celtic confederate jackets worm with kilts

[GaRebel211]

I agree with the statements that in order to be "historically accurate" a Confederate jacket of any type should not be worn whilst kilted. However, just as others have stated there are no set rules on how to display ones heritage. I for one would not mix my kilt with my Confederate uniform, but that is me. I would however find sublte ways to honor both Scottish and Confederate heritage.(SCV badge,Family crest pin, etc) I adhere to a strict policy on my Confederate uniform, because lets be honest, more questions follow a person who is dressed head to toe in a "historically accurate" Confederate uniform. I have attended many living history events where people will ask you the in's and out's of the uniform and EXPECT you to know what you are portraying. Until I find hard evidence that any division or Confederate force at any point actually wore a kilt, I will remain unmixed in my heritage display. As for wearing the Confederate Memorial Tartan kilt, the most asked question I get asked is where can I get one? Those who are intrested in kilts and in Southern History get the best of both worlds. But again to the OP's original question, There are no set rules, just be advised it's not "historically accurate" and others may call you on it.

Side note- I enjoyed reading everyone's comments on this post, good points made on all sides, It's good to have a lively debate...

[Riverkilt]

With permission, here are pics of Sam Nesmith


And Rob Thiege


I also own a couple Confederate shell jacket replicas made up by Grand Illusions, but I've outgrown them. They make a nice kilt jacket on their own without any historic attempts.

[greenfordranger]

Well since we'll be displaying pics...here we go...

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If you're wearing your shell jacket w/kilt to Honor your Heritage then you're in the right. But many would argue against you for wearing a kilt to reenact. No matter what the reason, wear your shell jacket w/your kilt proudly & fly your flag high [><]

[piperdbh]

If you're wearing your shell jacket w/kilt to Honor your Heritage then you're in the right. But many would argue against you for wearing a kilt to reenact. No matter what the reason, wear your shell jacket w/your kilt proudly & fly your flag high [><]

Bingo.

[macwilkin]

Thoughts from a self-proclaimed NPS "stitch-counter":

Whilst I appreciate the sentiments behind some of the posts in this thread regarding honouring heritage, let me present the other side of the coin. Please note that I am not doing it to make folks mad or offend, but instead, to offer another viewpoint.

We may know that folks wearing a kilt with Civil War kit isn't necessarily correct or a deliberate attempt to deceive folks, but remember, the general public is not as knowledgeable when it comes to such matters. I used to hear folks in the reenacting community justify their expensive hobby (and I was a reenactor too) by saying, "we're educating the public", yet these folks hardly did any research on material culture or other aspects of the period. These were also the folks with the outlandish costumes that attracted the public like flies to honey.

I have to agree with Slacker Drummer; wear your living history/reenacting kit, OR wear your Confederate or Federal Memorial Tartans with Highland attire. In NPS we were taught that you portray the "average" of a period in history as much as possible. I know that will offend some, but that's what I was taught from some excellent living history interpreters.

I'll go put on my Nomex now, and wait for the flames.

T.

[SlackerDrummer]

If you're wearing your shell jacket w/kilt to Honor your Heritage then you're in the right.

How does one "Honor your Heritage" by wearing an outfit was never a part of one's collective tradition? That is exactly the opposite of the intended purpose - a fact that seems to be dismissed because one simply wants to make a statement. Look up "honor" and then look up "heritage" and you'll find that this hodge-podge of an outfit doesn't fit the bill.

[BoldHighlander]

I, too, am not bent out of shape.

I'm not so sure....case in point:

How does one "Honor your Heritage" by wearing an outfit was never a part of one's collective tradition? That is exactly the opposite of the intended purpose - a fact that seems to be dismissed because one simply wants to make a statement. Look up "honor" and then look up "heritage" and you'll find that this hodge-podge of an outfit doesn't fit the bill.

hmmmm....

But we wouldn't encourage anyone to wear any other non-Highland attire with a kilt - even, or perhaps especially, from the Victorian era. In fact we discourage it.

Who's this "we" you speak of?
The kilt police?

May I see your badge number?

[SlackerDrummer]

And Rob Thiege

If you insist on wearing the kilt with the Confederate jacket, I think this is the best option. He is wearing it more or less like a Montrose doublet. I would however like to NOT see the bottom of the jacket below the sash and belt. The gray Glengarry bonnet is a good choice, but if we are talking about honoring one's heritage, he ought not be wearing it indoors.

[Lallans]

Here in Canada we only get to see US Civil War reenactments either as a matter of luck or of good management; in my case it would be the former. But recalling the great book Confederates In The Attic, I seem to remember that there are degrees of historical accuracy, as indeed there are in all things, some lesser and some greater until you get to the point where you're actually living in the mid-1800s, but of course only according to your conception of them... my point being that noone really knows what was or is entirely accurate, especially with the Confederates who didn't have the big Northern industrial machine behind them and were a lot more catch-as-catch-can in the matter of dress. And surely if they often didn't have uniforms or even footwear, anything is possible?

I state all this as my impression, being an ignorant foreigner in this regard and not, you know, wanting to get in the middle of any family fights.

[macwilkin]

Here in Canada we only get to see US Civil War reenactments either as a matter of luck or of good management; in my case it would be the former. But recalling the great book Confederates In The Attic, I seem to remember that there are degrees of historical accuracy, as indeed there are in all things, some lesser and some greater until you get to the point where you're actually living in the mid-1800s, but of course only according to your conception of them... my point being that noone really knows what was or is entirely accurate, especially with the Confederates who didn't have the big Northern industrial machine behind them and were a lot more catch-as-catch-can in the matter of dress. And surely if they often didn't have uniforms or even footwear, anything is possible?

I state all this as my impression, being an ignorant foreigner in this regard and not, you know, wanting to get in the middle of any family fights.

Unfortunately, this sort of logic is used to justify a lot of very "farby" items in personal kit in the Civil War reenacting community. While your points are technically correct, as I mentioned, in NPS living history we were taught to portray the "average" in our period; in this case, the simple question "Was the kilt an "average" garment in 19th century America, specifically the Southern states?" applies -- Ockham's razor would provide the answer: no.

And yes, whilst the South did not have the industry and manufacturing that the North did, that doesn't mean they had none at all. Southern factories did turn out everything from uniforms to copies of Northern weapons, but obviously not at the rate Northern ones did.

And finally, there were a number of Canadians who did serve in the American Civil War; the Sons of Union Veterans is actually working on a memorial to them at present.

T.