The  Minstrel Boys

Erin-go-Bragh!

Recreating the role of the Irish in the American Civil War 1861-65

The Recreated 8^th Alabama Coy. I (The Emerald Guard)

We seek to recreate Coy. I of the 8th Alabama Volunteers, part of Wilcox’s Brigade,  Anderson’s Division of Longstreet’s Corps. Part of the Army of Northern Virginia commanded by the famous Gen. Robert E Lee.  For a brief history of the 8th Alabama Volunteer Infantry please follow the link here.

Coy. I, known as the Emerald Guard formed the 8th Alabama’s Colour Guard, which carried the regiments colours, a dangerous honour indeed as nothing attracted the enemy’s fire like the sight of a flag flying triumphantly over a line of soldiers.

 

This photograph (left) gives a good impression of Confederate soldiers in 1863.  Lacking the resources of the United States, the Confederacy’s warriors presented a less uniform appearance than their opponents from the north. They wear grey Richmond Depot II style jackets issued by the Confederate Government. The rest of the Soldier’s clothing is a mixture of items both issued and brought from home. A mixture of  headgear is worn with wide brim (‘slouch’) hats predominating. A variety of trousers and shirts  are also worn.

 

They carry the Enfield rifled musket, an imported British weapon popular with the Confederate Army. This weapon was accurate up to a range of 300 yards making it more lethal than the smooth bores of earlier wars. With this kind of firepower at his disposal the infantryman became more deadly. Cavalry could no longer survive on the battlefield and artillery had to fire from longer ranges or risk having their gun crews picked off  by sharpshooters.

 

 

Other items of equipment such as bread bags, knapsacks, belts, cartridge boxes and boots, were either imported, manufactured by the Confederate states or captured from the Union army.

Blanket roles (where the soldier rolled his possessions in a blanket worn over the shoulder), were also popular.

SONS OF ERIN ALABAMA CALLS YOU TO ARMS!

Help defend the state that gave you a home. Alabama has united with her southern

sisters to oppose tyranny and northern dictatorship!

INDEPENDENT, NOW and FOREVER!

8^th ALABAMA Coy. I THE EMERALD GUARD, NEEDS STOUTHEARTED MEN!