Humanities Information

Are You Embarassed by Your Civil War Uniform Impression?


"Authentic," "authentic," "authentic" is all you hear if you are new or a hard core reenactor. You look all over to find period Civil War Uniform articles. But when you finally get them, do you feel like you know what to do with them?

Following are some researched tips on how to wear your Civil War Uniform once you have gathered it all together:

*Civil War soldiers wore their haversack and canteen on the left side. A typical soldier's haversack included a pipe kit, tobacco, coffee, a sewing kit, rations, personal photos and letters.

*Purchase an inexpensive shirt from a sutler. Learn how to do a little bit of stitching - all you need to learn is a basic running stitch. Top stitch around the pockets, cuffs, collar and give the shirt a more authentic look with the hand stitching. Your $20 shirt is now worth $100.

For a definitive book on the Civil War Uniform, ECHOES OF GLORY contains accurate pictures and descriptions of arms and equipment of the Civil War.

*When Confederate and Union soldiers were on the march, keeping clean was difficult. Camping by a stream was a chance for them to wash some of their clothes as well as themselves. To add some authenticity to your impression at a reenactment, pin your socks to your uniform and dry them out, as they would have done. Sling your shoes over the other shoulder and go barefooted. You know barefooted soldiers were a very common site, especially in Lee's army.

*Civil War Reenacting is one of the few hobbies where buying used items is actually more desirable that buying new. Soldiers in that era wore uniforms for 4 years daily! No one had on new clothing. So, if you have a choice between new and used - go for the deal. Civil War Reenacting is one of the few hobbies where the longer you have a piece of clothing, a haversack, a hat - the more valuable it is - and then you can resell it at no extra charge for the wear and tear!

*Confederate and Union soldiers were hard core coffee drinkers. Therefore,tin cup was a vital part of their haversack gear. The Tin Cup was also used as a coffee pot to make coffee and then used as a cup to drink coffee.

*Due to the hard campaigning done by the Civil War Soldier, pants would usually last about 1 month before they started to get ragged or, as the Victorians would say 'tattered'. Jackets would be 'tattered' within about 2 months on the march. A word often used to describe their uniforms was 'rubbed out' not worn out, as we would say in modern times.

© 2003

About The Author

Coach McCoach has been a Civil War reenactor in the 4th North Carolina Infantry, 2nd Virginia Regiment, and 21st Virginia Company B. Coach has received the "Authenticity Award"from these companies several times for his Civil War Uniform Impression. Coach's Civil War uniform designs have been seen in the movies GETTYSBURG, Antietam Visitors Center, ANDERSONVILLE. Coach's famous Civil War cookbook HARDTACK, CORNBREAD AND CHILI contains recipes for reenactments as well in your own home kitchen. For more information, contact coach@civilwaruniforms.net.

For more information, contact coach@civilwaruniforms.net.

Permission granted to reprint this article in print or on your website so long as the paragraph above is included and the contact information is included to coach@civilwaruniforms.net.


MORE RESOURCES:

IITs have lot to offer to humanities students
NDTV.com, India - 8 hours ago
PTI Science is science and humanities is humanities...But it does look like the twain have met - at least at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology ...


Two humanities grants focus on Fitchburg figures
Fitchburg pride, NJ - 4 hours ago
The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities has awarded two grants this quarter to raise public awareness of two important figures in Fitchburg history. ...


'Books: A Memoir' by Larry McMurtry: Texas author reveals lifelong ...
Dallas Morning News, TX - 13 hours ago
By CLAY REYNOLDS / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News books@dallasnews.com Novelist Clay Reynolds is Professor of Arts & Humanities at the ...


When math failed, law overruled
Chicago Tribune, United States - 14 hours ago
He is also chairman of the Chicago Humanities Festival. Q: Did either of your parents' jobs substantially impact your life? A: My dad sold books to school ...


N. Idaho school district has mold concerns
Fox 12 Boise, ID - 1 hour ago
... district has ditched plans to hold the Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities Advanced Learning Program in the building's conference room. ...


Science is vital, but humanities have a relevance beyond measure
Scotsman, United Kingdom - Jul 1, 2008
But what about the humanities – all those disciplines (literature, history, languages, and so forth) whose relevance to economic competitiveness is not so ...


First Friday spills into second Friday
Anchorage Daily News (subscription), AK - 13 hours ago
Nominations for the 2008 Governor's Awards for the Arts & Humanities for individuals or organizations that have distinguished themselves in service to the ...


With grave reservations
Livemint, India - 1 hour ago
Are the humanities and social sciences “less important” that reservations in their domain have to go to full professorial level? What is the basis for this ...
Rankings: Everything is not above board Livemint
all 2 news articles


Guest column: New prize to tap richness of state's history
DesMoinesRegister.com, IA - Jul 5, 2008
CHRISTOPHER ROSSI directs Humanities Iowa, the state affiliate to the National Endowment for the Humanities. • July 5, 2008 It's one thing to talk about the ...


Moccasin making among draws at skills weekend
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA - 16 hours ago
... and still have a good lifestyle." The program is funded by grants from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Humanities - Google News

home | site map
© 2006