By Peter Day
Senior Reporter
LUCERNE VALLEY — Hollywood may have gotten a lot wrong in terms of uniforms and weapons usage, but it got the essence of the "Indian Wars" period correct: It was one of the most colorful of times in U.S. History.
"The one thing the American soldier did, he adapted," said Dennis Emmanuel, a Phelan historian and collector of Civil War era, and after, weapons and uniforms.
Emmanuel shared his knowledge and fascination for the late 1800s during a two-hour talk sponsored by the Lucerne Valley Museum Association last Monday night at the Lucerne Valley Community Center.
Admittedly, the creative liberties taken by movie and film industry of the period's uniforms rankles Emmanuel.
"The yellow neckerchief, no. Another thing you always see in movies if the Calvary always wear a white hat. No."
A portion of Emmanuel's extensive collection was on display Monday and served as conservation starters as he painted a picture in words of the hard times U.S. soldiers faced as they took on numerous Native American tribes as America expanded westward.
"Considering what these guys go through: not having the right food, not having the right equipment, not having anything else — it was tough."
And when the fighting — and conquering — was over, some of those soldiers took stock in what had occurred.
"Some of those who stayed in long enough took on a whole different idea about the Indians and and they realized they're not cowards," he said "They're just like you and me, and it's a shame it had to happen, but unfortunately I was following orders."
A member of the Double R Bar Regulators, which reenacts historic shootouts, Emmanuel discussed the various weapons used during the period. An infantryman, he explained, received only a rifle and a bayonet. So the army began handing out a knife costing "a buck eighty."
"It was worthless," Emmanuel said as he displayed the weapon. "But they insisted you keep getting these."
Eventually the army called the knife "an entrenching tool."
Emmanuel brought along several pistols and rifles including the popular 1860 Colt. The 1958 Remington also was a popular weapon. Later Remington came out with a new model in 1863, which featured an updated design.
"The Remington is a little more user friendly."
The 1872 Colt model, which cost $12 in its day, was popular for several decades.
Emmanuel's favorite is a No. 3 Scofield, which uses a .45-caliber cartridge.
"It was easier to load. This was a favorite gun of Jesse James."
The Sharps gun, which was known as a buffalo killer, was one of the best. Following the war, a number of the guns were converted to .50-caliber.
"This was a lot more reliable than the Spencer and had a lot more umph. A lot more."
But such weapons were necessary for the calvary, whose soldiers were paid $13 a month, to defeat a capable adversary.
"This was hard times and these were hard people," Emmanuel said.
Emmanuel and the Double R Bar Regulators will hold a "shoot" on Sunday, March 13 at the Lucerne Valley Lions Club and Shooting Range. Signups start at 8 a.m. followed by a safety briefly and then the shoot. Lunch is available for $5. For more information, visit www.rrbarregulators.com.