#1 Thing I hate when going Confederate

[grimes]

I do a Confederate impression 100% of the time for reenactments. I usually stick to early to mid-war impressions but have been known to do late-war from time to time.

The number one thing I hate hearing from fellow reenactors is "Your uniform is too clean for Confederate" or "You need to put some serious wear into the leathers and jean wool to make it authentic."

When did it become so mainstream to go "ragged rebel"?

I understand we see this occasionally in photos but people tend to forget the photos of clean, well kept Confederate uniforms.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

In 12 years of reenacting Confederate, I have never heard anyone say that about my gear....I maintain my leathers, etc, sew or patch holes as needed, but otherwise, my stuff shows normal wear and tear of 12 years of reenacting, with an average of 8 events per year. I look no better OR worse than a Yankee reenactor....

 

[rhettbutler1865]

I have never reenacted--now I'm 60, bad back, replaced knees, etc. I envy and admire you guys who have! 8 events a year? WOW!

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I have never reenacted--now I'm 60, bad back, replaced knees, etc. I envy and admire you guys who have! 8 events a year? WOW!

Yes, when summer arrives, we are quite active!.....I LOVE it!!....Since I started reenacting, I have only missed 2 events!! Rhettbutler, I wish you could get out there and reenact!! Maybe think about reenacting as something other than a soldier, perhaps a Medical or civilian impression?

 

[johan_steele]

I do a Confederate impression 100% of the time for reenactments. I usually stick to early to mid-war impressions but have been known to do late-war from time to time.

The number one thing I hate hearing from fellow reenactors is "Your uniform is too clean for Confederate" or "You need to put some serious wear into the leathers and jean wool to make it authentic."

When did it become so mainstream to go "ragged rebel"?

I understand we see this occasionally in photos but people tend to forget the photos of clean, well kept Confederate uniforms.

Just ask to see the original pictures of the Ragged rebel. You won't.

 

[robert hayden]

I do a Confederate impression 100% of the time for reenactments. I usually stick to early to mid-war impressions but have been known to do late-war from time to time.

The number one thing I hate hearing from fellow reenactors is "Your uniform is too clean for Confederate" or "You need to put some serious wear into the leathers and jean wool to make it authentic."

When did it become so mainstream to go "ragged rebel"?

I understand we see this occasionally in photos but people tend to forget the photos of clean, well kept Confederate uniforms.

While the style & condition of Federal uniforms may have been fairly consistent, it is my belief that Southern soldiers displayed a much wider array of uniform, accouterments, & weapons. Certainly more varied in the early years. Further,
I encourage comrades to select or formulate an actual character to emulate. A soldier could be a green recruit, sporting
right off the quartermaster shelf depot issue goods, or a seasoned veteran. I assure you no matter how fastidious you may be of personal hygiene & proper uniform decorum, if you march 20 miles a day, make camp, pull guard, picket & other duties for 90 days, your uniform & equipment will not identify you as a "fresh fish." Remember as well, some soldiers received pants, shirts, vests & socks from home, many handmade from a variety of available material. Not only was spare clothing scarce to most enlisted soldiers, the opportunity to bathe and/or wash clothing was also limited

 

[Patrick H]

I confess I am one of those, who, when asked about the number one spoiler at reenactments has said: "The uniforms are too clean." I am not suggesting that uniforms should be ragged and patched. What I'm saying is that a re-enactor can't show up at an event with a freshly laundered uniform and accurately represent someone who has been living in the field for weeks. This is purely my opinion and I know others will disagree. That's fine, and I respect all the differing opinions on this matter. I am only expressing my very firm PERSONAL opinion about this particular question.

 

[Stony]

I have yet to hear that our uniforms are too clean.

 

[Poor Private]

I have. But I am the one who has to buy my stuff -not you(generically). So I take care of mine. I wash em regularly, fix and sew rips and tears. Polish my brogans, but not if they are rough outs, clean the mud off them, replace broken laces. Wear clean and dry socks. I even rotate pants and jackets, and shirts, and vests so they don't get worn out so fast by giving them a rest.
My big Bug-a-Boo is those who don't or won't take care of their weapons, wether they be sword, pistol, cannon, knife, or long gun.

 

[Patrick H]

I have. But I am the one who has to buy my stuff -not you(generically). So I take care of mine. I wash em regularly, fix and sew rips and tears. Polish my brogans, but not if they are rough outs, clean the mud off them, replace broken laces. Wear clean and dry socks. I even rotate pants and jackets, and shirts, and vests so they don't get worn out so fast by giving them a rest.
My big Bug-a-Boo is those who don't or won't take care of their weapons, wether they be sword, pistol, cannon, knife, or long gun.

I agree completely about the weapons issue. I just can't stand to see a neglected weapon.

 

[Frederick14Va]

As others have mentioned... "ragged" is different from "well worn"... Not talking about the folks that come out on the field with the 147 patches on the knees, seat and elbows rag-a-muffin urchin style impression... as if this is what they interpret every common confederate looked like every day of the war.... since they NEVER got anything new issued at all....lol...

The soldiers like most people would mend, repair, and clean their gear and uniform as much as it was feasible... On active campaign they would generally get rather dusty and dirty pretty quick... After a few weeks or months of this type of field activity they would have a bit of grubby appearance.... worn but not worn out.... If your portraying troops that have been stationary or in a garrison for some time, or a new recruited unit.... that would be one thing..... If your suppose to be representing and portraying guys that have been in the field on active campaign... they generally wouldn't all have the collective fresh from the cleaners, spotless, polished, pressed appearance that many reenactors habitually do... Hence the probable source of the comments received by some as a reflection of the claimed portrayal...

 

[Diplogeek]

I don't wash my gear at all, aside from socks, drawers and (occasionally) shirts, which helps avoid the worst of the "fresh fish" look without getting so ripe that I can't drive to an event with my car windows up. If I had wound up at Chickamuddy or something and was caked in filth post-event, I'd probably hose down my jacket and trousers, but I can't imagine actually putting them in the washing machine or taking them to the dry cleaners or something like that. Of course, this does mean that opening the closet where I stow my reenacting gear results in a big whiff of campfire smell.

I will say that my Union gear tends to look a bit cleaner, probably because the dark blue of the jacket especially hides a lot of grime in comparison to the light gray or light brown of most of my Confederate clothing.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

At the end of each reenacting season, I Dry-Clean my pants and coat, just to remove the stench of a summer full of sweat, campfires, rain, mud, powder residue and axle grease from our gun carriage/limber, etc. Some of those "stains" are so deep that dry cleaning does little other than to make them smell better. The "age" of the gear also can not be fixed by dry cleaning. Shirts, socks and drawers get washed after every event, for obvious reasons. My Brogans have mud/dirt from Wilson's Creek, Gettysburg, Shiloh, Chickamauga and countless "local" events....If dry cleaning my pants and coat at the end of the year make me look "too clean", then you've never seen my uniform!!

 

[Allie]

Just out of curiosity, is there anyone out there hard core enough to boil laundry? It seems like that would be an interesting way to get a period correct but not dirty look. Although clothing would shrink!

It seems to me as a spectator that when a Confederate looks "too clean," the problem is not usually lack of dirt, it's a) fit and press being incorrect or b) subtly wrong modern-looking dye colors. The cleanest, snappiest dresser didn't have a uniform dyed in modern colors and freshly pressed with a modern fit, with the heft of modern fabric sizing.

 

[ole]

I'm with Albert. Clean and ragged is quite different than being ragged and stinking. Drive with the windows closed and the AC on.

I'll suspect that few reenactors have attire that's tailored. And one doesn't boil wool. Cotton, OK. Just beat the dirt out of wool and put it back on over clean undergarments (and a shirt is an undergarment). You'll stink by the end of the day anyway.

So there are patches and home made shirts (and drawers and socks), I really don't understand why one has to be miserable (and stink) just because you want to be authentic.

 

[Republican Blues]

I hand wash in cool water my trousers every once in a while... hmm i think the last time was about 7 years ago... I washed by my reb trousers and my federal sky blues... found out what side we did most of late.. reb pants only turned the water a slight khaki color... once I washed the federal ones... the water was almost pitch black.. probably get the same result if I put em in some water now...

 

[Craig L Barry]

All soldiers were civilians before they enlisted and men in the mid-19th century cared about the appearance of their clothing and how they looked. One needs to distinguish before the commutation system of self supply and afterwards as well. It is certainly true that when soldiers received funds to self supply their clothing, the money may not have actually been spent on clothing as often as it should have been. This ended in 1862. Once the government began supplying clothing issuance became more regular. Soldiers were resupplied at regular intervals. And for example, two pairs of trousers (trowsers) were usually issued for each jacket or coat.

There isn't space to fully de-bunk every silly myth you hear at a reenactment and don't feel obligated to do so. Here is a thought, since uniforms or "suits" usually came in two sizes, too big or too small, consider a less tailored approach in your period attire for a CS infantry impression. That is definitely accurate.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

Just out of curiosity, is there anyone out there hard core enough to boil laundry? It seems like that would be an interesting way to get a period correct but not dirty look. Although clothing would shrink!

It seems to me as a spectator that when a Confederate looks "too clean," the problem is not usually lack of dirt, it's a) fit and press being incorrect or b) subtly wrong modern-looking dye colors. The cleanest, snappiest dresser didn't have a uniform dyed in modern colors and freshly pressed with a modern fit, with the heft of modern fabric sizing.

My uniform has no "modern fabric sizing", as it was made properly.
As to "fit and press being incorrect".....I have my pant/jacket dry cleaned at the end of the year, which means they are hung up for nearly six months, thus giving the "press" time to work itself out. Besides, after a day or so of moving about, standing close to the campfire and sleeping on the ground, any press that might be left has been "worked out". I dry clean my pants/coat once a year because they are expensive and I'd like to not have to buy new gear every few years. I have more money tied up in my hat alone, than most people have in 3 or 4 days worth of civilian clothes!!

I do not mean to come across in a bad way to you or otherwise give offense, so please don't take my comments that way. Thanks for your thoughts and comments!

 

[Allie]

My uniform has no "modern fabric sizing", as it was made properly.
As to "fit and press being incorrect".....I have my pant/jacket dry cleaned at the end of the year, which means they are hung up for nearly six months, thus giving the "press" time to work itself out. Besides, after a day or so of moving about, standing close to the campfire and sleeping on the ground, any press that might be left has been "worked out". I dry clean my pants/coat once a year because they are expensive and I'd like to not have to buy new gear every few years. I have more money tied up in my hat alone, than most people have in 3 or 4 days worth of civilian clothes!!

I do not mean to come across in a bad way to you or otherwise give offense, so please don't take my comments that way. Thanks for your thoughts and comments!

I doubt you fall into the category of people who are criticized as looking too clean!

There are good looking and bad looking reenactors, just commenting on some faults I have seen. A lot of the time spectators know something looks fake, but can't put their finger on what. Just saying that a shiny clean person with the right fit and color and weight of clothes is probably going to look fine.

So, you mention fabric sizing, is it usual among recreators to pre-wash the fabric several times to be sure all the sizing is out of it?

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I doubt you fall into the category of people who are criticized as looking too clean!

There are good looking and bad looking reenactors, just commenting on some faults I have seen. A lot of the time spectators know something looks fake, but can't put their finger on what. Just saying that a shiny clean person with the right fit and color and weight of clothes is probably going to look fine.

So, you mention fabric sizing, is it usual among recreators to pre-wash the fabric several times to be sure all the sizing is out of it?

Good question!!.....As for me, I have always bought my gear bigger, and have personally never experienced anything shrinking too much, except when I gain weight!!
I bought my jacket "used" from a friend, so it is about as sized as it is gonna get....
Thanks!!