Thanks for the word on the Iron Cross Peachey and I agree if I were to portray a true life persona then I'd skip the Iron Cross and may or not not wear it anyhow. I was trying via the internet to research it and got little info. But my Major persona is a fantasy, and in fantasy anything is possible.
Flashman you may have been standing around the SASS shoots longer than me but I don't think you were paying much attention. SASS started as a fantasy and still is a fantasy, it will always be a fantasy. Only a very, very few who particpate are historically/correctly attired and armed. That is the beauty of this sport, anybody can play and be anything they want with in a framework of loosely coded rules.
I was around when the GAF got started on the SASSWire and it has since grown into an offshoot organization that spans the boundaries of both SASS and NCOWS, which is good. When GAF puts on a more formal/historically correct event than yes all particpants should be in proper uniform. When GAF goes to shoot at a SASS event the fantasy lives.....
My little Major persona is a mix of Hollywood and very possible reality, as I said every part of that picture could easily have been the uniform of an officer on campaign, so I am not too far away from the actualities of what was worn.
It is indeeed an open forum and all are invited to attend, which is why I came here. I did my research first, as much as my time allows, and then I came here because I know there are those here who are knowledgeable.
But you were just rude, and condescending not helpful. If it was part of your fantasy "persona" you should let folks now that up front, otherwise you are goin got be seen as.....rude and condescending.
I was the president of a SASS/CAS club for almost three years, I read the SASS handbook a lot. I have talked with Tex and U. S. Grant lot about SASS.
I'm not confused nor libelous....just truthful.
You are making a common mistake many re-enactors and living history aficianados make. Pictures. They only tell a very small part of the history when photography was in its infancy. As such most people who sat for them, or stood up their entire military formation for them, put on their "best" and or wore the trinkets the photographer added [in the case of many civilian photos]. So a large majority of the "photos" of the early and mid 19th century are posed, extra "ornamamented", or not a statement of the facts as to real dress.
Hollywood has added to the misconceptions. When they make a cavalry movie it looks better to have the men all "uniformed" up and not actually wearing what they would have been wearing on campaign, which was often enough, in often enough cases, a mix of military and civilian.
Once again I wish I looked like Burt Lancaster or some such actor....then you'd be correct, I'd be Silver Screen!!
Thanks Dr. Bob, I have been on the GAF a long time and have been cruising this board a long time, just not participating as I had not "moved into" a military persona yet. There are knowledge folks here, there are beginners, and there are pretenders. Their comments speak for their knowledge.
I have all four copies of Steffen's cavalry books and at one point all cavalry men wore a "C" on their buttons, and Dragoons wore a "D". I could not find in the books where the practice was left to only the officer ranks. I came here and made a post to find the answer and got it, and I found it as well deeper into Steffens books. But one person [being very helpful] stated that it was never done [all personnel wearing buttons with a "C"] but it was at one time.
And no, Steffen's books are not the "be all", but I did my research and they are a very good start.
My vest with the rank is a cross between Hollywood and actuality, it could have been done in real times and I did it to ensure the "Major persona" was understandable to the many who I shoot with and do not know the acual uniform situations of the 19th Century. I did not want to go full Hollywood and wear the shirt with rank, I wanted to fall somewhere in between.
I hope the GAF continues to grow and I hope it continues to enjoy both aspects of this military fantasy, actual historical portrayals and....fantasy. I will never go full bore "authenticity" because I don't care to spend the money and I ain't gonna wear wool in the summer!!
If others wish to be authentic down to not bathing regularly I support them....upwind
but I think the authenticity is great, a lot of lost info has been unearthed because of the zeal. Just don't be rude about it, is my credo.
Thanks again for all the helpful input gentlemen. Regards, Rancid Roy.