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Participant Registration Forms

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Alligator Warrior Festival which reenacts the 2nd Seminole War Battle of San Felasco Hammock. Please click the link below to open the participant registration form. Also on this page are downloadable event fliers, and the event guidelines, rules and regulations. We've tried to include all of the information that you need but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us and we'll be glad to help you out.

The Participant Registration Form for Reenactors, Demonstrators, Dancers, Musicians, Traders, Food Vendors, and other Volunteers. It's the same form for everyone so there may be some fields that do not apply to you.

Promotional Pamplets for the Festival

Promotional Pamphlet for Adults

Promotional Pamphlet for Children

If you are unable to open the files above:

All of the above documents above are in the Adobe Reader (PDF) format. If you do not have a pdf reader then you can download the free Foxit Reader from the Foxit Software website by clicking on this link.

Camping Information and Rules for the Alligator Warrior Festival

O'Leno State Park - 410 SE O'Leno Park Road - High Springs FL 32643 - Tel: 386-454-1853

General Rules, Regulations, Consents and Waivers

In efforts to be able to plan for the number of participants, we request that you please register by September 15th. This gives the event organizers a chance to coordinate the meals, cartridges and other amenities to be provided. Although we don't encourage it, you may register at the information booth next to the infirmary upon arrival. All participants are required to check-in with the logistics coordinator (Doug Vasco) at the information booth before setting up.

Limited car parking for participants is available alongside and in front of the cabins. The remaining cars must use the general parking lot. NO RVs are allowed in the parking lots or trader sites. No anachronistic vehicles may be parked in the historic camps, except to unload during set-up and load while packing up.

If you have medication that requires refrigeration, we invite you to take it to the Dining Hall, where the kitchen volunteers will allow you access to the refigerator. Please ensure that your name is on your medication. Kitchen volunteers will provide access to the refigerator during event hours but should not at any time handle someone else's medication.

Park rules require that you must stay in one of the RV sites through Reserve America in order to camp with your pets in the park. Park rules also require that pets be on a leash no longer than 6-feet and must not be left unattended if they are outside of the camper. Pets are allowed within the Magnolia and Dogwood RV loops but not in the swimming area, river area, horse trails, tent/teepee camps or cabin areas. Guide animals for the disabled are not considered pets.

Event organizers and participants are responsible for keeping the grounds and buildings free of litter.

Event organizers and participants are responsible for sweeping and mopping the kitchen, dining hall and bathrooms and for putting the trash in the dumpsters.

Park rules prohibit excessively loud noises from 11 PM to 6 AM.

The front gate of the park will be locked after-hours and after-hours exit/entry will only be possible if an Alligator Warrior Festival volunteer is able to staff the front gate.

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival shall make every reasonable effort to enable the participation of disabled persons. Accessibility and the availability of adaptive equipment for disabled persons shall be considered when selecting event locations, event activities, and the promotion of the event. With regard to disabled persons performing historic portrayals, no anachronistic adaptive equipment shall be used unless it can be hidden from public view. Despite every reasonable effort, some activities integral to the event may not be appropriate for some disabled persons; for example, persons who are sensitive to loud noises may not want to attend or participate in the battle reenactments.

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival and their duly appointed representatives renounce any authority to discriminate, by segregation or otherwise, against any person on the basis of ethnicity, skin color, gender, age, ability, national origin, language, sexual orientation, or religion. The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival and their duly appointed representatives do have the authority to revoke or deny participation to any persons who reasonably demonstrate that they present a danger to themselves, to others or to the property of others, and to any persons who behave in a manner that is criminal or disruptive to the event, and to any persons who violate the rules or regulations of the event. Any person on either the sexual predator or sexual offender list maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is prohibited from being an Alligator Warrior Festival participant. In the event that a Trader or Food Vendor has their participation denied or revoked prior to the event, the value of their registation donation will be returned in full.

The Alligator Warrior Festival is an all volunteer event that is open to the public. All participatants, by their participation, consent to being, photographed and/or recorded on audio, video, text or artform, by the public, by the Florida Park Service, by the event organizers, by other participants, and by the news media. All participatants, by their participation, agree that photographs and/or recordings generated at the event are the property of the person or organization that generated them. All participatants, by their participation, waive any right to inspect or approve photographs, recordings and artwork that other persons have generated at the event. All participatants, by their participation, waive any right to compensation in exchange for being photographed and/or recorded at the event and waive any right to any proceeds that come from the use or sale of photographs and/or recordings that other persons have generated at the event.

The Alligator Warrior Festival is an event organized by the non-profit Alligator Festival of Lake City FL, Inc. The Florida Park Service permits Alligator Festival of Lake City FL, Inc. to use O'Leno State Park, under mutually agreed upon conditions. The Alligator Warrior Festival is not an event organized by the Florida Park Service. Alligator Festival of Lake City FL, Inc. is responsible to provide insurance coverage for liabilities related to the event.

In the event of an emergency, please call 911, render any necessary aid, and inform a member of the Park Staff.

Other Park Activities

Canoe & Kayak on the Santa Fe River. Bring your own or rent a canoe at the park ranger station for $3.00 per hour per canoe or $15.00 per day per canoe.

Swimming in the designated area is a great way to enjoy the Santa Fe river but keep in mind that there is NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY so it's at your own risk.

Fishing in the Santa Fe River is unpredictable but bring your license if you want to try.

Hike on the 2 marked trails - The River Trail, where alligators and turtles may be seen, takes you along the river to the natural bridge where the river disappears underground. The Limestone Trail passes through a hardwood hammock, past a limestone outcrop and then by a pine forest. There are also Horse/Equestrian Trails.

Cabins

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival rent the cabin bunks at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night in order to make them available to registered participants of the event, up to the number of available bunks.

Most cabins have 8 bunks (4 bunk beds). There are also 2 centrally located buildings with toilets, sinks and showers. There are 2 cabins that are wheel-chair accessable for the disabled. If you have a disability that requires a wheelchair accessible cabin, please indicate this on your registration.

All cabins have electricity but none of them have heat or air conditioning.

Bring your own bed linens, pillows, towels, toiletries and other personal items.

No pets are allowed in or around the cabins, dining hall or recreation hall.

Those who bunk in cabins are responsible for sweeping and taking trash to dumpsters.

Check-in starts at noon on Thursday. Check-out no later than 6 pm Sunday so that the Park has time to inspect the cabins before the end of the day.

RV Camping Sites (Magnolia loop and Dogwood Loop)

Reservations must be made through ReserveAmerica.com up to 11 months in advance. Book Online or call (800) 326-3521 or TDD (888) 433-0287 (8 am to 8 pm). There is a 50% discount on RV Camping Sites for Florida Resident Seniors and Florida Resident Disabled.

O'Leno has two camping loops with 61 campsites, each with water, electric, in-ground grill, picnic table and a centrally located ADA accessible restrooms in each RV loop. There is no maintained pathway to the bathroom facility located in the Dogwood loop. Call the park at (386) 454-1853 if special accommodations or assistance is necessary.

50 ft maximum RV length.

RV's and campers are not allowed in either the general or cabin parking lots.

The dump station & dumpsters are located off the Park Rd across from Law Enforcement Office.

Check-in and check-out as per your reservation with Reserve America.

Modern Tent Camps (in the Youth Camp)

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the Youth Camp at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, up to the amount of available space for modern tent camps.

The modern tent area includes a small picnic shelter, ground grill, cold showers and restroom but does not have electricity. Modern tent campers can also use the bathrooms and showers in the cabin area.

Tee-pee Camps

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, camping in a tee-pee, up to the amount of available space.

Surface fire only. No holes or pit fires so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

Tee-pee camps shall be set up in the vicinity of the dance circle, outside of the ring of traders.

Set-up for Tee-Pee camps starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Early 19th Century Camps

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, camping in early 19th Century camps, up to the amount of available space.

Surface fire only. Tent stakes are allowed but digging and pit fires are prohibited to protect the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

Reenactors may conduct incidental trades, in accordance with Florida law, from a small blanket or animal hide display.

The Seminole camp is located behind the Infirmary Cabin.

The Milita, Soldier and Civilian Pioneer camps are located between the Seminole Camp and the permanent fire ring.

Horses are to be tied to trees or other solid anchors inside a rope perimeter when they are not being ridden or when they are not pulling a cart.

Set-up for the Early 19th Century Camps starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Demonstrators

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, for demonstrations, up to the amount of available space.

Demonstrators will be located between the permanent fire ring and the handicrafts building. Some demonstrators may be located in the Soldier's camp, in the Seminole Camp or in the Traders area around the dance circle, as deemed appropriate by the event logistics coordinator.

Demonstrators may conduct incidental trades, in accordance with Florida law, from a small blanket or animal hide display.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your demonstration site. If you want to stay close to your demonstration then you may sleep/camp in your marquee.

Set-up for demonstrator sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Handcraft Traders & Traders in Early 19th Century Marquees

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, with trading sites, up to the amount of available space.

Handcraft Traders & Traders in Early 19th Century Marquees are located around the drum circle.

Tents, marquees and tow behind booths are allowed. Tent stakes are allowed but no digging so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your trading site. If you want to stay close to your wares then you may sleep/camp in your marquee.

Set-up for trader sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Traders in Factory Items

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, with trading sites, up to the amount of available space.

Traders in Factory Items are located around the drum circle unless the logistics coordinator determines that another site would be more appropriate. Tent stakes are allowed but no digging so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your trading site. If you want to stay close to your wares then you may sleep/camp in your marquee.

Set-up for trader sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

Food Vendors

The organizers of the Alligator Warrior Festival have rented the yard in the Cabin area at O'Leno State Park for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night in order to make it available to registered participants of the event, with food vending sites, up to the amount of available space.

Food Vendors are located opposite the Dining Hall, between the road and the fence, from the Information booth to the Handicrafts Building. The Information booth shall be located between the food vendors and the Infirmary Cabin, in away that encourages the public to enter the period camps at the break in the fence between the Information Booth and the Infirmary Cabin.

Tent stakes are allowed but digging is prohibitted so as not to disturb the historic town site of O'Leno. Any artifacts discovered on the O'Leno grounds are property of the State of Florida and must be turned in at the Front Gate Ranger's Station.

A total of 80 amps of 110 Volt, 60 Hz, single phase electricity is available to be shared amoung the food vendors at no additional charge. One outlet will be available to each food vendor, up to 17 outlets. Food vendors must bring their own extention cords terminating in single or multiple outlets.

No RV's, campers or vehicles on your vending site. If you want to stay close to your wares then you may sleep in your marquee.

Set-up for food vendor sites starts at noon on Thursday. Tear-down must be completed no later than 10 am Monday.

HISTORIC WEAPONS SAFETY PROCEDURES

FOR THE ALLIGATOR WARRIOR FESTIVAL

GENERAL SAETY PROCEEDURES

1.These safety procedures will be strictly enforced through a safety officer and/or a safety committee, coordinated by the park staff. An individual or group will not be permitted to participate if any of these Procedures are not followed.

2.The safety officer/safety committee will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the Procedures. A full safety inspection must be held prior to any individual firing weapons.

3.Park visitors will not be permitted to handle any loaded or edged weapons. To prevent visitor injury or damage to the weapon, the staff person, [volunteer, demonstrator or reenactor] must support the weapon at all times.

4.No person will be permitted to demonstrate historic weapons or participate in the battle reenactment if intoxicated.

5.All fires must be placed at or above ground level.

6.To protect the archeological resources, the ground must remain undisturbed. Digging is not permitted.

7.No sale of black powder is permitted, per the Federal Explosive Law (Public Law 91-452) & Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations Part 55, Commerce in Explosives, Subpart D-Licenses and Permits.

WEAPON FIRING DEMONSTRATIONS

1.All firing demonstrations will follow the Safety Procedures and the Ranges for Blank Small Arms and Blank Cannon Firing. Demonstrations will be coordinated by park staff.

2.No [black powder or] black powder weapons of any kind will be carried by any participant under 16 years of age.

3.No projectiles, bullets, musket balls, or loading blocks will be carried at any time during the event.

4.All black powder cartridges should be made prior to the event. Prepare only enough cartridges for the scheduled demonstration. In the case of unexpected firing activities, cartridges [made in the park] may only be made at an area designated by park staff. 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.

5.There will be no weapons fired in the encampment area or along routes of march or public access areas without prior approval from park staff. The [safety officer in collaboration with] park staff will designate an area for weapons testing, if needed.

6.Maximum musket or rifle charges are 60 grains [or less] for small caliber, and 120 grains for .69 - .75 caliber. Only black powder will be used (no Pyrodex). [The “F” rating of the black powder shall comply with the weapon manufacturer's specifications.] Cartridge paper will not be placed in the barrel and no wadding or ramming will be permitted except in the use of handguns. Multiple loading is prohibited.

7.Powder will only be carried in the form of cartridges. 8.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 10 and carried in a secure [bag or pouch].

9.Cannon charges will be Fg or C grade black powder only (no Pyrodex). Maximum cannon charges must follow the Table of Maximum Loads. For cannons smaller than full-scale, charges will be no more than 2½ ounces of black powder per inch of bore opening.

10.Aluminum foil will be the only material used to prepare the cannon charges; plastic bags will not be used. No additional materials, such as sawdust or flour, will be added to the charges.

11.The ammunition box shall be constructed of wood or metal, and lined with non-sparking material. Powder storage must follow the Florida Park Service Procedures for the Purchase, Storage and Distribution of Black Powder.

12.Cannon crews are required to [make available their log book and] perform firing and misfiring drills as a part of the safety inspection.

13.For maximum safety, cannons should not be fired at a rate of more than once every 3 minutes.

14.Torn or damaged small arms cartridges and cannon charges will not be used. Never allow loose powder in the demonstration area.

15.When loading small arms, hold the cartridge with the thumb and index finger. Pour the powder into the muzzle at an angle, keeping your hand [and other body parts] away from the muzzle.

16.For protection against flash burns, all demonstrators will wear natural fiber or animal skin, long-sleeved clothes.

17.Before firing, warn the visitors of the loud noise, and caution visitors with hearing aids and small children.

18.If a weapon misfires, explain the procedures to the visitors, keeping them at a safe distance until the weapon is discharged or is rendered safe. If attempts fail to correct a misfire, small arms will be removed from the area. With artillery, visitors will be removed from the demonstration area. Standard unloading procedures will then be followed.

BATTLE REENACTMENTS

1.Only officers, mounted NCOs, mounted cavalrymen, [and mounted warriors] may carry pistols. These must not be fired directly at any person.

2.Edged weapons may be carried but will not be unsheathed at any time without the direct command of an officer. Such command will only be given with the prior approval of [both] the park staff [and the safety officer]. [War clubs may be carried but may not be swung at anyone or thrown.]

3.Opposing [forces] will not advance within 15 yards of [each other] at any time during the battle.

4.Exceptions will only occur if they have been carefully planned and approved prior to the event.

5.All firing will be done at an elevated angle and must be more than 15 yards (45 feet) from any opposing participants [and the same distance applies to friendly forces in front of the weapon]. Never aim a weapon directly at another person.

6.Maximum rifle and musket charges are 60 grains or less for small caliber, and 120 grains for .69 - .75 caliber.

7.All rammers will be left in camp during battle reenactments since they are only needed for the safety inspection.

8.Each Unit Commander is responsible for the conduct of all participants in the unit (including women and children). The Commander is responsible for making sure that the participants are aware of the safety rules and that they understand and abide by them.

9.[The Head Warrior is responsible for the conduct of all the warriors and of any tribal women or children on the battlefield.]

10.In the event of an actual injury needing immediate attention during a reenactment, either the injured person or someone going to his aid will shout the word "MEDIC" to signify this injury. The word "Medic" is to be used only in the case of an actual injury requiring immediate medical attention. When the call "Medic" is heard, all activity will cease and the injured person will be cared for.

11.Children [under the age of 16] are not permitted on the field during battle reenactments, with the exception of boys 11 or older who are competently playing a drum, fife or trumpet. [No child under the age of 16 shall] serve as color bearers during battle reenactments.

12.[All hand-to-hand combat must be scripted in advance, discussed at the safety meeting, practiced by the hand-to-hand participants, and approved by the safety officer.]

13.[The following persons have the right to order any participant off the battlefield for the duration of the battle: the safety officer, a member of the safety committee, any officer or NCO, and any head warrior.]

14.[During the safety meeting, the cannon crew/s must explain to the other battle participants what steps they will take to signal other reenactors if a cannon becomes unsafe during the battle and what safety procedures the other reenactors must then take.]

15.[If soldiers will be firing flintlocks in close order, then they must have flash guards on their pans.]

REENACTOR GUIDELINES FOR ALLIGATORFEST

SOLDIER AND SEMINOLE CAMPS—Tents and shelters should be period correct for the time and place. All non-1830s items must be kept out of sight of the public—this includes food packaging, coolers, drink containers, modern bedding, etc.

SETUP AND PARKING - During the public hours, vehicles must be removed from the historic area and any non-period items must be out of sight. All vehicles must be kept in the designated parking area near the cabins at night and during public hours.

REGISTRATION – In efforts to be able to plan for the number of participants, we request that you please register at least 30 days before the event date. This gives us a chance to coordinate the meals, cartridges and other amenities to be provided. Although we don't encourage it, you may register upon arrival. All participants are required to check-in at the information booth before setting up.

PETS – Are allowed only in designated areas and even then they must be on a leash no longer than 6 ft and must be tended to at all times. Owners are responsible for picking up after their animals.

DRESS AND EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES FOR SEMINOLE WARRIORS

The purpose of this document is to convey guidelines on the dress and equipment for 1830's Seminole warriors in the battle reenactment. There is some leniency herein to permit beginner reenactors wearing items that are not quite correct but acceptable as they work towards a more authentic wardrobe. Participants with unacceptable items will be permitted to participate in the battle but will be required to remain behind the cover of the other reenactors so that they are not obvious to the spectators.

HEADCOVERINGS- GOAL: 1830s Seminole or Creek style turban with fabric turban band or uncovered head with hair cut in a southeastern native style, no side braids. Ostrich feathers oriented horizontally on the right side of head may be worn. Silver turban bands and vertical plumes are only worn by a micco, heneha, head warrior or medicine maker. ACCEPTABLE: Other documented Creek headdress styles. UNACCEPTABLE: Visible modern haircut, late 1800s or 20th Cent. Seminole turban, Plains or Woodlands style headdresses.

FACIAL HAIR- GOAL: Clean-shaven. ACCEPTABLE: Many Seminoles did have a thin mustache so this is OK. UNACCEPTABLE – Large beard, "walrus" mustache or "man-chu" mustache.

WAR PAINT- GOAL: Red or black covering the upper or lower half of the face or combinations of red and black. ACCEPTABLE: unpainted face. UNACCEPTABLE – Non-Seminole war paint designs.

UPPER BODY CLOTHING- GOAL: 1830s style Plain Shirt or trade shirt - loose pullover shirts made of vintage solid, calico, striped or paisley cotton prints plus, if desired, an 1830s Seminole Long Shirt. ACCEPTABLE: Long hunter style wrap-around hunting shirt/ coat, 1830s civilian vest or coat, tanned bare chest (no lily-white skin please). UNACCEPTABLE - fringed leather garment of a Plains or mountain man appearance, or Colonial style clothing or Civil War style clothing.

LOWER BODY CLOTHING- GOAL: Tapered truncated point or triangular breechcloth, wool front-seam Seminole leggings with taped edging or natural "braintanned" leather leggings with side seam flaps. ACCEPTABLE: Bare legs or red long-johns. UNACCEPTABLE- fringed Plains style leggings, leather mountain man trousers, dark colored leather.

FOOTWARE- GOAL: Seminole pucker-toe moccasins or bare feet. ACCEPTABLE: Woodlands center-seam moccasins in natural colored leather with the flaps turned up, tied around the ankles and covered by Seminole style leggings. UNACCEPTABLE - Plains moccasins, Apache boots, modern footwear.

ACCOUTREMENTS AND OTHER- GOAL AND ACCEPTABLE: For formal occasions, Seminoles of the period regularly wore some of the following- silver pendant earrings, silver armbands and wrist bands, 1 to 4 silver crescent gorgets, silk or cotton neck scarves in period prints, finger woven sashes and leg ties- in diamond or chevron patterns and especially with interwoven white beads, decorated Seminole bandoleer bags or "primitive" hunting bags and powder horns. Beadwork on bags, breechcloths or leggings should be of a documented Seminole or Creek style. Documentation also exists for trade rings (no stones), decorative brooches and nose rings. Smokers should use trade pipes. UNACCEPTABLE: Plains beadwork, cigarettes, mountain man "fur" pouches, modern jewelry.

FIREARMS- GOAL: Flintlock long rifles or muskets are correct for the period. ACCEPTABLE: Carbine- length flintlocks, percussion long rifles. UNACCEPTABLE- Any post 1830s pattern such as modern hunting style black powder rifles, Civil War muskets and pistol-carbines, double barrel shotguns.

OTHER ARMS- GOAL: If desired, Eastern style tomahawks and period knives in Southeastern style sheaths were used. UNACCEPTABLE - Tomahawks or knives decorated in a Plains style, Bowie knives.

DRESS AND EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES FOR SOLDIERS

The purpose of this document is to convey guidelines on the dress and equipment for 1836 Militia and U.S. Regulars in the battle reenactment. There is some leniency herein to permit beginner reenactors wearing items that are not quite correct but acceptable as they work towards a more authentic wardrobe. Participants with unacceptable items may be permitted to participate in the battle but will be required to remain behind the cover of the other reenactors so that they are not obvious to the spectators.

UNIFORMS--The regular soldiers should be equipped with: M1825 or M1833 forage caps. The M1833 cap is preferred. Wearing no hat is acceptable. The M1839 cap is not acceptable. Uniforms should include gray or sky blue greatcoats (greatcoats need to be in evidence regardless of the weather), shell jackets (artillery yellow trim is preferred), sky blue trousers and fatigue jackets (no summer whites) and military brogans. Officers will wear the 1832 dark blue coat or the 1835 dark blue frock coat with shoulder straps with dark blue center & gold trim for artillery (shoulder strap centers did not vary in color to designated branch of service until later).

ACCOUTREMENTS--White buff cross belts, black leather cartridge boxes and bayonet scabbards are the needed accoutrements.

WEAPONS--Flintlock military muskets or rifles.

A Guide for Civil War Reenactors at 2nd Seminole War Reenactments 1835-1842

from http://www.okeechobeebattlefield.com/okeechobee_battlefield_reenactor_info.htm

As has been demonstrated many times, interested Civil War reenactors can participate in 2nd Seminole War Re-enactment events, especially in the role of US militia and volunteer troops of the 1830s. Where certain preferable items are not on hand, many events have clothing, guns, and equipment on hand for loan to experienced reenactors seeking to improve their Seminole War impressions. Even without 1830s specific equipments however, you can modify your Civil War impression slightly to better suit the interpretation of the 1835-1842 period to the general public.

Clothing: Except for a few companies, the bulk of the militia troops who served in Florida during the Seminole Wars did so without uniforms. From period descriptions, most wore plain outdoorsman or sporting dress, or plain working clothes. Here are a few tips to use your Civil War clothing to best effect in interpreting this:

Dress in your Civil War sky-blue, gray, or butternut trousers. Through drop-front pants were dominant in the 1830s, button-fly types as used during the Civil War were coming into fashion. Please refrain from wearing Civil War leggings, even to hide incorrect footwear, (hint: the sutler row leggings aren't even authentic to the Civil War!...)

Wear a plain slouch, or top hat, of felt or straw, or a plain clerk's or mechanic's cap of cloth with a leather bill. Civil War era forage caps and kepis date to the 1850s and should not be worn at 1830s-4Os events.

Civil War hat insignias should be removed. For example, company letters were not used by militia units in this conflict, nor were branch of service hat cords, (the service colors for the branches were changed between the 1830s and Civil War anyway...). *Wear your plain, colored, or checked shirts. Vests were almost universally worn in the 1830s, and would serve to improve your 1830s impression, especially those of the falling, or "shawl" collar type. A great description from the era refers to rural Americans as wearing shabby versions of English townspeople's dress. The popular styles were of the early Victorian period of fashion. Shirts collars were generally worn pulled up with a colored cravat worn round it and tied in a soft bow in front, (no railroad bandanas please...)

Please do not wear Civil War period blue, gray, or butternut military jackets, sack coats, or frock coats. These did not exist as a point of military or civilian fashion during the 1830s and are not suitable for use at 2nd Seminole War events and serve only to confuse the general public. Also, it would be wise to refrain from employing Indian clothing, like beads. Apache Boots, etc., as Americans in and east of the Rockies did not take their fashions from Indians. For cold weather, a Civil War sky-blue military overcoat would be suitable at a Seminole War event.

Weapons: If you do not have a flintlock military musket or rifle to use at a Seminole War event, a 19th Century style percussion lock hunting rifle or fowler would be acceptable. If you have no other weapons than your Civil War rifle or musket, it may be employed during drill and the battle reenactments, but should be hidden from view in camp. Your Civil War rifle or muskets' bayonet will be unnecessary, as riflemen of the 1830s did not use bayonets. Pistols of any type should not be worn as they did not form any part of the equipment of infantry or riflemen of the 1830s.

Accouterments: Seminole War militia men wore either Ml808 musket accouterments in white or black leather, or plain leather rifle pouches and horns or flasks.

Your Civil War black leather cartridge box and sling are similar in design to the 1808 box and sling. However, the Civil War brass cartridge box should be removed during the Seminole War event to better approach the appearance of the earlier type equipments.

Waist belts were not worn as part of the soldier's equipments of the 1830s, and Civil War accoutrement waist belts should not be worn. The Civil War percussion cap pouch and bayonet scabbard are not necessary for a Seminole War impression. Percussion caps may be carried in an appropriate pouch or bag for that purpose secured on the person. The Civil War bayonet scabbard is not correct, as in the 1830s riflemen were uniformly without bayonets!

Civil War tin canteens are NOT correct for this period and should not be used. The army employed wooden barrel-type canteens. These most often were painted blue, with "US" stenciled in the center, etc. The sling was a plain russet strap, sewn without a buckle.

Camp Equipage: Civil War style wall tents and "A" frame, or common tents are close enough in dimension and appearance to those employed during the 1830s to warrant their use at Seminole War reenactments. The standard camp equipage of soldiers of the 1830s included hatchets, axes, period shovels, camp kettles, mess pans, and tin cups. All else is therefore unnecessary for Seminole War interpretation. Plain woolen blankets are suitable for use in camp.