Confederate Memorial

[L. Ramsay]

Well, seems it has turned into a wee bit of an issue after all. I'd like it if we could end on a positive note, and hopefully we can all agree to wear what tartans we will with respect towards one and all.

[Colin MacBean]

As I said before I'm from Canada and I have visited extensively the United States of American. There were lots of people still mad at the Yankees for beating them. I think anything that prompts hatred is wrong. There is a difference between remembering a war as a tragedy and picking sides.

As for being racist. Obviously wearing a certain tartan does not make the current individual racist. That being said the South did among other things fight to keep slaves. Would a Jew have the right to be offended by a swastika? If so does not an African American have the right to be offended by a confederate flag? For those who do not know the swastika and anything relating to the German nazi party is banned in German.

I just can't stand seeing people feel as though they have to pick a fight because couple hundred years back their parents fought on different sides. Show some love everyone

[tinksdad]

Since I started this brouhaha with what I thought was a simple question, I should probably clarify my original intentions. Facebook, Twitter and texting are denigrating my writing skills and I probably left out some pertinent information.

First off I should state that I wear the kilt as a comfortable fashion choice. I have no clan affiliation. My ancestors, as far as I can physically trace back, are of eastern European heritage. So unless a travelling celtic warrior/explorer/tradesman had his way with a willing barmaid a long time in the past I personally don't feel it would be right for me to wear a tartan that was not released to the general public. Geographically, my maternal grandmothers family was from an area near Warsaw that was part of a royal land grant to celtic settlers; but I don't think that's enough of a tie.

I was pre-pubescent during the Civil War Centennial. Much to the consternation of family and educators at the time, my sympathies were with the South. I don't want to open another "racist" can of worms; but it was my understanding, and still is, that although the slavery issue was the underlying cause, the main reason the war was fought was over the Southern states right to cecede and form a separate sovereign union.

That being said, the reason I am considering the Confederate Memorial tartan is a color choice. All my kilts to date are rather dark (Black watch, Black Stewart, solid black etc.). I want to find one in some lighter shades and still not cross the line between universal and restricted.

Someone mentioned in one of the responses that I should entertain one of the state tartans. I lived most of my life in New York. I cut geographical roots when I left because of a divorce. Since then I have lived in Florida, Tennessee, and now Mississippi and it's probably not my last move. I just don't feel affiliated (?) with any state. I have considered the American Heritage tartan; but again it is on the dark side.

I will take everybody's comments under consideration and ponder some more whether or not I will get a kilt in Confederate Memorial. Thank you one and all for the input.

[HeathBar]

That being said, the reason I am considering the Confederate Memorial tartan is a color choice. All my kilts to date are rather dark (Black watch, Black Stewart, solid black etc.). I want to find one in some lighter shades and still not cross the line between universal and restricted.

If I may, I'd like to suggest a universal tartan that does not get too much play. Hunting Stewart is a universal tartan and it can be had in the ancient color scheme. If I didn't already have my clan tartans to wear, I would probably choose this one.

[davidlpope]

If I may, I'd like to suggest a universal tartan that does not get too much play. Hunting Stewart is a universal tartan and it can be had in the ancient color scheme. If I didn't already have my clan tartans to wear, I would probably choose this one.

Heath,

I'm in agreement. Hunting Stewart is beautiful tartan, is produced in every color scheme and fabric weight and is a historic design.

Likewise, the Caledonia tartan is a beautiful and historic tartan and is readily available. It's very similar to the MacPherson sett, which Kyle MacPherson has showcased in a recent thread.

If one were looking to wear non-clan tartans, I don't think you can do any better than to have two kilts- one in Hunting Stewart (nice blues and greens for daywear) and one in Caledonia (red-based to tone well with eveningwear). I'm surprised that folks tend to go for the recent dark gray and black or purple generic tartans that have flooded the marketplace instead.

David

[BoldHighlander]

To the afore mentioned Hunting Stewart & Caledonia tartans I'd like to put forth a 3rd (non-clan) tartan that I think is truly handsome, Highland Granite (modeled here by our own Matt Newsome)

[OC Richard]

About the existence of Scottish-themed Confederate units, I read in some book (sorry I can't remember which) that there was a bit of a fad of naming units things like "Scotch Rifle Guards" but that the only "Scotch" thing about the uniform was the name (often engraved on the belt plate/buckle).

We have to keep in mind that in many Civil War era regiments, each company had an individual name and uniform. Many of these names and uniforms were rather fanciful.

So it was very interesting indeed when, around 20 years ago, I came across, in an antique show, a large rectangular brass belt plate, with a border of thistles, with "Scotch Rifle Guards" engraved in the plain central portion. This could have been worn by any militia unit, North or South, at any time in the 19th century, before, during, or after the Civil War.

About those photos of guys wearing the modern Confederate Memorial Tartan with Civil War era jackets, what strikes my eye is the jarring anachronism of it all.

What would help (if you allow me to get into "fashion police" mode for a moment) is to wear a sporran that's at least somewhat period-appropriate, rather than a style that didn't appear until the 1980's or so.

Here's what sporrans in the 1860's looked like. There are a few of these up on Ebay as we speak.









And about hose... hmmm... maybe our Northern California Piper has some diced hose that would go with that tartan very nicely...

(Disclaimer: I am a West Virginian. My ancestors fought for the North, the 7th West Virginia Cavalry to be exact.)