Impressions & Drill

First Person Impressions

 Upon joining the Hard Head Mess, all members are required to select a first person impression they would like to portray. You will be addressed by your first person persona at all living histories & reenactments.

Concepts to remember when portraying a first person impression include: the soldier's enlistment date, hometown, ethnicity, occupation, height, weight, hair & eye color, any wounds received during the war, and family background.

It is also important is remember that these men for the most part were all civilians before the war. Find out what public interests would be talked about during the 1860's. Politics, local businesses, farming, hometown acquaintances, religion, social events, a letter from a family member, and care packages or gifts from home are just some topics to discuss with your mess mates.

We will help everyone in picking out and developing their first person impression. It is a great way to educate the public, and also helps to keep everyone in an 1860's mindset throughout a living history or reenactment.

Drill

All members are expected to know and perform drill at designated times called for during a living history or reenactment. New members will have the opportunity to work on the "School of the Soldier," and Guard Mount.

We will help all new and existing members to become proficient in drill. This includes the School of the Soldier, School of the Company, School of the Battalion, Guard Mount, and Bayonet Exercise.

The Hard Head Mess takes pride in our ability to drill, and strives continually to become more proficient at this required duty.

We primarily consult the following manuals for drill:

1. Casey's Tactics 
2. George B. McClellan's Manual of Bayonet Exercise 
3. Dominic J. Dal Bello's Parade, Inspection and Basic Evolutions of the Infantry Battalion, 4th Edition. 
4. Dominic J. Dal Bello's Instructions for Guards & Pickets, 2nd Edition. 
5. United States Infantry Tactics 
6. August V. Kautz's Customs of Service