Uniform Question

[macwilkin]

I would imagine that any Scots that came over probably sided w/ the enemy (the North) during the War of Northern Aggression. Scottish Mercs. maybe...oh man that would be "Mercs In Skirts"...sorry 'bout that.

I have a friend who's in the SCV, I'll email him and see if he has any info.

There was no "enemy" in the Civil War, sir. They were all Americans, including my Scottish ancestors, who served their nation in Iowa and Illinois Regiments. They were not "mercs", but soldiers. Brave ones, the same as the men they faced on the other side of the deadly ground.

United in courage, united in death...they are simply Americans.

T.

[nixphotography]

United in courage, united in death...they are simply Americans.

T.

Well said.

Thus they shall be rembered.

[Riverkilt]

Know this isn't a reenactment thought, but I have always thought that a fitting tartan for memorializing the Southern folks would be, of all things, the West Point tartan. So many Southern officers came from West Point...and its a gray tartan...

Of course it could just as easily be used for the North for the same reason.

Ron
Great great grandson of Edmond Root, Corporal Co F, 152nd Illinois Infantry who served in the Tennessee campaign and came home so gaunt his wife almost shot him for a marauder - but the family dog recognized him and saved his life by running to him wagging its tail

Great great great grandson of Norman Nelson Blake a private in the 136th Ohio Infantry who helped repulse Early's attack on Washington. Before that he was a "Squirrel Hunter" during Morgan's Raid through Ohio. When Norman returned from the war he named his first born son Grant. That name stayed in the family and has been handed down through my father, myself, my daughter, and my granddaughter.

Yet for all my Union ancestry I was born in Selma, Alabama - so hope I have a fair shake for each side.

[nixphotography]

Ron, I don't guess sides have anything to do with it. They fought together and Died together, as Americans. That binds us all together no matter what.

[Riverkilt]

Aye,

Great great grandfather Edmond Root kept a "diary" of his time in Tennessee. When I finally got a chance to see it I was dissappointed. His entries were usually one word...hot...wet...tired...rain...muddy...sick...

Made little sense that a man would keep a diary then have such brief entries...war over, whiskey....Lincoln killed...

Today, knowing a bit about combat fatigue/shell shock/PTSD it makes perfect sense. Guessing he may have struggled even to write one word or so each day. Makes those efforts even more touching.

Ron

[kallen]

There was no "enemy" in the Civil War, sir. They were all Americans, including my Scottish ancestors, who served their nation in Iowa and Illinois Regiments. They were not "mercs", but soldiers. Brave ones, the same as the men they faced on the other side of the deadly ground.

United in courage, united in death...they are simply Americans.

T.

Well...to this humble and loyal Southerner, the North was the enemy. They litteraly conquered and occupied a foreign country. If there was no enemy then there wouldn't have been a war. We fought together in Span/Amer War, WWI, WWII, and the rest, but during the War of Northern Aggression we fought the invading country, which was the USA.

The term "Mercs" wasn't meant to be derogatory, it simply means "soldier for hire", like the Hessians, used by the Brits in the Rev. War. and the Irish(my peeps) Conscripts that Longshanks used.

[macwilkin]

Well...to this humble and loyal Southerner, the North was the enemy. They litteraly conquered and occupied a foreign country. If there was no enemy then there wouldn't have been a war. We fought together in Span/Amer War, WWI, WWII, and the rest, but during the War of Northern Aggression we fought the invading country, which was the USA.

The term "Mercs" wasn't meant to be derogatory, it simply means "soldier for hire", like the Hessians, used by the Brits in the Rev. War. and the Irish(my peeps) Conscripts that Longshanks used.

I'm not going to get into the politics of the Civil War, sir, because 1). The War ended in 1865 and 2). it's against forum rules. All I will say is this:

The South didn't stop being Americans or part of the USA because they decided to secede.

You may view us as the "enemy", but I view you as fellow countrymen. My in-laws from Louisiana certainly don't view me as "the enemy".

And your comparison of Nothern soldiers, especially immigrants, to soldiers-of-fortune is waaay off-base.

T.