Men should avoid the exaggerated colors and patterns sometimes associated with reenacting.

By this period, men's outer clothing generally favored more restrained colors.

For many middle- and upper-class impressions, appropriate wool garments commonly appeared in shades such as:

• Black
• Slate grey
• Dark brown

During warmer weather, lighter linen and summer-weight garments might appear in:

• Bleached or natural tones
• Cream
• Medium brown

Color and individuality were frequently expressed through:

• Waistcoats
• Cravats
• Suspenders
• Gloves

Clothing should always correspond to the man's occupation, social position, and economic circumstances.

Lower-middle-class and working-class impressions may appropriately differ from these standards.

Men's Coats

Preferred

Appropriate civilian:

• Frock coats
• Paletots
• Sack coats

Garments must use period-correct materials, construction, and patterns.

Because the event occurs in September, a mixture of wool and linen suits is appropriate.

Not Accepted

• Federal military coats
• Confederate military coats
• Modern dress coats

A civilian impression should look civilian.

Working-Class Men's Clothing

For appropriately researched lower-middle-class and working-class impressions, jean cloth garments are acceptable.

This may include:

• Work coats
• Overshirts
• Work shirts
• Other documented occupational garments

These items should correspond to a specific impression rather than being used merely to create a generic "poor civilian" appearance.

Men's Trousers

Preferred — Civilian Trousers

Appropriate civilian patterns constructed from period materials such as:

• Fine wool
• Linen
• Other documented civilian fabrics

Not Accepted

• Federal issue trousers
• Confederate military trousers
• Other military trousers
• Modern dress pants
• Outlandish or undocumented patterns and colors

Waistcoats

Civilian waistcoats should be constructed from appropriate materials including:

• Silk
• Wool
• Cotton
• Linen

Documented patterns may range from solid colors to appropriate checks and other period designs.

Not Accepted

• Military-cut waistcoats
• Military brass buttons
• Modern vests

Men's Shirts

Proper civilian shirts should be constructed according to period patterns using materials such as:

• Linen
• Cotton

White linen or cotton shirts are strongly encouraged.

Not Accepted

• U.S. issue military shirts
• Confederate issue military shirts
• Modern button-down shirts

Cravats

Preferred — Silk Cravat

Appropriate fine linen and cotton cravats are also acceptable.

Participants are encouraged to incorporate appropriate neckwear into their impression.

Men's Footwear

Preferred — Civilian Shoes or Boots

Proper civilian footwear should be used whenever possible.

Reasonable Alternative

Appropriate Confederate or Federal issue shoes may be used when a suitable civilian alternative is unavailable.

Not Accepted

Modern footwear of any kind except where medically necessary.

When modern footwear is medically required, it must present a reasonable approximation of period footwear. A simple black dress shoe with an unobtrusive black rubber sole, for example, is preferable to obviously modern footwear.

Men's Headgear

Preferred — Civilian Hat

Appropriate civilian hats should be in good condition and obtained from a reputable maker.

Appropriate materials include:

• Fur felt
• Wool felt
• Straw

Because the event takes place in September, a natural mixture of felt and straw hats among the civilian men is encouraged.

Not Accepted

• Kepis
• Forage caps
• Military hats
• Modern cowboy hats
• Other modern headwear

No military headgear of any kind.

Men's Gloves

Men's gloves are greatly underrepresented in living history, particularly among middle- and upper-class impressions.

Appropriate gloves may be made from:

• Silk
• Thin leather

They should be of appropriate period colors and generally be wrist length and closely fitted.

Not Accepted

• Modern gloves
• Military gloves

Men's Accessories

Appropriate accessories may include:

• Walking canes
• Pocket watches
• Travel cases
• Period eyewear
• Other documented personal items appropriate to the impression

Accessories should reinforce the individual's character rather than simply being carried because they are period objects.

Men's Research

Men looking for additional information concerning period civilian tailoring, construction, materials, and appropriate garments are strongly encouraged to study original garments and current research.

The Tailor & Merchant Museum is an excellent resource, including the work of Ben Jenkins, Aaron Klass, Amber Besonen, and Eric Smallwood.

Their online collection may be viewed through the Tailor & Merchant Museum website by clicking HERE.

Keep It Believable

There will be no outrageous hats, dresses, excessive embellishments, or theatrical impressions.

The objective is not to attract attention by wearing the most unusual thing that technically existed during the 1860s.

We are attempting to recreate a small Maryland community.

Participants should look like real people—not caricatures of the 19th century.

Modern Items

Modern intrusions significantly damage an immersive event and will not be tolerated within the historical setting.

The following must not be visible:

• Modern eyeglasses
• Cell phones
• Modern tobacco products
• Modern lighters
• Modern beverage or food containers
• Modern watches
• Modern clothing
• Modern footwear except approved medical accommodations
• Modern hair accessories
• Colored nail polish
• Other obviously modern personal items

Participants should make every reasonable effort to conceal modern tattoos.

Piercings beyond historically appropriate earlobe piercings should be removed or concealed.

Cell Phones

Cell phones have become a significant problem at otherwise high-quality immersive events.

If you must carry a phone for emergency reasons, it must remain on silent and completely concealed.

Phones shall not be used within the historical area.

If use is absolutely necessary, participants should move to:

• A restroom
• A designated modern area
• Another location completely segregated from the historical event

A cell phone appearing in the middle of an 1862 civilian scene immediately destroys the experience for everyone around you.

Conduct & Immersion

Public drunkenness will not be tolerated.

Modern political discussions, current events, and excessive modern conversation should remain outside the historical experience.

When participating in first-person programming:

It is September 1862.

Allow yourself—and everyone around you—to experience that world.

Leave modern politics and modern events at home.

Famous-Person Impressions

This event will not feature impressions of famous 19th-century personalities within the civilian contingent.

Participants who normally portray a famous historical figure are absolutely welcome to attend.

However, for this event, you must develop or adapt your impression into that of an ordinary citizen of Sharpsburg or the surrounding community.

The focus is on the people whose names rarely appear in history books.

Farmers.

Merchants.

Laborers.

Mothers.

Children.

Tradesmen.

Widows.

Church members.

Neighbors.

Families.

These were the people who suddenly found one of the largest battles of the Civil War unfolding around their homes.

The Standard

The civilian component should feel like a community—not a collection of reenactors wearing civilian clothing.

Every participant should have a reason for being there.

Every garment should make sense for the person wearing it.

Every possession should tell us something about that individual.

And every interaction should help tell the larger story.

For the citizens of Sharpsburg, September 1862 was not a military exercise or a weekend event.

It was their home.

Thousands of strangers suddenly filled their roads and fields.

Soldiers appeared at their doors.

Food, livestock, water, and supplies were demanded or purchased.

Rumors traveled faster than reliable information.

Families had no way of knowing where the armies would fight—or whether their homes would stand between them.

Then came the sound of artillery.

Then the musketry.

And the battle moved closer.

Our goal is to give participants the opportunity to experience a small part of that uncertainty while portraying the resilience, fear, determination, and everyday lives of the citizens who endured the Battle of Antietam.

Questions & Impression Assistance

We want participants to succeed.

If you have questions concerning your impression, clothing, appropriate materials, construction, vendors, or where to obtain high-quality living history clothing and equipment, please contact the following via Facebook messenger:

Amy Debord

or

Michele Shuman

Participants are strongly encouraged to ask questions before purchasing new clothing or equipment.

We would much rather help you build the right impression from the beginning than have you spend money on something that cannot be approved for the event.