Infantry

Guidelines & Campaigning Tips

This information is provided as a tool to help you prepare for Potter’s Raid. Don’t forget that you will carry every item that you bring with you (unless you eat it) for four days over many miles.

Uniform Guidelines

Keep in mind that the raid occurred at the end of the war. Uniforms and equipment should not look new.

sack coat, frock, or shell jacket slouch hats , kepis, or forage caps

trousers shirt

brogans wool socks

canteen haversack

gum blanket or poncho shelter half (optional)

3-band musket appropriate leathers

Campaigning Tips

- Be in shape. Get out and exercise. Walking several times a week will make a weekend of campaigning much more enjoyable. This includes your brogans too.

- Reduce excess gear.

- Don’t let your haversack and canteen hang low. Gear that bounces or swings is uncomfortable on the march and not practical.

- Carry a gum blanket or a poncho.

- Gun cleaning equipment: Save the thorough cleaning for after the event. Carry the minimum items like a pick, cone wrench, a few patches, and a little oil.

- Don’t carry a lantern. Candles only.

- Clothing: Take two sets of shirts, underdrawers, and socks. Wear one and carry the second in your knapsack or blanket roll. This way you’ll be able to stay warmer at night by changing into dry clothes before going to sleep.

- Eating utensils: Choose between a skillet and a plate. Carrying both is too much. Use a canteen half and tie it on the outside of your canteen. A stick can make a satisfactory handle and you’ll have your skillet and plate in one.

- Great coat: Can be carried in place of a blanket. It isn’t likely, however, that it will be needed at this event.

- Small muslin handkerchief – acts as a wash clothe for your hands and face

- Personal items: Be conservative when carrying things like period playing cards, wallet, bible, matches, etc. There was a good reason why many men tossed extra gear to the side of the road on a long march.

- Twine: Always carry some. It can tie up your bedroll, replace a broken shoelace, or serve any number of other purposes.

Food

Your haversack is designed for food and eating utensils. It is not a suitcase. Utilize small poke sacks for your food items. Keep in mind that the troops would have also picked up anything they could find on the march. Think about the time of year of the event and what would have been available for the troops to “requisition” from the countryside. Rations will be issued daily for Potter’s Raid, but there are some other items that you might wish to supplement your rations with:

- dried fruit

- peanuts

- gingersnaps

- beef jerky

- coffee

Four men comprise a mess. Rations are typically issued per mess rather than to individual men. This allows the men to split the responsibility and the weight of carrying food. A mess can also split up other “community” gear and carry it accordingly.