Hairstyles in the Civil War

[Pvt Schnapps]

This was has been discussed a few times in various forums, but an excellent resource for this is to look at the chapter in the Columbia Rifles Research Compendium that shows photographs of several hospital patients. These are of soldiers straight from the field with fresh wounds and shows them as they were. There are several men with closely cropped hair. As also discussed, it was often easier to crop hair closer to the scalp than to fiddle with combs and scissors and getting each hair just right, but also one's look would change from the field to the garrison.

I just though it bore repeating before getting lost in the conversation.

[CS Undertaker]

All of my relatives on my mother's side that fought in the civil war had long hair and wore braids.

[indguard]

All of my relatives on my mother's side that fought in the civil war had long hair and wore braids.

Sure SOME few men had long or longish hair during the time. Just as they have in every other time period. But I'd ask how you know this "braid" claim is true? Family lore (almost always WRONG) or actual photo evidence?

WTH
The Reminders mess

[S.D.Swart]

Sure SOME few men had long or longish hair during the time. Just as they have in every other time period. But I'd ask how you know this "braid" claim is true? Family lore (almost always WRONG) or actual photo evidence?

WTH
The Reminders mess

I am betting he is refering to a Native American Ancestory. lol. Even that is debatable, dependant on the tribe and where they were at, during the war. Like the eastern Ky Cherokee that went to the hills during the trail of tears with thier white and 1/2 white relation. They would have dressed and looked like thier white neighbors for the most part.

[CS Undertaker]

Excuse me with the LOL. Yes they were native, Choctaw in fact. Mother's side had Choctaw warriors, Father's side, 44th Virginia Infantry. Both fought for the confederacy. If I could talk to them today, i could tell you definitively what they did and how they dressed. Since they are not around, all we have to go by is muster records and family lore. Whether all the stories are true or not, only those telling them would know. Poor southern whites and most native americans do not have studio pictures laying around. Since I do not have pictures, I have no reason to doubt family history. I cannot prove or disprove but neither can the ones that would argue otherwise.

I do have a Richmond musket and bayonet handed down through the family and am proud to TRY and show honor to those that lived and died in my family by reenacting.

[delawaric]

"There was only one man in the Battery who could cut hair--Sergeant McCreery--and he had the only pair of scissors that could cut hair. So every aspirant to this fashionable cut tried to make interest with Van to fix him up; and Van, who was very good natured, would, as he had time and opportunity, accommodate the applicant, and trim him close." http://www.angelfire.com/va3/valleywar/haircut.html

[indguard]

I am betting he is refering to a Native American Ancestory. lol. Even that is debatable, dependant on the tribe and where they were at, during the war. Like the eastern Ky Cherokee that went to the hills during the trail of tears with thier white and 1/2 white relation. They would have dressed and looked like thier white neighbors for the most part.

Exactly right. Today everyone thinks of a native American as some unassimilated standout that always walked around in full ancestral regalia, but the truth is most Indians from the Civil War era (most tribes east of the Rockies) tried to assimilate and would have dressed like white folks. It is just as likely that a native American in the central and eastern half of the US would NOT be wearing long hair during the civil war era. So, family lore is not in the least satisfactory as evidence of how native American ancestors dressed in the 1860s. It just isn't.

WTH
The ShowMe mess

[Bear Flagger]

I guess all the plains tribes that were still fighting to maintain a way of life 30 years after the whites ended their war don't count. Even many members of eastern tribes in the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) still wore traditional items with white dress.

[S.D.Swart]

You didn't say who or where. So please don't go there.

As both of us mentioned we were talking about the Western and Eastern Theatre. Not the Frontier. I just get sick of people with Native Ancestory (I am 1/4 Cherokee), thinking in terms of regalia, long hair and feathers. Seen too many crazy excuses from mainstream groups to dress in warpaint, regalia, ect at a Civil War event, because thier ancestors were from the Nations. It is a stereotype. I at least would like to not see that, unless it is in the right context.

[indguard]

I guess all the plains tribes ... blah, blah, blah

What part of "most tribes east of the Rockies" did you not understand. And also, what part of "most" (meaning NOT ALL) don't you understand?

WTH
The HelenKeller mess