Confederate Memorial

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 22nd July 10, 09:17 AM

I guess I meant the fighting unit without considering bands or other nonstandard groups within a military unit.

There is also at least one militia unit which wore the kilt in California.

**macwilkin** · 22nd July 10, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by Hothir Ethelnor

I guess I meant the fighting unit without considering bands or other nonstandard groups within a military unit.

There is also at least one militia unit which wore the kilt in California.

Well...historians are still debating how much the kilt was worn by the 79th. We do know that it was worn when the 79th was a pre and post-Civil War militia/"chum & chowder" unit, but the 79th wearing the kilt in combat is another story.

And yes, I am familiar with the Wallace Guard...I'm the one who posted the thread about it.

One more comment about bands being a "nonstandard" group...I'm not sure I follow your use of that word. Remember than bandsmen have traditionally filled the role of stretcher-bearers/corpsmen/etc. in military history. Even today in the British Army, members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland are soldiers first and bandsmen second. Pipers and bandsmen alike frequently saw combat.

The aforementioned units of the US Armed Forces, regulars, reserves and National Guard, are still military personnel and therefore, entitled to be mentioned along with the 79th.

T.

**finlay marquisl** · 22nd July 10, 12:13 PM

I'm not an reenanactor I just observe. At the few CW reenactments I have been to the men shooting and attending the cannons all wear kilts. I didn't notice the tartan but they were mostly red.
I'm planning on attending one in Longview Texas in October. They are throwing in a chili cook-off. That is my forte'. I wanted a hoop skirt so I could attend the ladies tea.

In that I was asking about using the Confederate Tartan for my dress. I don't think any of the ladies dresses would be in 'authenic' fabric print of any sorts. Most make them from Scarlet's idea of using draperies and curtains. ha ha

I have enjoyed the conversations.

**macwilkin** · 22nd July 10, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by finlay marquisl

I'm not an reenanactor I just observe. At the few CW reenactments I have been to the men shooting and attending the cannons all wear kilts. I didn't notice the tartan but they were mostly red.

Interesting. I'd like to see their documentation for such a uniform.

I'm planning on attending one in Longview Texas in October. They are throwing in a chili cook-off. That is my forte'. I wanted a hoop skirt so I could attend the ladies tea.

In that I was asking about using the Confederate Tartan for my dress. I don't think any of the ladies dresses would be in 'authenic' fabric print of any sorts. Most make them from Scarlet's idea of using draperies and curtains. ha ha

I have enjoyed the conversations.

You might be surprised; many ladies who participating in reenacting/living history take it just as seriously, if not more so, as their male counterparts. You might try to secure a copy of Juanita Leisch's Who Wore What: Women's Wear 1861-65 for a primer on ladies attire of the Civil War era.

T.

**BoldHighlander** · 22nd July 10, 12:45 PM

Originally Posted by finlay marquisl

In that I was asking about using the Confederate Tartan for my dress. I don't think any of the ladies dresses would be in 'authenic' fabric print of any sorts. Most make them from Scarlet's idea of using draperies and curtains. ha ha

Originally Posted by cajunscot

You might be surprised; many ladies who participating in reenacting/living history take it just as seriously, if not more so, as their male counterparts.

Indeed Todd. Below is a picture of my wife & I at our wedding in 1996 (with our piper). Ami was wearing a dress made by my sister. It was based upon one worn by John Hunt Morgan's bride at their wedding in late 1862. We chose, however, to use a different coloured material, but otherwise its very close.

...the mantilla Ami is wearing was made by her mother, and is also based upon one worn by Morgan's bride

Originally Posted by finlay marquisl

You might try to secure a copy of Juanita Leisch's Who Wore What: Women's Wear 1861-65 for a primer on ladies attire of the Civil War era.

I'll second that!
When that book first came out, Juanita came out for the day as a co-presenter on a clothing seminar for our local Civil War reenactor society. It was quite a treat to listen & see her research, and I promptly bought a copy of her book for my wife (and she was very happy to have it)!

**finlay marquisl** · 25th July 10, 10:51 PM

Boldhighlander. Love the dress. You all look wonderful. Great job. Thanks for the book reference.

**finlay marquisl** · 26th July 10, 07:11 AM

I going to try and post pictures of the tartan wearing cannoners. I would think that job would be very important and require skill so I would guess the wearing of kilts was not a Farb mistake. I don't know.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...6_677765_s.jpg

**macwilkin** · 26th July 10, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by finlay marquisl

I going to try and post pictures of the tartan wearing cannoners. I would think that job would be very important and require skill so I would guess the wearing of kilts was not a Farb mistake. I don't know.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...6_677765_s.jpg

You'd be surprised. I've seen terrible impressions in Artillery units, both in drill (reenactor drill and the actual drill from the period are not the same thing) and in uniform, mostly due to an odd love of the color red, which is the Artillery branch-of-service color.

I spent a decade as a living history/interpretation ranger for NPS, and the stuff I saw after receiving NPS living history training at reenactments made me cringe.

Bottom line: unless there's historical documentationfor it, I wouldn't trust it just because of "the job they do".

T.

**finlay marquisl** · 26th July 10, 09:48 AM

Good point Canjunscot. I just figured since cannoners were in such an important position someone would have wagged a finger at them by now.

**macwilkin** · 26th July 10, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by finlay marquisl

Good point Canjunscot. I just figured since cannoners were in such an important position someone would have wagged a finger at them by now.

Now I understand what you're saying. Sadly, that very rarely happens. Authenticity requirements in the reenacting world are overwhelmingly voluntary, and while there are those who do take reenacting seriously enough to research their impressions, just as many treat reenacting as just a hobby, and don't care if the impression they are presenting to the public is as correct as we can be today.

T.