Foreign Observers

[Poor Private]

A foreign observer must be a regional thingy. I don't believe I have seen one in years, at the local events. Sop if they arn't there, how can they be overdone? (scratches head). The portrayal of civil war genereals is wayyy over done though. a dozen Jacksons in a tristate are a bit much. Or ones who don't look anything like who they are portraying how about a short fat Buford, or a 5foot tall Lincoln. I don't care if they have all the knowledge or the appropriate dress-- but if your "doing" someone at least resemble them in appearance. I would rather see a guy dressed up in the traditional greek garb standing on a hill overlooking an event than a 5' guy with a poor glue on beard giving the Gettysburg address.

[Pumpkin6rh]

Interesting topic discussion here. I must admit that I think we have all seen (or at least heard of) those really bad foreign observer impressions and that has coloured many of our pre-concieved notions. I for one thought not very highly of them. But, as I now (typically) portray a British Officer down from Canada (after the Trent Affair), I'm forced to deal with the impression.

My best friend asked me to come on board with his idea to do this and I was very hesitant to say the least. We decided that 1) we would not wear uniforms 2) we would have the correct paper work and back story to the event we are attending 3) we camp with civilians 4) While we would introduce ourselves (using the proper social etiquette of the 1860's) to the staff early in the event... we make ourselves scarce and observe from afar, trying not to be part of the battle. Telescopes are a wonderful thing. 5) if visiting the Union camps, we would do so at the evening and only for social calls taking care NOT to interfere with any command or unit functions. 6) and most importantly, we live well. The camp culture is very important and was a large part of most of the British Officers that came down from Canada from 1862-1865. Most did NOT get close to the fighting. Most stayed just close enough to hear the cannon but not to close to be shot at. They spent more time living the life of a traveling fraternity party. Their money was worth more in the USA than back in the UK and people wanted to sell them food stuffs and drink because their money was stable. (most carried gold too)

Basically we keep our mouths shut and our eyes and ears open on the odd chance we even venture past the pickets. It has been pretty amazing what we see when we do. The organization of the different units, the drill that they do, the music they play, and the differences in discipline between units is rather marked. It has been a very fascinating study.

I've enjoyed this impression and my friend and I both know that our impression is not appropriate for every event. That is why we pick and choose the events we attend. We put a lot of research and effort into our camp and our clothing and we look to attend events that have the same attitude. So, if you see two well dressed civilian gentlemen walking around nonchalantly and if you have the time, ask to see their papers. You just might meet us. Then again, if we do our job correctly, you won't even notice we are at your event.

cheers,
Stephen Keller

[G.R. Boyd]

I have recently joined in the hobby and am only 17, am assigned to a regular infantry unit but portray a British lieutenant. Have only been to 1 event as the observer, but the reaction i got was not that enthusiastic or warm as I'd have thought. I reside in Washington State, (The home of the observers "unit") but since then the group has been disbanded by the association due to lack of participation at events.
The one event i went to had no observers, I had donned a Welsh Guards uniform, and while the commanding officer treated me with respect, other officers didnt, they glared at me or asked sarcastic questions. The infantry privates were great though, when i walked by they all started chanting "ZULU ZULU ZULU!!" It was pretty funny. While at the event I tried not to get in the way of the officers, or impede the units. On my own away from the groups people started approaching me and asking me why a British Guards officer was doing at a U.S. Civil war event. They weren't flocking away from the main event, they simply wanted to know another side of the civil war.
My questions are,
1. When would it be an appropriate time to don a uniform (even if they didnt wear one in real life but you would like to be recognized away from a civilian?) out of civilian garb?
2. How should an observer be treated at an event?
3. Should an observer have an accent (still working on mine)
4. What should an obersver have from a soldier standpoint, i.e. a tent with a flag, papers, letters of introduction, fancy uniform?
Thanks for reading!

[Jim of the SRR]

The thing about many reenactors is the need to be special and standout. But, what we really need are turf-pounders toting guns. Now if someone wants to come as a foriegn observer, have at it. But, I ask that a) you research that role b) did that person actual observe the battle we are recreating and C) do you have a quality impression (because you have felt the need to stand out and be different, so at least do it right...or the rest of us are laughing as we march by). All I can say is...try not to be a farb (no one ever thinks they are farb...but they certainly do exist).

Thanks,
Jim Butler

[Spinster]

Mmm. Yeah. What the fellers chanting Zulu Zulu were pointing out was that you were nearly 20 years off time period. Brits were fighting in the Natal in 1879.

With no group to reenact with, look carefully at whether you wish to continue that impression. If you do, you'll have a lot of digging on your own to research this. One hopes the inactive members of the group would share their research.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

I have recently joined in the hobby and am only 17, am assigned to a regular infantry unit but portray a British lieutenant. Have only been to 1 event as the observer, but the reaction i got was not that enthusiastic or warm as I'd have thought. I reside in Washington State, (The home of the observers "unit") but since then the group has been disbanded by the association due to lack of participation at events.
The one event i went to had no observers, I had donned a Welsh Guards uniform, and while the commanding officer treated me with respect, other officers didnt, they glared at me or asked sarcastic questions. The infantry privates were great though, when i walked by they all started chanting "ZULU ZULU ZULU!!" It was pretty funny. While at the event I tried not to get in the way of the officers, or impede the units. On my own away from the groups people started approaching me and asking me why a British Guards officer was doing at a U.S. Civil war event. They weren't flocking away from the main event, they simply wanted to know another side of the civil war.
My questions are,
1. When would it be an appropriate time to don a uniform (even if they didnt wear one in real life but you would like to be recognized away from a civilian?) out of civilian garb?
2. How should an observer be treated at an event?
3. Should an observer have an accent (still working on mine)
4. What should an obersver have from a soldier standpoint, i.e. a tent with a flag, papers, letters of introduction, fancy uniform?
Thanks for reading!

First and foremost, at least get a copy of "Three Months in the Southern States" by Lt. Col Freemantle, who was an officer of the Coldstream Guards who observed the CS army. As to your query:
1. Historically, never. The British were nuetrals officially, and the wearing of a uniform signifys non-nuetrality or partiality, which was against the accepted behavior of the times.
2. Depends upon regional attitudes. The southern officers treated British observers quite well, as they were trying to get England into the war on the southern side. Northern officers probably treated them with disdain, as there was ample examples of England already helping the south with arms and equipment, despite their "nuetrality"
3. Yes, unless you can document an observer who may have been Canadian or born in North America
4. Yes, they provided their own camping gear and equipment, would have an intensive amount of papers to get them through the lines, to include letters of introduction, letters of credit, passes, etc. Fancy uniform - probably not. Freemantle makes little mention in his book, but his collected papers are available on-line through the UK (just conduct a Google search).
Now my personal opinion, for what its worth. You're going to get a lot of unfavorable attitudes, as you've already begun to see, UNLESS you do extensive research and can back it up. Most people who reenact start at the beginning as a private or citizen and work their way up into specialities. A young person just getting in may not have "paid enough dues" to be walking around as a foreign officer. Dont let that detract from doing the work to make it right. There were a ton of foreign observers, some of who served honorably on the staffs of generals on both sides, others just quietly passing through and doing what they were sent to do-observe. A proper observer, in my humble opinion, should quietly go about his impression and subtly make contact with senior staff through his papers. Despite that, I honestly believe that foreign officer impressions are overdone in reenacting today and I encourage folks to begin with a good citizen or soldier impression for the US or CS service first and foremost and branch out if you feel the need later

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

"What the fellers chanting Zulu Zulu were pointing out was that you were nearly 20 years off time period. Brits were fighting in the Natal in 1879."

The Amazulu (Zulu) war chant is more correctly, "Usuthu."



Curt
Who made a mistake of speaking German to non German speaking Prussian observers Mess
Udhloko ibutho

[Rob Weaver]

That whole "Zulu" thing goes back to the 200th Anniversary of Monmouth in 1978. They showed the movie one night outdoors. The Americans started chanting it the next day when opposite the 23rd Welsh Fusiliers. And it became part of reenacting lore.
Fremantle never wore a uniform while in the US/CS. In fact, he wore hunting clothes which at least once he felt to be too shabby for a moderately formal dinner party to which he'd been invited. De Joinville wore a Federal uniform as a member of Mac's staff. I believe there's a photo of von Zepplin (sp?) wearing civilian clothing in the field. Dare I say, old thing, that the British togs are right out. Reenacting officers can be very touchy about young reenactors sporting rank. Reenacting is like the "old army;" it takes years sometimes to make junior rank. We also attatch outsized importance to rank because of our relatively small numbers. We also tend to bring a bit of modern army "officers are scarce and NCOs are highly trained" philosophy to the table. That may go a ways to explain your cool reception. Some of those folks were probably bristling at the thought that the circus had just come to town and might want to take over. (No offense intended.)

[Pvt Schnapps]

Not that I'd want to encourage it, but here's a picture of English officers on the Peninsula in a mix of uniforms and civilian attire: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cwpb.00289/?co=cwp

[28thNY]

I actually thought about putting together an Arthur Fremantle impression a couple of years back. I was about the right age (being 28 when I was thinking about this) and I've been working on an English accent for several years now... I started reading through the "Three months in the Southern States" that Ross mentioned... That was right up until I saw three of them at one of the Gettysburg reenactments. :-/

Then I went researching and found how many Brits were serving in the US army and decided to shelve the idea altogether. Since that time I've seen it done very well and very badly. Foreign Observer and specialty impressions are overdone and totally disproportionate to the number of people in reenacting. I'll stick with the under-represented 85 percent.