Impressions Blank & Florida Buckles and Plates

[52ndFandS]

Being that I'm getting older and I'm not as spry as I once was I have been putting together a Home Guard impression. I'm a big guy, so I'd be in clothes from home anyways. And if I'm feeling good perhaps I could walk on. I've found jean through Tartex and pretty much everything else I need.

It comes down to

the buckle. Or buckles. I've seen multiple buckles for home guard. I 2as thinking the plain 'plate', but as I'll be at Natuaral Bridge and Olustee I have been looking at Florida buckles as well. Hannover Brass has a very good selection but I can only spend so much, ya know?So as Florida buckles go, what would be the be the most bland one?(See photos)

 

[RedRover]

There were no Florida belt plates in that period. Those shown above were SC plates, or generic militia type plates (stars etc.) being sold as "Florida plate" to reenactors, etc.

The description of the Florida home guards, from a Union sailor in 1863: "They were dressed as civilians, but were armed with double-barreled guns, revolvers and bowie knives."

Here's a Texas soldier, probably not much different than the average Florida home guard perhaps.

Most Confederate Army accoutrements, anyways, were very plain. Often with only harness buckles... like these worn by John D. Cay with the Georgia Cavalry, photographed at Tallahassee in 1864:

Or this lad of the 15th Confederate Cavalry, raised partly in Florida:

Here's a couple of common CSA waist belts with iron harness buckles...

Or cheap brass frames... like this one worn by a member of the 1st Special Battalion of Florida Cavalry;

evidently perhaps the "wishbone" frame type buckle...

 

[R. Porter]

I would have thought for a home guard, the youngsters would have roller buckles or something less; maybe harness buckles adapted to military gear. The oldsters might have militia or state buckles from former service 30 or 40 years earlier and invalids would have whatever they had before they were invalided out. I'm no expert on uniforms, but my experience trying to track down a couple of youngsters killed at the Battle of the Crater suggests that there aren't even rosters for most of the home guard units, let alone descriptions of any uniforms or equipment.

 

[captaindrew]

I give the same advice over and over. If you're going to have your 1st/only Confederate kit keep it as generic and versatile as possible so you can go to any event and fall in with any company and fit right in with the exception of some of the strictest campaigner events. You don't want to paint yourself into a time and place specific corner. Florida had very little if any at all state resources for uniforms and gear. They begged borrowed and stole from neighboring states to give their boys something till they got north and supplied by one of the big depots. Any Florida button or plate would've been a private purchase item and probably quite costly. Don't think you'd see much of it in the rank and file. I'd stick to a simple untrimmed commutation jacket (something that certainly could've been made at home) I'd put civilian coin buttons on it. And for a waistbelt stick to a simple roller or frame buckle. This would certainly cover a home guard impression while you could jump in with anyone and be appropriate if you wanted to go to just about any event. That's me on the right at an early war campaigner event a few years ago wearing that exact kit.

 

[captaindrew]

As a matter of fact the jacket I pictured is the same one I'm wearing, I bought it for a campaigner event in Florida years ago and guess what the impression was....... Florida home guards (wasn't the event I was at in the photo). We were portraying the Swamp Fox's boys. Somewhere i have a few photos from that event, I'll have to find them.

 

[52ndFandS]

As a matter of fact the jacket I pictured is the same one I'm wearing, I bought it for a campaigner event in Florida years ago and guess what the impression was....... Florida home guards (wasn't the event I was at in the photo). We were portraying the Swamp Fox's boys. Somewhere i have a few photos from that event, I'll have to find them.

Thanks much. I was figuring it was a very generic look. I did not want to do thins without talking to someone who knows there business better than me. About the last thing I want to do is stand out any more than a hulking 6'2 guy would in the era.

And you know you definitely know your stuff, and as you're from Florida you'd be more in the know.

I'm actually doing this so.i can get home for as many events as possible. I miss the place.

 

[captaindrew]

I don't know all that much but have been around the proverbial block a few times. You want to put together a kit that could fit in anywhere unless of course you want to get several different jackets. I have over the years collected several jackets so I can pull off several specific impressions but the kit pictured is my go to default generic. You never know, other than Florida you might want to go to
a Gettysburg event, Cedar Creek, or maybe even a Western theater event. You can take that anywhere really. I've seen guys make the mistake of spending a lot of $$ on a very specific kit for their first go around and wanting to venture out and not have the right thing.

 

[52ndFandS]

I don't know all that much but have been around the proverbial block a few times. You want to put together a kit that could fit in anywhere unless of course you want to get several different jackets. I have over the years collected several jackets so I can pull off several specific impressions but the kit pictured is my go to default generic. You never know, other than Florida you might want to go to
a Gettysburg event, Cedar Creek, or maybe even a Western theater event. You can take that anywhere really. I've seen guys make the mistake of spending a lot of $$ on a very specific kit for their first go around and wanting to venture out and not have the right thing.

I do plan on several kits. Mostly deep sout & western theater. Though being close to Gettysburg it is tempting.

From what I've read most depots had uniforms up to a size 46. If you were past that it was getting clothes from home. I was born and in the 98th percentile. In the dictors words, "He's going to be a big boy."

I've checked with several uniform makers who told my chest, 72 would be "clothes sent from home."

So having not been around the block in the field I have been doing a lot of research. I respect your opinion and thoughts on the matter. Rather than jumping the gun I'll do more reading and study. Thank you much.

 

[captaindrew]

I do plan on several kits. Mostly deep sout & western theater. Though being close to Gettysburg it is tempting.

From what I've read most depots had uniforms up to a size 46. If you were past that it was getting clothes from home. I was born and in the 98th percentile. In the dictors words, "He's going to be a big boy."

I've checked with several uniform makers who told my chest, 72 would be "clothes sent from home."

So having not been around the block in the field I have been doing a lot of research. I respect your opinion and thoughts on the matter. Rather than jumping the gun I'll do more reading and study. Thank you much.

You're size is a bit of a challenge but don't be discouraged or let it stop you. Maybe a sack coat would be a good option for you. They were basically a copy of a civilian work coat and were seen in all theaters. I know you've been reading the Adolphus articles, he has one in there on the sack coat. Some of the vendors like W&W are reproducing them properly but don't go by the sutler row versions, they're completely wrong.

 

[52ndFandS]

You're size is a bit of a challenge but don't be discouraged or let it stop you. Maybe a sack coat would be a good option for you. They were basically a copy of a civilian work coat and were seen in all theaters. I know you've been reading the Adolphus articles, he has one in there on the sack coat. Some of the vendors like W&W are reproducing them properly but don't go by the sutler row versions, they're completely wrong.

A sack is what I'm looking at. It's under represented because.of shells. I actually bought a shell about five years ago and bit was very uncomfortable. As I'm sure you can imagine for a guy.like myself.

I found drab jean and I was thinking, a true rateity for me, that a long sack might be my best bet. Civilian, but militarized which brass buttons. I have a few photographs as examples. So it's not out there. It's not an 1864 Zuave kit. Lil.

I have found the leathers, cartridge box, cap pouch, etc, and it doesn't stand out. And I found a Georgia buckle as you mentioned.

 

[History hoarder63]

Being that I'm getting older and I'm not as spry as I once was I have been putting together a Home Guard impression. I'm a big guy, so I'd be in clothes from home anyways. And if I'm feeling good perhaps I could walk on. I've found jean through Tartex and pretty much everything else I need.

It comes down to View attachment 520604View attachment 520605View attachment 520606View attachment 520601View attachment 520602View attachment 520603the buckle. Or buckles. I've seen multiple buckles for home guard. I 2as thinking the plain 'plate', but as I'll be at Natuaral Bridge and Olustee I have been looking at Florida buckles as well. Hannover Brass has a very good selection but I can only spend so much, ya know?So as Florida buckles go, what would be the be the most bland one?(See photos)

View attachment 520599View attachment 520600

Genuine Florida plate. Post war though.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

My "generic" and main early war kit is basically Captain Drew's but I wear a frock instead of a shell jacket. Even has the same buttons on it. I have other, more specialized jackets I swap in depending what I'm doing. I find jean wool trousers, frame buckle, civilian pattern shirt, and a brown slouch hat work well for everything with just a swap of the jacket.