Unit Authenticity Standards (revised 2025)
53rd PVI Authenticity Standards (revised 2025) – All 53rd PVI members should understand and follow these Authenticity Standards. Doing so helps the unit strive for authenticity in the field and in our individual impressions.
Instructional/Training documents and videos –
The 53rd PVI strives for authenticity in uniform, equipment, drill, and camp life. We strive to do things period-correct, as they were explained in the original Army manuals and tactics as well as from first-hand accounts by the soldiers. The following documents, videos, etc. are presented here to help our members achieve authenticity and help improve their impressions:
Past NR School of instruction Handouts/Presentations:
Improving Your Federal Impression Presentation – 1st Sgt. Steger and Sgt. Benedict (53rd PA)
School of Soldier Manual of Arms – 1st Sgt. Manore and Capt. Kraus (116th PA)
Making Cartridges – 1st Lt. Chris Sedlak (9th PA Res.)
Banners of Glory – Kyle Windahl
Maintaining Your Equipment – George Craven (3rd MD)
Leadership – Brennan (3rd MD)
Original Civil War Items Presentation – Tim & Debbie Sheads
11th New York Fire Zouaves and 14th Brooklyn – Jason Smith (72nd PA)
1st Bull Run – 11th NY 1st Fire Zouave Impression – July 2026 – John Gerndt (5th NY)
Story of the 12th Ohio Volunteer Infantry – by Mike Kraus
What Each Soldier Should Have In The Field – The Blanket Roll – by Paul Martinello
Campaigning – Staying Warm and Dry – by Paul Martinello
Pioneering – by Paul Parvis
Union Veterans – Service Record Summary – by Mike Espenshade
Gettysburg Campaign – Meade’s Pursuit of Lee (ppt) – by George F. Franks III
Grand Guard powerpoint presentation – by Tom Carlson
Grand Guard – Handout (Tom Carlson)
Basic Grand Guard Layout (click on the diagram to enlarge it)
Tenting on the Old Campground – by Kyle Lindahl
Training the Trainer – by Ted Brennan and Tom Carlson
Shaving In The mid-1860s – by Chris Sedlak
Candles – by Chris Sedlak
Salt Pork 1 – by Chris Sedlak
Salt Pork 2 – by Chris Sedlak
Home and Field Cleaning Your Rifle Musket – by George Craven
Other Training Documents:
Silas Casey’s 1862 Infantry Tactics: Casey’s vol.1 and Casey’s vol.2
Kautz’s Customs Of Service For NCOs and Soldiers
The Letters of Elias S. Peck
Summary Of Drill For The Color Company
Dress Parade Duties – Officers and NCOs
Military Regulations Library (courtesy of the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry)
Training Videos:
Civil War Digital Digest has lots of great videos. A sampling of them are shown below. You can see their full list of videos by visiting their YouTube page.
