NOTICE: I regret to announce that Bob Braun's research articles are no longer available
online. I encourage you to contact him directly by email in order to find out how you
might get ahold of his materials for your personal and non-commercial use. Please see the
following discussion
on proper usage of research articles.
This page contains links to articles
on improving your impression. The Articles below are indexed in the following manner:
- Articles from the Editor
- Links to Articles on Camping
- Links to Articles on Cooking and
Rations
- Links to Articles on Drill
- Links to Articles on First Person
- Links to Articles on General
Observations
- Links to Articles on Improving
your Impression
- Links to Articles on Uniforms and
Equipment
- Primary Source Material
Note: I have provided links to articles below from the 33rd Wisconsin, the Rowdy Pards as well as a number of other
groups and individuals. These authentic campaigners have done an outstanding job
of informing us all on how to do our impressions better. Please visit their websites and
let them know you appreciate their efforts.
*Note: I've tried to give credit wherever possible to the authors of these
articles. If any of the authors of these articles would prefer for these links not to be
here, please contact me and I will remove them directly.
The obligatory statement of denial: I've read all these
articles - posting links to these articles doesn't necessarily mean I agree 100% with
their statements, conclusions, etc. Rather, I think they are worth your review.
Some IMPORTANT information about Copyrights: The following
articles are ALL copyrighted for the author. To find out more about Copyrights read this. Unless freely given to
the public domain, you need to inquire with the author before putting these articles in
your company newsletters, etc.
Notes on article submissions: We are always looking for well
researched and documented articles to reference here. Articles submitted which are based
largely on opinion or heresay will be necessarily scrutinized to a greater extent.
The Campaigner's Manifesto & CRRC
The Campaigner's Manifesto is an absolute
must read for progressives and hardcores. Written by Nicky Hughes, Colonel, The Breckinridge Battalion and hosted by Scott McKay on the 10th Texas website.
The Columbia Rifles Research Compendium is a
recently published volume of articles. It contains some 51 articles on improving ones
impression which previously have not been published. Find out more about the CRRC here.
Authentics Going Back to
their Roots by Paul Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
On Priming - and Firing from the
Rear Rank By Paul Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
An Attempt at Defining the
Terms: Authentic, Hardcore, Progressive, Mainstreamer, Farb and Campaigner by Paul Calloway of the Tar
Water Mess (Also see articles from Charles Heath and Cal
Kinzer on Defining the Terms)
To the Event Coordinator Asking
Himself, What Have I Done Wrong? by Paul Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
For the Beginning Reenactor:
Before You Buy a Thing! by Paul Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
"Hibernation
Alternatives" by Paul
Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
Improving Your Impression -
It's Not about Money by Paul
Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
"Taking it Like
a Man!" ...a tongue in cheek
look at hit-taking in our hobby by Paul Calloway of
the Tar Water Mess
The Case
for Comrade ... a must read
for frequenters of the term pard. by Paul Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
Building
Winter Quarters by Wayne
Thompson of Co. I, 47th
Virginia
Campaign
Camping by Wes Smittle and Garry Linton of The Mountain Rifles
Campaign Camping
by Cpl. Andrew Jerram of
the Georgia Volunteer Battalion
Field-Cleaning Your Rifle-Musket By Dennis Faught on
the 5th Missouri
Website
Going into Winter Quarters by John Wedeward of the 33rd Wisconsin
Hints on Campaign Camping From Those
Who Really Did It By Steve Acker featured on the
Hogg Mess website.
How to Start a Campfire
on 16th Virginia Website
How to Stay Dry in
Rainy Weather by Andrew Jerram
No Tent? No
Problem! by Wayne Thompson on the 47th Virginia
Website
Sleeping Campaign by
Yourself by
Charles Heath of the Rowdy
Pards
The Winter Campaigner from The Capitol Guards SENTINEL
featured on the 5th
Missouri Website
Usage of Tents by Eric Mink on the
Stonewall Brigade Website
A
Study In Consistency By Steve Acker featured on the Hogg Mess website.
A Weekend's
Eating: From one Little Bag by Wayne
Thompson of Co. I, 47th
Virginia
Camp kettles,
cooking, and such by Mike Thorson of the 33rd Wisconsin
Confederate Coffee
Substitutes by Mark (Silas)
Tackitt on the 44th Tennessee Website
Making
Condensed Milk by Mark Jaeger of Purdue
University Libraries
Mess
Furniture: The Knife, Fork, and Spoon by Bob Braun
of the 33rd Wisconsin
Messing With Kettles and Pans
by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
"...and
Three Days Rations" by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Fall in for Rations by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Feeding
Billy Yank: Union Rations between 1861 and 1865 By J. Britt McCarley
This Article originally appeared in the U.S. Quartermaster Professional Bulletin
– December 1988.
Hard cracker pretenders come again no more by Mike Thorson of the 33rd Wisconsin
HARDTACK
The Final Word from the Pequot Mess linked from Under the Fly
Haversack
Rations by Dwane Seale of the 22d Alabama / 9th Indiana
Other Uses
for your Canteen from the book, Si Klegg and his Pard
on the 44th
Tennessee Consolidated Page
Mess Furniture by Bob
Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Rations for Events
by Mike Murley of the Rowdy Pards
Recipes for Camp
by Wayne Thompson on the 47th Virginia Website.
Even More Camp
Recipes by Wayne Thompson on the 47th Virginia
Website.
Quick Cup O' Joe by Pvt. Dennis Faught on the 5th Missouri Website
The Army Bean by Rick Mussleman of the 6th OVI.
The
Value of a Little Research by Mark (Silas) Tackitt on the 44th Tennessee Website
Quite an Officer's Mess by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Back to Top
Attention
to Roll Call on the 5th Missouri Website
Bayonet Exercise
on the 5th Missouri
Website
Bogus Reenactor Commands by Dennis Faught on the 5th Missouri Website
Bugle Notes -A Day in
Camp by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Company
Guards by by Richard O'Sullivan of the Lazy Jacks Mess.
"Discipline
Has Everything To Do With Success." by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
How to Give Commands by Mike Thorson of the 33rd Wisconsin
Forming the Company
into a Single Rank on the 5th Missouri Website
Life after Skirmish Drill by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Manual
of Arms for Infantry: A Re-examination, Part I By Geoff Walden & Dom Dal Bello
This article originally appeared in the March, 1996 issue of Camp
Chase Gazette ( Vol. XXIII, No. 4 )
Manual of Arms
for Infantry: A Re-examination, Part II By Geoff Walden & Dom Dal Bello
This article originally appeared in the March, 1996 issue of Camp
Chase Gazette ( Vol. XXIII, No. 4 )
The Manual
of Arms for Sergeants... A Re-Examination by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Notes
on Charge - BAYONET by Dom Dal Bello of the Army Of the Pacific at
the 33rd Wisconsin website.
Notes on
Light Marching Order
by Mark Popish of the Rowdy Pards
Proper Officer and NCO
placement on the 5th
Missouri Website
REST
and In Place REST by Richard O'Sullivan of the Lazy Jacks Mess.
Right Shoulder Shift
with Charge Bayonet? by Mark (Silas) Tackitt
on the Flying Dutchman Website
Stack
-- Arms! (the Kentucky Swing) by Dennis Faught on the 5th Missouri Website
The Correct,
Complete, Perfect, Revised, and Improved School of the Color Guard By Elmer Woodard
on the 47th Virginia Website
The Musket Stack -
proper stacking technique for all Federal reenactors on
the Rockport Mess Website.
What are Corporals Supposed to do? by Mike Thorson of the 33rd Wisconsin
Back to Top
Boxes from Home by Joyce DeMatteis on 16th Virginia Website
Brewser-Smith
Bummer's March - AAR from 1994 by Scott McKay
of the 10th Texas.
Civil
War Slang Courtesy of U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service.
Creating First Person
Conversation by Eustis Cain of the Living History Company
Developing a First Person Persona
by Titus Pope of the Living History
Company
First Person Impressions: Fortes, Foibles, and Facts by
Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
First
Person Impressions that Peak Curiosity by Jim
Butler of the Huckleberry Mess and 125th OVI
How to Salute and
Pay Respects to Officers by Vincent Petty of the 16th Virginia
Period Games of Chance by John Wedeward of the 33rd Wisconsin
Playing Paddy Right: Some Basics of an Irish-American First Person Impression by Kevin
O'Beirne of the Columbia Rifles Part 1 and Part 2
Quite the Conversationalist by Rick Mussleman of the Buckeye Boys.
The Soldier's
Spirit by Andrew Jerram
The Yankee and
Rebel Yells by Harvie Dew 9th Regiment, Virginia Cavalry on 16th Virginia Website
What
to Do? by Erik Bernier of the 16th Virginia
Back to Top
Button
hole machines-"Looking in the Keyhole" by N.J Sekela of Historic
Clothiers
Buttons
- Identifying and Testing for Materials by by Jon
Egglestone of the Lazy Jacks
Mess.
A
Bump on the Logwood by N.J Sekela of Historic Clothiers
Campaigner
on a Budget by Jim Butler of the
Huckleberry Mess
Case for the
Formation of Company Messes by author unknown,
on the Phillip's Legion Website.
Caveat Emptor by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Civil War Replicas by N.J Sekela of Historic Clothiers
"...Death is so Common..." by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
High Brass Army By
Dennis Faught on the 5th Missouri Website
How
Authentic is Cigarette Smoking for the Reenactor? by
Stephen Ratterman which appeared on the former Bully Boys site.
How to
Read an Event Pre-Registration Packet by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Inventory
of Effects by Bob Braun
of the 33rd Wisconsin
"Isms" by Bob
Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Know your Enemy by Bob
Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Nit-Picking by Bob
Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
No
One Loves Me Like My Tomato Can by Mark (Silas)
Tackitt on the Flying Dutchman
Website
Officers in Strapless Blouses by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Pugilism In The Civil War by John Dewey of the 33rd Wisconsin
Research Suggests Operational Changes!! by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
The Demise of the Sibley, Wall, and Wedge Tents by Mike Thorson of the 33rd Wisconsin
To Offer ... the Customary Salutations by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Three Cheers and a Tiger by Dom Dal Bello of the Army Of the Pacific at
the 33rd Wisconsin website.
Water Carts by Bob
Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Well
Rounded Reenactors by Mike Feiock of the 4th Virginia
Why I like this Image by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Back to Top
15 Low Effort, Zero Cost Ways to Improve Your Battlefield
Impression Part I, Part II, and Part III by Glen Milner of the 22d Alabama
19th
Century Stationery Items by Bob Sullivan on Sullivan Press Website.
A Dozen Inexpensive Ways to
Improve your Impression by Cal Kinzer which
appeared on the former Bully Boys site.
A
Study on the Wearing of Haversacks and Canteens by Christopher Alan Graham on the 37th Virginia
Website
Are You too Clean?
by Mike Murley of the Rowdy Pards
Authentic
or Just Think You Are: Authenticity vs. Our Perceptions of Authenticity by Jeff Sherry
on the 9th Pennsylvania Reserves
Website
Civil War
Eyeglasses by John A. Braden which appeared on the former Bully
Boys site.
Civil War Pens and
Writing by Bob Sullivan
on Sullivan Press Website.
Fine
Tuning the Impression by R. Denton on the 37th Virginia
Website
How
to Cuss Like a Soldier: The Basics of Civil War Profanity by John Eric Tobey on the Columbia
Rifles Website.
The
Joys of Wearing Facial Hair by Joe Strauser on
the Gentleman Joe's Website
The Secrets of Writing
with Quills by Bob Sullivan on Sullivan Press Website.
Instructions for Felling Seams by Chris Sullivan on the Rockport
Mess website.
Instructions for Handsewing Buttonholes by Chris Sullivan on the Rockport
Mess website.
Another article on Buttonholes entitled Stitches for Buttonholes , by Author
Unknown. (Excellent Illustrations)
Learn Civil War Bugle Calls
by R.J. Samp on the American Civil War Buglers website.
Less is
More by Mark (Silas) Tackitt on the 44th Tennessee Website
New
Addtions to the Reenactor Bookshelf: Beyond Bell Wiley...Understanding the
"Inner" Soldier by C. A. Graham
on the 37th
Virginia Website
Mid 19th
Century Handwriting by Bob Sullivan on Sullivan Press Website.
Notes on Personal Hygiene of Civil War Soldiers by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
A Dozen Inexpensive Ways to Improve
Your Personal Impression by Cal Kinzer
The
Veteran's Tongue By Aaron Young and Joe Strauser on Gentleman Joe's Website
To Beard
or not to Beard? by Daniel Morgan which appeared on the former
Bully Boys site.
What's Wrong with this
Picture? Well, Hair It Is! By Jon Isaacson on the Rowdy Pards Website.
This article originally appeared in the June/July, 1995 issue of The Citizens' Companion ( Vol.
II, No. 2 )
Back to Top
A Civil War
Bedroll by Wayne Thompson of the 47th Virginia
Analysis of Confederate
Prisoner Uniform Shades by "L" Value in the Whitehouse Landing & Punch Bowl
Photographs by R. K. Denton
Jr. on the 37th Virginia
Website
An
Experiment with Knapsack Weight by Huck Green which appeared on
the former Bully Boys site.
An
Overview of Federal Issue Shirts by Stephen E. Osman which
appeared on the former Bully Boys site.
Authentic Construction of Cartridge Packages by John Wedeward of the 33rd Wisconsin
Brace Yourself by Bob
Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Canteen Covers by Chris Sullivan of Stony Brook Company on the Rockport
Mess website.
Canteens by The Stonewall Brigade Uniforms and Standards
Committee.
Canteens of
the ANV by Bret Sumner of the 4th
Virginia
Care and Feeding of your Uniform and Equipage by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Civil War Shelter Tent Poles by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Clothing by Bret Sumner of 4th Virginia, The Stonewall Brigade
Confederate
"Columbus Depot" Jackets - The Material Evidence by Geoffrey R. Walden
A previous version of this article was published in the Camp Chase
Gazette, Vol. 22, No. 8 (July 1995), pp. 34-38, and Vol. 22, No. 9 (August 1995), pp.
34-38.
Confederate
Uniforms of the Trans Mississippi on the 5th Missouri Website
Designer Labels by Bob
Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Did
You Know They Wore Braces in the 1860's?! by Aaron Young on Gentleman Joe's Website
English Supplied
Uniforms by Erick Mink of 4th
Virginia, The Stonewall Brigade
Federal Issue
Contract Shirt on the Hogg Mess
Website.
Federal Issue Shirts by Chris Sullivan of Stony Brook Company on the Rockport
Mess website.
Federal-issue White Canvas Haversacks in the Western Theater ... by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Forage Caps by Jeff
Sherry of the 9TH PA. Reserves on the Rockport Mess Website.
Haversacks
By Wayne Thompson of Co.
I, 47th Virginia
Hot Dipped Tin Process From George Pimental of G&P Mercantile
How to
Make an Oilcloth by the The
Mountain Rifles
How to Fold Your Greatcoat by Jay Welch of Gainesville, Florida.
How to Correctly Patch your
Uniform written by Dane Krogman 1st Minnesota and edited by former Mudsill John Wedeward, now of the 33rd Wisconsin.
The Indispensable
Bayonet by Michael Murley of the Rowdy Pards
What Did They [USSS] Wear? by Bill Skillman
on the 2nd US Sharpshooters
Website
Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4
What is the Correct
Color for your Federal Sack Coat? by John
Wedeward of the 33rd Wisconsin
Jean Cloth
by Erick Mink of 4th Virginia,
The Stonewall Brigade
Knapsack Inspection by author unknown on the Phillips Legion Website.
Knapsack
Revisited by Dwayne Seale of the 22d
Alabama / 9th Indiana
Low - Cost Improvements for your Uniform and Equipage
by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Making Authentic Cartridges by John Wedeward of the 33rd Wisconsin
Notes on the Austrian M1854 [Lorenz] Infantry Rifle from Alexander
Vasquez of the Hogg Mess Website.
Notes on the M1858 Canteen
by Jon Egglestone
of the Lazy Jacks Mess.
Observations of Original Civil War
Jackets by Jay White on the Columbia Rifles Website.
On Priming - and Firing from the
Rear Rank By Paul
Calloway of the Tar Water Mess
On The Good
Foot by Chris Sullivan of Stony Brook Company
on the Rockport Mess website.
Patching Your Uniform written
by Dane Krogman 1st Minnesota and supplied by John Wedeward of the 33rd Wisconsin
Pewter CSA Belt Plates by Jon Egglestone of the Lazy Jacks Mess.
Reproduction
Martial Arms: Model 1842 and Model 1861 written by
Rick Simmons and supplied by the Watchdog.
(Bottom of same document: Reproduction Model 1855 Rifle-muskets Currently on the Market
written by Greg Hagge.)
Sew What? A two-part
article By Adam Pantaze on the
47th Virginia
Website
Suspenders by Chris
Sullivan of Stony Brook Company on the Rockport Mess
Website..
Tents by Erik Mink of the 4th Virginia, The Stonewall Brigade
The Blanket
Roll by Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
Some (More)
Thoughts on the Blanket Roll by Wayne Thompson on the 47th Virginia Website.
The Bridgeman Shelter Tent* by Scott Cross
*Notes on an original shelter-half in the Wisconsin's Veteran's Museum Collection.
The Enfield during
the Civil War by Geoff Walden
The
Fatigue Blouse by Aaron Young on Gentleman Joe's Website
The Federal Canteen by
Bob Braun of the 33rd Wisconsin
The Lowly Blanket Roll by the Rowdy Pards
The Model 1858 Uniform Hat* by Scott Cross.
*An article which was published in the Spring 2000 edition of MOMCC Magazine.
The Truth about Flannel Underclothes by Michael Hayes
of the 14th CTVI, Co. G
The Rifle Sling
Controversy "To Sling or Not to Sling" by Aaron Young on Gentleman Joe's Website
The Soldiers' Shelter Tent As
Used By The French by John Wedeward of the 33rd Wisconsin
Trying to Bag a Good Sack Coat
by Mike R. Cunningham and Nicky Hughes, The
Watchdog
The Veteran Image on Campaign
by Tom Redman of the 33rd Wisconsin
Uniform Cloth and Kit Vendors - Things I Learned the Hard Way Part I, Part II, and Part III
by Glenn Milner & Charlie McCullough of the 22d
Alabama
US Cartridge Box and Shoulder
Belt Plates by Jon Egglestone of the Lazy Jacks Mess.
What Makes a
Tin Cup Authentic? From George Pimental of G&P Mercantile
What You
Should Tote in Your Haversack & Knapsack for Campaigning by Glenn Milner of the 22d Alabama
Weaponry by Erik
Mink of the 4th Virginia, The Stonewall Brigade
Back to Top
Articles
of War on the Washington
Artillery website.
Coffee Substitutes
courtesy of Mr. Robert Lewis
Duties of the First
Sergeant from August Kautz' "Customs of Service" hosted by Mark Tackitt on the Flying Dutchman Website
Gilham's Manual of Instruction
posted by Josh Bucchioni of the 47th Virginia
Familiar Hints To
Indiana Soldiers Taking the Field BY
HENRY B. CARRINGTON COL. 18TH INF'Y U.S.A., COM'D'G AT INDIANAPOLIS. AND MUSTERING
OFFICER FOR INDIANA. (Circa 1862) Submitted by Mark
Jaeger of Purdue University Libraries.
Hardee's Infantry
Tactics courtesy of Mr. Robert Lewis (Will
take you to an index, Click on Hardee.htm)
Military
Dictionary: comprising technical definitions; information on raising and keeping
troops; actual service, including makeshifts and improved material by Henry Lee Scott,
1861
OFFICE CHIEF QUARTERMASTER
ELEVENTH ARMY CORPS, May 24, 1863 which appeared on the former
Bully Boys site.
Other
uses for your Canteen from the book, Corporal Si Klegg and his Pard, Shorty by Lt.Col.
Wilbur F. Hinman, 65th OVI hosted by Mark Tackitt
on the Flying Dutchman Website
Revised
Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1861 hosted by Dr. Howard Lanham
Suggested
Reading List: Union Soldier Life in the Civil War by Charlie McCullough of the 22d Alabama
What the Official Records say about Knapsacks hosted by
the Rockport Mess
The Cox Family
Massacre by Joseph Strauser on Gentleman Joe's Website
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