By Austin Williams, 33rd Virginia Co. H The following is the first of a three part primer on skirmish drill, covering deployments and general principles, movement and firing, and reforming. These articles are intended to be a general introduction or refresher and should not be viewed as a replacement for reading the original manuals. Wherever …
Instructions for Skirmishers: Movement and Firing
By Austin Williams, 33rd Virginia Co. H The following is the first of a three part primer on skirmish drill, covering deployments and general principles, movement and firing, and reforming. These articles are intended to be a general introduction or refresher and should not be viewed as a replacement for reading the original manuals. Wherever …
Instructions for Skirmishers: Deployments and General Principles
By Austin Williams, 33rd Virginia Co. H The following is the first of a three part primer on skirmish drill, covering deployments and general principles, movement and firing, and reforming. These articles are intended to be a general introduction or refresher and should not be viewed as a replacement for reading the original manuals. Wherever …
Striped Shirts and Slop Sellers: British Import Shirts in the Army of Northern Virginia
By Austin Williams, 33rd Virginia Co. H A principal challenge of studying Civil War material culture is the frustratingly limited detail available in many sources. Surviving documents only rarely mention the fabric, color, construction, or manufacturer of uniform items and never in as much detail as the modern research would like. When reviewing Confederate quartermaster …
Fit for Effective Service: Virginia Arms Her Stonewall Brigade
By Austin Williams, 33rd Virginia Co. H During Virginia’s secession debate in early April 1861, the state’s former governor Henry Wise dismissed concerns that the South lacked adequate modern weapons to win a war. Clutching a sword bayonet-tipped rifle as he spoke, Wise confidently stated that “it was not the improved arm, but the improved …
Its Ancient Reputation: The Stonewall Brigade at Cedar Mountain
By Austin Williams, 5th VA Co. A Curious ladies and young boys lined the streets of Richmond on the morning of July 15, 1862, eager to catch a glimpse of Stonewall Jackson’s veterans as their columns marched through the city. Over the preceding months, the Richmond newspapers had breathlessly described the exploits of these men …
The Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg – Part Four: The Fate of the Flags
By Austin Williams, 5th Virginia, Co A Note: The following is the final part of a four-part series on the actions of the Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg. Previous installments covered the initial skirmishing around Wolf’s Hill, the fight for Brinkerhoff’s Ridge, and the July 3 assaults on Culp’s Hill. For all the attention placed during …
The Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg – Part Three: Maelstrom on Culp’s Hill
By Austin Williams, 5th Virginia Co. A Note: The following is part three of a four-part series on the actions of the Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg. Previous installments covered the initial skirmishing around Wolf’s Hill and the action on Brinkerhoff’s Ridge on July 2. A final epilogue will address the fate of the brigade’s flags …
The Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg – Part Two: Clash on Brinkerhoff’s Ridge
By Austin Williams, 5th Virginia Co. A Note: The following is part two of a four-part series on the actions of the Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg. The previous installment covered the initial skirmishing around Wolf’s Hill, the subsequent installment will address the July 3 attacks on Culp’s Hill, and a final epilogue will address the …
The Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg – Part One: In the Shadow of Wolf’s Hill
By Austin Williams, 5th Virginia Co. A Note: The following is part one of a four-part series on the actions of the Stonewall Brigade at Gettysburg. Subsequent installments will cover the fight for Brinkerhoff’s Ridge and the July 3 attacks on Culp’s Hill, while a final epilogue will address the fate of the brigade’s flags …