Absolutes?

[bob 125th nysvi]

Once again we have been given an Article on how to do something. In this case the article is in the September 2006 CCG "Low Cost and No Cost Ways to Improve Your Impression" by Ross Lamoreaux

I am sure that Mr. Lamoreaux's information is accurate in that this is how SOME civil war soldiers did what they did. Maybe even a great number of them, maybe even a MAJORITY of them.

And I beleive his article is intended to improve the hobby.

It is in Mr. Lamoreaux's (and countless other 'How To' suggestors, I am just using him as an example that can be cited and verified having nothing against Mr. Lamoreaux, I don't know the guy) belief in absolutes, as in this is the ONLY way.

In that I respectfully disagree.

Let me point out that in 1860 the Regular Army consisted of under 20,000 men and officers and had contractors used to supporting a peacetime army of that strength.

By the end of the CW the total number of men who had served in both armies numbered over 300 TIMES the size of the prewar army. And both sides had enough problems supporting those men with the materials of war that they resorted to importing massive amounts of equipment. And just about every manufacturer in the country got involved in filling orders for war material.

John Tobey's article ("Frankenrelic") in the Sept/Oct 2006 Civil War Historian shows original equipment issued and used that if it showed up on today's reenactment battlefield would be ridiculed as "farby".

In his article Mr. Tobey points out that in 1860 strict specifications did not exist for many military articles and the detailed "Quartermaster's Manual" of 1865 was never even published.

You had states contracting to provide material for regiments they raised. You had the government sending written descriptions to contractors and accepting the product if it was servicable. Even if it wasn't 'exactly' what they expected.

To beleive that there were massive variations in the quality and design among the different manufacturers is only logical.

To expand the theme to beleive there was only ONE way to wear a canteen, haversack or cartridge box in civilian based armies numbering MILLIONS of men is just plan illogical.

I do not doubt that 'advisors' like Mr. Lamoreaux are accurate in being able to cite examples of what they preach. I don't doubt that they beleive if their advice is followed that the hobby will be 'improved'.

What I doubt, is in America's first mass mobilzed, industrial revolution, continent wide war, that there was only ONE way to do anything.

Unfortunately, far too often this is what we are told.

Bob Sandusky
Co C 125th NYSVI
Esperance, NY

[Sgt_Pepper]

"There are three ways to do everything: the right way, the wrong way, and the Marine Corps way - and the first two don't count here (MCRD Parris Island, SC)."

[ThehosGendar]

In my readings and after staring at the LOC high-res images for hours and hours, the only absolute you can really stick to is that the Civil War was fought by carbon-based humans who wore uniforms which sort of followed a certain pattern design who marched, shot guns, and ate food, with hundreds of variations thereof.

However, this isn't a permission slip to do whatever. The PEC thing is still a good idea most of the time.

[7thMDYankee]

Mr. Sandusky,

It is very wise to be cautious with anyone standing up and saying something as grandiose as "this is the way it was done..." Some years ago I was chided by some "authenticity police" at an event for "farby" gear. It was something like, "Where did you get that? Why would you bring something like that out here... we're about history!?" They were not even placated when I informed them it was a piece of documented vintage gear from the very campaign we were re-enacting! I was mildly shocked when I heard one say, "We've studied everything from this war, we know enough to know you are wrong!" Ugh!

In all fairness I don't recall the event (though it was in the Shenandoah) nor the people making the charge (I was doing rebel at the time), and it was at least 15 years ago... the point, though, sticks.

James West Davidson and Mark Hamilton Lytle wrote a book entitled "After the Fact: The Art of Historical Detection." They painstakingly examine the very issue you bring up in your post. It is my humble suggestion that anyone attempting to research something (or anything) from the past read the pages of their book first.

Basically they examine a myriad of angles from which we draw the story of the past. The principles they espouse may then be expanded to many other eras and topics. I can't help but feel that the quality of our research would improve, which would hopefully correspond to better and more honest portrayals of the past.

I just fear that some among us may research so much that they feel invincible when it comes to knowing the past. Then they become so haughty they don't even know the real thing when they see it.

Just my 2 cents of unsolicited observations and thoughts. Thank you for your time.

[bill watson]

"It is in Mr. Lamoreaux's belief in absolutes, as in this is the ONLY way."

Hey Bob,
Not having access to the magazine article: Is there something in the article that makes you think he actually says "the way I'm telling you is the only way?"

[Rob]

One of my favorites:

"Thou shalt not bend the brim of your hat in the manner of a baseball cap."

[NC5thcav]

I agree that there are no real absolutes, but the point that most people preaching PEC are trying to make is for reenactors not to take one instance and then overdo it. You can find documentation for just about anything if you look hard enough, but ask yourself "was this really that common?" I'm not saying that some things should never be done, but if two soldiers in the Army of the Potomac wore yellow trimmed green polka dotted pants, should you do the same, just because you can document it?

[Pvt Schnapps]

I agree that there are no real absolutes, but the point that most people preaching PEC are trying to make is for reenactors not to take one instance and then overdo it. You can find documentation for just about anything if you look hard enough, but ask yourself "was this really that common?" I'm not saying that some things should never be done, but if two soldiers in the Army of the Potomac wore yellow trimmed green polka dotted pants, should you do the same, just because you can document it?

Only if my jaguar skin chaps are at the cleaners.

[ewtaylor]

One of my favorites:

"Thou shalt not bend the brim of your hat in the manner of a baseball cap."

I still see more reenactors doing it then period soldiers in period photos.
ew taylor

[Rob]

Interestingly enough, when I received my Sekala cap last year, the brim looked just like the one in the photo. I tried to bend it straight, but it wouldn't stay, so I left it alone.