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 clothing must be appropriate for age, economic status and/or occupation and should be of suitable fabric for
the piece.
Adult Women
No modern undergarments should be worn (including a bra). Lower class
women may choose to go without any supportive garment (stays or corset). In general plan to wear a cotton or linen chemise,
appropriate stays or corset, drawers (if you will be wearing a hoop), and cotton, linen, or wool petticoats. Your skirt support
should match your style of dress (no wide hoops under a simple cotton calico dress).
Cotton dresses should be of a reproduction calico, stripe or plaid in
appropriate construction. Solid colored cotton dresses are discouraged. 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).
Bodices and skirts must be of the same material unless you are destitute
when you may have a mismatched bodice and skirt.
Modern makeup will be kept to a bear minimum such as sunscreen and lip balm.
Headwear should be age appropriate and suited to your impression. A
slat bonnet will be suitable for most participants. Fashion bonnets may be worn with appropriate ensembles.
Adult Men Men will be expected
to wear a vest, overshirt and/or a coat when in public or with visitors. Shirt sleeves alone are suitable only when in
the privacy of your house, for a destitute impression, or if you are doing hard labor.
Properly blocked hats or caps should be worn outdoors.
Facial hair and hair styles should be worn in an appropriate style
for 1861.
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.
Modern infant items such as bottles, disposable diapers, pacifiers, should be kept out of sight.
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
A good brimmed hat is a must, especially for portraying an antebellum Texan. However, being that we are
a militia unit wheel hats or even kepis are acceptable so long as they are constructed using the period correct techniques
out of period correct cloth.
Silver or brass stars on your hats are acceptable; however no Masonic, harps, company letters or regimental
numbers should be present. Please, no feathers or animal parts on your hat. You are portraying a member of a Texas
militia unit, not a backwoods hillbilly.
Overshirts are the preferred garment, red if possible; however, a 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 are perfectly acceptable.
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.
Pants are
to be cut using a period civilian pattern and of appropriate cloth.
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.
Commutation
clothing is acceptable so long as it is constructed out of cloth with provenance to Texas in the mid-19th century (frocks, shell jackets, etc).
Absolutely no Columbus Depot jackets or Federal clothing (sky blue pants included) allowed.
Arms Civilian
rifles, fowlers, shotguns, combination guns, or other civilian long arm are accepted so long as they are of an appropriate
pattern to have been in Texas in the late 1850's.
Antiquated pattern military arms
(M1795, M1808, M1816 (all types), M1817 common rifle, M1822, M1835, M1840, M1841 or M1842 Springfields are all acceptable)
No Enfield or m1861-1863 Springfield rifles allowed.
A good belt knife and sheath are encouraged
Pistols of the 'pocket' or other belt
pistol patterns (as well as pepperboxes, boxlocks, etc.) are encouraged so long as the pistol is of a percussion or flintlock
pattern documented to Texas in the late 1850's. Holster must be of appropriate design and construction. No derringers allowed
Accouterments:
Military: if using military accoutrements Pre-War pattern Federal accoutrement set with brass removed
White
buff, cotton webbing, or blackened waist belts preferred for military accoutrements. Russet belts allowed.
Unmarked
Confederate accoutrement set
All military
accoutrements must be of correct pattern and construction. If you have a Texas star belt plate, use it. We are a militia company
in 1861, spirits and patriotism would have been high.
Civilian: Ball bags, belts, hunting bags, etc. must be of correct construction utilizing techniques common to
the mid 19th century in Texas.
Canteens: Gourd, leather covered glass,
earthenware vessels, tin drum (5.5-8 in diameters), wooden drum, or antebellum Federal issue of proper pattern and manufacture.
Please no corrugated/ “bulls-eye” tin canteens
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.
