Native ( Indian) portrayals?

[Dullknife]

 

[7thWisconsin]

Indeed as many of the five civilized tribes were mixed bloods, it's odd anyone would suggest anyone should not reenact them based on race.

Nor have I ever read they were 100% segregated. As someone mentioned earlier an artillery unit had both Natives and Texans

In all reality, because their appearance was essentially majority white, you could probably reenact that unit and there would be no blowback. The more native items or practice you incorporate, though, the greater the chance of coming up on the controversy radar.

 

[Dullknife]

I wasnt planning on getting to crazy. Just maybe have a feather or two in the hat. Maybe wear a pair of mocs. Maybe a small mirror and some vermillion/ or red ochre.

Besides the research...the other hard thing is getting decent quality clothing. Just a hat can run over a hundred dollars. ( I suppose I could wear a turban but that would really not be so subtle)I have a hunting shirt of linen...but may have to.be modified to fit into an mid 19th c setting.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I wasnt planning on getting to crazy. Just maybe have a feather or two in the hat. Maybe wear a pair of mocs. Maybe a small mirror and some vermillion/ or red ochre.

Besides the research...the other hard thing is getting decent quality clothing. Just a hat can run over a hundred dollars. ( I suppose I could wear a turban but that would really not be so subtle)I have a hunting shirt of linen...but may have to.be modified to fit into an mid 19th c setting.

I think you´re pointed in a very ¨middle of the road¨ direction. Yeah, the 19th century hunting shirt bears only passing resemblance to the 18th century garment. You would really need a whole different shirt, and really aside from having your picture taken, they really weren´t worn in actual campaigning.

 

[Kurtlg]

Interesting look at Native American dress in the Great Lakes area, but only until 1840. Many black and white drawing of dress, but concentrates on how to recreate the clothing. View attachment 473509

I have that one,

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I wasnt planning on getting to crazy. Just maybe have a feather or two in the hat. Maybe wear a pair of mocs. Maybe a small mirror and some vermillion/ or red ochre.

Besides the research...the other hard thing is getting decent quality clothing. Just a hat can run over a hundred dollars. ( I suppose I could wear a turban but that would really not be so subtle)I have a hunting shirt of linen...but may have to.be modified to fit into a mid 19th c setting.

I think maybe perhaps your idea of how they looked during the war may have been a little off by the sounds of it. No offense.

If I were to recommend how to go about it, this would be my approach:
Clothing
1. Standard wool or jean Civilian trousers
2. Vest
3. Regular brogans. Moccasins were no longer a thing amongst tribes in modern Oklahoma.
4. A colorful civilian frock coat. As seen by the pictures, and there was a name for that then fashion amongst the Cherokee I've forgotten, but South Union Mills just came out with a banyan that I'd say could fit the bill. That Cherokee coat would be a custom item however.
5. Headwear, a regular citizen hat of any kind, or Cherokee turban
6. Optional, a white jean CS jacket would not be out of place, OR even a Federal sack coat.
7. STAY AWAY FROM a Cherokee "ribbon shirt"!!! These are popular for people portraying Cherokee, and even other tribes, BUT they didn't become a thing until AFTER 1900!!! People love them for re-enactments and LH's but have no place historically in anything pre-1910.

Weapons and accoutrements:
Rifles
1. Southern Poor Boy rifle
Going by accounts I've read they were seen, in percussion or flint, but flint was least common and are not typically allowed at re-enactments, but good for LH's.

2. P1853 "Enfield" rifle-muskets
Pretty common capture along with other infantry weapons

3. M1861 Springfield
See number 2

4. Austrian "Kammerbuche" M1849
I most likely missed spelled that, but they were issued to the Federal "Indian Home Guard" regiments at a few points early in the war, and natives would desert and join the other side ALL the time. They were not the most loyal or dependable soldiers many of us would like to believe…

5. Double-barrel Shotgun
Hands down those muzzleloaders were probably the most common gun period in they're ranks.

Common reproduction "Hawken gun" are historically inaccurate for any portrayal CW wise.

Handguns:
Handguns were from all I've seen very rare in CS Indian ranks, until after Waitie captured the J.R Williams in Oklahoma's only naval battle, then there were Colt M1860 "Army" revolvers all around as there was a large shipment! Before that I've only seen mentions of pocket revolvers and of a Colt Dragoon or two.

Accoutrements:
Standard civilian weapon gear, and of some captured Federal gear. Infantry gear on the captured would probably be more common.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

This is a very good article on the Confederacy's most disappointing weapon, the shoddy Texas Rifles, and Texas gifted a lot of them to the Indian troops, with mixed results. Good accounts are within:

https://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1997-B77-Contract-Rifles-of-the-Texas-State-Milit.pdf

 

[archieclement]

Both sides would had mixed bloods appearing white, as well the Union ended up replacing officers with mostly whites.

So race wouldn't be much an issue. Certainly less then letting women portray men appearance wise, which doesn't seem uncommon

 

[major bill]

At least in my area, some Native Americans would find it disrespectful for people with no Native American blood lines to portray Native Americans

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Looking for people that do native portrayals | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

Hello, I am interested in furthering a portrayal of a native (aka Indian) involved with the conflict. Thought it might be cool to portray someone who was a member if a homeguard unit out west. I have some information to draw from. My problem is no one here in Massachusetts does such a portrayal...

civilwartalk.com

 

[Private Joseph]

Too bad no one portrays Co. K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. They have a fascinating story.

 

[East Tennessee Roots]

Too bad no one portrays Co. K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. They have a fascinating story.

Iroquois in Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters? | Other Soldiers, Politicians, & Men

I recently purchased this book. The book is about Company K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. The book gives a bio of all the men. The book says that 3 Iroquois served in Company K. This made me wonder about Iroquois in the Civil War. I know that Company K was mostly made up of members of the Three...

civilwartalk.com

 

[major bill]

Too bad no one portrays Co. K, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters. They have a fascinating story.

I do know First Americans that are descended from some Co. K members. I live within 5 miles of the local reservation.

 

[Private Joseph]

IIRC there was about 150 in the company. One member's father 'shaved' ten years of his age so he could join as well. Some ended up in Andersonville.

 

[Kurtlg]

I have found graves of Co. K members at various cemeteries in the northwest lower peninsula. Some are buried in a very small private cemetery in Burt , Michigan , Saginaw county . The last time I was there it was completely fenced in and very run down . I hope some one has been able to fix it up . These men deserve better than this

 

[Private Joseph]

I have found graves of Co. K members at various cemeteries in the northwest lower peninsula. Some are buried in a very small private cemetery in Burt , Michigan , Saginaw county . The last time I was there it was completely fenced in and very run down . I hope some one has been able to fix it up . These men deserve better than this

Seems like a good project for local reenactors or round table.

 

[major bill]

Seems like a good project for local reenactors or round table.

Sounds interesting. I am a member of Son of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Wa-Bu-No Camp No. 250 which is named for a member of Company K (only SUVCW camp named for a First American). We are thinking about looking for a project. Burt, Michigan is perhaps an hour drive from our meeting place.

 

[archieclement]

At least in my area, some Native Americans would find it disrespectful for people with no Native American blood lines to portray Native Americans

There would be no way for them to know they had no bloodline. Reenacting doesn't require DNA testing. Most people I've known with some native ancestry are like me, don't identify primarily native, nor are reservation.

I suppose it would be as disrespectful for someone not southern to portray a Confederate, or not a northerner to portray a Union soldier........in reality though one does not even have to have any linage at all to ACW to reenact, just a interest in history.

Certainly if wanting a unbiased interpretation, one doesn't want to give historical interpetation or narrative to specialized minority views.

I just visited a reservation.......if want to hear some "lost cause" you won't find a better place..............

 

[Kurtlg]

Seems like a good project for local reenactors or round table.

Burt is a tiny little settlement and I haven't been there in years . Perhaps some one fixed it up. There was a significant population of Ojibwe there at one time but now that population is around 1 percent. It might be a case where no relatives are left to care for it. I'll try to get there again this year. My grandfather was a minister and preached there back in the 1930s in what my mother called the "Indian church ". My mother was just a child but she was very impressed by the congregation.
There is a retired park ranger who worked at Antietam who was from Burt . He is about my age and grew up with the Golden Book of the Civil War and the blue and gray Marx playsets like some of our older members did . His name is Mannie Gentile and I think he still has a toy soldier blog.

 

[Kurtlg]

Sounds interesting. I am a member of Son of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Wa-Bu-No Camp No. 250 which is named for a member of Company K (only SUVCW camp named for a First American). We are thinking about looking for a project. Burt, Michigan is perhaps an hour drive from our meeting place.

That would be a great project. Please keep us informed.