Need help with Correspondent Impression

[Isabella_Grey]

As stated in the subject line, I need help creating a correspondent impression. I need to have one ready by Wilson's Creek in August, but I'm unsure as to the proper attire and accoutrements. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Spinster]

A normal Day Dress is the proper attire for any lady. For traveling, a nice polonaise is wonderful, but they are a bear to fit properly.


'Scribbling Women' of the period were more likely to be home writing pot boilers and morality tales than jouncing about the countryside----especially at a somewhat accidental military encounter.

From who are you drawing the baseline of this impression? Its likely there are pictures of known female corresspondents, simply because they were an anomaly. Those will tell you what to wear.

[Isabella_Grey]

I'm actually going to be crossdressing as a man. I should have mentioned that part. I'm not so good at drawing, but I have a camera set up that is pretty good, as well as all the writing materials I may need. Just not sure of Civilian men's clothing, or what I'm supossed to wear.If it's not Civilian, then what is it?

[Spinster]

Civilian men's clothing is reasonably easy to research by a close read for such here, a closer read on the Authentic Campaigner site and an in depth look at the various article written for Jim Butler's Westville series of events. Obtaining those clothes in the time available to you will be problematic.

Of greater concern is disguising gender. With modern nutrition, few women have the body type to even begin the process of properly binding chests, getting a period haircut that does not make them look like a fool in everyday life, and compensating for lack of facial hair, or hip structure/walk.

Contrary to what some advise, this is not as simple as stuffing hair up under a hat and wearing a big coat. I've dressed a very few good ones, and seen countless bad ones.

If you walk like a woman and talk like a woman, you'll need to learn how not to pretty fast.

Contact Private Idaho on this board via private message. Some of these gals have an invitation only discussion group, and the illustration on the chest binder construction. It's been a long time since I've made one, and I've forgotten how.


Still, I highly recommend that you document this cross dressing impression before you put a bunch of work into acquiring the gear. Like many Special Impressions, it will rarely, if ever, be useful.

[Julio C. Zangroniz]

Ms. Grey,
As a Civil War-era news correspondent, you would have been a civilian, though forced to travel with one army or the other, purely for physical requisites (transportation, protection, food/drink, access to the telegraph, etc.). Most correspondents just dressed like civilians. Men usually wore bowler-type hats, jackets and vests, usually boots, though brogans would have been widely available.
There are plenty of photographs on record showing Mathew Brady with a straw hat and a white duster, or Alfred Waud perched on a rock perfecting his drawings, so use those as guidelines.
I myself portray a news correspondent on the field. A job I *actually* do for The Civil War News and a variety of other publications. I use modern equipment, though, because what I need to do cannot be done adeaquately with 19th Century equipment. But I try to "look" the part, so I don't spoil the moment for the participants.
I hope to be in attendance at Wilson's Creek, camping in the "authentic civilian" area. You are welcome to look me up and stop by for some "shop talk."
If you wish more specific advice, feel free to reach me via my e-mail address: Jzangroniz@comcast.net
Julio

[GaWildcat]

Here ya go. http://www.bohemianbrigade.com/

[Isabella_Grey]

Here ya go. http://www.bohemianbrigade.com/

Oh my, this is perfect! Thanks so very much!

[GaWildcat]

Very happy to have been of service. I play with a correspondent impression from time to time.

[Isabella_Grey]

I'm just going to be doing it on a time to time basis as well. But since I'm the Brigade Photographer, it just seemed like a logical step.

[plankholder]

my first question, and I mean no insult by this, but why do you feel the need to do a male impression and "cross dress" in the first place? There are plenty of female impressions that arent done very often and are done correctly even less frequently. Females trying to pass themselves off as males almost always fail miserably, for many of the reason Mrs Lawson listed above. Another reason they fail, is because it really didnt happen(with very few exceptions). I really am not trying to start an arguement or heat the thread up, but no one has ever been able to provide me with documentation of this occuring in the war with the exception of 2 or 3 brief mentioning of female soldiers be DISCOVERED and BOOTED, two things to keep in mind-they would have been discovered, ultimatly and then kicked out. I am all for EVERYONE participating in this hobby, however it underminds what we are trying to do, by recreating history as accuratly as we can, and looks pretty silly to spectators. Do as you like, as this is just a hobby, but I would encourage you to reevaluate what you are trying to do with your impression. You might contact Michael Farnsley with the Bohemian Brigade, he is also a member of this forum. He is a great and knowledgable fellow, and is always willing to help out.