Original 79th New York Kilt & Sporran

[79thReproductions]

Semantics. Good point though, let me clarify my point.

Section 4 of the May 8th, 1792 Militia Act talks of out dated equipment and standards. The 79th did not fallow those regulations or even the ones imposed on them by Ewan. They were to never have kilts and "Scotch Costumes" as many period sources put it. My reference to costume comes from books written by veterans and papers of the early 60s.

They are "Military" on paper by regulations which they did not fallow. They were just a social club funded by the New York Caledonian Club.

If its worth anything, when Militias changed to the actual National Guard system in 1872, the 79th redesigned their uniform to fit within the regulations. Their coat was the m72 artillery coat with a sporran cut out. Before 1872, the 79th did as the pleased.

[macwilkin]

Semantics. Good point though, let me clarify my point.

Section 4 of the May 8th, 1792 Militia Act talks of out dated equipment and standards. The 79th did not fallow those regulations or even the ones imposed on them by Ewan. They were to never have kilts and "Scotch Costumes" as many period sources put it. My reference to costume comes from books written by veterans and papers of the early 60s.

They are "Military" on paper by regulations which they did not fallow. They were just a social club funded by the New York Caledonian Club.

If its worth anything, when Militias changed to the actual National Guard system in 1872, the 79th redesigned their uniform to fit within the regulations. Their coat was the m72 artillery coat with a sporran cut out. Before 1872, the 79th did as the pleased.

Ah, but there were many of those "chum & chowder militia" units, North & South, that had battle records worthy of regular troops -- the 69th New York, Company I, 1st Iowa Infantry ("The Governor's Grays") and the Washington Artillery of New Orleans comes to mind. Elmer Ellsworth's "Zouave craze" of 1860-61 encouraged many local militia companies to not only adopt Zouave uniforms, but also to improve their drill and tactics.

Remember that militia companies were symbolic of their local community, be it Scottish or Irish immigrants, or a certain trade or profession. Community honor meant everything; to run on the field of battle, or lose colours to the enemy was a disgrace to the town, village, county, etc. that the unit came from.

Again, I see your point, and I agree with it to a degree, but it really doesn't have much to do with whether kilts were pleated to a stripe or not. The 73rd Battalion, CEF, part of the Black Watch of Canada, went to France wearing "khaki tartan kilts", but that doesn't necessarily mean they did not have the spirit of the regiment or military bearing. At the Battle of Wilson's Creek, where I worked, a majority of the soldiers fought bravely wearing mufti clothing and carrying mufti weapons.

T.

[79thReproductions]

To the pleating, I agree. Their kilts done to the set have nothing to do with their being a military organization or not. I think it shows how unique they were though. The 79th was an odd duck.

Here's a fun one. My brother and me are part of a 5th New York Duryee's Zouaves company. Like you said, the 5th though not exactly like the 2nd Zouaves were an incredibly regiment.