My friend Barry is a microbiologist, but his passion is photography. I think this photo he took during the inaugural parade is just extraordinary. They are the guard portion of the US Army Fife and Drum Corps (note that they themselves carry neither fifes nor drums). The facial expressions are – I dunno. It’s like a director has just shouted “Cut!” and the actors are starting to break character. Looks like the two guys on the far left have some issues, and the second guy from the right??? Possibly stoned to the tip of his tricorner hat.
One more photo I think worth looking at as an example of scale – this is the crowd at 12th and F Street downtown. This is a couple of blocks away from the parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue, and probably a quarter to a half mile north of the Mall. The whole of the dowtown area was seemingly packed like this.
I love the first one. Just reading the sequence of facial expressions from left to right really cracked me up for some reason. Charming, hilarious, and brilliant!
Third from left in the front row of the first photo looks like Mr. Bean, and the second from right just looks odd. Maybe he’s checking someone out.
The second picture makes it even more amazing there wasn’t a single arrest that day, let alone any outbreaks of violence. Humans are better-behaved than we give ourselves credit for.
Why does the guy all to the left in the front row in the first photo have a blue rim on his tricorner? Is it a sign of rank? Because it looks like he coloured it himself with a ball point pen… And are the two little hearts standard features?
I like it. The exposure looks right and the colors are good. For me, it works as this is a group in uniform but each is an individual. They’re looking in different directions, have different expressions on their faces, one is African-American, the leader or man carrying the flag has his markings, and so on. I wonder if showing the complete rifle, butt to bayonet, or including what I presume would be the flag, would be better or not. You’d lose some immediacy by not seeing their faces as clearly but I’d like to know which flag they’re carrying, I guess.
Rest of the family does Rev War re-enactment, not me - but I’ll take a stab and suggest the blue brim designates rank - most likely seargeant (I think that’s how they spell it.)
I believe he is carrying a halberd instead of a musket. My family portrays loyalists - I believe their seargeant is designated by a sash, and generally marches front row right.
The “hearts” are standard on every regimental (that’s what the jackets are called)I’ve seen. My wife has sewn at least 4-5 of them. Not sure of the function - if any.
I’ve never seen a guard accompanying musicians, but musicians generally wear colors opposite their regiment. If the guard is wearing the regimental colors, than the musicians’ jackets would be red with blue facings (lapels).
I’m sure my wife or kids could glance at this pic and tell you where these guys are from and a whole lot more. Me, I play golf!
Man, I’m working at home today. I just happened to glance to my left, and saw a stupid little statue of a colonial fifer who is, indeed, wearing red with blue facings. Also has the hearts. Man, my family is a bunch of geeks!
Looked a little closer. You’ll note that blue-hat guy is wearing a red sash around his waist.
Also, he is the only one wearing a sword.
Yep, he’s the seargeant/sargent/bossman/whatever.
My understanding is that musicians wore swords, because no soldier was supposed to be unarmed and they do not carry muskets. My daughter fifes for her unit, and wears a sword.
I’ll have to ask my family why they are wearing the soldiers’ regimentals instead of their red coats as in the pics.
Also, the pics suggest the guy I was calling the seargeant may be the drum major - at least the drum major on this site is wearing the red sash. But in the parade he is not wearing his bearskin hat. (My daughter wears one my wife made. Was interesting finding and pricing bearskin. . .
And, if this guy is a drum major, he may have been carrying an espontoon instead of a halberd. Pretty much the same thing, tho a differently shaped head on the end.
Just looked at my son’s regimentals (yes, he has 2!)
One (New York Volunteers) has the hearts, the other doesn’t. Where the hearts are, the front and back flaps are joined with a hook and eye. I vaguely recall asking my wife about the hearts, and she said they were just for reinforcement, and wasn’t sure why they were hearts instead of triangles or some other shape. Don’t know if they would ever undo them, say for a little more protection in colder weather, or for different functions.
My son’s other jacket (55th) simply has the front flap folded back and sewn permanently in that position.
Yes, I’m really bored today and don’t really feel like doing any work. Now I think I’ll take my dogs for a walk . . .
