Civilian Impressions
Oakley Tactical
Camp Roberts Tactical

It is late 1862 and western Missouri residents are finding that no matter where their loyalties lie, life in the Kansas border counties has become unbearable. Union loyalists fall pray to Gorillas whilst those with Southern sympathies are abused by Union Militia.  Ruined, destitute citizens are fleeing in droves.  Some went north, some headed east for St. Louis and yet others fled for Texas where they believed they would be out of harm’s way……

Warning: These are not events for those looking to “Costume Camp.”  Both will be challenging and in some respects also physically demanding.  Both are full immersion and will take place in remote areas with no modern intrusions or facilities where we will be functioning as a small transient group sharing meals and chores.  Each individual will be expected to pull their own weight.

Camp Roberts is the prelude to Oakley Tactical and for both, the Civilians will be portraying a group of refugees fleeing Missouri for Texas through northwestern Arkansas only to find themselves caught in between the Army of the Frontier and the Trans-Mississippi Army in the foothills of the Boston Mountains. 

There will be twenty civilian slots available for each event with fees and deadlines the same as for the military.  Once your registration is received, you will be invited to join a special Yahoo Chat Line for the purpose of sharing primary documentation and food and drink labels and discussing material culture, planning and other important aspects of both events.

Please contact Barb McCreary at stnpride1@msn.com prior to registering.

Minimum Clothing Standards for Camp Roberts and Oakley Tactical
(Adapted from the AGSAS McDowell Standards to fit our venue)

Clothing: Adult Women

1. Cotton, wool, or wool/cotton blend everyday or "work" dresses (matching bodice and skirt) in woven checks, plaids or stripes or in period prints with corded petticoats or small work hoops or no hoops at all. Trim, if any, should generally be minimal and understated.
2. Cotton dresses should preferably have a gathered bodice, although fitted cotton bodices are allowed. (They aren't incorrect per se but they are badly overrepresented relative to their use during the War). NO pagoda sleeves in cotton dresses. Preferred sleeves styles are bishop, coat and "balloon" (one piece variation on coat sleeves which is the most common in cotton "work dresses").
2. Solid colored cotton dresses were comparatively rare and are discouraged unless you are very poor and have over-dyed an older print dress. Wool dresses were frequently solid colored and are encouraged. Wool dresses may also be in challis-type prints or woven stripes, checks and plaids.
3. Bodices and skirt must be of the same material unless you are destitute, then you may have a mismatched bodice and skirt.
4. ABSOLUTELY no blouse/skirt or blouse/skirt/jacket combinations. Correct aprons (either pinner or half apron styles) and correct underpinnings are highly recommended. No visible modern underpinnings are allowed. Unless you are portraying an extremely poor person, either a corset or working stay is required. If you do not wear a corset or stay, you may NOT wear a modern bra.
5. Outerwear (shawls, capes, mantles and coats) should be practical and of appropriate material and construction.
6. Period reproduction shoes and boots of leather or homemade substitutes, or reasonable facsimiles thereof (no "speed laces", thick rubber soles or other telltale signs of modern footwear)
7. Appropriate headgear: bonnets, slat bonnets, corded sunbonnets, quilted bonnets, knitted hoods. No ladies "day caps" out of doors except on older women (e.g. 55 and over). Please NO dressy fashion bonnets. NO hats are allowed on women over 25 and they are actively discouraged on all but very young children as it was a high fashion / resort look.
8. Correct period hairstyle- center part, no bangs, and hair confined at or below the nape of the neck.  If appropriate to your impression center parted chin length bobbed hair with no layers is also acceptable.  Hair nets, if worn, must be of correct materials and worn appropriately with hair properly coifed underneath. No reenactor "snoods" under ANY circumstances.
9. Period eyeglasses or modern contact lenses are permitted. Any jewelry and accessories should be in keeping with your socioeconomic level and situation - simple or none at all. If you're wearing a white collar with your dress rather than a neckerchief, you should wear a brooch of appropriate period type unless you are young enough to get away with a bow at the neck instead. AVOID: cameos with obviously modern looking subjects, such as the ubiquitous "ponytail gal". Good low cost options include: rolled gold or "pinchbeck" hollowware, gutta percha, bog oak, goldstone, agate and "French jet" glass.
10. Unless there is a scenario-related reason for not protecting the neckline of your dress, please wear either a white collar with your dress or, if portraying a working class person or someone going about chores, a neckerchief.
11. PROHIBITED: visible make-up; modern hairstyles, bangs, or loose hair; painted fingernails; sweatpants; nylons or visible socks; modern eyeglasses; sunglasses of any kind; zippers; Velcro; zippers; plastic buttons or jewelry; wristwatches; synthetic fabrics, stud or post earrings. If you have piercings other than one hole in each ear, please remove your body jewelry and leave it at home.  No military issue items unless you have a specific scenario-related reason for having them. No overtly upper class or urban "fashion plate" clothing such as Garibaldi blouses, Zouave jackets, fancy silk dresses, large hoops, etc. They are inappropriate to the classes being portrayed at this event, even if otherwise period-correct.

Adult Male Civilian Clothing

1. MOST civilian men should be portraying displaced tradesmen, merchants, laborers and tenant or yeoman farmers. These men generally should be in sack coats, worn with a waistcoat (vests) and trousers, probably unmatched rather than a "suit of dittoes". Clothing should be in period materials appropriate to the garment type and your socioeconomic level -- e.g. wool, linen, or period blends such as jean cloth or linsey. Particularly suitable weaves for sack coats include broadcloth, cassimere, satinette and kersey.
2. A small percentage of frock coats might be acceptable, depending on your impression (e.g. doctors, preachers). Overshirts, smocks, shop aprons and other "occupational" clothing is underrepresented and encouraged if appropriate to your impression.
3. Outerwear (men's shawls, capes or coats) is encouraged as it may be appropriate for your impression but must be of period construction and materials.
4. Buttons should be of period materials: shell, glass, china or bone buttons on shirts; bone or tin buttons on trowsers; 1851 patent hard rubber, cloth or "coin" type metal buttons on coats, depending on the coat type.
5. Shirts should be made of cotton, wool or appropriate blends such as jean and linsey-woolsy, in either woven checks or stripes, or appropriate cotton prints, or solid colors (e.g. white "boiled" shirts for Sunday or the wealthier). Over shirts may be made of wool flannel.
6. Suspenders must be of correct construction (e.g. no "Y" backs) Neckwear must be of appropriate materials. If tied, it must be tied correctly. "Cheater" ties did exist in the era and documented styles of these are encouraged.
7. Socks should be period-appropriate, and of cotton or wool. Correct underclothing is recommended and no visible modern underwear is allowed.
8. Men's shirts, particularly white ("boiled) shirts were considered underwear in the era. Adult men should not appear in public in their shirtsleeves without either a waistcoat (vest) or over shirt / smock of some kind. Waistcoats should be of a period appropriate pattern, e.g. flat along the bottom rather than the later and modern pointed style, and made of a material appropriate to the era and to our economic class (e.g . no fancy silk brocades)
9. Period reproduction boots, bootees or shoes, of leather or homemade substitutes.
10. Properly blocked hats or period caps should be worn outdoors. No floppy "hillbilly hats".
11. Pocket watches are permitted if suitable to impression. No wristwatches. If needed, wear period eyeglasses or modern contact lenses.
12. Correct period hairstyles and facial hair (if worn).
13. PROHIBITED: Modern socks; fancy embroidered vests; modern eyeglasses or sunglasses; zippers; Velcro; plastic buttons; wristwatches; earrings; John Wayne-type bandannas (1880s!), synthetic fabrics.

Youth and Child Clothing Guidelines

1. As noted for adults with modifications appropriate to age. For example: boat necklines, short sleeves, and calf length skirts are appropriate for girls; short trousers and shirtsleeves for pre-teen boys (waistcoats for older boys).

Civilian Camping Regulations for Camp Roberts and Oakley Tactical

Our goal is to recreate a moment in time as practicably possible and will be  setting up and operating out of a static “Camp of Convenience.” This camp will resemble as near as possible a temporary squatter’s encampment of Missouri Refugees in the foothills of the Boston Mountains near Prairie Grove, Arkansas in late 1862.
Remember: In most situations, there is a feasible period way of doing things without resorting to a modern solution. When in doubt, research a period solution!

1)A Camp of Convenience should NEVER be a “pretend this is my cabin” situation.  Therefore, your camp must have all appearance of being that of a true refugee; meaning only the most precious and life sustaining items are with you.  Follow the principles of “Less is more.” If you won’t use it, loose it!
2) Be courteous to fellow living historians.  Appear in correct period attire appropriate to the situation from step-off/go-live to the end of the event.  If for example you do not have a chamber pot or period wrapper for stepping out in the morning, please dress before leaving your tent so that you do not disturb another’s “magic moment.”
3) Absolutely NO modern camping gear, i.e. sleeping bags or air mattresses.   Rope beds, or simply a down, thatch or straw stuffed ticking with period appropriate bedding is encouraged.
4) No modern items are to be seen at ANY time. This includes, but is not limited to soda cans, plastic, non-period drinking cups, modern food, etc.   Better yet, if you don’t bring them you won’t need to hide them.
5) The use of foods that require refrigeration are discouraged.  Brine and salt cured meats, period labeled and correct canned foods, seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables and good old fashioned water, tea and coffee ARE encouraged. Coolers therefore become an unnecessary nuisance.  If however it is unavoidable due to the need to refrigerate medication, a special dietary requirement etc., please keep it OUT OF SIGHT at all times.
6) Avoid where possible, the use of modern items of any kind other than medical and hygiene necessities (e.g. medicine, contact lens solution, sunscreen, insect repellant, feminine hygiene items, etc).  Please keep these items stowed away in poke sacks, period correct carpet bags, wooden chests etc.
7) No hairdressing in public as it was privately done. In a "camp of convenience" situation, this means in your tent.
8) Children under 12 must be supervised at all times and dressed in age-appropriate period civilian attire. NO modern toys are allowed. For a good selection of period toys, visit www.RaggedSoldier.com
9) For legal liability reasons, all participants under the age of 18 must either have a parent or guardian present or an adult participant must be designated as responsible, with the written approval of said parent or guardian.
10) If you have a fly, it must be correctly positioned over the top of your tent and not attached to the front like a porch!
11) Period tobacco use (cigars, pipes, chewing) is permissible if appropriate to your impression.  Likewise cigarettes (contrary to what many believe) are clearly documented to have been in use by both men and women.  They must however be packaged in a period appropriate container and of the non-filtered type and be appropriate to your impression.  Cigarettes that do not meet the aforementioned guidelines must be smoked out of view of fellow Living Historians.