Gentlemen,

How many of you have read The Columbia Rifles Research Compendium and/or Cadet Gray & Butternut Brown by now; and what did you think of these publications?

Bill,

I'm a bit biased in this regard, but I really like the CRRC-1 and CRRC-2, and can't recommend the latter enough, whether a fellow is primarily reb or yank in his impressions.  As to CG&BB, I haven't purchased it yet, but perused a copy at length, and even if it doesn't break much new ground, the book does put a lot of scattered information in one place, which is very commendable.

It was good seeing you in Miller's Lumberyard and on the streets of Williamsport the other day. A pleasant surprise for both of us, I assume.  

Charles,

The thing I liked about CG & BB was the way Arliskas stressed the use of both captured Federal clothing & equipment and civilian clothing by Confederate soldiers. I also liked the thumb nail sketches of what the "average" Cornfed might have been wearing at the various major battles of the War. Funny, the Rebs didn't seem any more careful about their "stuff" than the Yankees, but had far less to replace it with. Of course, since they rarely got paid, they didn't have to worry so much about the QM taking their money for lost clothing and equipment!

I agree the CRRC is an outstanding source for any reenactor, who wants to improve his impression.

Good seeing you on Monday. Small world!  

Fellas,

I'm still partial to the "Hardcracker".  It may be a bit dated in regards to the calendar, but it's still the best source for western topics.

Quote :

Ken Cornett wrote : Fellas, It's still the best source for western topics.

Ken,

Who cares? Everybody knows the entire Civil War was fought in Virginia! Oh yeah, Sherman did make that little side trip to Atlanta so they'd have a excuse to make "Gone with the Wind".    

--Last edited by Bill on 2007-05-16 18:15:36 --

Now now Bill, you are suppose to be the "original" fence sitter.  Aren't you?

Sorry Ken,

The Devil made me do it. Besides, what we need is a fifty post thread on the "West is Best vs The East is Neat" controversy!  

On a serious note, is the Hardcracker Book still available?

Quote :

Bill wrote : Sorry Ken, The Devil made me do it. Besides, what we need is a fifty post thread on the "West is Best vs The East is Neat" controversy!   On a serious note, is the Hardcracker Book still available?

Bill,

Are you referring to "Hardtack and Coffee"? If so it's still available and was recently available for about $10 at the local Barnes and Noble and Books a Million. Both are sold out but have it on their websites for about $17.

Cal used to run an ad in the back of CCG. If anyone still subscribes to CCG, then check out the classifieds to see if the HCHB is still available.

No Robert, I'm talking about a hard to find book that was compiled by Cal Kinzer in the eighties I believe.  It's a good one.

Well Bill?  The west is the best   !

The Columbia Rifles Research Compendium has arrived.  I'm still going through it.  The only problem has been which article to read next.

Both are excellent publications that should be on every reeactors reading list, but I too am quite a fan of Cal's Hardcracker Hanbook, it has alot to offer to both theaters and will improve your mindset and impression reguardless what side or army you choose to protray. But just for the record "West is Best!" (had to do it, couldnt resist)-ELI GEERY

I found the research put into the CRRC-2 to be thorough and painstakingly done.  However, many of the articles are written in a somewhat pedantic and even arrogant tone.  It reminded me of a grumpy math professor I had in college. He knew the subject so well and had taught it so long, that he couldn't conceive that anybody could possibly not know the subject.

Plus the binding is terrible, and the copy I have is separating itself into what looks like a file full of magazine clippings.  

--Last edited by Bullet Sponge on 2007-09-22 09:57:04 --

My copy of CRRC2 fell apart in about a week. I got it replaced, but it looks the same. One person suggested that I pull it apart, punch holes in the pages, and use a three-ring binder. If this one comes apart, that's the road I will take.

While The WatchDog was quick to volunteer to replace any volumes which had a binding problem, the first thing I did was 'unbind' mind.

Took it down to the local Kwik Kopy, and had them drill it and put one of those plastic back binders with multiple teeth in it, so the volume could lay flat open easily.  I also had a reinforced cover put on the front and back.    It has stood up to a tremendous amount of abuse already.

John,

Get with Bill Christen for a replacement copy. A couple dozen units from the early printing had cover separation problems, and he was really on the ball in terms of quick replacement. If you recognize any of the nom de plumes, you'll quickly realize most of the articles were written by one person. In any event, it's not bad for a unit handbook.

Oh, and the usual cast of characters are working on a confederate compendium. To answer the next question, no I do not know when it is scheduled for release.

Actually, I plan to do exactly what Mrs. Lawson suggested, and put it into a nice binder - as are my favorite cook books.  It is a really useful reference, and to have it open flat would make it even better.

Thus far my CRRC2 is holding together.  Hopefully it will continue to do so, but if not, it will be bound.  My only complaint is next time around my bifocaled eyes would like to see a "large print edition."

I want to echo Bullet Sponge's comments on the CRRC.  It's a wonderful resource only marred by the binding and the tone.  The binding is actually a blessing in disguise -- once you put it in a three ring binder you can add other sheets of information to the subject headings, as well as the rare, but inevitable correction.

The tone is more problematical.  It's full of passages that begin with phrases along the lines of "Most reenactors don't..." or "Unlike the practice followed by many reenactors..." implying that, while mistakes abound in the hobby, here at least is the font of unvarnished, unassailable truth.  

In fact, of course, most real historians are constantly ready to be proved wrong by new research and will admit as much.  The ex cathedra tone of the CRRC to the contrary, even it has a few errors -- nothing really significant that I could see, but still enough to belie the infallible tone.  

This shouldn't surprise people who do a lot of their own research, but I wonder about more trusting or naive readers who take it for the gospel it seems to believe itself to be.

I've learned a lot from the CRRC and was more than happy to quote it in the last revision to "School of the Clerk." I also encouraged folks to buy it.  But I do hope that if the editors ever do another revision they lose the sanctimonious tone.  If nothing else, they'd save a little space that they could spend instead on even more information.

Two new books from The Watchdog are in the works, "Wearing the Gray" and "Wearing the Blue". Tom Arliskas is involved w/ WtG and this will not be a re-tread of CG&BB. John Tobey (editor of CRRC # 2)and I will be working together on WtB, which will include western Federal in the discussion as well.

The size of CRRC # 2 really stretches the boundaries of what can be published in softcover 'perfect' format with 60 lb paper. In fact, a good case could be made for having it as a two part compendium. The original CRRC was published in a three ring binder for that reason.