Confederate Memorial

[L. Ramsay]

The only "real" one of course is the 79th New York, a Federal Infantry regiment. While I have read of at least one antebellum Southern Highland militia unit, I have yet to find any documentation for Highland kit as part of its uniform.

I seem to remember this tartan being designed for a member of the SCV.

As the proud desecendant of Western Mudsills who fought for the Union, I wouldn't wear it, but I would besmirch those who do.

T.

In my reenacting experience, its fairly common to see Glengarries worn around, but generally speaking you don't see organized Scots units or kilts. Or pipes. Which is a shame really.

Hope you meant "wouldn't" besmirch those who do.

Otherwise I and my Ramsay ancestors from Tennessee will have to be a wee bit offended.

[macwilkin]

In my reenacting experience, its fairly common to see Glengarries worn around, but generally speaking you don't see organized Scots units or kilts. Or pipes. Which is a shame really.

Hope you meant "wouldn't" besmirch those who do.

Otherwise I and my Ramsay ancestors from Tennessee will have be a wee bit offended.

The 79th New York was a pre-war NY state militia unit that did wear Highland kit as part of their uniform. Historians are still debating how much of that kit was worn by the regiment during the War itself.

I was a reenactor for over 10 years, as well as an interpretation ranger for NPS at a Civil War Battlefield, so yes, I am quite aware of reenactors wearing "farby" glengarries. A much more accurate way to display Scottish heritage is to carry a period copy of Burns poems, as one of my Mudsill ancestors did.

When I first started reenacting, I fell for all the ethnic displays, but soon discovered in research that unless portraying an ethnic unit, where such open displays of ethnicity would be welcomed, most immigrants would not have been so zealous in their displays due to the wrath of "native Americans".

Note the corrected post, as I am far more worried about my wife and her NOLA Creole ancestors who served in Louisiana regiments.

T.

[OC Richard]

The 79th New York was a pre-war NY state militia unit that did wear Highland kit as part of their uniform. Historians are still debating how much of that kit was worn by the regiment during the War itself.

It's hard to image what debate there might be, as the regiment's prewar companies had two uniforms, a Dress uniform with the kilt and a Service Dress uniform (as we would call it today) with tartan trousers.

The additional companies recruited to bring the regiment up to full strength for war service were only ever issued the service dress.

The full dress uniform was put aside for war service, not to be revived until after the war (in a somewhat different form).

The same tunic was worn with both the full dress and service dress uniform, so that part of the full dress uniform was indeed worn in combat.

Here's a photo clearly showing the difference between the two uniforms. When the regiment went to war it was dressed like the man in the centre, with tartan trousers, full dress tunic, and kepi. Photographs of 79th prisoners and a painting of 79th wounded from their first engagement agree on this point.