Sounds Like Reenactors

[hardtack1864]

Re: Sounds Like Reenactors

Not to get off the subject, but why do you think soldiers were cutting the telegraph wires?

[MassVOL]

Re: Sounds Like Reenactors

like the "Marines don't" list we have, such as ...eat while walking;...have an outer jacket unbottoned;...smoke while walking;...keep their hands in their pockets (we call that wearing army mittens).


DJM

WHOA hold on there those are called Air Force Gloves dont drag us into that. =)

I heartly agree with you on the equipment. Another example is headgear. You get a piece of headgear and you wear it for life. Not necessarily the life of the hat but yours. Joe will wear the same hat until it rots off of his head. Of any peice of equiopment a soldier would most likely hold onto for his whole time in service with love is his headgear.

[theknapsack]

Re: Sounds Like Reenactors

Speaking of the issue on trowsers tucked in socks, these to Winslow Homer paintings have men that have tucked their trowsers in their socks. The first one is a field painting done in 1862 or 63 (can't remember), so it may be more accurate than the other one, which was painted in 1866. In the second painting the Federal Gaurd has his trowsers tucked into his socks, and the prisoner to the far left has them like that also.
I too find it interesting how many (myself included), tend to lean towards things that "mainstreamers" don't do. The fact of the matter is there are many sketches, paintings, and a few pictures that have the style mentioned above.
The hat brass thing really depends on the unit that you are in. I don't really have much else to say on that.

[marine05]

Re: Sounds Like Reenactors

WHOA hold on there those are called Air Force Gloves dont drag us into that. =)

I heartly agree with you on the equipment. Another example is headgear. You get a piece of headgear and you wear it for life. Not necessarily the life of the hat but yours. Joe will wear the same hat until it rots off of his head. Of any peice of equiopment a soldier would most likely hold onto for his whole time in service with love is his headgear.

Mea Culpa,

Air Force Glove,

My gggrandfather did hold on to some of his stuff from the 20th Maine, although I do not know where it went. But I would imagine his hat was one of those item. Something about service members and hats.

s/f

DJM

[Alamo Guard]

Re: Sounds Like Reenactors

Blousing of pants in the ranks. I think you have to look at where you are and what you are doing. A few years ago I was at a tactical event and our worse foes where spear grass, chiggers and red bugs. You could look down the line and see file after file of men with pants bloused. Of course not a word was said. However, the next event there was lush pristine green grass and not a single man had his pants tucked into his socks. My point being before you dress yourself out for the weekend look at what you shall be doing and where you are going.
I read about the 19th Corps during their occupation of 'Nawlins. The officers were complaining about the lack of paper collars available. How come we never see an officer with paper collars at an event yet we read so much about them? Be fun to show up at some event as typical "Band Box" soliders who have spent most of their military service guarding some backwater depot. The only shots fired in anger they have ever seen have been by irate husbands, then throw them into the thick of some major battle. The actions, emotions, and responses have great promise.