The 12th Virginia Infantry ~ American Civil War Reenactors

Company A: The Petersburg City Guard

"Navy blue frock coats with light tape trim on the edge of the collar, pointed cuff decoration, and striping on the trousers, following in accordance to VA state regulations of this year. They wore a shako in similar pattern and color as the Richmond Grays (later Co. G, one of the shakos can be seen in Time Life's Echoes of Glory series), with the plate and pompom devices. The trim may be sky blue, white, yellow, or gold, however the way photos were taken in the 19th century, yellow and gold often appears dark, almost black, so this is a stretch of whether or not this is a possibility.

Petersburg City Guard in formation at Poplar Lawn Petersburg, Va. February 1861. Capt. J. P. May is front and center. One photograph depicts three members of Co. A, The one at left wears a battle shirt of lighter colored material than the trousers, a large white stand and fall collar, with a black or navy blue cord-tie coming down from the collar, with 4-5 buttons down the front, and no trim is seen; a white leather or cotton belt with a large plate is worn; the trousers are Navy blue with the same piping or tape trim down the seam: The center man wears the dress frock coat without the shako and accoutrements, 3 buttons adorn the cuffs, and infantry hunting horns/bugles are present on the collar, approx. 2 inches from the opening; he too wears the same style belt and plate: The man on the right wears a shell jacket made of a lighter material than the trousers, however it is difficult to say from the image alone whether it is grey or blue in color; it has the same design trim as the dress frock coat, minus the collar horn insignia and is shorter than the frocks' collar is cut; he too wears the same style trousers. One photograph taken at Poplar Lawn, February, 1861, shows the Petersburg City Guard in full dress and marching order. They wear the frock coats and white accoutrement straps, with the shakos in similar description to the Richmond Grays, with the officer in center wearing light epaulets, assumedly gold; however the image is not clear enough to show the detail of the devices on the front of the shakos."

From Wikipedia

Petersburg City Guard in formation at Poplar Lawn Petersburg, Va. February 1861. Capt. J. P. May is front and center.

The 12th Virginia Infantry is looking for recruits who are interested in positively and publicly portraying and recreating the lives of the Virginia soldiers and civilians during the period of the American Civil War. We are looking for men and women of good character, who are in relatively good Health, of any age, and who love history.

We are a family orientated group that is dedicated to providing a high degree of authenticity in our appearance, social activities, conduct, actions, skills and military impression. We also teach by word and example in schools, at state and national historic sites and elsewhere. The group also participates in battle re-enactments and living history events.

A part of the 12th Virginia is our civilian group dedicated to performing Victorian dance and portraying civilians of the time and period in supporting roles such as cooks, laundresses, nurses, factory workers and spies.

While the group is based in the Richmond-Petersburg, Virginia area, we have members from all over and welcome any who desire to join us. Our goal is to attract new members with like mind love of Civil War History and increase our number of members of different ages and walks of life.

Like to join us? Enlist now!