available on what they looked liked in 64-65. Due to
>their old line artillery militia history and Georgia's
>affinity with being able to clothe their units well,
>we have settled on the Tait and RD 3 (English Army
>cloth) or RD 2 (in that order) as the best choices.
>Kepi's and slouch hats are fine. Enfield or 61-63
>Springfield's for long arms. Keith Rocco did some
>extensive research on the unit and his depiction of
>them in the painting reflects the mixture of infantry
>service with artillery trim, something not unusual in
>the ANV and especially Crutchfield's Brigade of former
>coastal defense battalions. See the painting here
>(available for purchase as well) -
>http://www.saylerscreek.org/store/
>
>Special cool uniform and equipment link (in case you
>need more info on the unit's uniform and equipment - I
>think they got this pretty close!):
>http://www.tfaw.com/toys/profile.html?&DB=C&SKU=TFAW747
>720203570&qt=cjdj&AID=10284619&PID=1308077
>
>Our Recreated Unit
>
>On the company so far, Danny says he is bringing 8-10.
> Eric Fair of the CHAPs is going with you (red trimmed
>Tait jacket and kepi) and will bring his bugle. Jon
>has at least 10 LJ's signed up already as well. Danny
>is also checking with the boys in the Georgia State
>Line who I think might be overjoyed to do a famous old
>Georgia unit.
>
>Event Update
>
>As for the event, I am happy to learn that the shallow
>trenches that DuBose's Brigade occupied are still
>there on the battlefield and we will be allowed to
>build light breastworks of rails, etc, just as they
>did. The area is being cleared of brush that has
>accumulated for years, so we are actually returning
>part of the battlefield closer to it's actual
>appearance. This will truly be special.
>
>The commanders are working hard on ensuring that the
>scenario's and flow will replicate the nature of the
>fighting retreat. We now have a wagon and at least
>one horse drawn gun, as well as some cav. We will
>also be bringing along with us some of the very best
>civilian reenactors in the hobby as refugees, black
>and white. We have secured permission from all the
>private landowners to cross their property as well as
>skirmish, keeping us to the unimproved roads and
>fields for the most part.
>
>The 18th Georgia Battalion will be busy both days and
>I am working on some interesting vignettes that will
>feature you guys, both because you are the best
>soldiers and can handle it but also because the unit
>you represent was special.
>
>Standby for more - we are 3 months out.
>
>If anyone finds more links and info, chime in!
>
>All the best,
>Doug Cooper

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