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Re-enacting Information Historical Information |
Lexington Rifles
"Our Laws, The Commands of Our Captain"
Special Orders
Background
Music:
"the
girl i left behind me"
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 1.
Conduct and Behavior
In an effort to project the best ideals of the
Southern Confederacy, a courteous and respectful demeanor by all members is
expected. To this end, the display
of character that may discredit and/or impugn the good name, image, and
reputation of the Lexington Rifles is prohibited. Any conduct that can be
considered to be unbecoming a member of polite society in the antebellum South
is subject to disciplinary action.
The
following conduct will not be tolerated: Assault;
Battery; Personal Threats; Theft; Use of Abusive, Profane, or Vulgar Language;
Possession of Contraband; Use of Illegal Substances; and Rowdiness or
Hooliganism, in general. In addition
to disciplinary action by the Company, violators of any criminal laws are
subject to arrest and prosecution in accordance with the statutes of state and
local jurisdictions.
Children must be properly attired in period clothing. Parents or guardians are responsible for the behavior and actions of their children.
.
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 2.
Authenticity Standards
Arms, accoutrements, materials, and the construction of garments and equipment must conform to those that were common in America during the mid 19th-century. Items not reflective of the time period are considered to be unacceptable anachronisms; therefore, modern hairstyles, obvious make-up, modern eyeglasses and footwear, wristwatches, and garments made with zippers and/or non-period fabrics are not allowed. The acquisition and use of items for which historical provenance has been established is preferred and encouraged.
Members are encouraged to use language and behavior modifications to more accurately reflect an authentic historical portrayal.
.
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 3.
victuals
Each military member is expected to supply
and prepare provender for at least one breakfast for the Company during the year.
It is the responsibility of the volunteer cook to ensure that
the necessary conditions and supplies exist to prepare the victuals, i.e. fire pit, firewood, fire grate, cookware, and utensils.
If the volunteer has special needs or requires assistance from
others in securing necessary equipment, he must
make the request himself to those other members who may provide it. It is
recommended, but is not required, that each member also provides a minimum
of one gallon drinking water at each event, for both personal and Company
use.
.
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 4.
Schedule of Finances
In managing the finances of the Company Treasury, the
Paymaster is charged with the collection of revenue and the disbursement of
funds in accordance with the approved operating budget and this Special Order.
The deadline for payment of any debt that is owed to the Company will be the
last scheduled event of each year.
A. Revenues
The following are recognized
sources of income and their rates of exchange.
1.)
Authenticity Fine
To
enforce regulations pertaining to standards of authenticity and behavior, the
authority to assess a fine for minor infractions of these Special Orders is
granted to any member who identifies an offense, and who then shall immediately
bring it to the attention of the violator for correction. Levy of
this fine is meant solely to encourage compliance with these regulations and is
not meant to be punitive. Therefore,
the violator should freely admit culpability for the infraction before voluntary
payment, based upon gentlemanly good will and honor, is rendered.
Non-payment of the fine due to disagreement of culpability shall not
affect membership status in any way, nor harm the member’s reputation.
The amount of the fine will be 25 cents, which was the amount assessed in 1857 by John Hunt Morgan for infractions of Company regulations by both himself and other members of the Lexington Rifles.
2.)
Bounties
and Honoraria
All
bounties and honoraria that are received by individuals while acting in service
of the Company shall become property of the Company for the benefit of all.
Bounties received in the form of currency or check will be delivered to
the Paymaster for deposit into the Treasury, while the use and rate of exchange
for any other bounty item of value will be determined by the Company.
3.)
Ordnance
Sales
The
rate of sale for black powder and musket caps to members and recruits will be
set at a not-for-profit cost amount. A surcharge will be imposed on member
rates for sales to non-members.
4.)
Commutation
Fees
During
the war, propertied men could legally procure their exemption from conscripted
military service by paying a commutation fee to the government. In keeping
with this practice, and to equalize
individual contributions to the Treasury through honoraria earned from fund
raising activities, a commutation fee in an amount set by the Company may be
levied upon military members in lieu of their participation in such efforts.
5.)
Imposts
Imposts may be levied to pay for special needs that
are not listed in the annual budget. These
may be time and/or need specific and include, but not be limited to, the
purchase of ammunition, equipment, and provisions.
6.)
Membership
Dues
A
monetary charge for the cost of membership will be imposed annually on each
military member of the Company, regardless of their inducted status. The
dues, which shall be used to fund the operating budget and activities of the
Company, is payable by the first event of the year.
B.
Disbursements
The
following are recognized legitimate expenditures.
1.)
Provender
The
Paymaster shall reimburse breakfast costs from the Treasury to any member who
furnishes such provisions for the benefit of the Company and presents a paid
purchase receipt. The maximum
reimbursable amount of $30 is to be paid at the following rate: Up to $20
for the first 10 people served, plus $1 per each additional person.
2.)
Provisions
The
Company may procure and store equipment and supplies in the form of food,
clothing, shelter, and war materiel as needed for the defense against tyranny.
3.)
Website
The
Company may purchase
the use of a web domain on the internet and provide for its maintenance.
.To
enforce regulations pertaining to standards of authenticity and behavior, the
authority to assess a fine for minor infractions of these Special Orders is
granted to any member who identifies an offense, and who then shall immediately
bring it to the attention of the violator for correction. Levy of
this fine is meant solely to encourage compliance with these regulations and is
not meant to be punitive. Therefore,
the violator should freely admit culpability for the infraction before voluntary
payment, based upon gentlemanly good will and honor, is rendered.
Non-payment of the fine due to disagreement of culpability shall not
affect membership status in any way, nor harm the member’s reputation.
The amount of the fine will be 25 cents, which was the amount assessed in 1857 by John Hunt Morgan for infractions of Company regulations by both himself and other members of the Lexington Rifles.
2.)
Bounties
and Honoraria
All
bounties and honoraria that are received by individuals while acting in service
of the Company shall become property of the Company for the benefit of all.
Bounties received in the form of currency or check will be delivered to
the Paymaster for deposit into the Treasury, while the use and rate of exchange
for any other bounty item of value will be determined by the Company.
3.)
Ordnance
Sales
The
rate of sale for black powder and musket caps to members and recruits will be
set at a not-for-profit cost amount. A surcharge will be imposed on member
rates for sales to non-members.
4.)
Commutation
Fees
During
the war, propertied men could legally procure their exemption from conscripted
military service by paying a commutation fee to the government. In keeping
with this practice, and to equalize
individual contributions to the Treasury through honoraria earned from fund
raising activities, a commutation fee in an amount set by the Company may be
levied upon military members in lieu of their participation in such efforts.
5.)
Imposts
Imposts may be levied to pay for special needs that
are not listed in the annual budget. These
may be time and/or need specific and include, but not be limited to, the
purchase of ammunition, equipment, and provisions.
6.)
Membership
Dues
A
monetary charge for the cost of membership will be imposed annually on each
military member of the Company, regardless of their inducted status. The
dues, which shall be used to fund the operating budget and activities of the
Company, is payable by the first event of the year.
B.
Disbursements
The
following are recognized legitimate expenditures.
1.)
Provender
The
Paymaster shall reimburse breakfast costs from the Treasury to any member who
furnishes such provisions for the benefit of the Company and presents a paid
purchase receipt. The maximum
reimbursable amount of $30 is to be paid at the following rate: Up to $20
for the first 10 people served, plus $1 per each additional person.
2.)
Provisions
The
Company may procure and store equipment and supplies in the form of food,
clothing, shelter, and war materiel as needed for the defense against tyranny.
3.)
Website
The
Company may purchase
the use of a web domain on the internet and provide for its maintenance.
..
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 5.
Camp Charity
Camp will be named in honor of "Camp Charity", which the Lexington Rifles established west of
Bloomfield, Kentucky during September 22 – 25, 1861. The camp was
so-named to recognize the charitable donations of food and equipment that was
freely given by the generous and patriotic townspeople of Bloomfield.
In order that Camp Charity remains orderly, each
member has the responsibility to maintain sanitary conditions within the camp
through policing and proper disposal of all litter.
Tent fronts should be aligned with each other to maintain an orderly
Company street kept free of fire pits, shelters, and unattended equipment.
Whenever
possible, Camp Charity shall be situated near other cavalry camps of the Army.
Modern items that are not consistent with the mid 19th-century period shall be
concealed from view, and the indiscrete use of electronic devices and modern
lighting is not permitted.
.
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 6.
Weapons
The military commander shall have the responsibility
and obligation to ensure that each weapon is operationally safe and appropriate.
If any equipment or ammunition is found to be in non-compliance with these
rules, the violation must be corrected before its use.
A. Inspections
An
inspection of each firearm shall be performed prior to its use to ensure that it
is in an overall safe firing condition. Gun
barrels shall be free of obstructions, and hammers shall be checked for
functional half-cock and full-cock settings.
B. Firearms
All
firearms must be percussion-fired, pre-1865 design.
1.)
Shoulder Arms
No
more than one
shoulder arm may be carried. Only
safety officers may draw a ramrod on the field to clear a malfunctioning weapon.
2.)
Side
Arms
No more than two pistols may be carried, worn at the
hip in period holsters.
C. Munitions
Period
arms projectiles are prohibited on site. Only black powder will be used as a propellant, and will not be carried in
bulk. Cartridges and percussion caps
shall be carried in period leather pouches designed for that purpose. Pistol
chambers shall use only wheat grain cereal as packing material.
D. Edged
Weapons
Edged weapons will only be carried in appropriate sheaths or scabbards.
.
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 7.
Military Promotions
In order to reflect a proper ratio of rank and file, the Company shall elect two military commanders - one of senior rank and one of junior rank - who may adjust their rank portrayals to that which are appropriate for the number of men present. Squad leaders will act as Corporals; Section leaders will act as Sergeants; and Platoon leaders will act as First Sergeants, while officers will command the Company.
The
display of rank insignia that is appropriate for a particular portrayal shall be
discretionary unless upon order of the senior military commander. In any
case, the non-display of rank insignia shall not affect the authority of the
office portrayed.
Article
of War No. 61 of the “Regulations
for the Army of the Confederate States”
allows for brevet promotions. Any such appointments to rank may be made by the
senior military commander, and are valid only for the specific circumstance
for which they occur.
.
SPECIAL
ORDER
No. 8.
Organizational Affiliation
Commencing
in March 2007, a military alliance will be in effect between the Lexington
Rifles and units, in combination, that are known collectively as the Kentucky
Orphan Brigade. This alliance is a non-membership friendship
pact that may be revoked by either party at any time without notice or cause,
and is solely for the purpose of mutual cooperation between the
organizations.
