Confederate Memorial

[L. Ramsay]

I have often thought the same thing. Despite my Southern roots, I am glad the South lost and the Union was preserved. I love this country and I'm glad we stayed together. We can, and will argue about why the war was fought but the reconciliation of the two sides, rough though it has been sometimes, continues and is desirable.

With that in mind I designed a tartan I titled Grant and Lee at Appomattox. It has two shades of gray, two shades of blue, olive green for peace, white for reconciliation and a fresh start and gold to represent the general's stars on their uniforms.

http://scotweb-objects.com/images/td...lery/16235.jpg

I don't know if this is what you had in mind, but it's one idea for what you were suggesting.

Regards,

Brian

Exactly what I had in mind! Looks great too. Consider getting it registered?

I know I'd get one.

[Brian K]

Exactly what I had in mind! Looks great too. Consider getting it registered?

I know I'd get one.

Thank you, Sir. It was a third or fourth attempt at such a tartan and I am somewhat pleased with the design, but at present I don't think I can afford to have it registered. Of course, I do think you could have Nick at Scotweb weave it for you even if it is not registered. It would be nice to have one of my designs woven. A gentleman from Alaska is having a tartan I tweaked for him woven - that is the closest I've had one of my setts produced in cloth.

Regards,

Brian

[macwilkin]

There is actually a hereditary society called the Order of the Blue & Grey for descendants of Northern & Southern soldiers. Brian's tartan reminded me of their membership badge.

T.

[HeathBar]

That being said, the reason I am considering the Confederate Memorial tartan is a color choice. All my kilts to date are rather dark (Black watch, Black Stewart, solid black etc.). I want to find one in some lighter shades and still not cross the line between universal and restricted.

If I may, I'd like to suggest a universal tartan that does not get too much play. Hunting Stewart is a universal tartan and it can be had in the ancient color scheme. If I didn't already have my clan tartans to wear, I would probably choose this one.

[davidlpope]

If I may, I'd like to suggest a universal tartan that does not get too much play. Hunting Stewart is a universal tartan and it can be had in the ancient color scheme. If I didn't already have my clan tartans to wear, I would probably choose this one.

Heath,

I'm in agreement. Hunting Stewart is beautiful tartan, is produced in every color scheme and fabric weight and is a historic design.

Likewise, the Caledonia tartan is a beautiful and historic tartan and is readily available. It's very similar to the MacPherson sett, which Kyle MacPherson has showcased in a recent thread.

If one were looking to wear non-clan tartans, I don't think you can do any better than to have two kilts- one in Hunting Stewart (nice blues and greens for daywear) and one in Caledonia (red-based to tone well with eveningwear). I'm surprised that folks tend to go for the recent dark gray and black or purple generic tartans that have flooded the marketplace instead.

David

[BoldHighlander]

To the afore mentioned Hunting Stewart & Caledonia tartans I'd like to put forth a 3rd (non-clan) tartan that I think is truly handsome, Highland Granite (modeled here by our own Matt Newsome)

[OC Richard]

About the existence of Scottish-themed Confederate units, I read in some book (sorry I can't remember which) that there was a bit of a fad of naming units things like "Scotch Rifle Guards" but that the only "Scotch" thing about the uniform was the name (often engraved on the belt plate/buckle).

We have to keep in mind that in many Civil War era regiments, each company had an individual name and uniform. Many of these names and uniforms were rather fanciful.

So it was very interesting indeed when, around 20 years ago, I came across, in an antique show, a large rectangular brass belt plate, with a border of thistles, with "Scotch Rifle Guards" engraved in the plain central portion. This could have been worn by any militia unit, North or South, at any time in the 19th century, before, during, or after the Civil War.

About those photos of guys wearing the modern Confederate Memorial Tartan with Civil War era jackets, what strikes my eye is the jarring anachronism of it all.

What would help (if you allow me to get into "fashion police" mode for a moment) is to wear a sporran that's at least somewhat period-appropriate, rather than a style that didn't appear until the 1980's or so.

Here's what sporrans in the 1860's looked like. There are a few of these up on Ebay as we speak.









And about hose... hmmm... maybe our Northern California Piper has some diced hose that would go with that tartan very nicely...

(Disclaimer: I am a West Virginian. My ancestors fought for the North, the 7th West Virginia Cavalry to be exact.)

[OC Richard]

The 79th New York was a pre-war NY state militia unit that did wear Highland kit as part of their uniform. Historians are still debating how much of that kit was worn by the regiment during the War itself.

It's hard to image what debate there might be, as the regiment's prewar companies had two uniforms, a Dress uniform with the kilt and a Service Dress uniform (as we would call it today) with tartan trousers.

The additional companies recruited to bring the regiment up to full strength for war service were only ever issued the service dress.

The full dress uniform was put aside for war service, not to be revived until after the war (in a somewhat different form).

The same tunic was worn with both the full dress and service dress uniform, so that part of the full dress uniform was indeed worn in combat.

Here's a photo clearly showing the difference between the two uniforms. When the regiment went to war it was dressed like the man in the centre, with tartan trousers, full dress tunic, and kepi. Photographs of 79th prisoners and a painting of 79th wounded from their first engagement agree on this point.

[kid icarus]

if you like it wear it.

as for states....i also, have no ties to any since i've moved around so much. if you are thinking that route, doesn't the u.s. have it's own tartan?

really if you find a kilt you like, wear it. no one is going to care if you are wearing a macdonald, but have no family affiliation with them.....well some over the top people at the highland games might, but so what? i have only a couple times been asked what my kilt is. and after answering that question, that was the end of that.

[macwilkin]

Richard,

I'm not doubting your research per we, but I'm curious as to a claim you made in your last post: are you implying that the 79th wore the same uniform tunic throughout the entire war? I'm no expert on the 79th & the nuances of its uniforms, but I would be curious about this point.

As you mentioned, many pre-war militia units, North & South, had their own distinct uniform and monikers. Besides the 79th and the 12th IL, which reportedly wore a balmoral with a state uniform, there were a plethora of units with private purchase & state issued kit. Much of this kit was "shoddy" & soon fell to rags during the early days of the war. As the 90 day volunteers reenlisted in 3 year regiments, antebellum uniforms were replaced by more standardized federal issue items. There were exceptions of course; Duryeas Zouvaes maintained their distinct uniforms even through reorganization as a veteran volunteer unit.

My question is: is there evidence that the state of New York supplied the 79th with its tunic and trews throughtout the war, or did the regiment receive standard issue uniforms?

T.