Ok Impression?

[Manassas 1861]

What can I fix with my yankee impression? My unit portrays the mid-war era, I'm hoping to get a wambaugh white blouse to replace the old unlined jacket, the forage cap is also small and poor quality. I don't have much money to work with, so putting together an accurate kit is gonna take awhile.

 

[13 IL Cav & 64 GA Inf]

What can I fix with my yankee impression? My unit portrays the mid-war era, I'm hoping to get a wambaugh white blouse to replace the old unlined jacket, the forage cap is also small and poor quality. I don't have much money to work with, so putting together an accurate kit is gonna take awhile.View attachment 536880

Good. Like it. (The hair is a little long - haha.)

 

[James Brenner]

Well, I think you already have the most important thing: a good attitude. The second most important thing is a good quality, proper fitting pair of brogans. I know that I sound like a broken record on this subject, but - trust me - don't cheap out on your footwear. After that, it's dealer's choice.

 

[captaindrew]

Looks good so far!

 

[Pollaco]

Too small a cap can only add to the authenticity. A pair of wire framed glasses maybe?

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

It's nice to see someone young who is interested in history and wants to do things right!
Taking a picture in a mirror is one way of replicating the 1860's photography that reversed the image (as in the US belt buckle).

 

[Dan Kohli]

that's a decent looking kit.

 

[bayonet]

What can I fix with my yankee impression?

Well let us see "Your War Face" you know what a War Face is? Man that was a great movie especially the first 1/2 hour. Sad he passed away, great actor.

 

[RedRover]

looks like you'll fit right in...

...except for the cell phone of course. Here's a chap with a period selfie camera...

The first selfie in America was taken by Robert Cornelius of Philadelphia in October, 1839 with a Daguerreotype camera in his garden... time of exposure about 10-15 minutes.

 

[archieclement]

looks like you'll fit right in...


View attachment 536985View attachment 536984View attachment 536986



...except for the cell phone of course. Here's a chap with a period selfie camera...

View attachment 536987

The first selfie in America was taken by Robert Cornelius of Philadelphia in October, 1839 with a Daguerreotype camera in his garden... time of exposure about 10-15 minutes.

View attachment 536988

Does need haircut tho looking at pics.......

 

[Cavalier]

You probably look a lot closer to the real thing then a fifty year old fat guy.

John

 

[7thWisconsin]

I would say you have a great start! Welcome to what I hope is a lifelong hobby.

 

[DixieRifles]

"Ok impression??"

No. Great impression.

Okay photo, though.

 

[Manassas 1861]

Does need haircut tho looking at pics.......

Yep, I hope to get it cut in a few weeks.

 

[Manassas 1861]

Well, I think you already have the most important thing: a good attitude. The second most important thing is a good quality, proper fitting pair of brogans. I know that I sound like a broken record on this subject, but - trust me - don't cheap out on your footwear. After that, it's dealer's choice.

Thanks, I do own a pair that my buddy gave to me, so I'm all set in terms of footwear.

 

[Manassas 1861]

Thank you everyone for your replies, I really appreciate your kind words and suggestions.

 

[johan_steele]

What can I fix with my yankee impression? My unit portrays the mid-war era, I'm hoping to get a wambaugh white blouse to replace the old unlined jacket, the forage cap is also small and poor quality. I don't have much money to work with, so putting together an accurate kit is gonna take awhile.View attachment 536880

Better than ok, better than many.

 

[Story]

Consider reaching out to RevWar units in your area of NY, see if they can set aside a beater set of clothes and firelocks for a skinny of-proper-age volunteer. I get that you're on a kid's budget but nothing ventured, nothing gained. As implied above, I'd also bet $20 many Revwar reenactors have old wool that's more your size then their current size.

So. All unasked questions get a *no*.​

Impressions - Where Have All the American Revolutionary War Re-Enactors Gone? | Reenactors Forum - Join, Drill, See the Elephant

Parallel to the issues facing Civil War reenactors and the multiple threads here about the RevWar and it's upcoming 250th cycle. As recruitment lags, groups turn to social media and YouTube to attract younger members https://archive.ph/jkXqF or...

civilwartalk.com

Note well the long-haired hippies of October 1777.

 

[Story]

Yep, I hope to get it cut in a few weeks.

You keep it washed and free of lice, right? Why bother.

 

[RedRover]

Yep, I hope to get it cut in a few weeks.

The long locks would be fine for the full "Southern Chivalry" effect in the style of the "Chevalier Bayard..."

Those Long-Haired (18)60s Radicals

Trimmed, wavy hair was fashionable for white men in late antebellum America, so those with longer locks stood out.

www.historynet.com

Such was effective for antebellum "fire-eating" among the most eccentric of the Southern Democracy's chivalry, and maybe for wartime guerrillas and "carpet knights," but the soldiers in camps quickly found that anything but relatively shorn locks was a lot of trouble and invited a too unpleasant infestation by little critters. Sam Watkins:

Watkins noted one of his compatriots, Tennessee Thompson, kept half his hair, on one side long, and the other shorn... but only to go full "comb-over."

In the 1980s TV Mini-Series "North and South" the protagonist General Orie Main (Patrick Swayze) went full fire-eater...