Be aware that when you sign your registration form, you are agreeing to abide by the Safety Regulations and Rules for this event, which will be actively and vigorously enforced. Highlights are overviewed here. A full copy of the Safety Standing Operating Procedures, which has been adopted by the Civil War Reenactor's Liaison Committee (CWRLC), will be available for your perusal at the event registration desk. If you cannot abide by these procedures do not attend this event.

Safety
Each Company will appoint a designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Company Safety Officer will report to the Regimental/Battalion Safety Officer.

Each Regiment/Battalion will have an appointed designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Regimental/Battalion Safety Officer will report to the Brigade Safety Officer.

Each Brigade will have an appointed designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Brigade Safety Officer will report to the Division Safety Officer.

Each Division will have an appointed designated Safety Officer to ensure general and weapons safety. The Division Safety Officer will report to the Army Headquarters' Officer.

Weapons Safety inspection will be conducted prior to each battle and a written report will be verified and signed off by each Safety Officer at the previously mentioned levels. The Commanding Federal and Confederate General or their designees will make the final signoffs for their respective armies. This document will be retained by the respective General.

All reenactors must affiliate with a unit to participate. The command staff will attempt to assign individuals registering without a unit affiliation to units but this does not guarantee acceptance by that unit. It is the individual's responsibility to affiliate and if no recognized unit is found the individual will not be able to participate. Affiliation means that the unit or individual will be under the control of, camp with, be inspected by and fall in for battle with that recognized unit. Individuals must join or affiliate with a unit to register. The event Commanders and organizers will make the final determination if a registration is accepted.

All safety regulations will be strictly enforced through a provost and/or appropriate safety personnel. Any violation of these rules will be grounds for an individual or unit to be removed from the field.

NO black powder weapons of any kind will be carried or fired by any participant less than 16 years of age.  Participants  16-18 years old must have parental supervision. Children under age 16 are not permitted on the field during the reenactments. Exception is made for functional musicians (boys 11 or older who can actually play a drum, a fife or a bugle). Young boys are not to serve as color bearers during battle reenactments.

NO projectiles, bullets, musket balls, or loading blocks will be carried at any time at the scene of an event.

Opposing troops will not advance within 25 yards of another unit at any time during this event. Exceptions will only occur if they have been carefully planned prior to the event and approved by the Overall Commander.

All firing will be done at an elevated angle. Never aim a weapon directly at another person.

There will be no weapons fired in the bivouac or encampment area or along routes of march without prior approval or direction of the Company Safety Officer. Infractions will result in expulsion of the individual and/or unit.

All cartridges must be made up prior to the event. In the case of a prolonged event or unexpected firing activities, cartridges may be made at a designated safety area only, not in camp or near exposed flames or visitor's cigarettes. No staples will be used in any cartridge. Nails, vent picks, etc. should be kept out of the cartridge box to avoid accidentally dropping any of these objects into a muzzle.

Maximum musket or rifle cartridges will follow the Table of Maximum Loads. Only FFg or FFFg black powder will be used - NO Pyrodex. NOFFFFg (4F) powder will be used except by artillery units for priming. Cartridge paper will not be placed in the barrel and NOwadding or ramming will be permitted except in the use of handguns.(Absolutely NOwonder wads, Cream of Wheat recommended). Multiple loading is not permitted.

Cartridges will not be carried anywhere on the person except in a hard cartridge box unless they are securely wrapped in foil in lots of tin and carried in a secure location.

Powder will only be carried in the form of cartridges.

Ramrods can be carried but are not to be drawn and used under any circumstance. Unless otherwise directed by the Company Safety Officer for safety checks.

Unit formations will be held previous to each battle, where weapons, accouterments and cartridges will be inspected. Those failing this inspection will not be allowed to carry the failing firearms onto the field.

A full safety inspection should be held by each unit commander prior to its arrival at this event.

Each unit commander is responsible for the conduct of his men (this includes women and children). The commander is responsible to make sure that his personnel and those assigned to him are aware of the safety rules and that they understand and abide by them.

Infantry Weapons
3 band muskets preferred; correct 2 banders allowed only by prior written approval from the commanding General of the appropriate army subject to supporting historical documentation.

NO non-period weapons.

NO civilian weapons.

Side arms carried ONLY by officers.

Ramrods are not to be drawn on the field with the exception of Safety personnel clearing a weapon behind the firing line

Bayonets are not to be fixed on the field. Scabbards must have appropriate tips.

NO sheath knives will be carried on the field.

POWDER CHARGES limited to a maximum of 70 grains for .54-.58 caliber and 90 grains for .69 caliber, 60 grains for carbines; 14 and 30 grains for .36 and .44 caliber pistols respectively.

No weapons are to be discharged within 25 yards of the "enemy"; remember to always elevate when firing.

No weapons are to be discharged within camp boundaries with the exception of weapons inspection under supervision of the unit safety officer or commanding officer.

No live ammunition is allowed on the reenactment site. LEAVE IT AT HOME!

No tompions may be taken to the field.

No "Wonder wads" are to be used in any weapon.

Horses
ALL equestrian issues will fall under the purview of the appropriate Federal or Confederate Army Commanders and their Cavalry commander to include Cavalry, Staff, Mounted Artillery and Civilian.

All horses brought to the site are required to have a current Coggins certificate.

Horses should be trained to gunfire and battle BEFORE THE EVENT. Do not bring untrained horses to the event.

Horses WILL NOT be ridden or led through the infantry camps, artillery camps, and sutler areas or in spectator areas.

All horses will be dismounted prior to entering any authorized camp area and led to the designated picket area. With the exception of designated combat areas, absolutely no mounted individual will allow a horse to enter a camp area above the gait of a controlled walk.

No person under the age of 16 will mount a horse as a combatant or serve in a mounted capacity with the exception of qualified riders serving as functional musicians. Determination of a qualified rider will be made by the respective Cavalry Commander.

Horses will be ridden on event grounds only by troopers or staff. Spectators, children, and visitors will absolutely not be allowed to mount any horse.

Period civilians wishing to portray a mounted impression will apply to the appropriate Cavalry Commander who will then determine the qualifications of the rider(s) and will also determine when and where they may ride. Mounted cavalry escort may be required at the discretion of the Cavalry Commander. There will be no exceptions to this rule. Violators will be expelled from the event.

Stallions will not be permitted on the event site.

Hay will be supplied and distributed for each horse, for the entire event, at the cavalry registration area when the horse is registered at the rate of one bale per day per horse plus one additional bale for the event.

Artillery
Artillery units will adhere to the provisions of the Artillery Standing Operating Procedures of the Civil War Reenactors' Liaison Committee (CWRLC) and will be under the command & direction of the appropriate Artillery Commander.

Additional Guidelines
All event participants will carry a FULL CANTEEN at all times.

NO PETS will be allowed at this event under any circumstances.

With unaffiliated organizations no person shall carry the non-commissioned rank of Sgt/Major or the commissioned rank of Lt. Colonial or above without approval of army command (Federal or C.S.A.) No General Officers will be allowed on the field without prior approval.

All reenactors must meet accepted standards for authenticity. In case of dispute all decisions will be made by the respective commanders

We adhere to the "Civil War Reenactors Liaison Committee" rules. Copy is available at registration for review

Note to new reenactors and people wanting to become reenactors:
Unfortunately, we cannot be a clearinghouse for new reenactors and are not able to refer you to specific groups. We can refer you to periodicals such as The Civil War News, Camp Chase Gazette and Civil War Courier for notices from units seeking new members. Going to numerous civil war web sites and chat rooms would be another good source for reenactor information. The best option may be to go to some smaller reenactments or living history demonstrations and talk to unit members. Reenactors are normally very gracious in sharing their knowledge and experience. We strongly recommend that if you have not previously been a reenactor an event of this scope should probably not be your first event. Get involved with a group and cut your teeth on some smaller events.