William Hocker & Winslow Homer (1 Viewer)

[PolarBear]

I have previously posted my Wm. Hocker set of the 5th NY (Duryee) Zouaves who were painted during the ACW by Winslow Homer. I like the fact that Homer and Bill have the same initials. Here is another Homer illustration that Bill has done as a set:

The Seventy-Ninth Regiment (Highlanders) New York State Militia
Harper's Weekly May 25, 1861

 

[PolarBear]

Here is Bill's corresponding set #336 79th New York State Militia

 

[jazzeum]

Randy,

Has Bill Hocker purposely paid homage to Winslow Homer and, if so, has he considered or done any non military sets paying homage to him?

 

[PolarBear]

Randy,

Has Bill Hocker purposely paid homage to Winslow Homer and, if so, has he considered or done any non military sets paying homage to him?

I know Bill looks at art and photographs from the period as part of his research. My guess is that he was familiar with the Harper's print. I would love to see some figures or sets of Homer's civilian subjects which were quite diverse. Bill's ACW sets do include civilian subjects such as a Slave Auction, Abolitionists, and a Regimental Muster and Recruitment Parade

http://wmhocker.com/index.php?s=civilwar

 

[Scott]

Hocker's figures are at "Shoulder Arms" which fits several American manuals in use instead of that British "slope arms" position that Homer captured them doing. Maybe the 79th did use a British drill as a militia unit.

 

[PolarBear]

Hocker's figures are at "Shoulder Arms" which fits several American manuals in use instead of that British "slope arms" position that Homer captured them doing. Maybe the 79th did use a British drill as a militia unit.

Scott

Very interesting info

Thanks,

Randy

 

[Scott]

Reenactors of the 79th NY who show up at events wearing kilts, post dating April 1861, cause a lot of "discussion."

 

[4thhussar]

Reenactors of the 79th NY who show up at events wearing kilts, post dating April 1861, cause a lot of "discussion."

They should do British Victorian reenacting then, so they can where kilts all the time!

Sam

 

[Scott]

We had the problem of the plaid Viking reenactors in the US that didn't realize that it's a military impression and not a tribesman impression. I used to do the 74st Regt, Light Company in the late 70s and early 80s, and you'd see this all the time.

The real 79th NY was around for a while in the CW but w/o most of the Scottish regalia. You see a few Confederate bag pipers show up w/o any historical reason as well.

 

[Scott]

A bit more on the Homer image of the 79th....

" Hey Scott! Good question. This comes up from time to time.... The Highland Guard / 79th New York used heavy infantry Tactics.

Quote:
While at the college we had been drilled frequently in the manual of arms by one or two West Point Cadets —or those just graduated from that institution. We followed Scott in this, and "carried" our muskets according to the heavy infantry practice ; when engaged in skirmish drill, however, Hardee's system was adopted. Both officers and men generally seemed anxious to become proficient in their military duties, although they never attempted any of the fancy movements practiced by some of the other regiments.
2nd Paragraph, Page 15 - The Seventy-ninth Highlanders, New York Volunteers in the War of Rebellion, 1861-1865

Here is an actual image of the 79th on parade:

Tyron Row, New York City - July 4th, 1860

The depiction and the image are the same. They are at Scott's Shoulder Arms as described below:

Quote:
150. Each recruit being in the position prescribed in the first lesson of the first part, the instructer will cause him to turn up the left hand without bending the wrist, the left fore-arm only acting. The instructer will raise the piece perpendicularly, and place it as follows :
151. (Plate III, fig. \ and 2.) The piece (fusil, musket, or firelock) in the left hand, the arm but a very little bent, the elbow back, near the body, the palm of the hand pressing on the outer flat of the butt; the outer edge of the latter on the upper joints of the fingers, the heel of the butt between the fore and middle fingers, the thumb on the front screw of the butt plate, the remaining fingers under the butt, the butt more or less kept back, according to the conformation of the recruit, so that the piece, seen from the front, shall appear perpendicular", and also that the movement of the thigh, in marching, may not raise it or cause it to waver ; the stock, below the tail-band, resting against the hollow of the shoulder, just within the joint, the right arm hanging naturally as prescribed in the first lesson of the first part.
Page 37 -Infantry Tactics: Schools of the soldier and company
Volume 1 of Infantry Tactics: Or, Rules for the Exercise and Manœuvres of the United States' Infantry, Winfield Scott

The manual says that the "piece ..shall appear perpendicular" But the slant is similar to that of "Right Shoulder- Shift" http://www.southernguard.org/education/rss.html

Another fine example of how reality splits from regulations and manuals.
__________________
Rachel L. Kelly

79th New York Enthusiast

5th New York Co.D"

 

[PolarBear]

Scott

Bill's comments on pose

Bill Hocker - 26Apr10 8:22PM



At first I thought it odd that the men in the engraving were parading with their rifles over their left shoulders (a very British thing to do ) but then I saw that the officer has his scabbard on his right hip (very un-British and un-American). The wood engraving is reversed.
I used the shoulder arms position for most of the parading fancy-dress militias since it conveys the idea of "smartness" appropriate to the romantic view of soldiering at the beginning of the war. The sets done with normal campaign uniforms I tended to do in slope arms to be expected in cam

 

[Scott]

Thanks for the reply. I went back and looked at the Homer image and now I see the scabbard on the officer. He does have his sword in the right hand though. Right and left Indicators like bayonets scabbards and cartridge boxes aren't visible on the troops in the image. Having some experience doing metal plate engravings I can see getting a detail reversed. (I did it.)
Your choice of Shoulder Arms works as that's in the British and of course the US drill. I hope you understand that my comments are on the historical unit and not on the quality of Mr. Hocker's figures.

The term "slope" can be substituted with "Right Shoulder Shift" that looks like "slope" but will be more recognizable to US Civil War "buffs."