Hello and welcome to the Thirty-Seventh Field Report!
Today, we’re here to show you all some sneak peaks of the uniforms available to the different pledge tiers via our crowdfunding campaign, as well as give you a bit of an update regarding the next playable map: Harper’s Ferry!
Before we continue we’d like to remind everyone that, as everything else shown during the alpha, the content shown below is very much subject to change.
Harper’s Ferry
Harper’s Ferry has always been one of our most anticipated battle areas of the Maryland Campaign of 1862 to cover. The towns unique position at the meeting place of the Shenandoah & Potomac rivers; its rich history including that of the US Armory, and John Brown’s failed raid, which became the catalyst of the Civil War according to some; the close to a dozen times it changed hands during the war resulting in the destruction of the armories and several railroad bridges; and finally the starting point of Confederate General A.P. Hill’s Light Division from which he set out on a hard march to Sharpsburg, and whos counteroffensive saved the Army of Northern Virginia from total defeat on September 17th.
Photograph taken of one of the destroyed railroad bridges during the war.
Last summer, during our battlefield research trip, we spent a few days visiting Harper’s Ferry in order to get a closer look at as many details as possible - anything from the canals to the street lamps to the sidewalk patterns.
Below are a few photographs taken during the trip.
Two months ago we started partly focusing our efforts and time on getting Harper’s Ferry closer to a level of detail and authenticity required to start releasing playable areas of it to our alpha players in the same way we have distributed sections of our Antietam battlefield in Skirmishes thus far. While a lot of work is still to be done (like the destruction of the armories), we’d like to show you some images of the current status of the map.
As according the National Park Service, the bridge over the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry was destroyed and rebuilt a total of nine times, four in war and five in floods. This second railroad bridge built by the B&O Railroad after the destruction of the original wood covered one with the Maryland Heights behind it - this as well as a pontoon bridge next to it will provide entry into the town by the CSA forces located on the Maryland heights and banks.
View of the town and the bridge from the base of the Maryland Heights. Many train operators complained for years about the sharp turn that had to be made to cross at this point until the current bridges were built after the war.
Images of Shenandoah Street. Notice the Armory’s Engine House (also known as John Brown’s Fort) to the right, in its original position prior to having been disassembled for Chicago World Fair.
Courtyard of a house on Shenandoah Street.
Looking down Potomac Street and part of the armory walls. The first white building will soon be the location of the infamous White Hall Tavern where many of the Armory workers went for a drink after their shifts, soon to be replaced with a better representation of the original.
Alleyway from Potomac Street to High Street.
St. Peter’s Church. Work began in 1830, and was completed in 1833, replacing an ad hoc parish house built in the 1820s which was then promptly destroyed by flooding. This was one of the first not built on government land, and shared a parish with the five other churches, built before and after, including St. John’s Episcopal Church just above it. Both were used as hospitals during the siege and aftermath.
High Street.
Overview of Harper’s Ferry from the Maryland Heights.
That’s all the images of Harper’s you’re getting for now. We look forward to be bringing you the first skirmish areas (in the town itself or its surrounding areas such as the Bolivar Heights) on the Harper’s Ferry map soon. Antietam still has a few to offer first though!
Reward Uniforms Showcase!
Here’s a sneak peak or two of yet another thing that isn’t quite ready to be added to the alpha yet (sorry!). We’re happy to show you the first glimpse of the special backer uniforms given as part of the rewards of the different pledge tiers offered via our crowdfunding campaign at: https://warofrights.com/Crowdfunding
Columbus Guards
The Columbus Guards, also known as Company G of the 2nd Georgia, were a unit first organized in 1835, and served in many conflicts all the way to the end of the first World War. They organized under Captain Paul Semmes before being absorbed together with other units into the 2nd Georgia, but they were renowned for having furnished the most of any company organized in Muscogee County. However, on their surrender at Appomattox, only 2 officers and 11 men were still present to answer for their roll call.
This reward uniform is part of the Sergeant pledge tier: AVAILABLE HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMwvInwelzg
Baker Guard Zouaves (69th PA)
An Irish unit from Philadelphia, described as bearing men that were “robust and of fine physique,” two companies of the 69th Pennsylvania shared the name of the Baker Guards, after the commander of their brigade Colonel Edward D. Baker. Unfortunately, their namesake would fall soon after their enlistment at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff in October of 1861. But the men of Companies K and I of the 69th would, along with the rest of their regiment, prove as hard fighters in the Army of the Potomac through all the rest of the Civil War.
This reward uniform is part of the 1st Lieutenant pledge tier: AVAILABLE HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKgdbegltQo
79th New York
The people of New York had quite the population base to supply fresh troops to the Union cause, and of many different creeds and backgrounds. Those of the 79th New York came from the sizeable Scottish-American population, and was originally of the same kind of social club-like militias that were popular to be part of prior to the Civil War. Originally formed in 1858, they joined others heading for the war in April of 1861 and were led by Lt. Col. Samuel Mackenzie Elliot. They were arguably one of the most prominent regiments to have fought in the Army of the Potomac, taking a large role in every engagement throughout the war.
This reward uniform is part of the Lieutenant-Colonel pledge tier: AVAILABLE HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dybkRIAHp40
11th Mississippi
People of all ages were incensed to take part in the Civil War, and the story of Johnny Clem was not an isolated incident. The young students of the University of Mississippi and sons of local planters and merchants banded together to form the “Lamar Rifles,” being named after a popular congressman of Lafayette County, and also had an average age of 21 years old. They participated in most every combat under Lee throughout the war, but paid heavily for their involvement, suffering a 72% casualty rate.
This reward uniform is part of the Brigadier General pledge: AVAILABLE HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xb4vXN16ls4
If you've already pledged, you can raise your pledge to any of the higher pledge tiers you want by going to the following link and follow the instructions: Raise Pledge
That’s all for now - we look forward to be seeing you in the pretty cool and distinctive uniforms and to fight with you at Harper’s Ferry in the near future.
Until next time, have a good one!