The Breckinridge Greys
The most important & valuable part of your impression is the way you do everything—your attitude.
GENERAL AUTHENTICITY NOTES
We portray Confederate soldiers on campaign. Confederates on campaign were not pretty or flashy. Look rough.
These soldiers carried, or learned to carry, as little as possible to get by. The more you march, the heavier your equipment gets. Less is less.
Remember we portray soldiers of the western theatre. Everything in your kit should be identified with the original 9th Kentucky Infantry, First Kentucky Brigade, and/or the historical time and place being portrayed.
It is better not to wear uniforms that match. Remember your trousers could wear out sooner than your jacket and then you get issued diffrent ones from a different depot or with different dyes. Button holes should be hand sewn. If you cannot have them all hand sewn, have the coat at a minimum. No hat brass.
Muskets should be defarbed to the greatest extent possible. You can buy one defarbed, pay one of the big 4 to do it, or do the basics yourself. At a minimum, modern markings should be removed from the top of the barrel. See a mess NCO for more information. We recommend only the 3-band muskets listed below. Side arms will not be carried under the rank of sergeant. Short rifles are not permitted.
Early War Impression Standards
o Uniform – civilian coat, overshirt, frock coat, or commutation jacket
o Trousers – civilian
o Overcoat – civilan and catured federal with bullet holes
o Hat – civilian slouch hat preferred
o Shoes – civilian, imported, federal brogans
o Musket – [Flintlock would be best, but cannot be used at events, so don’t bother]; 1).69 cal. smoothbore; 2)1855 .58 cal.; 3)1861 Springfield
o Knapsack – Kibler soft pack; hardpack
o Haversack – civilian cloth like pillow ticking, matress ticking, plain canvas; rarely use federal tarred canvas
o Cartridge box/cap box – black federal are appropriate (but not dated later than the time period portrayed)
o Waist belt – civilian roller buckle; Georgia frame
o Cartridge box sling, etc. – canvas webbing; black leather
o Canteen – tin drum, federal smooth side, bullseye, various wood pattern. Jeancloth was a common federal cover. Logwood is also recommended.
o Groundcloth – painted canvas; canvas coated with linseed oil
o Blanket – 1) homespun and carpet 2) quilt of period pattern, hand stitched 3) federal issue
o Tent – not unless documented for the specific campaign portrayed
Mid-war Impression Standards
o Uniform – Jeancloth jacket (Columbus or other appropriate depot); jeancloth frock coat
o Overcoat – civilan; captured federal with bullet holes
o Trousers – CS issue, civilian, rarely captured federal
o Hat – mostly slouch hats, with a few kepis or captured federal headgear
o Shoes – CS issue, civilian/imported, federal contract
o Musket – .577 Enfield; 1861 Springfield; .69 cal. smoothbore
o Knapsack – 1) CS issue single bag; 2) Isaacs and Campbell; 3) some early war packs
o Haversack – civilian cloth like pillow ticking, matress ticking, plain canvas; rarely use federal tarred canvas
o Cartridge box/cap box – Atlanta, Augusta, Richmond, or federal boxes with correct year/stamp; painted canvas
o Waist belt – Georgia frame, imported snake buckle, rectangle C.S.A.
o Canteen – tin drum, federal smooth side, bullseye, various wood pattern. Jeancloth was a common federal cover. Logwood is also recommended.
o Groundcloth – painted canvas; canvas coated with linseed oil; few captured federal rubber blankets
o Blanket – 1) homespun and carpet 2) CS issue 3) quilt of period pattern, hand stitched 4) federal issue
o Tent – not unless documented for the specific campaign portrayed
Late War Impression Standards
o Uniform – Jeancloth jacket, mostly CS issue
o Overcoat – civilan or captured federal (could use as blanket roll)
o Trousers – any period trousers (tattered)
o Hat – mostly slouch hats, with a few kepis or captured federal headgear
o Shoes – none or CS issue, civilian/imported, federal contract
o Musket – mostly .577 Enfield or 1861 Springfield
o Knapsack – less representation, but still some of the ones issued by either government
o Haversack – civilian cloth like pillow ticking, matress ticking, plain canvas; rarely use federal tarred canvas
o Cartridge box/cap box – Atlanta, Augusta, Richmond, or federal boxes with correct year/stamp; painted canvas
o Waist belt – Georgia frame, imported snake buckle, rectangle C.S.A.
o Canteen – various wood pattern; less representation of tin drum, federal smooth side, bullseye
o Groundcloth – painted canvas; canvas coated with linseed oil; few captured federal rubber blankets
o Blanket – 1) homespun and carpet 2) CS issue 3) quilt of period pattern, hand stitched 4) federal issue
o Tent – not unless documented for the specific campaign portrayed
Recommended Sutlers:
We will only list those we have worked with, and been pleased with quality & service.
Be careful. You can find excellent equipment and incorrect or inappropriate items for our impression at the same supplier.
If you cannot document a type of clothing, fabric, or equipment to our unit or theatre, don’t buy it.
See a mess NCO for advice.
In-house
For entirely hand sewn Confederate, civilian, or federal haversacks; period blankets & coverlets; groundcloths; trousers; shelter tent/half; and other items, contact Chad Wrinn at [email protected].
General Sutlers
Cedar Creek – http://www.cedarcreeksupplydepot.com/
C.J. Daley – http://www.cjdaley.com
Regimental Quartermaster – http://www.regtqm.com/
S & S – http://www.ss-sutler.com/
Uniforms / Clothing / Fabric
Carter & Jasper – http://www.carterandjasper.com/
Quartermaster Shop – http://www.quartermastershop.com/index.html
Richmond Depot – http://www.kabar44.com/index.php
Wambaugh, White & Company – http://www.wwandcompany.com/
County Cloth – http://www.crchilds.com/
Leather Goods
Missouri Boot & Shoe – http://www.missouribootandshoe.com/. If the link does not work, type the address directly into your browser address line.
Robert Land Historic Shoes – http://www.robertlandhistoricshoes.com/servlet/StoreFront
Mattimore Harness – http://civilwarboots.com/
L.D. Haning – http://www.ldhaning.com/
Le Pierre Sutler – http://www.lepierreleathers.com/
Heritage Leathers – http://heritageleathercw.com/
Hats
Clearwater – http://www.clearwaterhats.com/
Tim Bender – http://www.benderhats.com/hats1.html
Tim Allen Hats – http://www.timallenhats.com/products.html
Blankets
Family Heirloom Weavers – http://www.familyheirloomweavers.com/
Woodburn Blankets – (He has sold out, so if you find one used, buy it)
http://www.hometown.aol.com/rmwoodburn/myhomepage/sale.html
Tin
Village Tinsmithing Works – http://www.csa-dixie.com/villagetinsmith/index.html
Defarbed Muskets
Zimmerman – http://www.edsmart.com/jz/
Other
E.J. Thomas Mercantile – http://www.ejtmercantile.com/index.html
Ezra Barnhouse Goods – http://www.ezrabarnhousegoods.com/
Louisiana Depot – http://www.freewebs.com/tjkoehn/index.htm
New mess members are to purchase NOTHING for use with their impression with the unit without first consulting a mess NCO.
The Basics
Try. Learn. Improve.
Appearance
Carry ALL of the gear a soldier on campaign would carry any time the unit forms, all day if possible. Jacket on, and at least the top button buttoned except in camp.
Camp
Civilians, other units, and for that matter the Greys should see only period items.
Language
Stay “in character”. No audible comments about modern things. If you must have a modern conversation, take your pard aside for it. Keep modern devices out of site & use them discreetly if necessary. We do living history to get away from the modern world.