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Hello,
I am somewhat in the process of starting a confederate impression. As of now, it is looking to be a early to mid-war western theater Confederate impression. I have done a little reading and have a question about bayonets and scabbards.
In Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown, by Thomas M. Arliskas, Sir Arthur Fremantle is quoted "most of them were armed with Enfield rifles captured from the enemy. As to bayonets, an observation was made that, "many had lost or thrown away their bayonets, which they don't appear to value properly, as they assert that they never met any Yankee who would wait for that weapon." This quote is from Fremantle's review of Liddell's Brigade, Hardee's Division on June 1, 1863.
My question: Would it be appropriate to see a number of Confederate reenactors at events without bayonets and scabbards? I know they are needed for stacking arms but maybe, depending on the scenario, some reenactors having no bayonets and scabbards would be authentic? (Unless the unit being portrayed has documentation of all soldiers having bayonets and scabbards)
I know the quote above is directed towards a certain unit during a certain time period, therefore leaving the bayonet at home is not always a good choice. I was just curious of what everyone thought about not using bayonets at an event.
Lastly, anyone know of other accounts of bayonets being thrown away? My 'personal library' is lacking books about the Confederacy as of now but will slowly grow.
The search function did not help me with this question.
Using google, I found an article by Ley Watson which did give me some other accounts of Confederates throwing away their bayonets along with numbers of bayonets being used. Very helpful.
Thank you all,
I am somewhat in the process of starting a confederate impression. As of now, it is looking to be a early to mid-war western theater Confederate impression. I have done a little reading and have a question about bayonets and scabbards.
In Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown, by Thomas M. Arliskas, Sir Arthur Fremantle is quoted "most of them were armed with Enfield rifles captured from the enemy. As to bayonets, an observation was made that, "many had lost or thrown away their bayonets, which they don't appear to value properly, as they assert that they never met any Yankee who would wait for that weapon." This quote is from Fremantle's review of Liddell's Brigade, Hardee's Division on June 1, 1863.
My question: Would it be appropriate to see a number of Confederate reenactors at events without bayonets and scabbards? I know they are needed for stacking arms but maybe, depending on the scenario, some reenactors having no bayonets and scabbards would be authentic? (Unless the unit being portrayed has documentation of all soldiers having bayonets and scabbards)
I know the quote above is directed towards a certain unit during a certain time period, therefore leaving the bayonet at home is not always a good choice. I was just curious of what everyone thought about not using bayonets at an event.
Lastly, anyone know of other accounts of bayonets being thrown away? My 'personal library' is lacking books about the Confederacy as of now but will slowly grow.
The search function did not help me with this question.
Using google, I found an article by Ley Watson which did give me some other accounts of Confederates throwing away their bayonets along with numbers of bayonets being used. Very helpful.
Thank you all,
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