The First Virginia Regiment is a Revolutionary War living history and reenactment group. We portray Continental Army troops from the State of Virginia from 1775 through 1783. The group consists of soldiers who portray the Musket Company, Artillery Crew, as well as civilians who followed and supported the Army.

The unit maintains authenticity standards to which all members are expected to adhere. This includes the specific fabrics and other materials used for our military clothing and gear, as well as the patterns, and construction details. The unit has gone to great lengths to research each item as well as to locate sources of supply and manufacture. We recommend that you coordinate your purchases of clothing and gear with the Quartermaster from sources other than those stipulated by the unit. We recognize it takes time and money to achieve a higher level of authenticity. We do not expect new members to meet all requirements immediately. The group maintains a loaner locker of clothing and gear new members may use while they obtain their military “kit.” We recommend using the loaner locker so you can participate while having the time necessary to obtain the required uniform and gear. We believe the level of authenticity, value, and satisfaction is well worth the time and effort.

Please note the following:

Proper fit is expected for each garment. Breeches should be snug around the body without an overly baggy rear. Gowns and jackets should be snug in the bodice with a skirt/petticoat of appropriate width and length. Do not hesitate to discuss with the Quartermaster/Quartermistress.

General Camp Standards

Camp Equipment/Miscellaneous

Military Standards

Soldiers
Artillery
Musicians (Fife and Drum)

Civilian Standards (including Militia)

Impression Requirements
Men/Militia
Women
Children

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Soldiers

First Virginia Soldiers portray the Musket Company as prescribed by the Continental Congress in 1779. We know some details about this uniform from primary source documentation. Gaps in our understanding have been filled by comparable items based on well-documented examples from the period.

Regimental Coat: The coat is made from high quality dark blue and madder red wool Broadcloth with a smooth finish. Coats are patterned after the well-documented 1779 Regulations as ordered by the Continental Congress. The wool coat is constructed with raw edges (except where noted), lined with serge and linen, and hand finished. The materials should be purchased from the Quartermaster (QM) and made either by one of our approved tailors or according to our detailed instructions. The unit can provide help and guidance for members planning to make their own coat and other garments.

Small Clothes: The waistcoat, breeches, and overalls are made from natural colored linen, twill-weave hemp fabric, or wool. The waistcoat (west-kit) is lined with linen and may have working pockets. The waistcoat fits snugly through the body, be the proper length and fit, and may lace up the back. Overalls and breeches fit very snug through the legs and may require tightening after they are worn the first several times since the fabric stretches. The QM offers the fabric and unit pattern for you to either make these garments or send to one of approved tailors.

Shirt: The shirt, worn under the waistcoat, is made of plain, medium weight white linen. The shirt may also be made of dark blue check pattern linen. No other colors or patterns of fabric are allowed. The shirt has a high collar which folds over the neck stock, cuffs no wider than 1 inch, and the shirt-tails extending at least 6 inches (or more) below the crotch. The QM offers the fabric and unit pattern for you to either make these garments or send to one of approved tailors.

Neck Stock: Soldiers wear a black neck stock made of velveret (cotton velvet) or linen, lined with linen, and with buckram stiffening. A black thong or a stock clasp may be used. The QM offers the velveret neck stock with clasps.

Hat: A black cocked hat with white wool tape along the edge of the brim is worn. The cord (or tape) used to hold up the leaves of the hat is black. The cockade is made of plain black linen. Soldiers should purchase their hat from a unit recommended vendor.

Shoes: Members of the unit wear period reproduction shoes. Shoes are black leather with a plain nickel or brass buckle or leather ties.

Cartridge Box: Soldiers carry a reproduction of the Late War “Congress” box. Our cartridge boxes are made by unit members and offered through the QM.

Bayonet Carriage: The QM offers finished bayonet slings with a heart-shaped frog, believed to date from the War. A “double-frog” sling in kit form is also available.

Haversack: Our haversack is based on the original British item in the Craig Nanos collection. It is sold as a kit for soldiers to make.

Knapsack: Soldier sling the “New Invented Knapsack-Haversack” carried by troops from Virginia as documented in the Maryland Historical Society collection. The QM offers this as a kit to be completed by the member. The unit holds periodic workshops to assist in finishing the kit.

Musket: Italian (Pedersoli) and Japanese (Miroku) reproduction muskets are allowed; no India-made muskets are permitted for safety reasons. The QM must approve muskets of other manufacture prior to using on the field.

Facial Hair: Continental Army soldiers were clean-shaven. Common practice for soldiers was to shave at least every two or three days, on special parade days, and for guard duty. Goatees, mustaches, beards or any other creative facial hair is frowned upon as not common for the period.

Hair: The common hairstyle for soldiers was typically tied in a queue, braided, or clubbed. Shorter styles were not unheard of, especially for farmers and tradesmen. At least one order for Virginia’s Continental soldiers, appearing in the Orderly Book of the 6^th Virginia Regiment, stipulates that the soldier’s hair should be cut short and all to the same length.

Some members choose to wear their hair long or purchase a wig to enhance their 18th-century military appearance. If your hair or wig is long enough, it should be tied back with a leather thong, or a black ribbon of linen, silk, or wool tape.

Optional Items subject to uniform of the day orders from the Commanding Officer:

Hunting Shirt: The early war hunting shirt worn is unique to the unit. It is based on descriptions of the garment worn by Virginia’s Continental regiments in Williamsburg during the period 1775 – 1776. The Hunting Shirt is made of heavy, natural color, oznabirg linen. It is a pullover style garment, cut short not to extend lower than the crotch, and has a shirt collar. An Officer’s Hunting Shirt has fringe on the collar.

Our late war hunting shirts are based on descriptions of those worn by troops later in the war.

Blue Wool Leggings: These are made from blue wool supplied by the QM.

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Artillery

First Virginia’s artillery portray soldiers from the First Continental Artillery Regiment which was raised in Virginia in 1776. First Virginia Artillery members wear the late war Musket Company uniform as prescribed in Washington’s Orders of 1779 with the following exceptions.

Regimental Coat: Artillery coats include red wool lining for the coat tails and yellow wool tape around the buttonholes.

Hat: The Artillery cocked hat has yellow wool tape along the edge of the brim.

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Musicians (Fife and Drum)

First Virginia’s Musicians wear the late war Musket Company uniform as prescribed in Washington’s Orders of 1779 with the following exception.

Regimental Coat: Musician coats are red with blue facing and white lining.

Musicians will also carry accoutrements necessary for their instruments rather than a musket and a soldier’s accoutrements.

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Civilian Impression Requirements

A proper impression is encouraged for all civilians which requires some research on your part.

The following are suggested impressions that are appropriate to civilians found with the Continental Army. These are the most common roles seen with the Army; however, the list is not all-inclusive. If thorough research leads you to another impression, then please discuss with our Civilian Coordinator.

Women	Children (Aged 13 and over)	Men
Seamstress	Petty Sutler	Cordwainer
Laundress	Nurse	Chaplain
Nurse	Beggar	Sutler
Petty Sutler		Armorer
Poor bedraggled soldier’s wife/Beggar		Surgeon

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Men/Militia

Required items (amplified below):

- Coat or jacket
- Waistcoat
- Breeches or Trousers
- Shirt
- Neckwear
- Shoes
- Stockings
- Hat
- Hair

Clothing Item	Unacceptable	Minimum Acceptable	Best
Coats (Required)^	Regimental coats Hunting shirts, or over-shirts (except for militia) Baggy coats Cotton canvas or damask upholstery fabric	Workman smocks Well-fit workman’s coat in linen or wool with minor visible machine stitching	Hand-finished, well-fit coats in straight-bodied or cutaway styles, made of wool or linen Common colors for wool include drab, brown, green, red, or blue. Common colors for linen coats include naturals, browns, and blues …
Jackets and Waistcoats (Required)^	Regimental waistcoats Cotton canvas or upholstery fabric Extremely long or baggy waistcoats or jackets.	Well-fit waistcoats or jackets (sleeved waistcoat) with minor visible machine stitching in linen or wool	Hand-finished, well-fit single or double breasted waistcoats, skirted or square cut, with or without sleeves. Wool broadcloth, kersey, serge, linsey-woolsey, or linen in drab, brown, white, green, red or blue Sleeved waistcoats may be worn as the primary outer garment for working men …
Breeches and Trousers (Required)^	Regimental breeches Fringed trousers Breeches sagging in the thigh or knee Petticoat over-breeches (Sailors only) not worn over breeches	Well-fit breeches or trousers with minor visible machine stitching Fall-front trousers of linen or hemp canvas, either plain, checked, or striped in color	Hand-finished, well-fit fall-front breeches Wool broadcloth, kersey, linsey-woolsey, serge, cotton velvet, wool plush, linen, or leather Knee bands may have buckled, tied, or buttoned closures Common colors include blue, brown, black, drab or natural …
Shirts (Required)^	Cotton calico Plaid shirts Shirts with collars more 4’’, cuffs more than 1’’	Machine stitched checked, striped, natural or white linen shirts. White wool flannel shirt Collars 4’’or less, cuffs 1’’or less	Hand-stitched, checked, striped, natural or white linen or wool shirts Cuffs made with two buttonholes to each cuff and tied with tape or closed with sleeve-buttons (cuff links) …
Neckwear (Required)^	Military horsehair or leather neck stocks.	Machine hemmed cotton handkerchiefs	Hand hemmed silk, linen, or cotton handkerchiefs Pleated linen neck stocks with buckles Linen rollers …
Stockings (Required)^	Horizontally striped stockings and modern socks	Machine-knit cotton, wool, or silk over-the-knee stockings Tied with leather or cotton/linen tape garters below the knee.	Hand-knit or frame-knit over the knee stockings in linen, wool, silk, or cotton, in white, blue, grey, brown and black …
Shoes (Required)^	Sneakers, slippers, or any other obviously modern shoes. Civil War bootees Riding boots	Commercially available brown or black leather lace up shoes Period-style machine sewn black, brown or red leather shoes with buckles or single hole with tape tie.	Hand sewn black leather shoes with buckle or ties. Straight-lasted and round toed Hobnails
Legwear (Optional for rural impressions)	Tall military gaiters Baggy spatterdashers Wool or Indian leggings	Well-fit canvas spatterdashes with minor machine finishing Gaiters needed to hide unobtrusively modern leather footwear.	Well-fit, hand-finished spatterdashers or farmer’s half-gaiters of black, brown, or drab wool, or black leather. …
Hats and Caps (Required)^	Slouch hats from unfinished blanks Fur caps Military hats and cockades	Oval-blocked hats made of black felt in cocked or round styles Round straw hats for sailors and laborers Paneled linen workman cap	Hand-finished, round-blocked, hats made of black wool or beaver felt (gentlemen only), cut round, and either left plain or cocked in appropriate civilian styles. Gathered linen or knit-wool Monmouth cap.
Cold/Wet weather clothing	Oilcloth Modern synthetic rainwear Outer garments from other historical periods.	Machine-stitched greatcoats, surtouts, and cloaks made of wool broadcloth in blue, brown, gray, red, and black with a collar and at least one circular shoulder cape. Plain wool blanket	Well fit, hand-stitched greatcoats, surtouts, and cloaks made of wool broadcloth in blue, brown, gray, red, and black with a collar and at least one circular shoulder cape. …
Facial Hair^	Beards Goatees Mustaches if other than German	Clean shaven. Slight stubble (five o’clock shadow) is acceptable for working men. Handlebar style mustaches are acceptable for a German portrayal only.
Hair^	The 1VA understands that concessions must be made regarding hair as reenactors must also function in the professional world. Men are encouraged to wear wigs or false queues, styled in a period manner. Men with longer natural hair may wear it tied back into a ponytail with a black ribbon or leather thong, queued (wrapped tightly in long lengths of wool or silk ribbon), or clubbed (folded back on itself and tied in the center with a knot or bow).
Carrying Your Items	Military haversack Military knapsack	Wallets Market wallet Tied handkerchiefs Pockets in garments

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Women