Western Impression

[sthabig]

Hello,

I am asking advice on what would be the best place to visit for finding early war Western federal gear. As I am fairly new to the hobby (been reenacting for a year now) I am also open to advice directing me to exactly What I should be looking for.

I hope that someone will be able to aid me in my search for the most authentic impressions in the reenacting community!

Thanks a lot,

Tyler Habig
49th Indiana Volunteer Infantry Co. F

[Chris Montague]

Re: Western Impression

Ty-

The list of approved vendors that the AC provides should point you in the right direction. And of course, I'm sure your pards will assist you out as well. Welcome to the hobby!

Regards,

[sthabig]

Re: Western Impression

Chris,

Thanks for responding so quickly...i appreciate it.

Is there any specifics I should be looking for...for example I was offered an L.D. Haning 1861 cartridge box is that what I should be looking for? I saw he is an approved vendor, but are all vendors at the same "authentic" level as each other or would you recommend some over others? The deal this guy offered me sounds good ($110 postage paid, but is L.D. Haning what I need?)

thanks,

Tyler Habig

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Western Impression

Hi,

I have bought items from E.J. Thomas, Trans-Mississippi Depot, Missouri Boot and Shoe, W,W, and Company, and LD Haning; and in my opinion, you can not go wrong with any of these vendors. Now if you are asking if that is the correct model that you need, I cannot answer that question. What you need to research is what item fits your main impression best. Another thing to research is what fits the most impressions. As a Western Federal, the M1861 or the M1857 cartridge box should fit most Federal impressions. Just my 2 cents.

[claynpendleton]

Re: Western Impression

Tyler,
I recommend that before you buy anything (especially high ticket items)that you find a good unit that feels like your home in the hobby. Many times units that have been around for a while and/or include veterans to the hobby, have loaner gear that you can borrow while you get your feet wet, learn, and decide how you want to develop your own distinctive impression within the guidelines of that particular unit (some of which have their own authenticity committee).
That said, it is also important that you do your own research before making a purchase. Value advice of your pards/reputation of AC approved vendors but value the historic record above all else. Even though I've been in the hobby for over 10 yrs., I still consult Echoes of Glory , Library of Congress images, other primary source documentation, before each new purchase. Getting to a couple museums and looking at the real deal up close is always good too.
As tempting as it is to rush out and buy that new hand-sewn cartridge box or the "perfect" hat, nothing is worse than spending all that money only to find out that it isn't correct for your impression or that the hobby isn't for you. Good luck in your quest!
-Clay

[sthabig]

Re: Western Impression

Thank you Andrew for your response...I realize that I need to research a lot...so the next step would be for me to ask if anyone has a recommendation or can direct me to resources that I can find state issued uniforms (specifically Indiana) and also early (1862) government issue uniforms.


Thank you so much to everyone who responds and has responded...your help really is appreciated.


Thanks,

Tyler Habig

[sthabig]

Re: Western Impression

Thank you Clay for your words...i just want to say the war has always been a fascination of mine since I was really young and joined up as soon as I found out people actually reenact it (which was last year) I love this hobby like nothing else and I want to dedicate my time and put as much as I can into it. I decided my first step would be to find help from the vets on good quality gear and so far I have recieved more help than I would have dared to expect. Thanks again to everyone.

I am with the 49th Indiana


Thanks to everyone,

Tyler Habig

[Lone Guard]

Re: Western Impression

Like the others have stated, researching right now is very important to forming your impression.

See if you can find out where your unit was supplied from and look through the quartermaster records. Special archives at a local public or university library would be a good place to look for military correspondence, and the letters may yield the arsenal information.

Best of luck!

[sthabig]

Re: Western Impression

Thank you sir

[tenfed1861]

Re: Western Impression

Tyler,

One thing you really should work on is a back story.The back story is somthing that is overlooked by many.It can make a decent impression even better and can bring the persona you portray to life.

Go to local museums,historical sites,as well as reading journals,letters,and other resources on the character you wish to portray.If you are portraying a "townie",you may wish to read "Constructing Townships".If you are a "farmer",try finding farmers' journals and old copies of the Farmer's Almanace.Also,try doing what you know.If you work in a store,try being a shop keep.If you build,try a carptentier.If you go to school,try a student.Of course,be ready to change it up for the impression.

While gear,uniforms,and weapons are fine and cool,it's the story of the person you portray that will have more of an impact and make it seem more real.Remember that during the war,the soldiers didn't talk about uniforms (unless it was the lack of said uniform or low quality),but talked about home.If you can talk of "home",the persona will seem a heck of a lot more real.
Just my .02 cents.

[lukegilly13]

Re: Western Impression

I never thought i'd say this....joking...but I agree with cullen! I know...it tasted as bad as it sounded hahahaha. He's a exactly right. The right gear, the right clothes, the right facts are all great....but you can't buy the right attitude!

As for resources on the 49th Indiana....check the Library of Congress images first as there are several images on there of Indiana units. See if you can find their regimental history to determine as much as possible about the locations and experiences of its troops. It's important, when developing your character, to be sure and study up on the happenings of their main engagements as these help alot with the way your character should act and the knowledge of the war as well as knowledge of current events. Search the Federal Military Archives and try to find Quartermaster Records for the unit. All of these will be very helpful! Good luck!

[Gerkin]

Re: Western Impression

Tyler,

I'm guessing you are from Indiana? As a fellow hoosier (currently displaced) I would recommend some of the resources that have been valuable to me during my time in the hobby. The Ball State Library in Muncie and the States archives and state Library down in Indianapolis. Depending on where you are at there could also be some excellent local resources, just depending on what exactly you want to research. Just get in there as much as you can and start rooting through letters and anything else you can get your hands on. And take notes!! Never walk into a library or archives empty handed. Just my two cents, now back to college with me. Take care.

[rmeyer]

Re: Western Impression

Tyler,

Everyone has posted some great advice and I would like to add my two cents,

If I were you, I would talk to the guys in your unit and see what type of events and impressions they typically do. (Just see what events they have done in the past two years and what regiments they have portrayed) From that you can decide what you need.

Ok so your home unit is the 49th Indiana, but how OFTEN are you portraying this unit? Just look at the events listed on this forum for 2008, or for that matter any of the thousand of mainstream events, and tell me how many times the SAME regiment is being portrayed as an event impression?

So buying UNIT specific gear may not be the best move starting out, instead maybe looking for a generic look (sack coat, forage cap, sky blue pants, enfield three band musket etc.etc.) it would get you in the field more than going out and dropping a bunch of money on a state jacket, a two band Enfield musket with sword bayonet and a whipple hat (not saying that the 49th was issued such things, point being Unit specific items such as these) basically giving you more bang for your buck.

Now if there comes a time (and there probably will) where you are actually portraying the 49th Indiana or a Indiana unit that closely resembles your home unit impression then you can go out, do some research and buy that high speed state jacket or funky early war European arm or whatever. Or once you get your general impression together then you can go after those neat little things that make a unit unique like a special hat, or pin, or coat or whatever.

As you do research you will see that a Generic federal look is still portraying your home unit,(unless they were or went zouave or something like that) after 1862 the states stopped supplying their regiments and they were being issued everything from the federal government, so typically things like funky state uniforms and things like that were phased out. So you are not selling out or not participating in the unit impression, you are just squaring away a more usable impression first and then building from there.

I hope this helps, Good luck with your research

Ryan

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Western Impression

Ryan Meyer

Ok so your home unit is the 49th Indiana, but how OFTEN are you portraying this unit? Just look at the events listed on this forum for 2008, or for that matter any of the thousand of mainstream events, and tell me how many times the SAME regiment is being portrayed as an event impression?

Hi,

This is very true, my unit is the 4th Missouri, but in the 1 1/2 years I have been with them, I have yet to portray a member of the 4th Missouri at a event. As was already posted, generic items are the way to go at first. But once you have finished collecting these items, you can expand your impression into more specific military units.

[lukegilly13]

Re: Western Impression

Tyler,
I ran across something and decided to post it here for you....
What kind of rifle are you packing? Also, before ordering the '61 gear you might consider this.....
It would be interesting to read the federal quartermaster and ordinance reports, however, I have the transcript of a letter from a captain of the 49th Indiana where he discusses accepting confederate supply wagons "loaded with provisions and 500 enfields." The train came out of Lexington..a little research to this hub might reveal to you an exact depot for your traps, sack coat, etc. This particular officer goes on to ask for some sky blue trousers sent from home (private purchase). Then he expresses a dislike for military drawers and puts in a request for him and several of his pards for civi drawers. Hope this is helpful!