It is understood that some items if not already
owned, may not be easily obtained. It is not the intention to exclude anyone just because they might not own exactly what
is stated in the guidelines. It is only requested that you follow the guidelines as closely as possible. If you have any questions
about these guidelines or need clarification, please contact either the military or civilian coordinators; a suitable alternative can probably be found for
most items.
Non-Compliance Any participant failing to comply with the guidelines after consultation with the coordinator and event organizer may be
asked to leave the event and/or denied participation in future events.
Participants
Under 18 Persons under 18 can participate; however,
an adult responsible for the minor must also participate in the event.
All Participants
All clothing must be appropriate for age, economic status and/or
occupation and should be of suitable fabric for the piece.
Please avoid
these items during the event hours and/or within the site limits: Modern eyewear Modern head wear Modern
tobacco use Cell phones Modern makeup other than sun screen and lip balm
Prohibited Zippers Velcro Wristwatches John Wayne-type bandannas Painted
fingernails Obvious synthetic fabrics Sutler snoods, battenburg lace parasols, and other reenactorisms Modern toys Obvious modern makeup Body jewelry not appropriate for the 1860s
Female and Children Guidelines Coordinator: Annette Bethke
Adult Women Please, no women in men's clothing
unless you really appear to be a man. Those wishing to wear men's clothing must contact the event coordinator prior to
registering for the event to discuss this situation.
Period
undergarments must be worn. This includes chemise, petticoats and corset or stays. Undergarments must be appropriate to the
dress, no large hoops under simple cotton dresses. If you choose to wear drawers they must be of the proper construction and
length. Stockings must also be of appropriate length.
The dress
is to be of period construction and of wool, silk, or cotton. Cotton dresses should be of a reproduction calico, stripe or
plaid in appropriate construction. Solid colored cotton dresses are discouraged. Silk and wool dresses must be of period color
and/or prints. White shirtwaists and skirt combinations should only be worn by fashionable young women, and be of high quality
materials suited to the impression (no calico skirts). Mixed fabric ensembles may be allowed for low class, destitute impressions.
Dresses must be of the appropriate cut and style for the time of day (no ball gowns or evening dresses during the day).
Headwear must be appropriate to your dress. Fashion bonnets can
be worn with high fashion dresses and should be 1860s style and construction. No Juliet caps. Slat bonnets are appropriate
for most impressions. They must be of period fabric and, if applicable, period print. No Little House on the Prairie sunbonnets.
Hats may be worn but must be of appropriate shape, construction, and material. No sutler snoods.
Shoes should be black leather, square or rounded toe, lace up the side or front, flat heeled,
as smooth soled as possible (avoid the tire tread look), and without any extra trim. Modern "Granny" or ankle boots
are acceptable. Speed laces, the hooks rather than holes for the laces, are inappropriate and should be removed. No tennis
shoes, flip flops, "China" shoes, modern flats or ballet slippers.
Hair must be of period appropriate style. "Part in the center-Pull it back-Plaster it down." Bangs, fringes,
or wisps are not appropriate to the 1860s. Hairstyles should match your impression. A refugee on the road or a poor farmer's
wife will probably not have a fashionable hairstyle; merely pull it back in a bun and get it out of the way. Short hairstyles
were a fad and should only be worn by younger women.
Children Children's clothing
should be of equal economic level to their parents.
Children should be dressed to their age, rather than their physical development.
No boys under 18 in full military
uniform.
Modern infant items such as bottles,
disposable diapers, pacifiers, should be kept out of sight.
Hats A good brimmed hat is a must. Frontiersmen and
soldiers in Texas favored light colored, wide brimmed hats in 1850's. Crown height varied, so long as the brim was sufficiently
large to shade your face from the harsh Texas sun.
Any period correct
style and color of broad brimmed hat is acceptable as are wheel caps. Correctly constructed kepis are allowed for soldier
impressions.
Garments
Soldier's clothing: By April 1862, the soldier's returning to Sprinkle
to recover from the previous campaigns and to recruit would have been wearing remnants of the commutation clothing that they
left home with, mixed with whatever items the quartermaster could procure.
At minimum, all buttonholes are to be hand sewn.
Overshirt, sack coat, frock coat or other utilitarian civilian article of clothing constructed utilizing period tailoring
techniques and of cloth appropriate for the socio-economic background for the person you are portraying.
Absolutely no Columbus Depot or other depot produced garments will be allowed.
Vests are at the discretion of the participant. If you choose to wear a vest, it must
be of a correct pattern and constructed using period correct tailoring techniques. Please, no brocade front vests.
Pants are to be cut using a period civilian pattern and of appropriate cloth. Please,
no wild plaids. Broadcloth, cotton jean, woolen jean, kersey, woolen plains, or linsey woolsey would all be good choices.
Shirts are at your discretion. Homespun, linsey, linen, etc. based on your impression.
All are to be cut to a period pattern and sewn using period tailoring techniques.
Footwear (boot or bootee) is left to the discretion of the participant. However, all footwear must be of correct
pattern and constructed using correct techniques.
Please
no Masonic, Harps, animal parts, or any other anachronistic adornment on your headwear or jackets! If decoration is desired,
please only use a Texas star.
Civilian Clothing:
Linen or summer weight wool frock coat, overshirt, sack coat,
or other utilitarian civilian article of clothing constructed utilizing period tailoring techniques and of cloth appropriate
for the socio-economic background for the person you are portraying. If
you choose to wear an overshirt for your civilian impression, please no heavily trimmed ‘battle shirts'.
Vests are at the discretion of the participant, but recommended. If you choose to wear
a vest, it must be of a correct pattern and constructed using period correct tailoring techniques. Please, no brocade front
vests.
Pants are to be cut using a period civilian pattern and
of appropriate cloth. Please, no wild plaids.Broadcloth, linen, cotton jean, woolen jean, kersey,
woolen plains, or linsey woolsey would all be good choices.
Shirts
are at your discretion. Homespun, linsey, linen, etc. based on your impression. All are to be cut to a period pattern and
sewn using period tailoring techniques. Cravats, ribbon ties, etc. are recommended for all participants.
Footwear (boot or bootee) is left to the discretion of the participant. However, all
footwear must be of correct pattern and constructed using correct techniques.
Elastic suspenders, in most cased, are not appropriate. They should be of leather, cloth or knitted material with
buttonholes at one end and either buttonholes or straps and buckles for adjustment.
Facial hair and hair styles should
be worn in an appropriate style for 1862.
Modern
Equipment and Medicines The use of modern items such as
cell phones and modern tobacco items by participants is restricted to outside the site boundaries.
Modern
camera use by participants is allowed if used discretely and it does not disrupt or interfere with the event.
Modern
items needed for sanitary and health reasons are allowed if concealed in period-style containers and used discretely.
All
modern medical items should be concealed in period-style containers and used as discretely as possible. With this in mind,
please DO NOT to attempt to go without your medications. If you require medication that would be difficult to hide or disguise,
please contact the event coordinator and we will work toward a solution to meet the
event’s and your needs.
Cooking
Equipment and Food Food, cooking
equipment, water containers, etc. should all be based on what would be typical for the time and place. If possible, please
store food in containers appropriate to 1860 or before; if modern food storage is required, please keep them hidden from view
of other participants and the public.
Real Emergencies In case of a 21st century emergency anything like, "call 911" or "get a paramedic" should instantly tell us that it is a real emergency and not part of play. Participants
are urged not to ignore signs of medical problems. Participants are also urged that if they believe
it necessary, they should have a medical health card denoting name, allergies (including medicines that should not be administered),
current medications, insurance, and emergency contact.
Other Considerations NO illegal drugs. This is a zero tolerance policy.
Vehicles
will not be allowed within the site between 7:00 a.m. Saturday and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday. If you need to leave between those
hours, please contact the event coordinator and help will be arranged to remove your things to your vehicle outside the site
walls.
If you wish to partake of alcoholic beverages, please
do so responsibly and only after 5:00 p.m. when the site closes. Drunken behavior deemed to be unsafe will result in the participant’s
expulsion from the event.
Remember, although
we are not technically volunteers of Henkel Square, the public will probably not make a distinction
between us and the site. Our conduct will directly reflect on the site.
