Ten outlaws

Courtesy of Listverse, Ten Gunslinging Outlaws of the American West:
10. William “Curly Bill” Brocius; circa 1845 to 24 March 1882

Curly Bill was so-called because of his thick, curly black hair. After the death of 'Old Man' Clanton, he became the leader of the Cowboys gang of cattle rustlers in Tombstone, Arizona. He also worked for a while as a tax collector for Cochise County Sheriff John Behan. Curly Bill was a heavy drinker who became even more rambunctious when drunk. One night, while drinking with other Cowboys, he was asked by Marshal Fred White to give up his pistol. In handing the gun over to the Marshal, it accidentally discharged, hitting White. Fred White, who had been friendly with Curly Bill, made a statement on his deathbed that he believed the shooting was an accident and Brocius was acquitted. Wyatt Earp testified in his defense, but later shot and killed him in retaliation for the murder of his brother, Morgan Earp.

9. Sam Bass; 21 July 1851 to 21 July 1878

Sam Bass started out as an honest man. After running away from the abusive uncle who raised him, he went to work in a sawmill in Mississippi. His dream was to be a cowboy, and he eventually made his way to Texas. After one season, he decided he didn’t like it. In 1876, Bass and a rough character named Joel Collins drove a herd of longhorns up north, where the prices for cattle were higher. They were supposed to go back to Texas to pay off the owners of the herd, but instead they took the $8,000 profit for themselves. He and Collins wasted the money from the cattle drive on gambling in Deadwood. A few months later, he and Collins went into another venture: stagecoach robbery. After holding up seven stagecoaches, they didn’t make much money. They set their sights on bigger prizes, and turned to train robbery. Bass and his gang robbed the Union Pacific gold train from San Francisco, netting over $60,000, which is to this day the largest single robbery of the Union Pacific. He was wounded by Texas Rangers on the way to rob a small bank in Round Rock and died, two days later, on his 27th birthday.

8. Belle Star; 5 February 1848 to 3 February 1889

Myra Maybelle Shirley was born in Carthage, Missouri. As a young lady, she attended the Carthage Female Academy, where she excelled in all subjects and became an accomplished pianist. She grew up with Cole Younger, and later befriended the James brothers. When the outlaws of the James-Younger gang needed to hide out, they often stayed at the Shirley family farm. It wasn’t long before Maybelle was introduced to a life of crime and earned the nickname The Bandit Queen. In 1866, Belle married Jim Reed, a former Confederate Army guerrilla. Jim Reed tried to live the honest life of a farmer, but, when that didn’t pan out, he fell in with the Starrs, a Cherokee Indian family notorious for stealing horses. Along with his wife’s friends, the Jameses and the Youngers, they planned and executed many daring heists. Jim was killed while trying to escape from the custody of a deputy sheriff who had arrested him for one such robbery. After the loss of her husband, Belle made her living organizing and planning robberies, as well as fencing stolen goods. When she was unable to bribe the law into looking the other way, she would seduce them to get what she wanted. She married Sam Starr in 1880 and, two years later, both of them were convicted of stealing horses. They were released a year later and went right back into lawlessness. Belle was murdered on 3 February 1889, two days before she was to turn 41. She was shot in the back while riding home from the general store. Her killer has never been identified.

7. Thomas Coleman Younger; 15 January 1844 to 21 March 1916

Cole Younger’s life was forever changed when his father was murdered by Union Army Captain Walley. The elder Younger had given Walley a severe beating for making advances on his daughter (Cole’s sister). Cole was already a member of Quantrill’s Raiders, but after the murder of his father, he joined the Confederate Army. It is not for certain when he went into banditry, but the first time he was mentioned as a suspect was after the 1868 robbery of Nimrod Long & Co., a bank in Russellville, Kentucky. Cole and his brothers formed a gang with Jesse and Frank James. They robbed stagecoaches, trains, and banks in Missouri, Kentucky, Kansas, and West Virginia. Luck ran out for the Younger boys on 7 September 1876, during a botched bank robbery. Cole and his brothers Jim and Bob pled guilty to avoid the hangman’s noose. They were sentenced to life, but were paroled in 1901. Cole toured the nation with Frank James, giving speeches about the Wild West. He later became a Christian and renounced his criminal past, and died peacefully four years later, with eleven bullets still embedded in his body.

6. James B. 'Killer' Miller; 25 October 1861 to 18 April 1909

James Miller was known as Deacon Jim, because he went to church and did not smoke or drink. Despite his piousness, he was actually one of the deadliest guns in the Old West. He openly stated that he would kill anyone for money, and his rate was reported to be anywhere from $150 to $2,000. Miller’s usual method was to ambush his victims at night, using a shotgun and wearing a black frock coat, making him hard to see in the darkness. His coat also concealed a steel plate he wore on his chest to protect him from opposing gunfire, an early version of a bulletproof vest. He is known to have committed fourteen murders, but rumors swelled that number to fifty. He was arrested in Oklahoma for the murder of A.A. 'Gus' Bobbitt. Not wanting to leave it up to a jury, a lynch mob dragged Miller and three others out to an abandoned stable to be hanged. Before he died, he made two requests: he wanted his ring to be given to his wife (who was a cousin of John Wesley Hardin) and to be allowed to wear his hat while being hanged. He went out on his own terms, shouting Let ‘er rip! before he jumped off his box to his death. His body and the bodies of the other three men lynched that night were left hanging for hours until a photographer could be found to immortalize the event.

5. The Sundance Kid; circa 1867 to 6 November 1908?

The Sundance Kid (Henry Longabaugh) earned his nickname after being caught and convicted of horse theft in Sundance, Wyoming. Despite his reputation as a gunfighter, he is not certain to have actually killed anyone. After his release from jail in 1896, he and Robert LeRoy Parker (aka Butch Cassidy) formed the gang known as the Wild Bunch. They were responsible for the longest string of successful train and bank robberies in American history. Due to the doggedness of the Pinkerton Detective Agency on their trail, Sundance, Butch, and Etta Place left the United States for Argentina to let things cool down. He is believed to have been killed in a shootout in Bolivia, but several family members claim he actually returned to the states, changed his name to William Henry Long, and lived in the small town of Duchesne, Utah until 1936. As of this writing, Long’s body has been exhumed and is having his DNA tested to determine the truth.

4. Butch Cassidy; 13 April 1866 to 6 November 1908?

In 1879, at the age of thirteen, Robert LeRoy Parker (aka Butch Cassidy) lived and worked with his family on the ranch of Jim Marshall in Circleville, Utah. It was there that he met his friend and mentor, Mike Cassidy, who gave Bob his first gun and taught him how to shoot. Years later, Bob would take his last name, Cassidy, as a tribute. His first run-in with the law occurred when he rode into town to buy a new pair of overalls. The general store was closed, so Bob let himself in, found a pair that fit, and left a note promising that he would be back to pay later. The merchant reported him to the sheriff, but he was acquitted of any crime. On 24 June 1889, he and three others robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado, netting $21,000. With this money, he bought a ranch near the infamous Hole-in-the-Wall outlaw hideout. Parker, by this time known as Butch Cassidy, was never a very good rancher, and it is believed to have simply been a cover for his illegal activities. In 1896, he became the leader of the infamous group of criminals known as the Wild Bunch, which included some of the most well-known outlaws of the Wild West. As with the Sundance Kid, it is unknown if he really died in Bolivia, or if, as some relatives claim, he returned to America.

3. John Wesley Hardin; 26 May 1853 to 19 August 1895

The son of a Methodist preacher, Hardin was named after the founder of the Methodist faith. When he was only fourteen years old, he stabbed a boy for taunting him. A year later, he was playfully wrestling with an ex-slave named Mage. He scratched Mage’s face, and the next day, Mage hid on a path and attacked Hardin in retaliation. Hardin fired three warning shots but, when Mage didn’t back off, Hardin was forced to shoot him in self-defense. Mage died as a result. Since many of the Texas State Police were themselves former slaves, and Hardin was a former Johnny Reb, he didn’t stand a chance of a fair trial. He went into hiding and was warned by his brother when the police found out where he was. He did not run, but stayed and fought instead. He killed all three policemen and evaded the law. Several arrests and escapes later, he ended up in Abilene, Kansas, where he befriended 'Wild Bill' Hickok. While in Abilene, he stayed at the American House Hotel. When the stranger in the next room wouldn’t stop snoring, he fired a gun into the ceiling twice. The first shot woke the man up, and the second one killed him. Hardin made his escape out of the window and left for Texas. Many skirmishes with the law followed, and he was finally captured, convicted, and went to jail for seventeen years. During his time in jail, he finished his law degree, and practiced as a lawyer upon his release. He died when he was shot in the back of the head while playing dice.

2. Jesse James; 5 September 1847 to 3 April 1882

Jesse James was born in Missouri and, along with his brother, Frank, was a Confederate guerrilla fighter during the Civil War. After the war, the James boys joined the Younger brothers, forming the James-Younger Gang. Together, they robbed banks, stagecoaches, and trains. In 1869, the gang held up the Daviess County Savings Association in Gallatin, Missouri. Jesse shot and killed a clerk, believing him to be someone else. When he realized his terrible mistake, he began a correspondence with John Newman Edwards, editor and founder of the Kansas City Times. Edwards had also fought for the Confederacy, and was sympathetic to the James brothers. He ran many admiring articles about the gang and published Jesse James’ letters to the public, in which he declared his innocence. These articles raised his public profile and made him a kind of folk hero. Though he was famous while alive, he became even more so in death, when he was shot in the back of the head in his own home by trusted friend Robert Ford. His mother, Zerelda James, chose this epitaph for her son: In Loving Memory of my Beloved Son, Murdered by a Traitor and Coward Whose Name is not Worthy to Appear Here.


1. Billy the Kid; circa 23 November 1859 to circa 14 July 1881

There is no outlaw more legendary than Billy the Kid, born William Henry McCarty, Jr., but also known as William H. Bonney and Henry Antrim. Countless books, movies, and songs have been written about his life, but the reality was not quite as sensational. Often portrayed as a cold-blooded killer, he entered a life of crime out of necessity, not malice. People who knew him personally called him brave, resourceful, honest, and full of laughter. Under different circumstances, he could have been a successful man. It has been said that he killed twenty-one people, one for each year of his life, but he was probably only responsible for four. In 1877, he went to work as a cattle guard for rancher John Tunstall. Tunstall was embroiled in a bitter dispute with local merchants Lawrence Murphy and James Dolan. On 18 February 1878, Tunstall, though unarmed and alone, was murdered by Murphy’s workers while herding his cattle in the open range. This event started what would be called the Lincoln County War. Enraged, the ranch hands, including Billy, were deputized and given the warrants to bring in the Murphy men. They called themselves the Regulators. Due to the corruption of the day, the governor sided with Murphy, and the Regulators became the enemy. After a daring escape from jail, and a few years on the run, Billy was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett while hiding out in a friend’s home. Over the years, several people have claimed to be Billy the Kid, but the chance that he survived, or that his body was misidentified, are highly unlikely.

Code of Ethics

Six-Gun Justice & the Reenactment Guild of America, hereafter referred to as the RGA, is dedicated to the accurate and historical presentation of life in the American West during the nineteenth century.
It is the desire of the membership to preserve this part of American history and to provide a safe venue where the public may be both educated and entertained at the same time.
All members of the guild will be expected to conduct themselves in a manner that will not bring discredit to Six-Gun Justice or the RGA.
Neither Six-Gun Justice nor the RGA will tolerate, nor condone or support, discrimination by any person or entity in any form or manner. Six-Gun Justice and RGA members will be expected to follow all Guild rules and guidelines set forth by the board, and to adhere to all local, state, and Federal laws.
Because historical truths are sometimes fluid and open to interpretation, every effort will be made to insure that members portray their characters or events in a historically-correct manner, which shall include, but is not restricted to, clothing, utensils, weapons, behavior, and speech.
Questions regarding these areas will be professionally presented for clarification. Members, in response to such questions, will refrain from action or speech that could be construed as hostile. In all cases of competition, the judges will have final say on issues of safety or historical correctness.
No discourse will be allowed in front of the judges table.¹ Performers must honor historical records and knowledge, and should document such sources used in their presentations so that they can withstand critical review.  Six-Gun Justice & RGA members will strive to assist each other in the pursuit of historical accuracy and understanding.
Further, members will respect the integrity of historical records while investigating and interpreting the past during presentations as a matter of practice. Members will also respect the presentations and portrayals of the past by all other members and will not resort to plagiarism.
Six-Gun Justice & RGA members are to consider themselves as mentors and teachers to young and old alike, and behave at all times while representing Six-Gun Justice and the RGA in a manner above reproach. Inappropriate actions or behavior by any member is subject to review by the board, and may result in expulsion of the member.
All performers are professionals, bound by a love of the Western frontier, as well as a love for history and their fellow human beings. These are values shared by all members of the Guild.

Four-Eyed Jack Warren

Director, Six-Gun Justice

---

¹ This is enforced only if Six-Gun Justice members enter an RGA-sponsored competition.

RGA safety, part four

Here's the fourth & last safety video from the RGA:

RGA safety, part three

Here's part three of the RGA Safety Series:

RGA safety, part two

Here's the second video in the RGA Safety Series:

How to play billiards

Introduction
Pool, or billiards, gets its name from being played in the pool room (where money is “pooled”) at horse races at the beginning of its popularity. It is played on a felt table with cue sticks, which are used to strike the balls. If you have never learned or would like a refresher, read this article to learn how to play pool.

Instructions
Step One Find a place to play. Many bars will have a table or two, but when you are looking to play for a long period of time, look for a recreation or pool hall where you can rent a table by the hour.
Step Two Choose teams. You can play pool one-on-one or in teams. When you are making teams, match the stronger players with weaker ones to make the game fair.
Step Three Rack the balls. All balls (except the white cue ball) start in the rack. For almost all pool games, you place the eight ball in the middle, the one ball on top and alternate stripes and solids around the rack.
Step Four Decide who breaks. Flip a coin, rock, paper, scissors, or you can each try to hit a ball as close to the railing as you can, and the closest breaks.
Step Five Break the rack. Whichever you 'make' (sinking either a stripe or a solid) are the balls you will be trying to sink for the rest of the game. When you do not make any, your opponent can shoot at any stripe or solid. When you make one of each, you can choose.
Step Six Shoot as long as you keep sinking your balls. It is not your opponent’s turn until you miss a shot.
Step Seven Alternate turns with your partner. When you are on a team, you can not shoot until you are partner has taken a turn. 

Tips & Warnings ·Don’t hit the white cue ball into a pocket. This is called a scratch, and you lose your turn. The other team gets a free shot from “the kitchen”, which is the area where the cue ball was placed for the break.
·Pool is a game of finesse. The biggest mistake rookie players make is striking the ball too firmly. Aim, but only hit the cue ball as hard as you need to.
·If you are playing at a pay-and-play table, when somebody puts quarters down on the side of the table, it indicates that they have reserved the table for the next game.
·There are many “house rules” or optional rules associated with pool. Make sure to outline these before you begin play.

HOUSE RULES
NO PRACTICING. LET PLAYERS PLAY.
DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, SIT ON THE TABLE.
ALL PLAYERS MUST CHECK THEIR GUNS.
NO WAGERING ALLOWED.
A PERSON OR PERSONS IN PERIOD DRESS HAS PRECEDENCE OVER ANY PERSON NOT IN PERIOD DRESS.

The RGA (Reenactment Guild of America)

The RGA is the main organization that Six-Gun Justice is affiliated with. All Six-Gun Justice members who wish to participate in the historical presentations and reenactment part of the group must become RGA members as well. RGA provides our group with liability coverage for all events we participate in. Information about the RGA, it’s rules & regulations, safety procedures and membership can be found on their website www.rgamerica.org.

Below is a video produced by the RGA about safety during an event or show.

Coming soon to Pennsylvania

Howdy, folks.
As the Spring of 2012 approaches, my mind ultimately drifts towards clouds of smoke from black powder .45 Colts and other nineteenth century Old West weapons of mass destruction.
Come hell or high water, I will have a planning meeting this spring for Six-Gun Justice. So spread the word to keep an eye on this blog and, as soon as it’s set, I’ll post the details of where, when, and how, both here and other various places.

Yours,

Four Eyed Jack

Developing a first-person impression

First-person delivery is a method of speaking with spectators and other reenactors as if you are the person and living during the nineteenth century. You discuss situations which involve you in the present tense as opposed to discussing the life of someone who lived during the times in the third-person. Conversing in first-person requires practice and its success depends on several factors, the most important of which is how well you've researched your subject and the various aspects of his or her life. Since spectators sometimes aren't prepared for such a delivery, it can be helpful to have another interpreter on hand to set the stage for you and to answer questions, so that you don't have to step outside your first-person character. A perfect knowledge of the character is not mandatory when you begin to portray the character. You will feel more comfortable with it as you continue to research the character and add to your general knowledge base. A first-person impression is like the clothing and other aspects of living history; it is progressive and, if you are good at it, you will continue to improve it as you go along. Don't be discouraged if your first attempts fall short of your expectations. The success of first-person delivery can also depend on the setting. Walking about a historical home in the character of the owner or a family member can be relatively comfortable for the living historian who has researched the home and the family who lived there. Diaries, census records, land deeds, marriage records, obituaries, and other such documents will help you piece together the fabric of the family's life. You may become so familiar with them you feel quite comfortable discussing situations which faced them. In such a situation, the setting itself helps spectators to get in the mindset of having this person speak to them, eliminating confusion about what is taking place. On the other hand, first-person delivery in a large reenactment setting can be more difficult, because spectators have no preconceived idea of who you are or what you're doing, and may not understand the theory of a first-person delivery. Unless done well it could be quite confusing to them. This might be a situation in which a staged presentation might be better understood by the spectators. Perhaps a recreation of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, a Temperance rally, or a Ladies Sewing Circle, in which spectators may view the activities taking place and the conversation associated with such a setting, might be more effective than an impromptu exchange in camp. A first-person character may be a well-known historical figure, an ancestor, or a compilation of several different people from the period. It might be totally fictional, but based on numerous historical accounts. A general character may allow for more adaptability of setting and conditions at hand. Research is the key, in either situation, to a successful interaction with spectators. Portraying a well-known person from history may bring you in contact with a spectator who knows as much about your character as you do, in which case it could put you in a compromising situation if you aren't fully prepared. Such portrayals may bring you in contact with a descendant of the person you portray, in which case you should be prepared for your portrayal to be judged by the spectator's personal knowledge. This should not intimidate anyone from doing such a portrayal; however, it should encourage thorough research. A first-person scenario may be a recreation of an actual event from history, or it may be a generalization based upon extensive research. An example of this might be a group of soldiers sitting around camp conversing, perhaps preparing an evening meal. Dialogue would be based on a thorough understanding of the activities in that particular area, the unit's participation, and what you imagine men would have discussed in that given situation. Cemetery dramas in which "ghosts" discuss with spectators a significant event in their life are an excellent setting for first-person portrayals. Guides are able to relate to participants that actors are going to portray certain individuals and thus allow the "ghosts" themselves to give their presentation in beautiful first-person delivery. A soldier might tell how he died in battle, or a woman might tell of the grief she suffered at the loss of a husband or child and the hardships she endured. Your character should be able to converse with knowledge of general conditions of the period, hardships endured in a particular area, etc. Socioeconomic and political factors effecting the lives of your character are of prime importance. Developing a persona for yourself early on can be of immense assistance to you in choosing a wardrobe and other items used in your portrayal. A rural Southern woman, for example, would dress far more plainly than a woman portraying the wife of a politician or prominent businessman. A specialized impression such as that of a minister or nun would carry with it guidelines for clothing, and should be adhered to as closely as possible. Clothing should fit the persona you choose for yourself to make your portrayal more believable. A rural working class couple would not attend a ball in the height of fashion, nor would a wealthy couple attend a social function in everyday clothing. The difference between camping wearing clothing from another era and being a participating living historian is a thorough knowledge of the era and the ability to relate it to spectators. Research is the key, and you should be able to adapt your character if your research reveals information you did not know previously. If you portray someone who died at age 25, for example, as you age, too much to give a believable portrayal of the character at that age, consider assuming the identity of the character's parent. The information will be the same; you will just be delivering it in a slightly different manner. Researching diaries, books, census records, and other documents will give you a basic understanding of what occupations and crafts were being pursued in the nineteenth century. A living historian should have a purpose for being and pursue it; people who lived during the 1860s did far more than just sit around, and so should you. Find an occupation or craft and use it to transform yourself into a character from the past. Taking a twenty-first century interest and molding it to fit a nineteenth century standard can be the key to developing your first-person impression. For example: a woman who is an avid knitter might do some research into period knitting patterns and knit socks for the soldiers as part of her impression, or a man who is a knowledgeable gardener might use that knowledge to grow heirloom vegetables, display these in camp, and be able to discuss period agricultural methods. A first-person persona doesn't evolve overnight, but you can expand it as you research and learn more. Have fun with it, and add to it as you go along. The following list is provided as a research guide for use in developing a first-person impression. These are not the only factors influencing your character's life, but they are a good place to start. As you continue your research you may well make discoveries which will allow you to add to your knowledge base. Adaptability is the key, so be prepared to remold your character as needed to reflect the information you discover along the way. Family history Your name Your date of birth Your place of birth Your parents' names Your parents' places of birth Your siblings Your siblings' history: are they living or deceased, older or younger, married or single, do they have children; are there any distinguishing events which had an effect upon their lives? Do you have brothers in the war? Geographical history Your place of residence Be able to relate what conditions are like in the area where you reside Know the history of your town or city, county, and state. When was the town founded? Who were some of its earliest settlers? What are the economic conditions of your area? What industry or trades were present? What are the political ties of your area? How did your area participate during the war : Union, Confederate, or both? Were there outstanding events in your area your character would be aware of? Who are the prominent citizens in the area you call home? Know the socioeconomic conditions for your area. Was it primarily industrial or agricultural? What industry was in existence, what crops were grown? Personal history How well-educated are you? How well-educated were your parents and siblings? What are your interests? This might include an occupation, domestic arts, etc. How well-traveled is your character? Wealth will determine this to some extent. Are you married? If so be prepared to discuss your spouse, using these guidelines to establish his or her persona Do you have children? Live or deceased? If the latter, how did they die? Health. Were there medical conditions which plagued your character? If so, research into the condition and its treatment during the 1860's would be of immense help in portraying this. Religion Are you a religious person? If you intend to use this as part of your impression, research the early origins of the church and its leaders. Do some research and determine whether your religious faith was established in the area of residence. If not, perhaps you attended a different church because it was all that was available to you You might have a basic understanding of early religious leaders of your faith or those present in the area you call home. If religion is an important part of your impression, you might become familiar with churches and cemeteries which were present in your area during the time in question. Many of these may no longer be in existence. Material culture Your speech patterns, clothing, and activities would be somewhat predetermined by the persona you have chosen for yourself. Speech patterns for rural families would not be the same as those from larger cities, and dialect would be different between North and South. The more prominent a family was the more attention they might have paid to the social graces and the more research you might want to put into the etiquette of the period. Be aware enough of etiquette of the day to make your character believable. Dancing; if you enjoy this activity, learn as many period dances as you can, perhaps be able to discuss their origins Dining habits; this would be somewhat determined by one's station in life Conversation; rural families' conversation might have centered more around the basics of crops, needed clothing, the availability of food, illnesses, etc., whereas a wealthier person might be more enlightened and able to discuss recent news, friends' activities and travels, etc. Arts; This might also be determined by one's station in life. A wealthier woman might have had time to do fancy embroidery while a rural woman might have been more concerned with basic clothing for her family. Literature; again somewhat determined by one's station in life. A wealthier family might have more access to current literature, whether American or English. They might have a large collection of books, and be able to add to it as others are published. A family of less social standing might rely on newspapers or the Bible for its reading material. Music; if you possess a talent, look for a period instrument and music and use it to present the music of the period. You should do enough research to know the origins of the music and how it was received. Rural families might not have been familiar with newly released pieces. Occupations How did your character find financial support? A woman might have relied on her husband's income prior to the War, but have had to support herself after he enlisted. Women often had to manage farms and find ways to feed their families, especially in the South. Soldiers had lives before they enlisted and the survivors returned to these occupations when the hostilities were over. Choose an occupation for your character either based on an existing interest, or a desire to know more about a certain craft of the period. A man might have been a farmer, merchant, physician, storekeeper, or banker, etc., while a woman might have pursued a living as a seamstress, midwife, herbalist, etc. Be aware that women often pursued occupations not previously open to them prior to the War. Be familiar with terminology associated with a certain occupation or craft, know how to use necessary tools, and consider collecting enough of them to display or demonstrate. Regions Be aware that conditions were vastly different in the South than in the North. Blockades prevented Southern families from obtaining luxuries, and often even basic necessities, they had known prior to the war. Southern families who had been wealthy prior to the War often soon found themselves reduced in circumstances and this situation worsened as the War progressed. Your impression might reflect these changes; pre-war dresses might have given way to homespun and lavish meals might now consist of very coarse fare. You might reminisce about the carefree prewar days and family members or friends who have died in battle. A study of Southern diaries will give you an understanding of these changes and how Southern women dealt with them. The same may be said for Northern women; mourning itself knew no regional boundaries. Women, both North and South, did what they could to provide for their troops. Southern ladies often worked in the form of Ladies Aid Societies while Northern women might have worked under the guise of the US Sanitary Commission. Be aware of regional differences and use these in your impression. Recommended reading Past Into Present: Effective Techniques for First Person Historical Interpretation. Roth, Stacy F. University of NC Press. 1998. ISBN: 0-8078-2407-0 The Employments of Women: A Cyclopedia of Women's Work. Penny, Virginia. 1863. Reprint: Mrs. Martin's Mercantile, 4566 Oakhurst Dr., Sylvania, OH 43560

Similar notion

Neither Rico nor Four-Eyed Jack can confirm the (cheap) price mentioned in this video, but it gives you the flavor of what we intend...

Soon come

Rico says that, as soon as Four-Eyed Jack approves, we'll be providing a complete Six-Gun-Justice presentation.

Badged up

Rico says the first of the official badges of Six-Gun Justice has arrived, and it's a beautiful thing (the photo is of Rico's badge, Number Two, as John Augustus 'Four Eyed Jack' Warren is Number One). Starpacker Badges does great work (though Blackinton actually makes them), and the badge (with their own member number and alias) will be a good thing for anyone who joins to acquire, and at a reasonable cost, too. (A mere $65.)

Good admonition

Rico says no, that's 'admonition', not 'ammunition', and this article (courtesy of his cowboy friend Bad Blake) from the Rapid City Journal is why:

It’s obvious that something went terribly wrong when three tourists were injured during a recent mock gun battle in Hill City that became all to real. The tourists were shot by a member of the Dakota Wild Bunch Reenactors using a gun containing live rounds instead of blank cartridges.
Fortunately, none of the resulting injuries were life-threatening, but that doesn’t lessen the horror and pain experienced by those who sustained injuries, as well fear and confusion among the many witnesses. It’s even more disturbing to think someone might have been killed.
The Dakota Wild Bunch has been staging Old West shootouts in downtown Hill City for about five years.
The 17 June incident that went terribly awry is still under investigation, but one law enforcement official said proper safety procedures apparently weren’t followed: “It’s obvious at this point that his weapon wasn’t checked before this occurred", said Lieutenant Marty Graves, an investigator for the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office.
Arizona re-enactor John Larkin called the incident appalling, and said there’s no question safety procedures weren’t followed. Larkin and other re-enactors are upset that the incident has cast their activities in such a negative light, when participants pride themselves on safety and historical accuracy.
Numerous re-enactments occur each week throughout the United States, including Old West shootouts and Civil War reenactments.
It’s not unusual for injuries to occur, by accident or neglect, to be followed by a public outcry to make sure it doesn’t happen again. One sure way to accomplish that would be to eliminate mock gun battles in Hill City and elsewhere. But that would be a disservice to the audiences that enjoy such events and to the people who stage them using proper safety procedures.
The Wild Bunch may have trouble finding work after this incident, but other reenactors should not be penalized for one group’s sloppy safety procedures, and one irresponsible group shouldn’t put those who are responsible out of business. Those who agree can still see mock shootouts in Deadwood. Whether such shootouts will resume in Hill City is a decision its residents and community leaders will have to carefully consider.
While other groups may believe the Wild Bunch was careless, the accidental shooting does provide an opportunity for all reenacting groups to review their own procedures and make any safety changes necessary. The Hill City incident could be seen as a welcome opportunity.

Rico says the article carried the typical admonition that "this material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed", which, given that it was posted on the internet, fer crissakes, only makes him laugh, as he did all those things to it...

Old Bedford Village's "1880's Tombstone"

Rico and I returned form Old Bedford Village on Sunday afternoon. We participated in a gunfight on Saturday and tried to get some photos of ourselves on Sunday morning before leaving.

1880's Tombstone at Old Bedford Village

It looks like Rico and I will be attending the Tombstone event on June 25th & 26th at Old Bedford Village. We'll be leaving early Saturday morning from his place and taking the 3-1/2 to 4 hour drive out to Bedford, PA.

We won't make it there for registration and weapons inspection, but hopefully we can take some part in the event. I am bringing my camera so I can post photos of the event.

Yours,
Four-Eyed Jack

Old Bedford Village, June 25th & 26th, Bedford, PA

Well it looks like it's going to be one great event. Recreating Tombstone in the 1880s at Old Bedford Village, in Bedford, PA on June 25-26. We've got two chuckwagons, a stagecoach, fifteen or so mounted and over 80 reenactors attending. If you get a chance to go you won't be disapointed. You can pitch a tent, stay in one of the historical buildings or hotel it.

We start on Friday night with a planning meeting, then Saturday morning between 7:00-8:30 for firearm and cartridge inspection. The village is open from 9am-5pm on Sat, and until 4pm on Sun. You can stop by the saloon, play pharoh or poker, have a cold drink or interact with the rest of the village. Be forewarned, the weekend goes by fast with all the fun you're having. Just drop me a message if you're interested in any more information.

History Expo at the Allentown Heritage Center & Museum

The Saturday of 4/09/11 I went to Allentown, PA for the history expo at the Heritage Center & Museum on W. Walnut St. There were two Civil War camp displays, one Colonial display and a Native American display plus numerous other displays of various periods while inside the building there were tables of books and other media for sale.

I spoke with a gentleman at one of the Civil War camps named Barry who is a member of the 8th Georgia Co.A Civil War reenactment group who lives in Walnutport, PA. Barry is a reenactor, historian and lecturer on the period and after explaining the goal of our group, he offered to help us any way he could. I hope to get in touch with Barry and see what he has in mind.

The previous Saturday I was on the road putting up a flyer at Dixon's Muzzleloading Shop in Kempton, PA where I met a local gentleman who had an interest in the group.

Going forward, steadily

The long-awaited organizing meeting took place today, with Rico, Four-Eyed Jack, and Jasper (aka Kevin Malseed) in attendance.
Moving forward, we'll be concentrating on recruiting, then getting some local events lined up and showing up. (Hey, all you incipient cowboy reenactors out there, sign on to ride with the SGJ brand)
Down the road, paying events.

Organizational meeting

The founders (Four-Eyed Jack and Rico) were having an organizing meeting on Saturday, 5 March, at Rico's place in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, but somebody died, alas, so it's delayed until Saturday, 19 March, at 2pm..

19th Century Vernacular

The Art of Manliness Dictionary of Manly 19th Century Vernacular

Admiral of the Red: A person whose very red face evinces a fondness for strong potations.

All-overish: Neither sick nor well; the premonitory symptoms of illness. Also the feeling which comes over a man at a critical moment, say just when he is about to “pop the question.” Sometimes this is called, “feeling all-over alike, and touching nowhere.”

Anointing: A good beating. A case for the application of salve. Barking-Iron, or Barker: A pistol. Term used by footpads and thieves generally.

Bellows: The lungs. Bellowser, a blow in the ” wind,” or pit of the stomach, taking one’s breath away.

Bellows to Mend: A person out of breath; especially a pugilist is said to be “bellows to mend” when winded.

Blind Monkeys: An imaginary collection at the Zoological Gardens, which are supposed to receive care and attention from persons fitted by nature for such office and for little else. An idle and useless person is often told that he is only fit to lead the Blind Monkeys to evacuate. Another form this elegant conversation takes, is for one man to tell another that he knows of a suitable situation for him. “How much a week? and what to do?” are natural questions, and then comes the scathing and sarcastic reply, “Five bob a week at the doctor’s— you’re to stand behind the door and make the patients sick. They won’t want no physic when they sees your mug.”

Blinker: A blackened eye. Also a hard blow in the eye.

Bone Box: The mouth. Shut your bone box; shut your mouth.

Bully Trap: A brave man with a mild or effeminate appearance, by whom the bullies are frequently taken in.

Bunch Of Fives: The fist. Pugilistic.

Cat-heads: A woman’s breasts. Sea phrase.

Cold Coffee: Misfortune ; sometimes varied to COLD Gruel. An unpleasant return for a proffered kindness is sometimes called COLD Coffee.—Sea.

Colt’s Tooth: Elderly persons of juvenile tastes are said to have a Colt’s Tooth, i.e., a desire to shed their teeth once more, to live life over again.

Crab: To prevent the perfection or execution of any intended matter of business, by saying any thing offensive or unpleasant, is called crabbing it, or throwing a crab; to crab a person, is to use such offensive language or behaviour as will highly displease, or put him in an ill humour.

Cupboard Love: Pretended love to the cook, or any other person, for the sake of a meal. My guts cry cupboard; i.e. I am hungry.

Cut: To renounce acquaintance with any one is to cut him. There are several species of the CUT. Such as the cut direct, the cut indirect, the cut sublime, the cut infernal, etc. The cut direct is to start across the street, at the approach of the obnoxious person, in order to avoid him. The cut indirect is to look another way, and pass without appearing to observe him. The cut sublime is to admire the top of King’s College Chapel, or the beauty of the passing clouds, till he is cut of sight. The cut infernal is to analyze the arrangement of your shoe-strings, for the same purpose.

Dash-fire. Vigor, manliness.

Draw the Long Bow: To tell extravagant stories, to exaggerate overmuch; same as “throw the hatchet.” From the extremely wonderful stories which used to be told of the Norman archers, and more subsequently of Indians’ skill with the tomahawk.

Drumsticks: Legs. Drumstick cases-pants

Earth Bath: A grave.

Eternity Box: A coffin.

Fart Catcher: A valet or footman, from his walking behind his master or mistress.

Firing A Gun: Introducing a story by head and shoulders. A man, wanting to tell a particular story, said to the company, “Hark; did you not hear a gun?—but now we are talking of a gun, I will tell you the story of one.”

Fimble-Famble: A lame, prevaricating excuse.

Fizzing: First-rate, very good, excellent; synonymous with “stunning.”

Flag of Distress: Any overt sign of poverty; the end of a person’s shirt when it protrudes through his trousers.

Floorer: A blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down, or bring him to the floor. Often used in reference to sudden and unpleasant news.

Flying Mess: “To be in Flying Mess ” is a soldier’s phrase for being hungry and having to mess where he can.

Follow-me-lads: Curls hanging over a lady’s shoulder.

Gentleman of Four Outs: When a vulgar, blustering fellow asserts that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, ” Yes, a Gentleman Of Four Outs”—that is, without wit, without money, without credit, and without manners.

Go By The Ground: A little short person, man or woman.

Gullyfluff: The waste—coagulated dust, crumbs, and hair—which accumulates imperceptibly in the pockets of schoolboys.

Gunpowder: An old woman.

Half-mourning: To have a black eye from a blow. As distinguished from ” whole-mourning,” two black eyes.

Heavy Wet: Malt liquor—because the more a man drinks of it, the heavier and more stupid he becomes.

Hobbadehoy: A youth who has ceased to regard himself as a boy, and is not yet regarded as a man.

Hogmagundy: The process by which the population is increased.

Holy Water: He loves him as the Devil likes holy water; i.e. hates him mortally.

Honor Bright: An asseveration which means literally, “by my honour, which is bright and unsullied” It is often still further curtailed to “honor!” only.

How’s Your Poor Feet!: An idiotic street cry with no meaning, much in vogue a few years back.

Hugger-mugger: Underhand, sneaking. Also, “in a state of Hugger- Mugger” means to be muddled.

Job’s Turkey: “As poor as Job’s Turkey,” as thin and as badly fed as that ill-conditioned and imaginary bird.

Keep a Pig: An Oxford University phrase, which means to have a lodger. A man whose rooms contain two bedchambers has sometimes, when his college is full, to allow the use of one of them to a Freshman, who is called under these circumstances a PIG. The original occupier is then said to Keep A Pig.

Ladder: “Can’t see a hole in a Ladder,” said of any one who is intoxicated. It was once said that a man was never properly drunk until he could not lie down without holding, could not see a hole through a Ladder, or went to the pump to light his pipe.

Lay down the knife and fork: To die. Compare Pegging-out, Hopping The Twig, and similar flippancies.

Monkey with a Long Tail: A mortgage.

Month of Sundays: An indefinite period, a long time.

Muckender: A pocket handkerchief, snottinger.

Nose-ender: A straight blow delivered full on the nasal promontory.

Nose in the Manger: To put one’s nose in the manger, to sit down to eat. To “put on the nose-bag” is to eat hurriedly, or to eat while continuing at work.

O’clock: “Like One O’clock,” a favorite comparison with the lower orders, implying briskness; otherwise “like winkin’.” “To know what’s O’clock” is to be wide-awake, sharp, and experienced.

Off One’s Chump: To be crazy is to be Off One’s Chump ; this is varied by the word CHUMPY. A mild kind of lunatic is also said to be “off his head,” which means of course exactly the same as the first phrase.

Off the Horn: A term used in reference to very hard steak, which is fancifully said to be Off The Horn.

Out of Print: Slang made use of by booksellers. In speaking of any person that is dead, they observe, ‘”he is out of print.”

Perpendicular: A lunch taken standing-up at a tavern bar. It is usual to call it lunch, often as the Perpendicular may take the place of dinner.

Pocket: To put up with. A man who does not resent an affront is said to Pocket it.

Pot-hunter: A man who gives his time up to rowing or punting, or any sort of match in order to win the “pewters” which are given as prizes. The term is now much used in aquatic and athletic circles; and is applied, in a derogatory sense, to men of good quality who enter themselves in small races they are almost sure to win, and thus deprive the juniors of small trophies which should be above the attention of champions, though valuable to beginners. Also an unwelcome guest, who manages to be just in time for dinner.

Rain Napper: Umbrella.

Rib: A wife.

Rumbumptious: Haughty, pugilistic.

Rusty Guts: A blunt, rough, old fellow.

Saucebox: A pert young person, in low life also signifies the mouth.

Saw Your Timber: “Be off!” equivalent to “cut your stick.” Occasionally varied, with mock refinement, to “amputate your mahogany.”

Scandal-water: Tea; from old maids’ tea-parties being generally a focus for scandal.

Shake the Elbow: To shake the elbow, a roundabout expression for dice-playing. To “crook the Elbow” is an Americanism for ” to drink.”

Sit-upons: Trousers.

Smeller: The nose; “a blow on the Smeller” is often to be found in pugilistic records.

Sneeze-lurker: A thief who throws snuff in a person’s face, and then robs him.

Sneezer: A pocket handkerchief.

Snooze-case: Pillow case.

Snotter, or Wipe-hauler: A pickpocket whose chief fancy is for gentlemen’s pocket-handkerchiefs.

Sober-water: A jocular allusion to the uses of soda-water.

Tail Down: “To get the Tail Down,” generally means to lose courage. When a professional at any game loses heart in a match he is said to get his Tail Down. ” His Tail was quite DOWN, and it was all over.” The origin is obvious.

Tune the Old Cow Died of: An epithet for any ill-played or discordant piece of music.

Sources:
Grose’s Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1823.
The Slang Dictionary, 1874.
Slang and Its Analogues Past and Present.
Dictionary of Americanisms, 1877