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Post by shiloh on Aug 26, 2004 4:08:39 GMT 12.75
OK, pet-peev time. There are many shades of gray used by reenactors. In the early months of the war, the common wool gray would have been seen. The gray we commonly see is really only "correct" for the earliest months of the war, and probably only correct for Eastern theatre Rebs. The darker, almost navy blue "Richmond Gray" would ONLY be correct for the officer class of the VA theatre. The most common fabrick of all enlisted men was simply called "homespun" or "jersey" which is the cotton/wool blend denim jersey that evolved into our modern jean-cloth. The men would dye it with coffee, tea, or butternut hulls to get the familiar "butternut" color. It didn't "grey" very well, but it does have a very light grey tone to it un-dyed. In the Western theatre, this is almost the soul material that the enlisted men and lower ranked officer corps had available even in the early months. And, the artillerists would not have had much red piping at all unless they were in garrison duty and had time to add it themselves. It is humorous to me to see gun crews of "rag-tag Rebs" in near-perfect grey wool uniforms with lots of bright red piping. The same to a lesser extent goes for the cavalry which had yellow piping. Want to get that de-farbed look? Get the jersey material and stain it. If you want red piping or black or yellow, get some thing material and hand-stitch it to the cuffs and collar and maybe wrap it on a cap/hat and call it a day. You can even get a way with a Yankee's captured vest or sack coat. And replace thos missing buttons! If there's one thing the Civil War soldier never lacked of it was buttons. Mix an odd button into the uniform to make it look hap-hazard. --Shiloh
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Post by Paws on Aug 26, 2004 14:36:25 GMT 12.75
OK nit picker! ;D I have no piping onmy uniform of mixed grey. My chevrons were cut right off the sack coat of a deceased comrade who wore Richmond grey and that it why there is a Richmond grey background on my yellow stripes. Too bad his coat was just too small for me else I would have just had worn it. Then too there was that huge hole in the right breast! I think the only uniforms anywhere near "MIL-SPEC" in our group belong to Captain Reynolds and the First Sergeant. My worst vice is my eyeglasses. Man they are going to cost a mint! Near a grand for my prescription, $750.00 for the exam, and then the frames are around a hundred. All in all the Rebs looked pretty good at McConnelsville. Nobody noticed that I laced my brogans "quick-zip" jump boot style. Damned laces were too short to do a comfortable "X" pattern!
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Post by shiloh on Aug 27, 2004 0:55:00 GMT 12.75
LOL! Being primarily a NPS demonstrator, I am critiqued more by historians as to what is correct than most reenactors, so I get that way myself. Don't let a scholar see an enlisted man smoking a cigar unless perhaps it's a hand-rolled type (Backwoods)! I got verbally thrashed once while smoking what I thought would be "period" in a decent cigar. I know what you mean about the glasses. I use modern styles myself, but strive to keep the frames small, metal and with round lenses which appear closer to period examples to visitors. Had a guy wearing "Gargoyles" at Shiloh '02 My sutler shop sells period frames for about $50 I think. You can actually get real antiques frames sometimes quite cheap in antique stores.
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Post by Paws on Aug 27, 2004 1:01:08 GMT 12.75
Yeah mine aren't too far out, but, of course the nose guards are a dead give away. I just tell people they are moon stone I found in the creek and drilled out to raise them up higher on my nose! You know what they say? Wow what a good idea, you ought to patent that! ;D
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Post by shiloh on Aug 28, 2004 7:58:40 GMT 12.75
The saying goes; "if they'd had it, they'd have used it!"
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Post by Paws on Aug 29, 2004 4:19:00 GMT 12.75
You should have heard me explaing the Folger's can and plastic lid to General Lee! I had him in stitches!! I think it was the part about the ground buckeyes and acorns that really got to him though!! ;D
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Post by shiloh on Aug 31, 2004 6:34:39 GMT 12.75
I did see a Domino's pizza man wandering through the camps late one evening. 8-)THAT took some balls! Ordering a pizza at a reenactment. Don't know if he ever found the right camp, or if he made it out alive. I have to think that as soon as he wandered into some Confederate camp, he got mugged and lost the pizzas! ;D
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Post by CountryGal on Aug 31, 2004 12:28:56 GMT 12.75
Shiloh, could you get any information on the proper dress for a decient woman of that time period. I don't mean a rich lady of the time but just a decient woman. I know a man in San Angelo, Texas who re-enacts and I can sew. I thought I might suprise him sometime.
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Post by shiloh on Sept 1, 2004 6:20:10 GMT 12.75
There are some good patterns available on-line. THe common attire for middle-class women was a non-hooped dress, buttoned to the neck. A blouse can be worn, and a vest also is common. Often, pseudo militay vests were worn. A sun bonnet or snood will work nicely on the head. Check out "my" sutler at www.blockaderunner.com to see some pics. You can call them if you like to get some tips. Ask for Connie or Julie. Connie owns it and knows a great deal. Julie manages it and can let you know what is immediately available. They may be able to tell you where to locate patterns, but they don't sell patterns.
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Post by Paws on Sept 1, 2004 21:14:07 GMT 12.75
Shilo, I have seen their site in the past. Would you recommend them for a link? If so and since you know a couple of the folk there would you ask their permission? Ifthey have a links page and wouldlike toreturn the favor that would be OK too!
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Post by shiloh on Sept 2, 2004 5:59:10 GMT 12.75
By all means, go right ahead. I'm sure they'll agree, but will ask just the same later today. They're one of the oldest sutlers around. I do their gunsmithing, and "de-farb" their Enfields. Also, they can order "India" Enfields that are non-firing "wall-hangers" for about $250. I then spend a little time and make them into firing guns that are perfect for re-enacting on a budget.
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Post by shiloh on Sept 2, 2004 8:09:04 GMT 12.75
Paws, I forwarded their approval to you. They will link your site from their's, too.
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Post by CountryGal on Sept 2, 2004 12:27:12 GMT 12.75
Shiloh, I checked out their site last night and I was blown away. It looks like I might be spending some more money, on books, if nothing else. Thanks, sweetie.
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Post by shiloh on Sept 3, 2004 6:43:40 GMT 12.75
Why, you're so very welcome, My Dear.
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Post by Paws on Sept 3, 2004 10:29:58 GMT 12.75
Got them all set up Shiloh! ;D Check the links section. I have several more to add. Coming in quicker than I can design them!! ;D How do you guys like my new logo?
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Post by shiloh on Sept 4, 2004 5:06:13 GMT 12.75
Lookin' good paws!
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Post by Paws on Sept 9, 2004 10:37:26 GMT 12.75
How about this? ;D
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Post by RogueWarrior1957 on Sept 9, 2004 13:38:11 GMT 12.75
Who is that handsome devil??? (razz!) Looks darned good, Paws.
A little input on period correct stuff. Another fabric or textile that they used back then was commonly known as "linsey-woolsey," a blend of linen fibers and wool spun and then either woven into a "homespun" fabric, or knitted. It is really hard to find true linen fabric today...even the fancy dinner napkins are cotton or synthetic with a "linen weave." Not the same as true linen which comes from the flax plant and is much coarser cloth than it's modern day imitation.
Miss CG asked about period correct clothing for a respectable woman. If there is a Tandy Leather dealer in your area, Tandy caters to Buckskinners, CW Re-enactors, and the Society for Creative Anachronism. There are patterns available in styles that were popular during the civil war era. For fabric...gingham checked, calico prints, different jersey materials, and dyed muslin were available then, as well as the materials mentioned above. And the "proper lady" always wore a pinafore type apron over the dress to protect it, as well as being a handy tool...forerunner to the shopping bag, basket, wiping the kids faces and many other things someone mentioned in a different thread. Most of the dresses were ankle length, and the shoes buttoned up the sides to about mid-calf. Believe it or not...I still have one of the family heirloom shoe-button hooks used to fasten these tedious little devils.
And guys...they didn't have Gillette Mach III razors! Get out that old straight razor and the leather strop! Also no aerosol shaving cream...remember the brush and mug?
I wish things had worked out for me to have stayed in y'all's neck of the woods when I moved back there 24 years ago. Had I discovered re-enactment and you guys, I might have stayed!
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Post by Paws on Sept 9, 2004 14:21:12 GMT 12.75
You know Bill there were some great units in the West. Check around and I'll bet you can find a cavalry unit somewhere that would be a lot of fun to hang with. As a matter of fact you and Ms CG should be close enough to bump into one another every once in a while! Or, just as an alternative, you might consider getting yourself a flatbed trailer, tractor/trailer rig, a couple of mules, an authentic Studebaker army wagon, and come on out here and haul mortars, and iron cook pots during the spring and summer next year. I'll get the Captain to give you a spot promotion to Corporal! (That way I'll get Sergeant, if I start showing up on time!!)
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Post by pawpawwilson on Sept 12, 2004 4:20:11 GMT 12.75
Just a short intro before I get to the point. I'm Jim Wilson, commonly called Paw Paw Wilson. I do historical blacksmithing for the French & Indian War, the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War. (also known as the War of Northern Agression! ). When doing a historical demonstration, I wear the appropriate costume, and use the appropriate tools and techniques for the time period that I am representing. Now! Purely for my own pleasure, I've developed a First Person Persona as Sgt. George Washington Tucker. Born in Baltimore, Md, when the War started he joined the Confederate Cavalry. Because of his "Soldierly Bearing, personal grooming, and neat uniform appearance", he was transferred from the Cavalry to the staff of Gen. A. P. Hill as Chief Courier and Orderly to the General. Upon Hill's death at the battle of Five Forks, General Lee transferred him to his staff as a Courier and Orderly. He served in that capacity until the surrender at Appomatox. He was the white flag escort for Gen. Lee through the Federal lines for the discussions at the McClean house. He holds the distinction of being the only Confederate enlisted man at the surrender. Because of his "Soldierly Bearing, personal grooming, and neat uniform appearance" I wear a uniform that is as correct as I can make it. (I think and hope.) The uniform is incorrect in that it is not hand made, but that is it's only major fault that I am aware of. It is Richmond gray, with full Cavalry insignia. It is the blue-gray described in the first message of this thread. Since he was assigned to HQ, Army of Northern Virginia, I feel that is appropriate. The uniform is still pretty new, but slowly but surely it is wearing to the reported appearance that he presented at Appomatox. The one description that I have read described him as "a bit shabby, but neat and as clean as possible under field conditions". I'm not there yet, but I'll get there in time. If my appearance and presentation would be of help to anyone, either as a blacksmith or as Sgt, Tucker, please contact me. I do usually charge a small fee for blacksmith demonstrations, but I have to pay for my diesel, iron and coal for demonstrations. Airborne! ;D
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