Comments on the Average Civil War Soldier

By Kurt Holman

When a Reenactor puts on a Civil War uniform, like it or not, he is representing every Civil War Soldier to the General Public.  Is so much easier for the Reenactor to pick a generic average impression.  If the Reenactor chooses and impression that is way out of the ordinary, he must spend most of this time explaining what the impression is.

Captain Samuel J. Richards of Company F 2nd Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army, was a real soldier.  He is documented to have worn leopard skin trousers with matching pistol holsters.  Although Captain Richardson was never at the Battle of Perryville, what if he was?  What if a Reenactor decided to portray Captain Richardson at the Battle of Perryville?  Would this be historically accurate?  Of course it would.  Would it be right?  Of course it would not.  What if every Reenactor showed up wearing leopard skin portraying Captain Richardson?  With this give the public and accurate representation of the combatants at the battle?  Of course not.

At the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, we strive to portray the average Civil War soldier.