Here are several tips gleaned over the years you may use if you want to look like a more authentic soldier in the field or on campaign.

I believe the WAY you wear your kit can make the difference between looking like you’re wearing a costume and looking like a soldier. You may disagree and I would be more than happy to discuss any of these sometime, and if I am wrong, fine. Through the research we'll both be better soldiers. Here goes......

1. Get your haversack and canteen UP. The top of your haversack should be about waist high or a bit higher with the canteen resting at about the same level. You can pin these up and try them before sewing the straps. Remember your canteen has to fit over your knapsack or blanket roll. Sometimes your cartridge box strap may need to be shortened too. Banging loose and low makes it hard to march and doublequick. I don’t believe a soldier would’ve tolerated them for long.

2. Wear your trousers high at your natural waistline. (at your navel) If you have proper patterned trousers they will have a high rise. (length from waistline to crotch) Get 'em up where they belong. That goes for your waistbelt too. Oh, and if of the proper material your trousers should have a visible diagonal weave.

3. Get some nice authentic style braces to hold up your trousers. Spend a few extra bucks. It's worth it. It's also one way a Federal infantryman can personalize his impression. Transmississippi Depot has nice ones.

5. Get a smoothside canteen of tin, not stainless. I’ve read that a hot-dipped tin canteen doesn’t have to be coated inside with beeswax. Replace the dark or sky blue canteen cover using some jeancloth, maybe a medium or darker brown. Also a leather strap is good for early war and then possibly going to a cotton webbed strap for late war. Use good twine instead of the chain to hold the cork.

6. NCO stripes were not light blue. In period images the color blue shows up really light. Buy some nice ones of correct material and indigo blue color. S&S Sutler in Gettysburg is one supplier.

7. Buy or get your rifle defarbed. It looks much better. They will put your serial number on the bottom of the barrel. Take off the poly finish if it has one and use stain (I used American Walnut stain on mine) and linseed oil. Rub it in good. Zimmerman's in Harper’s Ferry sells a defarbed rifle for about the same price as an event sutler sells just the rifle. You could pick it up on the way to Gettysburg to save shipping.

8. Get rid of the rag wool socks. Folks do see them sometimes. There are plenty of makers now for excellent period wool or cotton socks.

9. Get an issue shirt and wear it. Domet flannel, a wool/cotton weave is off white and the regular wool flannel is usually grey but other colors are available. I have the grey, but a well worn domet flannel shirt looks better, I think. Yes they are scratchy and hot, but you can get used to it. I believe issue shirts are under-represented in the ranks. (maybe we can get the ladies to make several of these as a sewing project and sell ‘em to us real cheap!!)

10. Get a good period style blanket. It looks bad when a fella has a recent war, olive drab blanket rolled up on his shoulder-I've seen it. (not in our unit) AND, when you get a nice blanket, roll it up and carry it. It can help make a whole battalion look more like a marching army on the campaign.

11. Hand sew all your buttonholes. Anyone can learn to do it if I can. You can hand sew over machine stitching if you have to. Do your coat, trousers, shirt, haversack and all. I know "you can’t see it from 10 feet away", but it looks great up close and it’s just the right way to do it. I have included instructions here somewhere.

12. Try to pare down so you can carry ALL of your stuff in and out at an event. It helps you realize just what a soldier thought was important, and what was NOT as important. And you get home faster.

13. Try and stay in the "soldier mode" the whole event. If the public leaves at 5 p.m. it doesn’t mean frosted animal cookies and Pepsi time! (this I have seen!!) Many of my most memorable 1860’s moments have occurred throughout the evening and night. Darkness can hide a lot of farby stuff when you’re set up in a poor location. The reenacting season of events passes too quickly. Let’s use these hours to enjoy the soldiering experience. Campfires have been conversation and gathering spots for centuries. Imagine hundreds of fires when the army stopped, thousands of men and all the activities going on. Clean your weapon, write a letter home, discuss the politics or crops back home, read, cook, replace a missing button, etc.

More information on sutlers and other items can be found on our website or at Authentic Campaigner.com under resources. I will help you all I can as will many other veterans. Remember a Company only looks as good as each of it’s members. We can all improve. See you on the campaign.

In service to the unit,

Sgt. Adkins