Suggestions for appearance

[Adams]

Since this regiment was new to active field service (new crisp uniform and polished brass), would it be more appropriate for us to have a more crisp look? Specifically, close shave and short hair cut? What do you think? Just brainstorming while I roll rounds this afternoon.

Wayne Aymond

[kevinw33]

Re: Suggestions for appearance

I was wondering this exact same thing. Are there any pictures of these guys early war? I wanted to see some examples of facial hair and hair styles.

[Strawfoot]

Re: Suggestions for appearance

This is going to ruin my impression... But agree. Time for the boot kiwi and brasso.


Mike Phineas
Arlington, TX

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Suggestions for appearance

While the regiment is coming fresh from training, it also spent April 1-6 on the Minehaha, enduring at least one drenching thunderstorm, according to Boyd's diary. That may not be hard service, but I would think that would take freshly pressed out of the realm of possibility.

[Arch Campbell]

Re: Suggestions for appearance

Of course, since short hair (at least on the top and sides) was not generally in style in the mid-19th century, whether or not to "still" have short hair is a false choice.
Since most (if not all) of the men would have still had easy access to a shaving kit, facial hair (of whatever style or length) should probably be fairly neatly groomed.

[Strawfoot]

Re: Suggestions for appearance

This is the one item about my impression which cannot be helped. Being a serviceman I am severely limited to the amount of facial hair I can sport, and also the length of my hair.

I'm not going to worry about it.

[Milliron]

Re: Suggestions for appearance

You might want to avoid Brasso, Mike. It puts a shine on brass that would be pretty difficult for a lowly 15th Iowa ground pounder to achieve. I had good results this weekend with fireplace ash and white vinegar, with a healthy dose of blackball and elbow grease for the leather.

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Suggestions for appearance

While I admit to not knowing about the 15th Iowa's hairstyles at Shiloh, I think there are good reasons not to worry about hair length. Mid-19th century hairstyles varied quite a bit and got shorter as the war went on, the style at the front gradually finding its way back home. Davenport's History of Costume, Vol. II has a wonderful illustration of this on pp. 914-918, juxtaposing photos of the 1860 and 1868 freshman classes of Union College in Schenectady.

In another theater, on June 17, 1862, Colonel Stockton of the 16th Michigan wrote home saying, in part, "You would laugh, dear wife, if you could see the lieutenant colonel, major, and myself, and in fact nearly all my officers. We have had our hair cut as short as a convict's...." (Crawford, The 16th Michigan, p. 143).

Sir Garnet Wolseley, whose career as a campaigner started in Burma in 1852 and would go on to include service in India, the Crimea, China, Abyssinia, Canada, and later Ashanti land and South Africa, wrote in The Soldier's Pocket Book that, "In the field no man's hair should exceed half an inch in length; this is essential for the well-being and cleanliness of soldiers.... Hair is the glory of a woman, but the shame of a man." (p. 166 of the 1871 edition)

PS, I think you can get as good a shine with rottenstone as with Brasso and it lasts longer; not every paint store has the stuff, but for many folks it's easier to find before the event than wood ash.