Russ,
Being a 'drunk' wasn't something that was admired during the Civil War.
Several accusations of officers being drunk led to several court martial hearings, loss of command, pickets reported drunk were cashiered.
This however, might be worthy of sharing:
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME IV [S# 4] CHAPTER XII.
NOVEMBER 8-18, 1861.--Revolt of the Unionists in East Tennessee.
CHATTANOOGA, November 17, 1861.
Major-General BRAGG, Pensacola, Fla.:
DEAR SIR AND GENERAL: I have the honor to report to you for your information the following with regard to the Seventh Regiment:
[excerpt]
Upon my return here I find that Brigadier-General Carroll, of the Provisional Army, formerly postmaster at Memphis, Tenn., is here with two more Tennessee regiments and one company flying artillery. General Carroll has just been appointed. He has been drunk not less than five years. He is stupid, but easily controlled. He knows nothing, and I believe I can do with him pretty much as I please. He is going to send two pieces of artillery and 500 men to march up and down Se-quatchie Valley--a useless expenditure of money. The presence of so many troops here is wholly unnecessary. He has, however, only 800 stand of arms. What the others will do I do not know. He speaks of going to Knoxville in a few days. General Hardee is now moving to Eastern Kentucky to join Zollicoffer with 13,000 men. Colonel Lead-better telegraphed me from Bristol to disperse the traitors, station guards at bridges, and move on to Knoxville, but if I station guards my regiment is all gone. I am now dispersing the insurgents, and shall keep at it from this point until I hear from the War Department or you, or again from Colonel Leadbetter. General Carroll will not detain me. I refer you to a letter inclosed for some of my private views. I desire, unless I can get some command here, to come back to you. If I cannot order and have the same discipline, then let me come where I will find it.
I write this that you may know what they have set me to doing. I would have been gratified could you have seen our 9-miles march. I believe you would have been satisfied with the closed ranks, the silence, the activity, and great desire of the men for action.
I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
S. A.M. WOOD,
Colonel, Comdg. Seventh Regiment Alabama Volunteers.
[Indorsement. ]
This was probably not intended to be forwarded, but containing much information which may be of interest to the Department, I forward it.
BRAXTON BRAGG,
Major-General, Commanding.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 8 [S# 8]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS. AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN MISSOURI, ARKANSAS. KANSAS, AND THE INDIAN TERRITORY FROM NOVEMBER 19, 1861, TO APRIL 10, 1862.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. --5
EDALIA, January 2, 1862.
General HALLECK:
Two of my spies just in from Springfield humbugged Price completely; went through all his camps safely; saw everything. Train of forty wagons just in from the south with supplies, ammunition, &c, as well as artillery. Has in all sixty-three pieces; none rifled. Horses very poor.
A considerable force at Bolivar. Price's whole force not over 16,000. McCulloch is at Fayetteville, Ark. Price says he is going to Jefferson City as soon as they are organized. At present he has no discipline, no roll-calls, no sentinels, nor picket to prevent passing in and out of Springfield. Rains drunk all the time. Price also drinking too much. No Union men between 8 miles from here and them.
FRED'K STEELE.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XI/2 [S# 13]
PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN--SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES
No. 140. -- Report of Lieut. Col. Robert C. Buchanan, Fourth U.S. Infantry, commanding First Brigade, of the battle of Gaines' Mill, engagement at Turkey Bridge, and battle of Malvern Hill.
HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, REGULAR INFANTRY,
Camp near Harrison's Landing, Va., July 6, 1862.
SIR: In obedience to instructions from division headquarters I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade since the 26th of June:
[excerpt]
Maj. Delozier Davidson, Fourth Infantry, absented himself from his regiment at the commencement of the action of the 27th and has not been heard of since: First Lieut. J. B. Williams, Third Infantry, absented himself also on that occasion and has not since joined; Capt. J. Carbery Lay, Twelfth Infantry, is reported as having been drunk during the evening of the 1st of July and unfit for duty, and Second Lieut. Thomas S. Wright, Fourteenth Infantry, absented himself without leave during that evening and has not since joined.
[excerpt]
Believing that my report covers all the principal operations of my brigade, I have the honor to be, your obedient servant,
ROBT. C. BUCHANAN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Fourth Infantry, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. FRED T. LOCKE,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fifth Provisional Army Corps.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XI/2 [S# 13]
PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN--SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES
No. 321. -- Report of Maj. George M. Waddill, Fifty-third Virginia Infantry, of the engagement at King's School-House, or Oak Grove.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTY-THIRD VIRGINIA REGIMENT,
June 26, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that after a week's sickness, on the 25th instant, at 11.30 a.m., I returned to my regiment, then on picket, and commanded by Capt. William R. Aylett, and at the time engaging the enemy. Captain Aylett immediately turned over the command to me and used diligence to show me the position of our forces and the enemy, and made the following report of the action of the regiment up to the time of my arrival:
[excerpt]
As the regiment has not yet come in a list of its casualties cannot now be made out, but it is believed to be small. When the long-continued and terrible fire to which the regiment was exposed is considered a small list of casualties would seem to be miraculous, and can only be explained by the facts that our men were deployed as skirmishers, well concealed and protected, and that the enemy were so drunk they could not shoot. This latter view is known to be correct, as prisoners taken were found to be intoxicated. The regiment is at this time acting as reserve for the Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth Virginia, commanded by Captain Martin, Captain Aylett and myself both being sick and unfit for duty.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. M. WADDILL,
Major, Fifty-third Virginia Regiment.
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SERIES I--VOLUME XII/3 [S# 18]
Correspondence, orders, and returns relating specially to operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland from March 17 to September 2, 1862.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#32
ALEXANDRIA DEPOT, August 31, 1862.
P. H. WATSON,
Assistant Secretary of War :
A large portion of the nurses who came over last night were drunk and very disorderly. I sent them off, with written directions to the officer in command at Fairfax to arrest every one who was drunk and return him by next train. I understand that a large number are on their way back. They are much in the way. Can you not place a guard on Long Bridge? We are now using cars to bring back nurses, who are satisfied with the experience of one night, and are skedaddling back again.
HAUPT.
(Remember male nurses were commonly employed from the rank and file)
I would think being under the influence is a hazard, regardless if it is legal medicines or illegal drugs and or the intoxication under the influences of alcohol, wine, spirits, liquors and such. There are laws that are on the books, perhaps from the county/town level to the state laws. I'm sure the NRA (National Rifle Association) would back you as far as non-intoxication as far as handling weapons, regardless of purpose and or capabilities.
Hopefully, there will be more re-enactors that have faced similar situations, that can perhaps share their wisdom.
For me though -- I can't get comfortable around people that are reckless when under the influence of drugs/alcohol. I rather be a lone walk on--an orphan, rather than join a group to which the 'Command Council' didn't want to sober up their unit- as to make it safe for them and others around them during reenactment events. Why couldn't they hold off until they are not in a reenactment capacity...?
I wish you much success sir!
Respectfully submitted,
M. E. Wolf
Bringing the