Posted by d. bescan revision on June 08, 1999 at 20:46:03:
In Reply to: Re: Vote!!! posted by d. bescan on June 07, 1999 at 19:59:10:
: I was at the filming for the massacre valley location. I have been a member of the living history hobby since 1961, as a pre-teen in my fathers civil war unit. My first event was the 100th anniversary of Bull Run. Anyway....I have had a beard since I turned 18. I only shaved to be in films, documentaries and other important bicentenial events. Most men portraying the typical 18th century soldier as clean shaven are just as farby as those who insist wearing a long beard!!!!! Soldiers were lucky to have been shaven once a week! On campaigne they usually would go longer. The soldiers at Fort William Henry I would bet had over a weeks growth. I keep my beard at about a 2-3 weeks length year-round. The week before an important event, I do not shave my neck or checks(facial)... then the morning before I take off- I get out my electric beard trimmer and buzz it down to a weeks growth. It appears as a very natural unattended "beard" as most of the common soldiers in such a situation would have had. To be clean shaven is not always authentic!, It depends on the situation. There are no absolutes.