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"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.
For more information,
contact coach@civilwaruniforms.net.
© 2004
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.
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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. |
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