2nd Florida Infantry Co

The goal of the 2^nd Florida Infantry Co. I., Hamilton Blues is to be a mainstream unit with a heavy lean towards progressive then hard core. What that means is that though we accept a certain amount of tent usage, our goal is to be less dependant on tents, boxes, chairs, tables and FARBY items such as plastic containers, stainless steel, table cloths, and sleeping bags. We are welcoming to families that need tents and other items to help care for their female or lady reenactors and children but we are aiming towards accurate bed-rolling with camp set up more hard core versus a ‘winter camp’ style. We will discourage the overuse of coolers and such items. We will be portraying a mid to late war type unit and our uniforms and camp will reflect this.

The organization known as the 2^nd Florida Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Co. I., “Hamilton Blues” exists to faithfully recreate the original unit that existed and participated in the American Civil War. The impression of this unit is the Gettysburg Campaign through Appomattox, and is primarily a campaign style unit. The members of the organization take part as a hobby, but more importantly, to honor and respect all those, both North and South, who fought and died for the cause they believed in. This unit, and the umbrella organizations in which we participate are non-profit. This unit has no political or social agenda, and will not swear any allegiance to any organization that does.

Membership with the 2^nd Florida Co. I is by invitation only. What that means is that we will not actively recruit members from existing units of any organization we claim to be members of. Should someone from an existing unit wish to join the 2^nd Florida, they must first discuss their decision with their existing company commander, contact the company commander of the 2^nd Florida and be asked to be put on a ‘probationary’ status with this company. All new members will be on a probationary status in order to confirm that they fit well within the current members of the 2^nd Florida and that those current members of the 2^nd Florida fit well with them. This is done to protect both existing members and potential new members. Selecting and approving a candidate for membership will be done by a simple majority vote of the active members of the current unit. Revocation of membership can also be addressed by a simple majority vote. Active membership status is maintained by participating in a minimum of 2 events per calendar year. Members of the company that do not maintain active status are subject to discharge from the roster. Certain exceptions will apply in the case of medical, employment, family requirements or emergencies. Members of the 2^nd Florida command staff, company commanders and NCO’s, will be required to attend a minimum of 50% of the events for the calendar year to retain eligible to keep their positions with the unit. Voting members will consist of both civilian and combatant members.

New members, or those outside the Civil War reenacting community need to request to participate in an upcoming event. Once again, new members are on ‘probationary status’. Probationary status will be for a minimum of three events. Should the new member follow the units rules, regulations and expectations, and should the new member decide that he/she wants to become a member, a simple majority vote will be required to confirm membership.

All members of the 2^nd Florida Company I., “Hamilton Blues” are asked to join the American Civil War Society. The 2^nd Florida Infantry Regiment is proud to be a part of the American Civil War Society and ask that all members join.

The 2nd Florida Co. I. is an independent unit and not part of any brigade. All NCO's will be appointed for at least the first year of the existence of the unit. Members are given a status of R- reserve, F -Fresh Fish, C- Civilian, or D-Detached. This designation will only appear on the company roster but not on any morning report or other publications. All male and females portraying men are considered Privates unless appointed to a position with the unit.

Positions of command within the company will be appointed by the company commander, and subject to a 3 event probationary period. At the end of this period, the company will hold a simple majority vote to make the appointment final, or to remove the candidate from that position and reappoint a new candidate to the position. A simple majority is defined as those present at the event in this situation.

For the purpose of 2^nd Florida Infantry, Co. I., we will follow the American Civil War Gold Book as it is written. We will also follow the American Civil War rules regarding command structure. They are as follows:

3.4. Rank Ratio. Regardless of unit structure or other reenacting organizations' policies/rankings, members attending ACWS events are expected to adhere to the ACWS’s rank structure.

3.4.1. A unit’s rank/ratio must meet ACWS requirements for each event attended.

3.4.2. If units are consolidated, the Battalion Commander and the units shall chose the appropriate number of officers/NCOs for the unit. All others should refrain from wearing rank for the entire event, both in and out of camp.

Pvt.	Corp.	Sgt.	1^st Sgt.	2^nd Lt.	1^stLt.	Capt.
5	1	0	0	0	0	0
6-9	1	1	0	0	0	0
10-12	2	1	0	1	0	0
13-18	2	1	1	1	0	0
19-24	2	1	1	1	1	1

1. Once a year there shall be an Annual Unit Meeting. This meeting shall be held in January at a place that is convenient to a majority of the unit members.

2. All eligible members of the unit shall be allowed to vote on any issue, as long as they have maintained an

active status during the previous year. For the first year, all those that have committed to the 2nd Florida will be eligible.

Any member shall be allowed to bring up any item for consideration before the unit.

3. Additional company meetings may called should the need arise. These impromptu meetings can and may

occur at an event or at someone's home. The company commander will do his/her very best to make sure

as many members as possible will be notified should a meeting need to occur at an upcoming event.

4. Safety is PARAMOUNT! Safety will be on everyone's mind at all times when weapons are to be handled.

Any member has the right to refuse to fire if they feel that they are in an unsafe situation or if their weapon is not functioning properly.

5. Military courtesy and order should be maintained when on the field or battle and when in front of the public.

6. If any member has a grievance, they should use the military chain of command (private to corporal, corporal to sergeant,

7. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on any day when there will be weapons either

displayed or fired. Prior to drinking, all reenacting activities shall be finished for the day. ALL weapons will

be cleaned and put away before alcohol is consumed. As there may be members in the unit that are under the

age of 21 years of age, NO ALCOHOL SHALL BE PROVIDED TO THEM. There will also be no alcohol

Amendment 1 to Rule #7 If you have volunteered or are signed up for guard mount, you are not allowed to consume any alcohol on the day or night that you will be serving guard mount.

Amendment 2 to Rule #7 Drinking to the point of inebriation is forbidden. SEE ACWS Rule 6.4.1.1

The term inebriation is defined as: to exhilarate or stupefy as if by liquor (Webster's Dictionary). To more clearly define what this term means specifically to the 2nd Florida:

Consuming of alcohol to the point of obnoxious or belligerent behavior, to be falling down drunk, to be confrontational, or overly loud or disruptive in camp. Please note that some

people are 'experienced' drinkers and can maintain, or drink more alcohol then others. Some people 1-2 drinks is more then enough to be inebriated. Please make note of your own

8.. No person is to smoke in ranks, while carrying gunpowder or within 15 feet of formation where members are carrying gunpowder. (ACWS Rule 6.3.26)

This means that if you are in formation, or at rest in formation smoking is prohibited. You are not permitted to smoke while you have on your cartridge box or cap pouch or within

15 feet of anyone who has on their accoutrements. (This rule has already been established under ACWS)

9. The unit is a hobby organization and shall be treated as such. Members should not feel obligated

to purchase vast quantities of new equipment all at one time. This is especially true if the purchase

10. The unit policy toward attendance is that to remain on the active service roster, members must attend at least two

events a year. NCO's must attend a minimum of 50% of events, while officers and company

commander must attend 75% events per year. Though we like to see everyone attend every single event,

12. All members are required to take and pass the Pacific Area Civil War Safety Rules Test.

This test will be issued at the beginning of each calendar year and to those members that join mid-year.

13. A job description for the NCO's as per Customs and Service for NCO's has been put into effect;

these are based on Customs and Service Manual. It has been abbreviated for reenacting purposes.

These duties can be expanded on as needed. NCO's need to know their drill; otherwise they can become

a hindrance to the men and everyone else in camp and on the field. The welfare of his/her fellow reenactors

comes first without sacrificing authenticity. As an NCO, you are to ensure those men under you have a good time before you do.

The CORPORAL is one of the most important of the NCO positions, because he has direct control and influence over the men. The duties of the corporal are simple and depend on his capacity to control and direct soldiers in their performance of the their duties. Corporals frequently succeed to the position of sergeant in his absence (or 'death') and must be familiar and comfortable with the sergeants duties. He should also have on his person a pencil and a notebook. These will help him keep track of his tasks, schedules and orders of the day.

The corporal should be a living example for the privates in their neatness and cleanliness of their clothing, arms and accoutrements. They should be the first to fall in and the first to seek to maintain authenticity. The corporal should be an example for all privates within the company to follow and a quality example of what the unit wants to portray to the reenacting community as well as civilians and spectators.

They must have a working knowledge of drill. They need to keep the men informed, to know changes, and be able to explain clearly to the privates these changes and requirements.

The SERGEANT. While it is difficult to draw the line between the duties of the corporal and the sergeant, there are some subtle differences. The sergeant is entrusted with some great responsibilities both in camp and on the field. They need to have more experience and knowledge of reenacting in general and know the safety rules and regulations.

The sergeant must be able to teach the school of the soldier and skirmish drill as well as having a working knowledge of the school of the company. They mush be able to take over the responsibilities and duties of the 1st sergeant in case of absence or 'death' of the sergeant. The most important duty of the sergeant is that of file closer, posted at the rear of the company when paraded. It is the file closers duty to see that the men pay attention, preserve order, march properly and keep the ranks closed at the proper intervals. He may even be required to shoot men down when they attempt to run in times of danger.

The 1st Sergeant must know his drill manual, manage the men effectively and set a superior example in not only uniform requirements, but in conduct at all times. They must be able to work well with the battalion sergeant major, company commanders and unit members. The 1st Sergeant must know the jobs of the sergeants, corporals and privates beneath him and have a working knowledge of the position of company commander. At this time, the 2nd Florida will have a 1st Sergeant as our company commander until such as time as numbers warrant a promotion. The 1st Sergeant must lead by example in all things he does, wears, says, as well as his weapons and kits in good order. He sets the tone for the entire company.

SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN ANY FORM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Ladies are welcome in our camp and all male members must respect any and all female reenactors as well as civilian and spectator women. Reports of sexual harassment will be turned over to law enforcement agencies without exception, commensurate with immediate discharge from the company and submission of a written report to the Board of Directors to all umbrella organizations in the area.

The deliberate exposure of private body parts is forbidden in the 2nd Florida camp. Anyone who dresses or undresses in a public location (outside of a tent) will be excluded from participating for a period of six months from the date of offense. Officers and NCO's are expected to enforce the exclusion.

1. Military Courtesy: Military Courtesy will be adhered to at all times while the public has access to camps. All Privates, Corporals and Sergeants will salute all Officers when addressing them. The chain of command will be followed when communicating with superiors. When a visiting Officer enters camp the senior member will announce "Officer in Camp" and call the men to attention until the Officer acknowledges the compliment. Sergeants will, whenever possible, be given the command of the detail that needs to be addressed. The sergeant will then delegate the detail to the corporal who will be responsible for carrying the duty out with the appropriate manpower.

2. Required materials for those holding the rank of company commander (1st Sergeant in this case) and all NCO's:

All basic items must be acquired within a period of one year of enlistment. The following items are required by all military members of the 2nd Florida. Exceptions made be made on a case by case basis, and must be based on historical documentation.

The 2nd Florida Co. I of the American Civil War Society is striving for accuracy and quality. Below is a list of items needed to do a quality impression for this unit.

Jacket/Coat: These are to be preferably jean-wool (any color jean wool is acceptable). Florida State buttons or CSA, I-Block, Federal, or civilian buttons. If they are trimmed, the trim is to be either Militia black or infantry blue. Patterns that are acceptable are:

Trousers: These can be a wide variety of styles and patterns, provided they are period correct. Some of the styles are:

Headgear: Confederate issue or commutation pattern kepis and forage caps are strongly preferred, however a limited number of Federal issue Kepis and Forage caps will be allowed. Civilian slouch hats will be tolerated.

Greatcoats: Federal issue Infantry pattern greatcoats are preferred, as the Confederacy had limited production at the time.

Knapsacks: These are STRONGLY recommended. They do not necessarily need to be actually packed; at the discretion of the wearer, they may be filled with a pillow etc. when worn. Some acceptable styles are below.

Footwear: Any pattern correct brogans is acceptable, Federal or Confederate. No high boots of any kind. Gaitors are prohibited with the exception of tacticals.

Accoutrements: Sets must consist of at least a cartridge box with sling, cap pouch, belt, bayonet scabbard and appropriate bayonet, canteen and haversack. Canteens can be of any period pattern, haversacks can be imported, civilian, or military issue. Belt buckles are to be CS or CSA. Brass frame style or period correct Roller Buckle style.

Eyeglasses: If a member of the init requires eyeglasses, the style of frames must be common to the period. No eyeglasses of obvious modern style or construction should be worn. Contact lenses are acceptable, but extreme care must be taken to keep the necessary solutions and cases for their maintenance hidden and clean.

Insignia: Only those appointed NCO's, and Officers are to wear rank. Our unit insignia is black without backing.

Weapons: First, each soldier is required to have the appropriate cleaning equipment for their piece. Bayonets for their muskets* are also required. Slings for long arms are optional. The acceptable patterns are listed below. Non-military weapons are prohibited.

-p1853 Enfield 3 Band Rifled musket, or 2 Band Rifle (limited) with appropriate bayonets.

Blanket: Wool blankets are preferred in either grey, red or blue (Army green is not allowed)

Gum Blanket and or Poncho: These shall be of India rubber or vulcanized rubber on canvas. Tarred canvas patterns are acceptable.

Utensils: Tin cup, tin plate, period knife, fork and spoon. Tin war should be soldered (non-lead), rather then solid or crimped bottoms.

Side Arms: Only the 1st Sergeant may carry a side arm with the exception of tacticals.

Medical Devices: on occasion a member may have to wear a medical device that is completely anachronistic. These might include hearing aids, limb casts, dental appliances etc. No one will be excluded for these reasons. However it is the responsibility of the individual to see that everything possible is done to conceal the anachronism. If earplugs are used, please consider cotton or flesh colored foam.

Watches: Modern watches must never be worn, or seen in camp. The use of pocket watches is encouraged for those who desire to carry a timepiece. NCO's should seriously consider having a timepiece with them at all times.

Rings: The wearing if rings, other then wedding rings is highly discouraged. Consider wearing a simple band instead of a ring that may be lost or damaged. No earrings, nose rings or the likes will be allowed

Tents: Our unit is to portray a bed-roll type camp. Though we allow tents, these are for storage and poor weather. Members with families are allowed to use tents. Some events tents may be needed. For single soldiers, it is strongly preferred that a bedroll, dog-tent, or shelter half be used. For Families, period correct tents will be accommodated. Exceptions will also be made for inclement weather.

Mess and Cooking Equipment: Coffee boilers, muckets, frying pans, etc, should be period correct. Some exceptions may be needed and will be allowed.

Food Containers: Period looking food containers such as ammo boxes, hardtack boxes, or other crates are acceptable. NO MODERN CONTAINERS MAY BE VISIBLE IN CAMP. When preparing meals, all no period items, such as plastic containers, zipper storage bags, and coolers, must be hidden at all times.

Tents: For single soldiers, it is strongly preferred that a bedroll, dog-tent, or shelter half be used. For Families, period correct tents will be accommodated. Exceptions will also be made for inclement weather.

Camp Equipment: Chairs will be authorized for civilian ladies and children present within the company, but only for limited use by combatant members, as the company portrays a primarily campaign style impression. Period correct boxes can be used as necessary for storage. Tables will be limited in number, and used primarily for meal preparation.

Originally the idea of doing a unit from the state of Florida was brought forth by Eric Ramey. Mr. Ramey suggested the state of Florida for a few reasons. First, he already had the company flag. Second, he was not comfortable in his home unit any longer, and third: he knew that at least one person, Dawn Beresovoy, was from the state of Florida. These factors and others made Mr. Ramey feel that a Florida unit would be something new and different to the ACWS and western reenacting.

When our first company commander, Chris Beresovoy reviewed the possibility of starting a Florida unit, he looked through all of the original rosters of Florida regiments. To his amazement, his family name, Byrd, was on the original roster of the 2nd Florida Regiment, Co. I., Hamilton Blues. Mr. Beresovoy considered other units from Florida but found that the Hamilton Blues were formed up in his mothers home county as well as state and thus it was an easy choice.