79th New York on Parade (In color!)

[79thReproductions]

A complete Pre-war 79th militia uniform on display (Taken years ago by Shane Miles)





For research, knowledge, fun, and enjoyment ith:
I hope that by flooding the internet with accurate research and information the truth about the 79th will more accessable.

Full Regimental history online:http://books.google.com/books?id=INx...gbs_navlinks_s

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[OC Richard]

That photo of the 79thNY on parade raised intriguing questions:

-are those indeed pipers in front of the regiment?
All the images of that photo that I've seen are rather grainy and I can imagine that those men are carrying pipes... but they could be swords.

-if they were pipers, were they pipers from the New York Caledonian Club or were they members of the regiment?
Note their dress: they are dressed identically to members of the regiment, not in the generic Highland Dress of the period.
Most interesting is that it appears that their jackets have three rows of buttons, a common distinguishing mark for musicians' uniforms at that time.
One possiblity is that the pipers of the NYCC wore the uniform of the 79thNY on occasions such as this.

[79thReproductions]

They are pipers....officers and NCOs wear swords on the left hip.

I'll dig out some accounts and transribe/post them about the piper thing. Diaries, newpaper articles, ect say "Club pipes" "Caledonian pipers" ect. One even talks about the pipers seeing the regiment to the train station.

Uniforms are tricky. The piper on the far left is definetely in civilian costume. I have always defaulted with civilian clothes because of the overwhelming amount of primary sources refering to them as club pipers, not 79th pipers.

The triple breasted coat thing is inconsistant, many militias had triple breasted coats. (7th NY off the top of my head) Regulations for musicians in the antibellum military have only tape on the breast panels.

I know Im usually a downer and crash the highland party but I try and play things safe. I would rather be wrong about bagpipers wearing clothes worn by everyone in the NY club then assuming they wore loaner 79th uniforms.

Sorry I feel like Im rambling...Ill shut up and throw some collection pictures up.

Misc relics.


Poor ribbons from F. Judge's 1864 issue bonnet


Original silk Tiffany & Co. 100% hand embroired 79th Regimental flag in that box.....true story.

[OC Richard]

They are pipers....officers and NCOs wear swords on the left hip.

Yes but officers can carry swords in the right hand on parade, and often do.

I'm an eternal skeptic and though those LOOK more or less like pipers carrying pipes in "pipes down" position I won't be convinced until I see a closeup of that photo that's clear enough to CLEARLY see that they're pipes.

Note that in your photo of the Caledonian club pipers, they're carrying their pipes in "pipes down" position with the LEFT arm, which is military protocol. Note that the pipes don't look like a single slim pole, but somewhat like a mass, there being in addition to the bass drone two tenor drones, bag, chanter, blowpipe, and a tangle of drone ribbons (nearly universal at that time).

Now if we go to the photo of the 79th we see the leftmost of the three figures with what appears to be a single slim object coming from his left hand, but the centre figure with a similar object in his right hand. The rightmost figure is obscured by a person standing in front of him.

Where is the rest of the mass of the pipes (the tenor drones, other pipes, ribbons, and bag)?

Until I see a clearer image I won't be convinced.

[79thReproductions]

When the 79th was out, the Pipers were sure to fallow...or...lead? So to speak.

NY TIMES
Published: May 17, 1860
DRILL OF THE HIGHLAND REGIMENT. -- The Highland Regiment last evening took their turn at a drill in the New Armory. The Regiment consists of six companies, all of which were represented, and numbered about 150 muskets. Before the hour for commencing the drill nearly one thousand persons had taken possession of the seats and standing room, which was increased to nearly about 1,500. At 9 o'clock the regiment formed in line. The uniform was a mixture of the Scottish and "regulation." The Glengary bonnet and blue cloth coats were set off in handsome contrast with the plaid tartan, the sporran belts and red and white stockings. For new recruits, which composed a large majority of the various companies, the drilling did not approximate to the perfection of the Seventh Regiment. They went through a portion of the manual, and some of their evolutions were applauded by the partial lookers on. ROBERTSON's Band furnished the music, and there were two bagpipes to give the national (nasal) twang to the performance. It was late before the company separated.

I completely understand being skeptictical. I feel like 90% of the time Im crashing the brave heart fantasy party. Being Skeptical makes for a healthy debate!

[OC Richard]

ROBERTSON's Band furnished the music, and there were two bagpipes to give the national (nasal) twang to the performance.

This is an interesting quote but it does not shed any light on those men standing in front of the regiment in that photo.

I put the word "and" in boldface to point out that this quote is in all probability referencing a brass band. In addition, two pipers were in attendance.

We should keep in mind that the concept of a pipe band (several pipers with drum accompaniment) had not evolved at this time.

[79thReproductions]

Richard, theres no light to shed really. Those pipers are Caledonian club pipers. Robertsons band is a brass band formed in the mid 1850s that had strong ties to the scottish community in New York. There was never, ever, ever, ever any sort of bagpipe band. Ever.

If I had time, I would post qoute after obsucure qoute discriping Robertsons band and himself in great detail along with accounts of Caledonian pipers at parades. I thought I have always made it clear that Robertsons band was a brass band and not a hyper scottish bagpipe band.

Sorry if I come off as short with you. Its not personal, just constructive banter.

[BobsYourUncle]

A complete Pre-war 79th militia uniform on display (Taken years ago by Shane Miles)





For research, knowledge, fun, and enjoyment ith:
I hope that by flooding the internet with accurate research and information the truth about the 79th will more accessable.

Full Regimental history online:http://books.google.com/books?id=INx...gbs_navlinks_s

Become a friend on facebook! Articles, images and posts added weekly, sometimes daily. 79th New York Highlanders:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/79t...03289856375074

Just ordered a copy from Amazon...Oh No!! Reenactor Jonesing...Must Hold Back...Can't Add Yet Another Impression...Capn' the engines canna hold...