Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

[Radical Unionist]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

Mr. Cross has a very important point about the notion of discussing justifications, it has been a major downfall of reenacting over the years. Remember when all Irish (and wanna be Irish) reenactors wore Sons of Ireland Harps, you know, the bare breasted ones. I think this is a more than valid discussion if it is for the sake of knowledge, but If anyone is getting ideas about wearing their earings and showing off tattoos (in reference to an old thread) at events, then the dicussion has taken a wrong turn in their head. Even if you were an old seamen, why would you be flaunting your past as a antisocial hoodlum. Hey maybe if I pretend I'm Jewish I can at last run around naked at events, been trying to get around that circumcision thing. Not to spell out the obvious, but circumcision shouldn't be a problem because I shouldn't be naked, unless I'm swimming. Earings shouldn't be an issue, because they are outside the norm, not a sign of typical behavior for a contributing member of the community. You shouldn't be wearing them unless you are a seaman, thug, or gypsy. You shouldn't be showing signs of antisocial behavior unless you are outside of polite society, like innercity slums, the regular army, dock yards, south carolina, virginia, etc.

Jeff Boorom
Wide Awake
Hell hath no fury like the men of the North.

[whaler]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

I'm with Gerald Todd on this one. To my way of thinking the most likely stories are either nautical or gipsy, both of which are culturally justified.

Additionally, the idea of native blood is also reasonable. Piercings and tattoing both have time honored traditions in eastern native cultures. This man's features would be consistent with Seneca, Iriquois, Huron, Mohawk or any of the other northeastern tribes, all of whom practiced ear piercing as a rite of passage, to open the ears to the voice of the creator. At least that is what I was told as a young'un.

The real concern is whether we will begin to see battalions full of earrings in the future based on this one image.

Joel kelley

[markj]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

Greetings,

"I had this situation come up about 15 years ago while doing an authenticity inspection. I pointed out the anachromism and was told, "I'm a sailor who went around Cape Horn!" I replied, "Then what are you doing in a Kentucky regiment?"

First of all, I agree that we have to be careful with wearing of earrings. But, on the other hand, and to be charitable, 19th Century Americans could be a surprisingly well-traveled people. Speaking of Indiana, quite a few Hoosiers did take part in events like the California Gold Rush, go to sea, or even take part in Central American filibustering expeditions. For example, at least two men who lived right here in Tippecanoe County, Indiana saw action in Nicaragua as filibusterers under William Walker and one of them, "Marsh" Taylor, signed on with Kit Carson and saw extensive service out West--all while still in his early 20's and even before the war began. Taylor later became Colonel of the 10th and 150th Indiana regiments and his brother, W. C. L. Taylor, was commander of the 20th Indiana.

Here's another thought: Your "Kentuckian" could well have been born in the East (or overseas), gone to sea, and THEN have emigrated to Kentucky just before the war. We know that foreign seamen in places like Charleston, New Orleans, and elsewhere did enlist into infantry regiments. In the case of Kentucky, Louisville was a fairly cosmopolitan place due to it's large foreign-born (heavily German) population and importance as an Ohio River port--precisely the kind of place that might attract an "old salt" seeking employment.

Again, let me stress that I agree that wearing of earrings at modern reenactments should be like how I grill my steak: "very rare." However, every regiment had its share of "eccentrics" so I can readily envision commanders tolerating some unusual habits among troops if they otherwise did their jobs, didn't bother anyone, and displayed gallantry on the field. As a former Marine, I remember a famous enlisted Gyrene from World War II who wore a GOATEE despite the fact that it was strictly against regulations. His commanders tolerated this eccentricity because he was recognized as an expert in his specialty.

Thoughts?

Mark Jaeger

[markj]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

Let me pour some oil on this fire.....

Incidents of the Battle-Field.

We clip from the Arkansas correspondence of the New York Tribune the following statements of some of the many startling incidents of the recent great battle at Pea Ridge:

* * * * * * * * * *

EAR-BREADTH ESCAPES.

A German soldier in the 35th Illinois met with two very narrow escapes in fifteen minutes, while Gen. Carr's division was contending so vigorously against the enemy in Cross-Timber Hollow. He wore ear-rings for the benefit of his eyes, and a musket-ball cut one of them in two (the broken segments still remaining) and passed into the shoulder of the Second Lieutenant of the company.

Ten minutes after, during a temporary lull in the strife, while the German was relating the story of his escape, a bullet whistled by, carrying the other ring with it, and abrading the skin of his ear, without doing further harm.

Such are the vagaries of Fate, and the mysterious shiftings on the battle-field between Life and Death!

Source: Hardin County (Kenton OH) Weekly Republican, quoting from the New York Daily Tribune, 28 March 1862.

Based on the above, it appears that male wear of earrings was considered, at least by ethnic Germans, to be something of a remedy for poor eyesight!

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[LWhite64]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

In a Northern newspaper article after the Battle of Chickamauga there are descriptions of some of the dead that are trying to be indentified by descriptions of themselves or their equipment. One of the fellows that was described as having two ear rings.

Lee

[55th VVI]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

I still would place the wearing of earings on regionallity. For example, it might be more common for New England troops to have earings, as more of them might have been in the sailing trade. I would find it hard to believe that a lot of sailors just up and moved to Ohio. It would not be common for some one to just give up the profession (which they were more than likely raised into) and move to another place and have to learn a new trade. It just did not happen as often as today. Remember, until the automobile, people did not travel far from home. Other than the rare exceptions (sailors and such), the first time most of these boys traveled more than 30 miles from home was when they enlisted.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

I still would place the wearing of earings on regionallity. For example, it might be more common for New England troops to have earings, as more of them might have been in the sailing trade. I would find it hard to believe that a lot of sailors just up and moved to Ohio. It would not be common for some one to just give up the profession (which they were more than likely raised into) and move to another place and have to learn a new trade. It just did not happen as often as today. Remember, until the automobile, people did not travel far from home. Other than the rare exceptions (sailors and such), the first time most of these boys traveled more than 30 miles from home was when they enlisted.

Well, people in the 19th century were allot more transient than you would think, railroads were comming into their own and the river systems were well established. Keep in mind thousands of people from around the world moved to the savage frontier of 1850's California "When the World Rushed in" alone.

[55th VVI]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

While I do agree people did move, the percentages will still probably very small. That aside, people did not just give up their trade (gold miners, and the men who followed the gold rushes aside). It would be unlikely for a sailor to move to where there was no water, and leave behind his trade, especially if we factor the fishing industry and whale industries. I do have to say though, this is turning into a great disscussions, although it is slowly getting away from the men's jewelery dept. and moving on to sporting goods.

[1stMaine]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

Comrades,

Well, as long as they are period-type earrings, made from an appropriate metal, I have no problems with them. As to the transplanting of seamen/sailors/nautical ruffians, etc, they might be found anywhere.
Don't forget the large amount of French and Spanish influence upon the Mississippi river and it's environs. Anywhere that goods were floated to market you'd find seamen. They had a style and code their own and it's not at all out of the ordinary to consider a fellow with a nautical background giving up the trade to enlist in a battery or regiment.
As to transplanetd Yankees, there was a HUGE migration to the Wisconsin/Michigan/Minnisota area prior to the war. It was of sufficient numbers to influence the societal makeup. In fact, the 1st Minnisota was often reffrred to as the "other" 1st Maine because of the number of transplanted mainers they enlisted into it.
A majority of the gunners and able seamen working the ironclads for the federal navy were "volunteers" from the Army, many sent there thinking the work would be easier, or sent there as a means to dispose of them by Regimental Commanders looking for a way to rid themselves of shirkers, malcontents, and otherwise useless rank and file. A letter in the files of the 3rd maine at the State Archives addresses the latter point directly. Some 40 men from that regiment were sent to the Navy to work the ironclads as a means for the Colonel to divest himself of them.
Anyway, it's quite believable that traits traditions and other cultural ideas would be appropriated by those army men from the swabbies they bunked with. Tattoos and Piercings would certainly not be out of the ordinary there.
Do not forget the European influence on fashion as well. Many many Americans looked towards France for fashion guidance, and it was nearly universal amongst the French cavalry to sport both moustaches and earrings, especially amongst the Hussars. As many of them migrated to America after the fall of Napoleon, they would have brought their own ideas of fashion propriety with them.
What I'm getting at is that the 19th century was NOT the black-cloth wearing socially conservative society that years of prtestant historcal revisioniosm would have us believe. It was a very colorful part of our history, far more open to interesting ideas and expressions than we are expected to accept. The century brought us Shelly, Poe, Byron, Scott, Emmerson, Whittier, Longfellow and Whittman. From horror to Free-Love societies, the Shakers and the Bohemians, it was a unique spectrum of acceptance. A couple of proper earrings here and there ought not to be anyone's cause for appocalyptic apprehension.
Anyway, that's my two-cent's worth

respects,

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

It would be unlikely for a sailor to move to where there was no water, and leave behind his trade, especially if we factor the fishing industry and whale industries.

I recomend that you read:

Two Years Before the Mast
By Richard Henry Dana

http://www.gruntose.com/Info/Books/Richard_Henry_Dana/two_years_before_the_mast.html

Dana left his studies to become a sailor "for his heath."

[55th VVI]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

Like I said, I am not saying it did not happen, and as you have shown, there is documentation to prove it did. My point is that people did not move as readily as they do now. Also, the wearing of earings would be unique to regions (New England, Mississippi River region, Great Lakes), but most people, especially upon relocation, will do their best to fit in and be accepted. A person might give up the wearing of earings to fit in.

All this aside, I would love to find a maker of accurate earings, for when I do portray a specific unit with a sailing/fishing background. I wear earings in real life, and it would be nice to own an accurate repro just to have, not just for reenactments. Then again, I probably would not wear any earings to an event, even if accurate, just because I am use to taking them out out of habbit.

[markj]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

Well, people in the 19th century were allot more transient than you would think, railroads were comming into their own and the river systems were well established. Keep in mind thousands of people from around the world moved to the savage frontier of 1850's California "When the World Rushed in" alone.

I can second that opinion. The Lafayette, Indiana Daily Journal published several letters by a local man who departed for the California gold fields in March 1850, via the Overland Route, and who successfully arrived the following August. Our adventurer was definitely back in Lafayette by December 1851. I know this because he placed a notice that month in the Journal offering a reward for the return of a decorative pin, fashioned from a California gold nugget, he had lost after his return (there is no mention if he actually got the pin back though!).

Another local man, Marshall "Marsh" B. Taylor, joined William Walker's filibustering expedition to Nicaragua in 1855, was reportedly wounded and captured, but either escaped or was deported back to New Orleans in 1856. He subsequently went West, served for some time with Kit Carson, and returned to Lafayette IN in July 1861 to join the war effort. Taylor later became Colonel of the 10th and 150th Indiana regiments.

These are just two local examples; there were quite a few more. Not everybody were as peripatetic as they were but, even then, folks (at least white males!) were surprisingly mobile.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

I still would place the wearing of earings on regionallity. For example, it might be more common for New England troops to have earings, as more of them might have been in the sailing trade. I would find it hard to believe that a lot of sailors just up and moved to Ohio. It would not be common for some one to just give up the profession (which they were more than likely raised into) and move to another place and have to learn a new trade. It just did not happen as often as today. Remember, until the automobile, people did not travel far from home. Other than the rare exceptions (sailors and such), the first time most of these boys traveled more than 30 miles from home was when they enlisted.

Really? A simple look at the muster roles will show in the larger western cities men in landlocked areas listing their occupation as "sailor"

[Charles Heath]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

There is a small blurb in the CRRC about this very subject.

[RJSamp]

Re: Soldier wearing earrings - eBay

Lots of sailors on the Great Lakes.......thousands. And lots of Civil War soldiers had travelled farther than 30 miles from where they were born....this to me is a misconception. RR, Steam Engine, sailing ship, canal barge, going to college, seeking a better life......people were moving. Obviously the immigrants were more then 30 miles from their birth home....my Irish GG Grandfather went from Roscommon to NY (Greenbush) to Madison Wisconsin, had a few kids, moved to Staten Island...moved back to Madison, had a few kids. All in less than 10 years.

My gut feel: not PEC Homer.