44TH Georgia Volunteer Infantry 

          Company C Johnson Guards

 

                         CONSTITUTION

 

ARTICLE #1 UNIT NAME:

 

44TH Georgia Volunteer Infantry Company C.

 

ARTICLE #2 PURPOSE:

 

To serve as a living conduit back to the CSA soldier in Company C and 44th G.V.I., through ongoing educational and living history programs.

 

To assist with the interpretive activities of local, state, and national historic sites.     

 

ARTICLE #3 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS:

 

1.    Military members must be male and a minimum of 16 years of age.

a.    Exceptions; musician, minimum of 12 years of age.

2.    Civilian members are without age restrictions:

a.    Civilian impressions may be limited or not allowed at specific sites.

3.    Members under 18 years of age:

a.    Must have parental supervision at all events.

b.    Parents must sign a liability waiver to enable military impression.

4.    All members 16 and older are Associate members with one vote.

5.   Military issues will be voted by the military only.  

6.  When you complete your membership application, paid insurance dues, to the Officer, and when you participate in your first event in uniform.

7.  All members must participate in one event per year, to remain active. 

8.    All members that are present at an event, with the 44th be present should serve with the 44th. Except, when any other unit that they are members of, then they can serve with what ever unit they so choose, but will only receive credit for attendance if serving with the 44th.

9.    Any member can resign by a letter to the Captain he will be issued a discharged.

 

ARTICLE #4 OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:

 

1.    Captain: Clark Van Buskirk 2005 thru 2008

a.    Assume the responsibility for managing the association

b.    Can be Brevet to Major when done so by event management.

2.    1st Sergeant: Mike Ferry 2006 thru 2008

a.    Assist the Captain in the duties of the office.

b.    Act as Brevet Lieutenant in the Captain absence.

3.    2nd Sergeant: Rick Sasor, 2007 thru 2009, 

         a. Assist the Captain in the duties of the office.

         b. Act as Brevet 1st Sergeant in the Sergeant absence

4.    If any officer resign his rank will be replaced at the yearly meeting.

 

ARTICLE #5 COMMITTEES:

 

1. The Association can form committees as they see the need.

a.    Two or more members will constitute a committee with one member being appointed chairman.

b.    The Association will dissolve the committee upon the acceptance of its finial report.

 

ARTICLE #6 DUES:

 

1.    Yearly dues are set by Insurance Cost 2007 it will be at $13.00 for ANV Unit Insurance

a.    Event registration, rations, may require additional cost from the membership.

b.    Membership is from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 of that year.

 

ARTICLE #7 MEETINGS:

 

1.    All meetings are to be held in camp.

2.    The yearly meeting a quorum is those that are present.

3.    There must be 1/2 of the membership present to have a quorum, except for the yearly meeting

4.    The yearly meeting will be held at the last event in October at 5:00 PM.

5.    The date and location of all other meetings will be give notice 2 week's before the event.

6.    Roberts’ Rules of Order will govern all meetings.

 

ARTICLE #8 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION:

 

1.    The constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the active membership at a meeting

2.    This change will not go into effect for one week after said meeting.

 

ARTICLE #9 MILITARY RANK WITHIN THE CORPORATION:

 

1. Guidelines for establishment of rank:

a.    1 to 5 members = Sergeant

b.    6 to 10 members  = Lieutenant,  Sergeant  

c.    11 to 20 members  = Captain, Sergeant, Corporal.

d.    21 to 29 members = Captain,  Sergeant, 2 Corporals.

e.    30 to 35 Members = Captain, 2 Sergeant, 4 Corporals.

f.     1st.Sargeant is the man with the longest rank as Sergeant 

g.    1st Corporal is the Corporal who is the tallest man of all the Corporal's 

 

2. All military rank will be voted on at the yearly meeting by the membership.

a.    The vote will be a simple majority.

 

3. Minimum requirements for elected rank:.   

 

            Corporal:

      a. No one under the age of 19 will hold rank.

b. One year active member in good standing and competent in the school of the soldier

c. Elected term will be two year, odd even year. 

d. He must be willing to be present at 50% of the events

 

Sergeant:

a. Two years active member in good standing and competent in the school of the soldier, and school of the company

b. Elected term will be two years.

c. Must have served as a Corporal for one year.

d. He must be willing to be present at 60% of the events.

 

Line Officer:

a. Three years active member in good standing and competent in the school of the soldier, school of the company, school of officer.

b. Must be able to maintain the military bearing and discipline that the position requires at all times

c. Must have served as a Private, Corporal, and Sergeant each for one year.

d. Must procure all uniforms and equipment necessary to accurately portray the position

e. Must be able to teach all requirements needed to hold all lower ranks

f. Must be able to work cohesively with other organizations and levels of command when in the field

g. Must be willing to assume full time responsibility for the welfare and safety of all the men under his command. 

h.  Elected term will be three years.   

i. He must be willing to be present ay 90% of the events.

j.  He may Brevet the Sergeant to the rank of Lieutenant  for that event.

k. He may Brevet the NCO one rank above there present rank for that event.

 

4.  Duties of the rank 

a.  Line Officer: commander of the unit at any event.  To work with the event staff and CSA Staff.  To make sure all event information is past on to the membership. To collect and send in any money for any paid event.  To maintain a roster of the unit.  To insure that the unit maintain the highest quality of standard possible at all time’s.

b. Sergeant:   To work with the line officer.  The Training of the Corporals of the unit.  To insure that the camp is in proper order at all times.  To insure that the men are in proper order.  To maintain a roll of members at any event. 

c. Corporal:   To work with the Sergeant at any event.   The Training of all new men of the unit.  To insure that the men are in proper order at all times.

 

ARTICLE #10 PERSONAL DEPORTMENT:

        

1. All members of Company C will maintain the highest level of personal conduct. 

2. Alcohol should not be consumed at any event.

3. All members must obey the commands of the NCOs and officers. 

          a.   Disrespectful or insubordinate behavior towards any ranking individual will not be tolerated.

4. Military organizations are un-democratic in the field.       

5. Smoking should be curtailed during living history type programs should never include the use of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or snuff.

6. Abusive or profane language and behavior will not be tolerated from any member.

7. A family atmosphere will be maintained at all events and programs.

8. Horseplay with or without weapons will not be tolerated from any member.

9. Each member will bring a bed roll, and a seat to all events.

10. If a member is not at the Morning Drill he may not fight in the afternoon battle.  

11. Members requiring glasses must obtain period spectacles or use contact lenses. 

12. Must make physical problems or medical conditions know to the Officer.

13. Any violations of proper deportment could cause the offender to be expelled from the event by the ranking Officer.

 

 

ARTICLE #11 AUTHENTICITIES:

        

1.  Every effort will be made by all members to authentically portray our forebears

2.  The uniform will be that of the ANV 1862-64

3.  Shoulder weapons must be pre 1865 three-band muzzle loading military muskets.

4.  Only the Office will carry a sidearm

5.  No belt knives are to be worn.

6.  The size of Company "C" on July 1, 1863 was 35 men. Captain, First Sergeant, 2nd Sergeant, First Corporal, Second Corporal, Third Corporal, and 4th Corporal with 28 Privates. There was 2 Platoons 1 Sergeant, 2 Corporal's, and 14 Privates in each.

7.  The 44th can have no more then 35 active men on there rooster at any time with the above rank.

8.  Each member will be given the name of an ordinal member of the 44th to portray at Living History Programs.

9.  Jewelry is unacceptable with exception of plain gold and silver wedding bands.

10.  Period Masonic emblems for those who wish to display their membership.

11. The personal timepiece of the Civil War was a pocket watch. 

  

ARTICLE #12 TRAINING:

 

1.  The Officer, and NCOs are to do training of the membership.

2.  The Officer will ensure safe weapons handling procedures are taught to all members.

  

ARTICLE #13  SAFE FIREARMS HANDLING PRACTICES.

 

1/ Always assume a firearm is loaded.

2/ Never point a firearm at another person.

a.    Always be aware of the direction your muzzle is pointing.

b.    Whenever possible keep the muzzle of the firearm up.              

c.    Always use elevated aiming techniques during battle reenactments.

d.    Do not fire at opposing lines of soldiers at less than 25 yards.

 

3/      Maintain a safe and sensible cartridge

A.   Construction:

a.    Roll paper cartridge tubes from light type paper, secure by twisting, and folding.

b.    Power charge to be no more than 60 to 80 grains of black powder

c.    When complete. Cartridges are to resemble arsenal made cartridges. 

4/ Never assume another person’s firearm is unloaded. 

5/ Never load a firearm unless your Officer tells you to load. 

6/ Never set aside a loaded weapon. 

7/ Never allow a spectator to take control of any firearm or edged weapon. 

8/ Load your firearm using approved tactical procedures.

A.   Keep your hand from in front of the muzzle while pouring powder.

B.   Keep your hand from in front of the muzzle when returning rammer.

C.   Ram cartridge only when told to do so by the Officer in charge. 

9/ You must always maintain a clean and mechanically sound firearm.

A.   Your firearm must be cleaned and inspected by you at the start and end of each day’s activities.

10/ Never rest any portion of your body over the muzzle of a firearm. 

11/ Your weapon must be secured when it is not in your hands.

A.   Stacked

B.   Covered and out of sight.

C.   Locked in your vehicle. 

12/ You must abide by all local, state, and federal firearms laws as they relate to pre-1898 reproduction black powder firearms. 

13/ No one under the age 16 is to handle functional firearm, ammunitions in any form. 

14/ Black powder must be handled with utmost care.

         A. Do not transport more that you intend to use at an event.

B.   Never handle black powder near an open flame or other ignition source.

C.   Abide by all local, state, and federal laws concerning it’s proper storage and transportation.

 

Was adopted on December 2, 2001 by the 44th Georgia Vol. Inf. Company C membership.   Rev. number 6 was approved on October 13, 2007 at meeting of the 44th GVI. Co. C.