First we will say welcome to the 1st Kentucky. This unit strives to do the best soldier and civilian impression of the 1860s. This handout is just a guideline on how we work together as a unit to make the experience the best it can be for everyone.

MILITARY PROTOCOL:

The 1st Kentucky is at all times a military camp. Civilians may camp with the 1st Kentucky soldiers, but the camp will have a military look and operate by military protocol at all times.

Our unit is one of the more seasoned units within Longstreet’s Corp. As well, our Captain frequently operates in battalion or even higher command roles bringing high visibility to our company and camp. Therefore, we must serve as a model to other units of “how it is done right” and to demonstrate what “good” looks like when it comes to all aspects of the period correct reenacting experience.

The 1st Sergeant is in charge of overseeing the camp. Any items needing attention within the camp should be brought to his attention.

The Captain is in charge of the company. Any issues with members of the company or with members of other units should be brought to his attention.

The colors, our company and regimental flags, are raised and lowered in morning and evening. We stand and cease conversation when the colors are being posted and retired.

Soldiers are required to wear jackets with at least the first buttons buttoned when leaving camp.

You need to provide yourself with a military style tent. There are many sutlers who provide these tents and there will be a list at the end of this handout so you can look at them all. If you have any questions on this major purchase, please ask one of us as the tent needs to be of the right style.

We do our best to make the Company street have the feel and look of a tidy period camp:

1.) If your tent is not 100% period correct on the inside, then please when you are not in your tent tie the flaps. This is one of the biggest things to make spectators and reenactors lose that special feeling of actually being in the 1860s.

2.) Take the extra time to pour a drink into a tin or ceramic cup. No one wants to see a soldier drinking from a Pepsi can. If you do not have a cup, you can buy them inexpensively at the sutlers.

3.) Try to keep any non-period items hidden from the public eye: avoid cigarette butts on the ground, coolers out in the open, water jugs and plastic ground tarps lying out from under tents. Good rule of thumb is if it was not there during the time, then hide it!

4.) Keep the front area of your tent uncluttered so our company street looks tidy.

Remember we are all here to have fun together, but also people are coming out and paying to see us do our best impression of these people during this time. You start to lose the magic feeling with people when they start to see things that do not belong during this time we are portraying.

COURTESY:

Our manners are our signature. A sign of our respect for what we do and respect for the people we reenact with. Here are some suggestions about courtesy:

Rain--If it starts raining and someone isn’t there to put their clothes or other belongings under cover, please do so for them. It will be greatly appreciated.

Borrowing--If you borrow an item, use it, clean it, and return it as soon as possible. This goes especially for cooking and eating utensils.

Noise—Since we are a family-oriented unit, we try to avoid excessive noise after 11pm

Trash—Keep the public areas of the camp free from trash. There is always a trash bag hanging behind the Captain’s tent. Please do not throw wrappers, fruit peels, cigarette butts, etc. on the ground around the camp. Also, please do not throw plastic or other trash such as metal cans in the campfire. If the trash bag behind the tent is full, pull it out and take it to the trash bins or else leave it by the portajohns. Find another trash bag in the food box or ask for one.

Cooking—Try to cook over a high flame so your food is ready quickly and the space on the grill can be available to others to cook during busier meal times. If you are invited to eat someone else’s food, consider washing a dish or pot for them and be sure to wash your own dishes. If there is a dirty pan or pot by the fire, add some water to it so it will be easier for the person to clean. A little appreciation goes a long way.

Washing—The buckets for washing are kept by the side of the Captain’s tent and are changed morning and evening. To keep the water clean, dip a cup into the bucket and rinse off your plate over the grass before dunking it in the water. If the water gets really dirty, dump it and bring some fresh water back with you the next time you go to the portajohn.

Campfire—If you know how to split wood, please do so on occasion so we have kindling for cooking fires. Big logs do not burn hot enough for cooking unless the fire has been going for a long time and the wood is dry. When you leave the campfire, please return your chair and cooking items to your tent so our campfire area looks tidy.

Decorum—Please respect the troop formations and refrain from outbursts toward the soldiers no matter how well deserved. We are Southern Ladies and as such should not be shouting cheeky comments at strange men. Any issues with members of other units should be brought to the attention of our Captain for justice and resolution. Also, consider where the battle is taking place and avoid lying on blankets, having a picnic, washing hair, etc. in an area of camp where you are the backdrop the spectators see during the battle.

Captain’s Tent—Come and relax under the Captain’s tent fly any time. Just don’t leave food, plates, cups, equipment, clothing, trash, pop cans, pop guns, wet towels, books, spectacles, art supplies, dolls, newspapers, programs, empty bags, or other personal items for the Captain to clean up after you when you leave. The Captain has shot people for less.

WOMEN’S DRESS:

It’s best to start by doing some research on the web or consult the Citizen’s Companion magazine. Many of our members have back issues we’ll be willing to loan you. Dresses are expensive, but if you sew there are many patterns available to replicate the design of dresses. A basic camp style dress is a good place to start. Save the ball gown for a later purchase or project. Please stay away from florescent colors and any synthetic fabrics. Some of the synthetic taffetas are acceptable for ball gowns, but most of your clothes should be 100% cotton. Be careful about the trim. Lace either white, bone, or black was used only on undergarments. The women of the 1st Kentucky are also willing to loan out dresses until you have a dress of your own.

Hair during this time varies depending upon your age. Hair should usually be parted in the middle and pulled back to the nape of the neck. Please no scrunchies. Use period style clips or bobby pins. Bangs can be kept back with bobby pins and short hair can be enhanced with a hair piece or snood of the same color as your own hair (avoid brightly colored snoods).

Shoes were leather, mostly black, could be brown and occasion if you could afford them white. The heel is flat or very low. The old time “granny” shoe or boot is the correct look. For around the home the women did wear something like a cloth slip on shoe sometimes with a little buckle on them. Therefore, some ballet type slippers could be used until you get some more serviceable footwear. Avoid white sneakers or flip flops at all costs. These stand out like a McDonald’s sign.

Jewelry was simple and it is best to look on the web to get an idea of what the women wore. Avoid any jewelry that has a lot of shiny stones or a plastic look. Your wedding ring is fine, but avoid flashy jewelry or anything not of the period style. Be careful about Victorian looking jewelry. While this may look old timey, it is usually from an era later than what we are trying to portray.

Undergarments were worn during this time and are a necessary part of your wardrobe. They are simple to make and many sutlers have them. At very least, you should have 1) a hoop or corded petticoat to hold your dress out from your legs, 2) a skirt that goes over your hoop to hide the boning from the hoop and give extra body to your dress, 3) a pair of pantalets or drawers to go under your hoop so when you bend over people don’t see your nether regions. Corsets were also worn too, and a period corset is always best. Alternately, you could get by with some of the simpler styles of corsets available at department stores. Please do not wear sweatpants or brightly colored shorts under your dresses. They will be seen and you will draw a lot of snickers (not the candy bar).

Headwear is also a very important thing and also changed depending on your age. A bonnet is always appropriate, but you can get by at first with just a straw hat with some ribbons around the brim. Avoid adding any flowers or other paraphernalia that is obviously plastic.

Sunglasses should be avoided. There was colored glass back then, but it meant you had something pretty ugly to hide.

If there is ever a question please ask us. We all have very valuable information and do not mind sharing it.

MEN DRESS:

If not a soldier you need to achieve the look of a civilian man in the 1860s. Shirts in this time are mostly all cotton of a simple design. Do a web search or ask us to show you the right kind of style and material. The pants are button fly, usually with suspenders. A correct low brim hat helps you pull this look off too and a period vest adds style. Shoes are black or brown leather. You can wear boots, but you need to look for the style that was appropriate for this time. Again any of the 1st Kentucky will be happy to help you look for things and may even have things for you to borrow until you can get the items needed. Please no sneakers or work boots.

CHILDREN DRESS:

Children are the hardest to outfit due to them growing so fast. You need to remember that, yes, even boys up to a certain age would wear dresses. There are many Web sites and books that will show you pictures of this. It is very hard to find pants that are period correct for a 2 year old boy because the boy should be in a dress. Many of us have children and we have clothes that you can borrow until you can get some of your own. Girls are easier to dress and many sutlers have dresses for young girls and pantalets for them also. Bonnets also were worn by little girls. A girl would not wear adult clothes until the very late teens. If you have questions, ask us and we will guide you to the right style.

Boys looked like little gentlemen when they reached an age of 4 or 5: pants with butterflies and cotton shirts with some wearing suspenders. A vest adds style. For cold weather, a military jacket may be appropriate. Shoes for both should be at least black or brown. Ask some of the members of the unit for help as there may be some shoes that are able to be loaned out.

We all as a unit are learning about this time period and all are trying our best to become the part we are portraying. There is always a lot more to learn, but this is a jumpstart to the basic things that make a unit look the part. Again, please direct any questions to the members of the unit. The 1st Kentucky has a website and you contact many of the members there. Hope this helps a little.

WEB ADDRESSES:

1.) 1st Kentucky website: http://1stky.org

2.) Hair links:

http://www.thegracefullady.com/ladiessociety/hair.htm http://www.gothampatterns.com/hair

3.) Sutlers:

http://www.abrahamslady.com/

http://www.fcsutler.com/

https://www.regtqm.com/index.htm

http://www.blockaderunner.com/

http://www.crescentcitysutler.com/

4.) Resources:

http://www.ladiesofreenacting.com

http://www.shasta.com/suesgoodco/newcivilians/index.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~gchristen/Etiquette.html

http://www.freewebs.com/thecivilwarlady/theeverydaydress.htm

An address for a sutler used by the unit for uniforms:

James Country Merchantile

P.O. Box 364, Liberty, MO 64068

816-781-9473

fax:(816) 781-1470

We do hope this has helped you get comfortable within our unit, and we look forward to seeing you in the field!