Fellow Sharpshooters,
While preparing for the upcoming Authentic Campaigner Back Waters event (I'll be the Battalion bugler, but carrying my Sharps in case our skirmish line is pressed), Frank Perkin sent the members of the Midwest contingent a link to the Hard Case Boys website that has an excellent series of photos showing the 44th Indiana and 21st Michigan infantry in camp circa 1864. The close ups are particularly revealing about the types of facial hair, headwear, uniform and Ordnance carried by the men. While we are more familiar with the USSS and Eastern regiments, the images of the Western soldiers shows a distinct 'rugged independence' attributed to the hard marching and fighting enlisted men and NCO's.
The Randolph Mess makes every attempt to base our USSS field impression by incorporating period letters, regimental reports, photographs and lastly, post-War memoirs. Please feel free to use the images for honor the Wolverines of the 21st Mich Volunteers at Bentonville.
Here is the link:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 524713.jpgBill Skillman
Randolph Mess-USSS