I have to mention several errors in my video. The shirt I was wearing was not linen, I misspoke. It was a cotton shirt. Similarly, when I talk about the drawers, I say they're wool, but that's also wrong, they were really cotton. Also, I mention the belt keeper as a 'belt minder'. This was incorrect. For a much more professional study into the uniform and it's components, check out this link. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-H_6TxiTeau8.html&authuser=0
You may not have gotten everything 100% perfect, but your pluck and vigor more than make up for it. Keep up the good work, my friend! You're not just a soldier, you're an ambassador for the hobby!
What MORON is responsible for sending Union men to the HOT south in WOOL uniforms??? Next, why reenact the worst period of American History? Do you also go to rape scenes and reenact those crimes? Nothing noble or glamorous or good about war. You're doing nothing worthwhile at all. This is all in books and museums, no reason to be such a CLOWN.
@@noneone8726 that’s what clothing was made out of then and people were tough and when you grow up wearing stuff like that in heat then you get used to it. There was also cotton clothing but wasn’t always popular for military applications. Wool doesn’t rip or tear as easy as cotton clothing in my experience.
A wonderful video. I love how you discuss what a soldier carries in his pockets. Not a perfect video...who cares, thank you for making it and the information that you provide.
What MORON is responsible for sending Union men to the HOT south in WOOL uniforms??? Next, why reenact the worst period of American History? Do you also go to rape scenes and reenact those crimes? Nothing noble or glamorous or good about war. You're doing nothing worthwhile at all. This is all in books and museums, no reason to be such a CLOWN.
@@noneone8726 Assuming you are not just trolling, wool clothing has been used since ancient times. It is durable and keeps you warm even when wet. I find that even in hot weather, wool is not horrible to wear when you wear natural wicking fibers underneath it like cotton or linen. This is not to say that marching or working in a military uniform in the summer is going to feel "comfortable". I would hazard to say, however, that most reenactors are more uncomfortable today in the heat due to being overweight than the burden of the wool. As for why people do reenacting. Nothing teaches like experience. Now, I do not want to try and insinuate that reenacting is in any way, shape, or form like real war. It is not, and can never be, and thankfully so. As Desiderius Erasmus said, "War is delightful to those who have had no experience of it." People with the luxury of playing historical dress-up are lucky. That said, if you actually want to know how hot it feels to wear a Civil War uniform and drill, shoot, work, and play in one, none of the book reading in the world will convey what it really feels like than actually doing it will. If you want to know what it feels like to operate a crew-served weapon, like a cannon, and shoot targets 200 yards away, and learn each position's job, and operate the weapon accurately, safely, and effectively, you can real 1000 books about it but nothing delivers the lesson like actually doing it. You can read books about how grown men spooned together huddled under a canvas shelter in the cold, and how they all had to simultaneously and silently agree in the darkness to roll over at the same time, but you gain an entirely different appreciation for this kind of "camping" when you actually experience it. What does water taste like coming out of a hot canteen? How often do you have to clean a bayonet to keep it from rusting in the field? What does hardtack actually taste like? Was it really hard to chew? How do you cook pork belly in the field? How heavy is the standard military loadout a soldier carried? What does it feel like to walk all day in brogans with steel heel plates? How much "kick" does a 1861 Springfield have with a full service charge? What does it sound like when 1000 muskets go off at once? How did people learn to march in formations on command? I could go on and on and on. There are so many things in history that you can read about but the experience of doing them gives you a completely different insight and appreciation for what you read about in history books and look at in museums. Living history gives a very limited and murky glance back in time in a way that books and museums cannot do. It gives you a visceral appreciation of the hardships that people endured, and insight into the character of those that endured them.
Your Haversack should go onto your left side with your canteen over it. Your cartridge box and belt should be put on first. Depending on what era of the war, your canteen cover should be a light grey or without a cover at all.
Yup. I got a bit mixed up in the video because I thought it would reverse everything and... I got mixed up. I should remake this video with my newer gear.
What MORON is responsible for sending Union men to the HOT south in WOOL uniforms??? Next, why reenact the worst period of American History? Do you also go to rape scenes and reenact those crimes? Nothing noble or glamorous or good about war. You're doing nothing worthwhile at all. This is all in books and museums, no reason to be such a CLOWN.
@@noneone8726 Wool was the number one thing that people wore back then? People reenact the American Civil War in order to preserve history and teach it to a wider audience. I got my first interesting experience with history when I went to a reenactment, museums and books never did it for me until after I got introduced by reenactments.
@@noneone8726 Calm down there. If you hate it so much you shouldn’t have even clicked the video. History books don’t convey war as well as an actual scale reproduction of the battle. Hence reenacting.
@@noneone8726 You are ignorant. All we are doing is teaching history to others. We do not reenact those ‘rape scenes’ you seem to think is common among this hobby. This is simply a teaching hobby and a thing for people to forget about their problems especially. Also, if you have a problem with this then don’t click on the video and complain, maybe go to Twitter or Reddit. This is not the place to bitch about us.
Good work, 'Paste. My advice for new reenactors is this: Shop around for a company to reenact with. When you find a group you get along with, join that unit. That unit will then provide you with guidance on what to buy. Some units, Sykes' Regulars comes to mind, have a pretty specific list because they're trying to portray a very specific ancestral unit... Zouaves will be rather picky, for example. Other units are more casual or generic. But if you really-really want to get started on it, I suggest getting yourself a canteen and boiler cup [aka tin cup]. You'll make fair use of those no matter what unit you join.
Being in the Army of Virginia we would wear our haversack on the opposite side and bayonet good turnout . Many variations of uniforms during the civil war.
I am also a CW reenactor doing regular union and Zouave kits so watching your video here has really good points I can use on the field. thanks for producing this young lad.
I know you're probably older now, but it's really encouraging to see someone close to my age that's also big into military uniforms. Thanks bud, really appreciate it!
History is my passion still. I'm currently studying it at Grove City College, and am writing my senior thesis on the antebellum south. I hope you'll have a chance to engage with reenacting as much as possible, because it really brings history to life. I apologize for the lack of more recent content though, college takes up quite a bit of time and energy, and making videos isn't as important to me as it once was. I've greatly improved my impression however, and I really owe everyone a revision of this video soon. Perhaps over thanksgiving break. Cheers!
Well, I am a bit young, only 17, whereas civil war soldiers were on average 23, but I figure I'm a young, early war volunteer who singed up for the glory.
@@toothpastetuber6026 Absolutely, there were many of those ;) I read that some would write the number 18 on a piece of paper and put it in their shoe. When asked "are you over 18?" They could confidently answer "Yes Sir!".
In the 13th US Inf. we wore the haversack on the left side with the scabbard through the strap. The scabbard kept the haversack from bouncing too much. Also kept the cup on the canteen chain. Keeping your top button fastened is a good way to heat exhaustion.
I agree about the button, but per army regs, we have to. Also about the haversack, I've since taken to wearing it on the other side as well due to me growing taller and my cartridge box hanging differently. Thanks for the anecdote!
Back before 135th Shiloh, our CO came up with the idea of stenciling the unit number and a roster number on the wool canteen covers. We were all 13 and I was number 45. This was so the water monkeys could get the right canteen back to the right guy. We were told that it was accurate, but I have never seen anyone else do it. Have you?
@@RobSchellinger I think historically, it was down to personal choice, since I've seen a few original canteen covers with initials and the unit name, but I don't think it was ever standardized by unit. That may have to do with the fact that in the 20th Maine, we rarely do water runs as a group, it's usually down to the individual, since water sources are pretty near by.
I’ve got to say, you did a very, very good job with this video, well spoken, clear, detailed, someone trained you VERY WELL ! You must be with a good unit. I’ll have to look for any more of your civil war videos you might have. Great Job ,, really awsome !
Glad you’re into history. Just keep reading and check your facts. There are numerous factual errors and you don’t want to provide inaccurate info to other young folks.
What MORON is responsible for sending Union men to the HOT south in WOOL uniforms??? Next, why reenact the worst period of American History? Do you also go to rape scenes and reenact those crimes? Nothing noble or glamorous or good about war. You're doing nothing worthwhile at all. This is all in books and museums, no reason to be such a CLOWN.
you should put the butt side of the gun in the gun cover first with the barrel at the open end of the bag because its easier to take in and out and the heavy end is down and easier to carry.. but people do it different ways
Glad to hear it. Since this video I've unofficially made the swap to a different unit, but I'm still tight with the 20th Maine. Since I'm away at school I've only been able to attend a very few events. Glad this video helped, although look to the comments and description for some amendments others have made to correct my misinformation.
As you show process of getting dress I can't image how hot these outfits were. Especially when they're marching through the South in the spring and summer seasons. Historically how would they keep from overheating and collapse due to heat exhaustion is my question?
Great question, and honestly, it comes down to heat management. The inner shirt layer of cotton, (not linen as I said in the video) (and drawers) absorbs sweat, and because wool is air-permeable, the outer layer allows the sweat to evaporate and cool you down. This is quite nice on a hot day if there's a light breese, and in winter, wool retains 80% of it's insulation value when wet. So unless it's storming, you can also be quite warm in cold weather or standing on guard duty in the snow. Soldiers also typically used the great coat in winter, and as a blanket at other times. You must remember that this uniform as worn all year around, and so while it may have been hot in summer, you would certainly be glad of having think wool come wintertime. Many accounts talk of new soldiers throwing away their great coats because of weight and claiming they were hot enough, but they all had to beg around in winter for another. (Another thing would be water. Having marched in full gear over 6 miles at a time, I go through at least a third of my canteens worth of water an hour, so keeping hydrated is very important. I even sewed myself a havelock to keep the sun off my neck!)
@@toothpastetuber6026 Thank you for the reply. I am from South Carolina and it gets really hot here and when ever I look like Civil War photography or paintings I always seen the men dressed up and such and I didn't know it was wool they used. I always believe it was cotton and this was something I should have remembered. It does make more sense now that you say that and it was meant to all year clothing back then.
@@StarClad13 What MORON is responsible for sending Union men to the HOT south in WOOL uniforms??? Next, why reenact the worst period of American History? Do you also go to rape scenes and reenact those crimes? Nothing noble or glamorous or good about war. You're doing nothing worthwhile at all. This is all in books and museums, no reason to be such a CLOWN.
@@StarClad13I have also heard that some of the wool uniforms were actually much thinner than modern reproductions, and they were usually more outdoorsy people than today because, well they HAD to be
TPT, sorry to keep pestering you with questions/comments but you might want to mention the significance of the badge on the top of your cap which I think is a Maltese cross that I believe represents the Fifth Corps.
Indeed! Thank you for noticing and bringing it up. All corps of the army had different cap badges, as you say, the Fifth corp, of which the 20th Maine regiment is part of, had the Maltese cross as their badge. The red of the cross tells the onlooker that soldier man belongs to the 1st division of that corp as well. Here's a link to the article on the corp badges: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War_Corps_Badges
Most reenactors I know are very peaceful friendly people. We do this hobby to educate, and bring closure to the bloodiest part of American history. The Civil War is over, thank God, and let's not go wishing for another. :)
I had always believed the pants were navy blue also, think I was in college before I discovered the they usually were not. Yo your knowledge were there regiments that did wear full navy blue?
They didn't have bedrolls as such, but they had blankets. The blankets as prescribed by the quartermaster of the union army are to be heavy, (5 pounds) thick wool.
What MORON is responsible for sending Union men to the HOT south in WOOL uniforms??? Next, why reenact the worst period of American History? Do you also go to rape scenes and reenact those crimes? Nothing noble or glamorous or good about war. You're doing nothing worthwhile at all. This is all in books and museums, no reason to be such a CLOWN.
I bought my outfit from Fall Creek sutler here: fcsutler.com/ As to patch information, I would Wikipedia to find good sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War_Corps_Badges
Good to see young people taking up the hobby of reenactments. Most of the people who fight wars are infact young people. Also, how much would you say you've invested in your "kit" or gear?
I just turned 16 and want to start reenacting, I would like to portray confederate however I am worried that many groups are lost causers and am afraid that lots of groups contain neo confederates, any advice?
Meet different groups and talk to them. It's no secret a lot of confederate reenactors are right-wing, but lots are policemen or firefighters. Good honest guys who understand the difference between history and modernity. You might disagree with them, but what unites us all is out love of history. Give it a try and ask to borrow gear till you are settled in. Ps. Sorry for the late reply.
When you are transporting your musket to the event and from the event, the musket should be in the bag and store in the trunk of your car. It depends on state laws in the U.S., in Illinois you can't have your musket on the back seat. It has be in your trunk at all times, you don't want get pulled over by the cops. With have a bag on your musket. I like the 5th Corp badge on your Forge Cap, I had a 17th Corp badge on mine. I call gun bag "A Gun Condom"
@@toothpastetuber6026 The musket will be fine when transport it from home to events and back. Just don't leave in your car over night with your gear, you don't want stolen. I was at Perryville, KY event some stole Federal Soldier musket out of his car or tent? Can't remember??
Well done, a soldier during that period like today would have much, much more gear, equipment to sustain themselves. However, in combat just what they need to complete their mission, extra ammo, water, etc light, light, light if they need to move quickly. Many guys died in the Revolutionary from heat exhaustion!
Yup! And reenactors have to deal with the same heat. On the east coast, reenactors sometimes carry cold packs or ice bags around to keep safe and cool. At the 150th Gettysburg event, we had 8 men down from heatstroke in our company alone on the first day.
I prefer the knapsack because I feel the blanket roll to be more bulky and hot. Also you can carry more with the knapsack. Accounts often speak to less physically capable soldiers who had been clerks or storekeepers (sitting professions) throwing away their knapsacks and most of their belongings, and only carrying the bare essentials in their blanket rolls.
I'm a civil war reenactor with the 11th indiana zouaves witch is union and i see alot of mistakes with the video but good try not trying to hate but what unit are you with
Thanks for the correction! I updated the description to highlight a few mistakes, as well as talking about it in my comment. Sorry for the mistakes, and thanks for the feedback! I'm with the 20th ME. Co. G.
Nearly 3 years later I added a like. Did you ever sow the button back on? LOL I have been video recording Civil War reenactments going back to 1982, and so have seen a diversity of uniforms worn by the reenactors. What I did notice was that some Union units like to ear a checked rather than plain white shirts under their sack coat. I also noticed that some over coats had tails.
Shirts were not standard issue by the army, so each man had to provide his own. Mine just happens to be white, but I also own a blue check one, and my father has a brown and yellow butternut type shirt
1:04)Suspenders is what the limeys call a garter belt. 5:40)His kepi has a red Iron Cross. Is he in a German unit's First Brigade? 5:43)A Havelock can be worn over the kepi. 6:20)One meal a day was issued to the Nord & Sud enlisted men. Officers had to make do with whatever could be eaten.
1, I didn't know that that's really cool. I love European jargon. 2, The cross is the symbol of the 5th corps of the union army, and the fact that it's red means that I belong to the 1st division. I'm in the 20th Maine Infantry, Company G. 3, I really want to sew my own havelock to go over my cap, but in lieu of that, I wear a handkerchief under my cap. 4, I'm not sure about this since the time between ration issuing varied, but I'm pretty sure officers were given food too.
@@toothpastetuber6026 Red marks the 1st Brigade. White was used for the 2nd & blue for the 3rd. I was in the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division (FIRST OF THE FIRST). Around the time WW I ended, 28 June 1919, the First Brigade's Officer Commanding (OC), a Brigadier General, made the first copy of THE BIG RED ONE. Webb Garrison wrote "Curiosities Of The Civil War". Pages 476, 477, & 479 from Chapt. 41 "Payday, Someday". An officer had to provide his own food. Enlisted men (EM), or dog robbers, added to their bi-monthly pay by scrounging food for an officer. Official payday was End Of Month (EOM) Feb., April, June, August, & October. 5 December was the year's last. At least one unit was payless for more than one year.
Got mine at Fall Creek Sutler, but that's a very 'mainstream' or cheap and historically inaccurate place to get gear. Great for starting out like I was in the video, but sub par for historical accuracy. I recommend Wambaugh and White company for authentic gear, though it's much more expensive.
Wouldn't it be easier to just carry flint and steel instead of a modern Zippo-style lighter? With just a little practice you won't ever have a need for a modern lighter to start a fire.
Funny you mention that, I've just acquired a replica set of flint and steel and it is really easy to use. I must confess, the light is nice to light pipes with, but a stick from the fire works just as well.
I got my belt keeper along with all mny leathers from Fall Creek Sutlery linked here: fcsutler.com/ I said 'minder' in the video but it's called a keeper on the website. Sorry for the mistake.
For entry level gear Fall Creek Sutler is your way to go. ( ie. What you see in the video) For more accurate and 'campaginer' level quality, Wambaugh and White have good stuff, but I would really recommend getting into the hobby at entry level first before investing in an extremely accurate (and expensive) uniform
@@toothpastetuber6026 Thank you! At the moment I am just looking to collect some gear. I have an address in the US but I live in the U.K. and am British myself so unfortunately I can not do civil war re-enactments (to my knowledge, if you know a way please let me know)
@@JetstreamAviation747 There are civil war reenacting groups outside the US. There's a company of the 20th Maine unit in Germany. I don't think they do reenactments, but if you put together a uniform and leathers and do historical interpretation gigs that could be a way to do living history. Talk to local museums and history centers to see if they'd be interested in having you come and talk about your impression. Cheers!
Find yourself a good unit with people who are enthusiastic about your specific area of excitment. Weather that be public engagement, campaign living, of just plain old hanging out with friends, the goals of the group ought to reflect your own. Also don't rush in a buy everything right away, because it's hecka expencive. Work up to it by using loner gear till you have everything. Remember too, that Reenacting is tax deductible, so most purchases you make, and other expenses are partially refundable by the government, because they like volunteer work.
As with everything, it depends. Forage caps were more common than kepis as a rule, but as private purchase items, they were reasonably common in southern regiments where the men had some money. (Planter's sons, that type of thing). Do some research and find out if the Liberty Rifles have any info on your question, as they have a whole page of photographic evidence about dark blue trousers. I kid you not.
@@definitely_not_Hirohito the cut. Forage caps have a crumpled, folded appearance because they are cut like a tall early 1800s shako. They just have no inner support that holds that shape, kepis are cut to be low, more like a baseball cap.
There is plenty of photographic evidence that infantrymen on both sides carried non-issued weaponry, but it was more common in artillery branches. You'll have to do some research into it's prevalence though, and always remember: Was it 'NUG?' Normal, usual and general. if so, I'd include it in your impression, if not, either don't include it, or remember to impress upon the public that it is an interesting exception to the rule.
@@toothpastetuber6026 I have studied and made forage caps for over 30 years and have never found any documentary evidence of why they are called "forage" caps. Same with the use of the term "bummer" regarding forage caps.
The rifle is an Armisport model 1861 springfield. The bag I don't know about, and I can't remember if it came with the rifle since I bought it from a third party.
In my opinion, they have good drama stuff, but most of their gear is a bit farby, but some of their camp furniture or their other stuff is decent, but for the actual uniform try Fall Creek Sutlery or James County Mercantile
@@rc59191 glad to help! C and C does have some things I think are about accurate, like spices, but I don't know so it's best to be careful with them, and shipping prices can really be rough.
You do not have to carry a watch to know the time. Your Sergeant will tell you anything you need to know. Send your watch to yur Ma, It's too expensive for the field, and this way your Ma will have something to cry over when you get your little tukas shot off.
Very well done! I started reenacting at the time we were commemorating the 125th (Gettysburg, Wilderness,/Spotsylvania, Atlanta, Stones River +++). anniversary series but have not burned powder in 20 years. This video brought back many good memories, especially the part about having the cap pouch on the wrong side of the keeper! LOL. Still have my uniform (it fits after 30 years!) and kit. Very glad to see your generation is keeping the hobby alive!!
@@Tusk_IIIsometimes reenactors carry modern things or make mistakes, but nobody is perfect and sometimes they carry things soldiers would have, if they had been invented.
Thanks for the correction, and I totally agree. Sewing is one of the most useful skills you can have, as a reenactor or in normal life. I personally wear the haversack on that side, but in the manual of arms, it's shown worn on the other side. I just prefer it there.
@11Broomstick perhaps, although another commenter informed me that I wear mine on the wrong side. The manual shows them wearing it on the other, but I like it better the way it is in the video.
Fall Creek Sutler is great for entry level gear. More expensive and accurate (not to mention comfortable) gear may be found at Waumbaugh and White, and stuff like that. Look on forums. :D
As a beginner reanactor i almost have all the gear and i was wondering if anyone could recommend websites or places i could find reasonably priced gear and not get scammed
It's highly dependent on budget, but Fall Creek Sutlery (fcsutler.com/) is a good entry level, mainstream supplier. More period accurate gear can be found at Wambaugh and White company's site (wwandcompany.com/) Whatever gear you get should be a balance of authenticity and price, and while more assholish reenactors may scoff at mainstream gear, if it's all you can afford, it's all you can afford. Happy hunting!
@@totallynotatank1141 hey!! Like some else said fall creek sutlery, great entry level stuff. ww&co is also phenomenal but will get a bit pricey. I will say with this hobby if your planning on staying for the long haul just get the more expensive gear it will look a lot better and last a lot longer. Another good coat maker is Kwindahl For leathers Missouri boot and shoe For blankets and civilian stuff south union mills For hats dirty billys (cannot recommended him enough. He’s a bit pricey but again absolutely phenomenal) That should start you out pretty good. Again for the cheaper stuff if your just getting into the hobby then fall creek is solid. If you want to go the more authentic/campaigner route all the other makers I listed should be good . Hope this helps and welcome to the hobby!!!
Some guys or gals in the hobby use original weapons from the civil war, but most purchase fully functional replicas from Italy or Japan. Mine is an Italian Armi Sport 1861 model Springfield. All the guns we take onto the field are by necessity 'real' because they are able to fire powder.
Depends very much upon how accurate you want the kit to be. Mine was around 300 dollars, but for 600 I could have had a very accurate uniform. The rifle was 1000
If you want to smoke a pipe, I would say carry some loose leaf tobacco, (AKA just the normal pipe stuff) but remember, in between events it will dry out and be unpleasant to smoke. Try to get new stuff or use up the old stuff before events. Soldiers would have also used plug tobacco which is harder to find, but keeps for a long time. The chewing type stuff will come in tins but almost all you will find are modern, so you'd be best going with the previous 2 types. Of all the types, I'd tell you get loose leaf, since it's the easiest to find and can be used for pipes, rolling cigarettes, or for chewing (if you're adventurous).
@@toothpastetuber6026 the problem could be there's no Flint (which needs to be replaced) or you haven't been refilling your lighter every two to three days.
@@devinpetersen2387 that latter could be it. My light might lay unused for a few weeks, and then I fill it up and it works for maybe 2 or 3 lightings and then stops. It makes sparks, but no flame.
I've observed it to work better, and since I don't need to get into it expect to stop at mealtimes, it works very well. If you have a different experience please tell me straight instead of patronizing. Uptight gentlemen like you give the hobby's 'stichcounters' a bad name.
Perhaps, although another commenter informed me that I wear mine on the wrong side. I personally wear the haversack on that side, but in the manual of arms, it's shown worn on the other side. I just prefer it there! :D Thanks.