US or Confederate kilted units? Ever?

[Captain_Cogle]

Actually there were 2 Scottish Confederate units. The Charleston Highland Guards who modeled their dress uniforms after the British Black Watch of the period with black watch kilts, red short coats and blue diced bonnets and the Union Light Infantry who wore black watch trews and blue frock coats and bear fur caps. They were NOT named the Union light infantry in honor of the union of Scotland and Ireland, they were from Union County S. Carolina.

Neither unit EVER wore these uniforms in combat and both were militia units that were absorbed into larger units early in the war forming companies of the 1st later the 14th South Carolina Infantry.

[macwilkin]

Actually there were 2 Scottish Confederate units. The Charleston Highland Guards who modeled their dress uniforms after the British Black Watch of the period with black watch kilts, red short coats and blue diced bonnets and the Union Light Infantry who wore black watch trews and blue frock coats and bear fur caps. They were NOT named the Union light infantry in honor of the union of Scotland and Ireland, they were from Union County S. Carolina.

Neither unit EVER wore these uniforms in combat and both were militia units that were absorbed into larger units early in the war forming companies of the 1st later the 14th South Carolina Infantry.

Ahem...Three Confederate Scottish units. The Scotch Rifle Guards of the antebellum Louisiana Militia later became Company C of the 22nd Louisiana Infantry Regiment.

T.

[Lallans]

Well Guys, far be it from me as a Canadian and outsider to encourage any FARBism but it seems a shame that folks can't honour their Scottish heritage as well as Scottish contributions to the Civil War by wearing a kilt in some period context or other. Is that always something to be discouraged, even in non-reenactment scenarios?

[auld argonian]

Ya know, Canuck, I could see it if it were accurate but I just get the impression that it's wanting to have some kind of gimmick for your outfit that the other guys don't have and standing out because of it. I mean, is it a Civil War re-enactment or a Ren Faire? If it was, in fact, used in some kind of dress uniform, then I could see guys maybe wearing it in some context but there seems to be no evidence that it was worn in action so why pretend that it was? Wishing doesn't make it so. History has taken a revisionist beating already and I can't see muddying the waters any more than they already are.

Best

AA

[OftKilted]

Re-enactment consists not just of military but also of civilian. (que Suttleries ...)

Why not play the part of a civilian businessman who happened to be Scottish or of Scottish derivation.

People just want to be able to both Shoot AND wear the Kilt at the same time. Can ya blame them? I mean seriously ... trousers ... c'mon ...

In any case there is an interesting article that speaks to the issue of the 79th here:
http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/n...egiment_16.htm

One _COULD_ wear the kilt as the 'Proposed' uniform, or as the post war version, as they took up the kilt post war.

[macwilkin]

Ya know, Canuck, I could see it if it were accurate but I just get the impression that it's wanting to have some kind of gimmick for your outfit that the other guys don't have and standing out because of it. I mean, is it a Civil War re-enactment or a Ren Faire? If it was, in fact, used in some kind of dress uniform, then I could see guys maybe wearing it in some context but there seems to be no evidence that it was worn in action so why pretend that it was? Wishing doesn't make it so. History has taken a revisionist beating already and I can't see muddying the waters any more than they already are.

Best

AA

Well Guys, far be it from me as a Canadian and outsider to encourage any FARBism but it seems a shame that folks can't honour their Scottish heritage as well as Scottish contributions to the Civil War by wearing a kilt in some period context or other. Is that always something to be discouraged, even in non-reenactment scenarios?

Well said, AA. I always honoured my scottish heritage when reenacting by carrying a pocket copy of Burns, which would be more authentic than attempting to use Highland kit where it was not documented. Unless you're portraying a specific unit with an ethnic identity, or a gathering of a Caledonian Society celebrating Burns Night in a period way, it's best to follow the NPS example and stick with the "average" for 19th century American society.

T.

[Captain_Cogle]

Why the DEVIL did I say a union of Scotland and Ireland??? I meant Scotland and England. Also, thank you Cajun I had forgotten about the Scotch Rifle Guards. Thinking about it further I recall some mention of a North Carolina Highland Tigers company that was folded in with the 43rd or 34th (cant remember which) North Carolina Infantry. I am uncertain of how factual that is however, it could be a mistaken reference to the South Carolina militia units that existed.

[macwilkin]

Re-enactment consists not just of military but also of civilian. (que Suttleries ...)

Why not play the part of a civilian businessman who happened to be Scottish or of Scottish derivation.

People just want to be able to both Shoot AND wear the Kilt at the same time. Can ya blame them? I mean seriously ... trousers ... c'mon ...

In any case there is an interesting article that speaks to the issue of the 79th here:
http://www.americancivilwar.org.uk/n...egiment_16.htm

One _COULD_ wear the kilt as the 'Proposed' uniform, or as the post war version, as they took up the kilt post war.

Then join a Highland reenactment unit, such as the 93rd Regiment of Foot, which portrays 1812-era Highlanders, or By Dand, which does a heckuva 19th century Gordon Highland impression.

Personally, I've always found it odd when folks choose a regiment for their impression that was no where near their geographic location.

T.

[davidlpope]

Why the DEVIL did I say a union of Scotland and Ireland??? I meant Scotland and England. Also, thank you Cajun I had forgotten about the Scotch Rifle Guards. Thinking about it further I recall some mention of a North Carolina Highland Tigers company that was folded in with the 43rd or 34th (cant remember which) North Carolina Infantry. I am uncertain of how factual that is however, it could be a mistaken reference to the South Carolina militia units that existed.

I think one must make a distinction, though, between the "nickname" of a particular company and the existence of a true "Scottish-themed" unit, like the 79th New York.

Many of the locally raised companies here in NC used an ethnic descriptor, but it never went beyond a name- no kilts, no tartan, etc. :

"The Scotch Boys," Company F, 18th Regiment N.C. Troops (8th Regiment N.C. Volunteers)
"The Scotch Grays," Company E, 40th Regiment N.C. Troops (3rd Regiment N.C. Artillery)
"The Scotch Irish Boys," Company K, 8th Regiment N.C. State Troops
"The Scotch Ireland Grays," Company B, 4th Regiment N.C. State Troops
"The Scotch Tigers," Company D, 51st Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Hibriten Guards," Company F, 26th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Boys," Company G, 24th Regiment N.C. Troops (14th Regiment N.C. Volunteers)
"The Highland Grays," Company D, 39th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Guards," Company E, 54th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Guards," Company G, 25th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Rangers," Company D, 41st Regiment N.C. Troops (3rd Regiment N.C. Cavalry)

-see the following link for more NC Civil War "flavor":
http://www.statetroopsandvolunteers.com/locdes2.html

I was particularly moved by "The Beaufort Plow Boys," Company B, 61st Regiment N.C. Troops.

[Captain_Cogle]

I think one must make a distinction, though, between the "nickname" of a particular company and the existence of a true "Scottish-themed" unit, like the 79th New York.

Many of the locally raised companies here in NC used an ethnic descriptor, but it never went beyond a name- no kilts, no tartan, etc. :

"The Scotch Boys," Company F, 18th Regiment N.C. Troops (8th Regiment N.C. Volunteers)
"The Scotch Grays," Company E, 40th Regiment N.C. Troops (3rd Regiment N.C. Artillery)
"The Scotch Irish Boys," Company K, 8th Regiment N.C. State Troops
"The Scotch Ireland Grays," Company B, 4th Regiment N.C. State Troops
"The Scotch Tigers," Company D, 51st Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Hibriten Guards," Company F, 26th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Boys," Company G, 24th Regiment N.C. Troops (14th Regiment N.C. Volunteers)
"The Highland Grays," Company D, 39th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Guards," Company E, 54th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Guards," Company G, 25th Regiment N.C. Troops
"The Highland Rangers," Company D, 41st Regiment N.C. Troops (3rd Regiment N.C. Cavalry)

-see the following link for more NC Civil War "flavor":
http://www.statetroopsandvolunteers.com/locdes2.html

I was particularly moved by "The Beaufort Plow Boys," Company B, 61st Regiment N.C. Troops.

I wasnt speaking of simply nicknamed units. Nicknames abounded and almost always was never actually accurate. IE 1st Texas Co.D Starr Rifles, armed with smooth bore muskets.

I was speaking of pre-war units that had a Scottish dress/parade uniform.