American Civil War

[Graywolf]

I know that at some time I saw an inquiry from an individual concerning kilts in the Civil War. Here's a link to a good article concerning the same:

http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/n...egiment_16.htm

The story of the pig chase apparently answers "the question"!

[Jack Daw]

A regular feature of the Long's Peak Highland Games at Estes Park, CO, is a re-enactment group of the 79th NY Cameron Highlanders. I went to the games two years in a row earlier in the decade. Although I seem to recall that most were wearing the Black Stewart tartan, they were also wearing very good-looking and well made replica tunics. I got the email address of the maker from one of them, but lost it, unfortunately.

[Nighthawk]

A regular feature of the Long's Peak Highland Games at Estes Park, CO, is a re-enactment group of the 79th NY Cameron Highlanders. I went to the games two years in a row earlier in the decade. Although I seem to recall that most were wearing the Black Stewart tartan, they were also wearing very good-looking and well made replica tunics. I got the email address of the maker from one of them, but lost it, unfortunately.

I have me great great great grandpappy's thistle lapel pins. I wear one on my kilts.

[Jack Daw]

I have me great great great grandpappy's thistle lapel pins. I wear one on my kilts.

An EXCELLENT heirloom, Nighthawk.

[Nighthawk]

An EXCELLENT heirloom, Nighthawk.

Among many others! We have his musket and journal, all his badges, hat sash, etc. He was transferred to an Ohio volunteer cavalry where he made officers rank, so the hat sash is from there. I also have ancestors (Leddy's) who were in the Irish Brigade.

[Arizona Scot]

Great article I am a history nerd and this stuff is like a drug to me.

[Mael Coluim]

Fascinating! Thanks Greywolf!

[Tommie]

Fascinating! Thanks Greywolf!

Fascinating indeed.I never knew that about the Cival war.

[79thReproductions]

I have to come out the wood works on this one! That article has some miss information on the 79th. Heres a quick list of things that I noticed:

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The original pre war Militia had 300 men divided into 6 companies, not 4

"At the outbreak of the rebellion in 1861 the Seventy Ninth Highlanders head quarters in New York city consisted of about three hundred men divided into six companies and attached to General Ewen's brigade of the First Division N.Y.S.M. The regiment was composed principally of men of Scottish birth but contained a good sprinkling of other nationalities. (Todd 1)"

Todd, William. The Seventy-Ninth Highlanders, New York Volunteers in the War of Rebellion 1861 - 1865. Albany, N.Y.: Press of Brandow, Barton, 1886.
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The sporrans did not have Silver Tassels, but leather ones.

This is a description of an original 79th sporran in the collection of the New York Historical Society:

Overall: 22 x 11 in. ( 55.9 x 27.9 cm )

Leather, hair, cotton

Leather, hair, and cotton sporran; red leather cover, two belt loops, and pocket on back of bulbous, brown leather pouch stitched to back of another brown leather pouch that has scalloped, fringed black leather cover, skin patch suspending horsehair flap, and three black cotton laces with leather and brown horsehair tassels on front.

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The collar and cuffs did not have light blue piping, but white like many other New York militia jackets of the time.

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The Pre War shoulder scales had no unit insignia. They used the shoulder scales that were commonly used by the Marine Corp at the time which had adapters for fringe. The shoulder scales were made by Horstmann





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The 79th never had Kilt aprons.

Besides the fine points, the article is a good account of the unit! Here are some pictures of one of my reproduction 79th Jackets to show what the jackets looked like. There has been a lot of mis information about the jackets, but my jackets come from years of research by myself and others.





Sporran Cut out



Collar facings


Breast Quilting


More quilting



In interesting attempt at Inverness flaps






The Inverness flaps were lined with Red Polished cotton, very common for uniforms of the era.



Thank you everyone for putting up with my overkill of information and indulging in my 79th New York Passion!

I hope this information is enjoyed!

Rachel Ford

[79thReproductions]

OH! By the way. Its the American Civil War, not The War of Northern Aggression. ;)

Cheers!

Rachel Ford