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SAFETY
MANUAL
Rules and Regulations for
THE Grand Encampment Confederation
All participants in living
history activities at "THE Grand Encampment" are expected to be
familiar with these Guidelines. Each unit commander or contact person is
responsible for communicating this information to the members of his unit.
Ignorance of the rules will not be accepted as an excuse for failure to comply.
Copies of the Guidelines are always available at the registration tent at each
event.
Security &
Registration:
Upon arrival at "THE Grand
Encampment," participants will receive direction to their respective camps
registration tents. At their camp registration tents they must sign in. They
will be issued "THE Grand Encampment" pass, which they should keep
with them at all times. The purpose of the pass is to help G.E. staff determine
whether or not they are bona fide event participants and therefore authorized
to be on Park property when the Park is closed. You will also receive a packet
with information.
Camping:
All period camps are to be set up
only in designated areas and only after being directed by a camp authority
(castramentation officer). You are expected to unload and setup in a timely
fashion and move your vehicle right away to the designated parking area. Vehicles
are not allowed in camp overnight. The GE requests that your vehicle does not
return to the camp area until loading time on Sunday afternoon. If you must decamp earlier that scheduled time you will have to
pack out your camp.
Fires:
Fires will be allowed in the
period camp areas only, by digging in and replacing the sod when finished.
Military camps should utilize a “mess area” for these, designated by the
Motor Vehicle Permit
& Parking:
All reenactor vehicles will be
issued a “pass” that must be displayed in their window at all times. This and
only this will allow reenactor vehicles entrance without paying a fee. All
reenactor vehicles must be parked in designated areas with appropriate passes
provided. After unloading the GE requests that your vehicle does not return to
the camp area until loading time on Sunday afternoon. Park gates will remain
manned Thursday night until
Command and Control:
"THE Grand Encampment
Council" appoints a Commander in Chief and senior event staff for each
event. These persons and the member of THE GE are the authorities of the event.
"THE Grand Encampment"
is a military garrison. Event participants, regardless of who they portray, are
expected to behave in a decent, orderly manner and follow the instructions of
superior officers, as well as their staff and volunteers.
All participants are expected to
follow the orders of officers placed over them by the "GE Council" or
by senior event staff. Participating units must bear the name of a unit that
actually participated in the Seven Years' War (1754-1763). It is expected that
each unit's portrayal will be appropriate for the period being portrayed.
General Conduct:
NO ALCOHOL or illegal substances
shall be consumed by any person taking the field of battle. Any person found to
be impaired and on the field will be removed from the field and from the event.
The firing of small arms and
artillery will take place only in designated areas and only in pre-arranged
demonstrations, supervised by appointed safety inspectors.
In consideration of those who would
like to get some rest, quiet will be enforced in camp after
It is often very hot at "THE
Grand Encampments". Make sure the men and women under your command drink
plenty of water. Canteens must be filled before going into action. If you do not
have a canteen you must carry a filled water bottle in your haversack! You can
NOT take the field without a canteen or water bottle! A non-combatant with a
bucket of ice water and clean rags should be assigned to follow your unit in
action. This water is NOT for drinking but to wipe or poor on over heated
persons. These “mollies” will also have bottled water for drinking. If at any
time you or any other member of your unit begins to feel weak, dizzy, or sick
to your stomach, speak up. Ask for help. Emergency medical personnel will be
on-site at the tactical times!
Stay with your unit and follow
all officers' orders. They know the battle plan or have been given specific
orders from someone who does know the planned scenario. If an
enemy charges and will not stop - give way or fall down. If charging and
the enemy does not give way - stop. If wounded or
killed - do not rise again until the engagement is over unless you are ordered
to do so. Do not fire or strike at an enemy who is too close -fall down or give
way. THERE IS TO BE NO
No persons under 12 year of age
may be on the tactical field unless they are under direct parental supervision
at all times while on the field. Persons 15 year of age or younger may only be on the field if they are a musician, approved messenger,
or color ensign and under direct supervision of their commander or the drum
majors. These “under aged noncombatants should ALWAYS be behind the lines
during tacticals. No person under 16 year of age shall be permitted to carry a
firearm of any type and have the ok of the
No persons are allowed on the
tactical field for photography of filming unless they have been given the ok of
the GE and are wearing a “GE Press Pass.”
Animals:
Dogs must be on 6 feet or less
leash and under owner's control at all times. Horses and oxen are permitted
attendance for reenactment purposes in the camp and tactical areas. They are to
be placed in a secured picketed area. Owners are to deposit animal waste in the
adjacent dumpster. Horses and oxen should be well trained to handle gun and
cannon fire. This is not a training place for them; they must be able to be
handled in a tactical situation without injuring themselves, owners, other
reenactors or the public. All liability lies with the owners of the animals.
Safety Inspections:
Each unit,
whether infantry, artillery, mounted or naval, must undergo two inspections
before it can participate in each day's tactical demonstration. Each unit must appear for inspection at the specified times
and places with its arms, accouterments, ammunition, and all other equipment
that will be brought onto the tactical field.
The first inspection should be
conducted each morning by the commanding officer of each unit. It is expected
that all deficiencies will be noted and corrected at this time. Event appointed
safety inspectors or provosts do not need to witness this inspection.
The second inspection will take
place just prior to the tactical demonstrations. Each army will be assembled
for this purpose on its grand parade in camp, ready for inspection and action.
Event Provosts will be doing this inspection. Arms found at this inspection to
be unfit for
Black Powder:
Only black powder made for use in
replica muzzle loading weapons may be used at "THE Grand Encampment".
Black powder may only be brought To "THE Grand Encampment" property
in the form of pre made small arms cartridges and/or artillery cartridges and
priming tubes. Bulk powder in cans, horns, or any other container, is not
permitted.
Firearms
and explosives:
(Reproduction period black powder
weapons, black powder, artillery pieces) Written permission is given to have
them on site and use them within our activities. All powder Must
be pre-rolled. Rolling of cartridges is prohibited on site.
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The sale of black powder
in any form is prohibited.
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Black Powder Weapons
and Ammunition - Small Arms:
Only replica muzzle-loading
firearms may be used in demonstrations and tacticals. All firearms must conform
to an 18th-century design.
Pistols may be carried, but may
not be brandished, loaded or fired in action by land forces or naval forces
serving on land. Exception: mounted troops serving on horseback may brandish, load and fire pistols in action, and subject to
the same guidelines that regulate the use of muskets.
Blunderbusses may not be carried,
loaded or fired in action by land forces or naval forces serving on land.
All firearms must be equipped
with substantial and securely attached flashguards
and hammerstalls.”
Participants armed with
short-barreled muskets must form in the front rank of their units.
Powder horns may be carried but
must not contain any powder.
Ball, shot or bullets of any kind
will not be brought to this event. If it is found during inspection the
offender will not participate.
Small arms cartridges are
restricted to following quantities and granulations of powder:
Weapon Type Maximum Blank Load
Musket 125 grains of fffg or ffg
Rifle 90 grains of fffg or ffg
Blank cartridges for muskets and
rifles must be made of paper, with NO staples, tape, wax or any wadding of any
sort including cotton. If found the offender will be asked to leave the site.
Cartridges should be carried in a
leather cartridge box or pouch. Cartridges may not be carried in thin cloth
bags such as, but not excluding haversacks, or in clothing. Spare cartridges
should be kept in a wooden box, similar to those used for military cartridge
boxes.
Nothing but powder may be put
into the barrels of muskets or rifles during tactical demonstrations. Rammers
may not be drawn for any reason on the tactical field!
Small arms, when fired, should
not be leveled at opposing forces or at visitors.
No demonstration of "rapid
fire" or speed loading may take place without the permission of the
Provosts or Commander in Chief of the representative forces
Unit commanders will order their
men to “Secure Firelocks” dump unburned powder out of musket barrels and empty
the pan immediately after each tactical demonstration, before they march their
units back to camp.
Original firearms are not to be
fired anytime during the reenactment. This includes during battle reenactments.
Visitors are not allowed to
handle firearms.
Edged weapons:
Visitors are not allowed to handle edged weapons.
Unit commanders are responsible
for the safe use of axes and other sharp tools in their units. Axes are not
appropriate playthings for children. Make sure that unit
members who cut or split firewood, or perform any other work with a
sharp tool, have been properly trained in its use.
Hatchets (axes) and knives should
remain sheathed during tactical demonstrations. Spontoons
and halberds should be carried with the blade or point up. These two weapons
may be used with safety and discretion for directing their troops on parade and
during the tactical. Commissioned officers may draw their swords as needed to
direct troops on parade or in action, but must be aware of where the point and
edge of their sword is at all times. Bayonets may only be fixed and charged if
in the tactical scenarios and orders are given by the Commander in Chief.
Bayonets may be fixed for drill, ceremony or when rendering honors.
Other edged weapons like war
clubs, spears, knives, and axes may not be unsheathed during tacticals. The use
of bows and arrows, and the throwing of hatchets, knives, or any other weapon,
may be used for demonstration purposes only and in approved designated area.
The use of bows and arrows, and the throwing of hatchets and knives or any
other weapon during tactical are prohibited (This includes those made of rubber
or other none metal edges).
Watercraft:
All watercraft must have safety
devices required by law and must be period type vessels. These and only these
vessels will be permitted without park fee. All watercraft must follow the
MANDATORY
R
281.1252 Canoes and kayaks. Rule 22.
(1) A canoe or kayak shall be equipped with 1 type I, II,
R 281.1234 in good and serviceable condition for each person
aboard. The devices shall be ready at hand and not encased in plastic bags or other type containers. (2)
If underway between sunset and sunrise a canoe or
kayak shall be equipped with a lantern showing a white light which
shall be ready at hand and which shall be exhibited in sufficient time to
prevent collision.
Musical Instruments:
Period instruments will be
allowed usage in the period camps and tactical areas (some being drums, fifes,
bagpipes).
Sutlers:
Period sutlers are given
permission and are welcomed to sell their items on site. Sutlers are juried.
They are required to pay their sutler fee prior to
setup. Period food vendors are allowed if they have fulfilled all legal papers
and permits required by law. Sutlers cannot sell ball, shot or bullets at the
GE.
VISITOR SAFETY:
No visitors will be allowed in
front of a line perpendicular to the muzzle of a demonstration or tactical
weapon. The minimum distance between visitors and demonstration or tactical
weapons is five (5) yards [15 feet] for small arms; [50 feet] for artillery.
If a visitor enters the tactical
field during a tactical,
Visitors shall not be permitted to handle any weapon or ammunition. Edged weapons likewise may be observed but not handled.