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I would love to see that tartan pleated to stripe to see how it would look since it is a military tartan. I also want a Confederate Memorial kilt.


This is the Confederate Memorial Tartan we are discussing -- it is technically not a military tartan, since no military unit has wore it as part of their uniform kit, although it certainly has military symbolism in the colours (for the branches of service and the grey for the uniform colour, although very few Confederate soldiers wore a complete uniform of any kind!)

Celeste Ray, in her book "Highland Heritage: Scottish-Americans in the American South" gives a brief history of the tartan; the designer was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Clan Ewan Society.

The only Civil War unit that is documented with Highland attire is the 79th New York, who left their kilts at home before their first action at 1st Bull Run in July, 1861, although some of the 79th was wearing trews in the Cameron of Erracht tartan (the 79th took their number from the Camerons, as well as their tartan, but not much else.)

There are other "Scottish" Regiments mentioned in the Northern & Southern armies, but information about uniform kit is very, very sketchy -- supposedly a Scottish unit from South Carolina wore kilts before the war in the militia, but there is no documentation at all (a shame!)

Sorry, fellas, for putting on my Park Ranger hat there -- since I work at a CW battlefield, I've always been interested in "ethnic" units in the war.

Cheers,

T
Not even a problem No it's not a "military tartan" as such, just one I particularly liked, sentimental/historical reasons.

Correct on all the above. I am a skirmishing member of the NC 23rd State Troops, the uniform issued was black trousers and a blood shirt...and just how long did that last? About long enough to figure out how good a target that shirt made. By the end of the war very few, other than fresh union troops had the full kit they were issued.

There are some records of kilts being worn but they were mostly of the civilian variety, much like the shirts and vests worn by most troops.

I am going to post a couple of pictures of the kilt hanging. Later today I should have a few more of it 'swinging'.

Mike