National Congress of Old West Shootists

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Creating the Outfit Part III,

The Master Level

  

Zeke Proctor was a Cherokee, a member of the Keetoowah Society (Full Bloods) of the Cherokee Nation, and a Union Veteran of the War Between the States.  He was also a noted gunman, and was described (and photographed) as carrying two revolvers, and was known to be proficient with both the Spencer Repeating carbine and the Winchester rifle.  In April of, 1872, Zeke Proctor found himself on trial in the Cherokee Nation for an accidental killing two months before.  Unfortunately, the woman killed was a Beck, who’s family were not only Confederate Veterans of the War Between the States, but also political rivals of Proctor and his supporters.  Among the Five Civilized Tribes, the Cherokee Nation included, it was custom that if you harmed an individual, you could expect that person’s family members to seek satisfaction for the transgression.  The stage was set for a reprisal.

 To avoid trouble, the trial was moved from the regular courthouse (which was in Beck country) to the Whitmire schoolhouse, with Judge Blackhawk Sixkiller presiding.  The trial began on April 15, 1872, and the Proctor faction, including the defendant himself, were armed to the teeth, and in addition, had several Cherokee Lighthorse Police on hand to protect the proceedings.  The Beck faction, however, had sworn out Federal Warrants to arrest not only Zeke Proctor, but also proctor’s family, the Judge, and even the Jury!  To assist in this, the Beck faction had along two Deputy U.S. Marshals who had specific instructions to make arrests only if Proctor were acquitted. 

 The Beck faction had no intention of arresting anyone, and simply stormed into the packed, makeshift courthouse and started shooting.  During the frenzied melee, eleven men were killed, including Zeke’s brother Johnson, Zeke’s defense Attorney, and Deputy Marshall J.G. Owens.  The balance of those killed, however, were on the Beck side, who made good their escape, leaving their dead behind.  The number of wounded was large, and to this day has not been accurately recorded, but included among the wounded were Zeke Proctor, and even the Judge himself.  Undaunted, the proceedings were continued the next day, and Zeke Proctor was acquitted.  However, the Beck’s were not satisfied, and persisted in trying to bring Zeke to ‘justice’, until President U.S. Grant granted complete Federal Amnesty to Zeke Proctor.

 As I’ve stated in past articles, I find the Transition-Era (1866-1876) to be the most fascinating period in the Old West, and I find the Indian Territories to be the most fascinating area.  To put it mildly, the time and place were both wild as could be, as the above story illustrates.  I’ve long since settled on this time and place as the basis for my persona and impression, and I’ve put in a lot of time and effort into researching and acquiring the correct items for a proper portrayal.  Admittedly, I go into various details within my impression that are far beyond anything that NCOWS requires.  The basic intent of being so fanatical about the minute details of my impression is that I want to go, as much as is reasonably possible, as far as I can go with my impression.  I refer to this level as the Master Level.

 The definition of the Master Level is Advanced Living Historian.  The goal is to portray the era so completely that anyone looking to find fault with your impression will literally have to work to do so.  If someone comes up to me and says, “If you give me several minutes, I bet I can find a flaw in your impression”, well, I would be satisfied with that statement, even if they eventually did find a flaw.  The idea is to be so complete in detail that nothing immediately (or upon secondary inspection) stands out as incorrect in the portrayal.  How do you achieve this?  For starters, we will use the following seven step guideline:

 1.      Pick a detailed Persona

2.      Pick a specific year as cut-off

3.      Take a black and white photo in your current outfit

4.      Self-Check:  You will need three things; the photo you just took, a book with period photos illustrating the time and era of your persona, and some blunt honesty.  Utilizing these things, change and upgrade those items of your outfit which obviously stand out as not being correct for the era.

5.      Retake black and white photo of upgraded outfit.

6.      Using the upgraded photo, find period photographs/catalogs to document EVERY item that is visible in your black and white photo.

7.      As a final step, use your upgraded black and white photo, and allow others to view it and look for flaws.  If no flaws are found, then you have achieved the Master Level.

 For the Journeyman level that we discussed last month, all you needed to do for your Persona was pick a period occupation, and a year.  As an example, for the Journeyman level you could be a Cowboy of the 1880s, and you are done.  For the Master level, however, the Persona needs to be detailed, so here is mine as an example:

 The year is 1875, and I am an Assistant Creek Lighthorseman of the Muskogee district, working out of Marshalltown, I.T. (Indian Territory/Oklahoma).  Since this is a part time position, I also supplement my small income by working part time as a stagecoach guard.  I have operated in these positions for four years.

 Originally, I was a slave in the Creek Nation, but upon receiving emancipation, I was adopted as a full member of the Creek Nation.  I enlisted in the 9th. Cavalry Buffalo soldiers, and served five turbulent, bloody years in Texas.  My duties included not only chasing Comanches and outlaws, but also building forts, roads, repairing telegraph wire, guarding stage coaches and valuable government shipments, and of course, guarding citizens.

 Upon my discharge in 1871, I returned to Indian Territory, and was elected to membership in the Lighthorse.  This was quite appropriate, given my experience in the Buffalo Soldiers.  The Assistant status means that I am called out in times of great strife (or special circumstances), and at that point, I am given full authority to handle such situations in any way I  (we) see fit.

 Ok, so this is the Persona, and it also satisfies step 2, which is picking a specific year.  Once those things are accomplished, it is simply a matter of moving onto step 3 and 4 to make sure that EVERY item fits. If every item doesn’t fit, then you proceed to 5.  If every item DOES fit, then you proceed to step 6, and you PROVE it.  As an example, my trousers are documented to an original pair circa 1863 (Arms & Equipment of the Confederacy – pg. 131 – Civilian manufacture).  My shirt is documentable to 1865 (Thoughts on Men’s Shirts in America  - pgs. 39-50).  However, I go even further.  For example, my buttons are documented to the 1860s, and so are my button holes.  My bowtie is also documented to the 1860s, and even the fact that my suspenders are worn exposed is documented.  My Spurs are not only originals, but are documented to the period 1840-70 (Historic American Spurs, illustration CV 34, pg. 22).  Even my early style spur straps are documentable to the 1860s.  Do you see where I am going with this?  The idea is that you can go to step 7, submit your photo to someone, and tell them to find something out of place.  If your documentation is up to snuff, if someone finds something they don’t think fits, you should be able to open up your documentation and show them that it DOES fit.  If you can’t do that, then you simply correct the outstanding item.

 Now, if the readers are not yet convinced that I am a fanatic, let me confirm it as we take if further.  When attending matches, I carry a pair of saddlebags (documented) for my ammunition, etc.  In the last issue when discussing the Journeyman Level, I stated that Cheyenne Pioneer Products cartridge boxes were a good way to go.  For the Master Level, such boxes would need to be upgraded.  Simply put, I reproduced (as closely as I could) the original style labels that were first introduced with the Richard’s Conversion Colt .44 revolver, even to the point of trying to duplicate the original color (yellow).  I’ve duplicated period (1860s) wrapping for my shotgun cartridges, my Spencer ammunition is in original style boxes, as is the ammunition labeled ‘Improved Henry’ for my 1866 Winchester Carbine.

 As I stated earlier, such attention to detail goes beyond anything that NCOWS requires.  However, there are a fair number of members in NCOWS who take their impression to this level.  When shooting with the Great Lakes Freight and Mining Co. earlier this year, I noted that Adam Huber, who does a Confederate Guerrilla impression, did so to the most minute detail.  His percussion 1851 Navy revolvers were in period holsters, and not only was he shooting a Spencer Carbine, but his ammunition was in period Spencer style cartridge boxes!  However, I also noticed several other participants at Great Lakes Freight and Mining Co. with period ammunition boxes.  I thought that was excellent, and I was very impressed.  At the same match, I met James Hunt, who’s outfit was unquestionably correct, and he allowed me to look through his personal documentation booklet.  I’ve also talked with other NCOWS members who also have taken the time to put together not only a complete impression, but to have each item documented in an easily portable folder or booklet. 

Does everyone NEED to go this far?  No, but this is why I’ve suggested the various levels of authenticity.  Within NCOWS, we all understand that authenticity is the basis of our organization.  However, the degree that each of us wants to take authenticity varies from person to person.  Some operate at a basic level, whereas others like me take it to an extreme degree.  In discussing a new class earlier this year, it became evident that there was a rift between those who wanted a higher level of authenticity, and those who thought a basic level was sufficient.  The thing is, NCOWS is a small organization.  We can’t AFFORD a rift.  The organization needs to be inclusive of all individuals who are willing to follow the basic, minimum guidelines, but it also needs to let those folks who want to take it higher know that there is a place for them in the organization also.  We can all exist under one umbrella, and as I stated in an earlier article, I am of the opinion that operating at the Basic level is sufficient.  I simply take it higher because that is what I personally want to do. 

 In addition, I’ve heard several people, especially new members and prospective members, state that they didn’t know clearly what the NCOWS concept of authenticity really was.  With this in mind, having clearly defined levels, and letting folks know that ALL of the levels are acceptable and welcome, may alleviate some of concerns of the new and prospective members.  Finally, I hope that I have demystified the concept of authenticity.  It is fairly easy to achieve a basic level by following simple steps and guidelines, and for those of us who wish to take it further, the sky is the limit.