Brass - To polish or not to polish?

[jbhanchey]

I have been a mainstream reenactor for some time, but was absent from the hobby for about 6 years. During that time many changes have occured for the better ... this website being one of them. I have always been concerned with authenticity, but now it seems there are many more resources and museum quality equipment out there and I want to improve my impression to the greatest extent possible. My question concerns brass.

Being a former Marine I find it almost impossible to refrain from shining my brass, i.e. belt buckle, cartridge box plate, breast plate (federal), buttons etc. It is difficult to ascertain from the period photos if the soldiers polished their brass or not. I would imagine that the army, being the army, would force their soldiers to do so, especially in garrison, but what about on campaign? Is it farby to shine your brass? Would some officers be sticklers about it or was it a common practice not to do it? I've heard arguments on both sides, but you guys seem to be the experts. So what do you say?

John B. Hanchey

[Johnny Lloyd]

Re: Brass - To polish or not to polish?

Hello, friend-

Answer is: It depended upon if soldiers had the time to shine their brass (winter quarters, garrison in this sense) or were ordered to do so by their higher for special functions. Perhaps the Orderly Sgt. ordered it to keep the men busy and out-of-trouble on a break while on the march...?

Brass shining goes in-line with good maintenance of equipment for the soldier.

Google Books is an excellent way to search these topics out for period references. The search function of this website should produce similar results when used with these and other similar search terms.

Hapy hunting! -Johnny ;)


Fort Anderson, Newbern, N. C., May 31, 1865.

It is the Sabbath-day. I tried hard to go to church, but could not, for all our boats were gone but the one belonging to the garrison; that ran on a snag and sprung a-leak as it was returning from town this morning, with a load of soft bread. So my attempts were useless. My pass ran till 9 p.m., and I could have heard two sermons if I had gone. So much for going to church in the army. When we do go, we must have our boots polished, brass bright, clothes brushed, dress-coat on, and side-arms, or we are not permitted to leave camp. Take it with the thermometer up to (as high as you please), and with heavy coats buttoned up to the chin, with belts on, it is not very comfortable, to say the least of it. It is very hot here indeed to-day; and as we have not had rain for some time, it is quite dry. If it was not for the breeze blowing from the river, we should find it almost impossible to live these days. I suppose you consider it rather warm up home, but if we were to go there we should undoubtedly find it cooler than this climate. The men stand the heat much better than they did last year, as they have become acclimated, and then they do not have to endure such hardships as they suffered in Virginia.

http://books.google.com/books?id=XK0...age&q=&f=false