Notice: This is the official website of the All Empires History Community (Reg. 10 Feb 2002)

  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Confederate Blue and Yankee Grey

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 9>
Author
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Confederate Blue and Yankee Grey
    Posted: 02-Dec-2011 at 19:10

During the Civil War the Confederacy chose grey uniforms as this was the most common color for Southern militias. However, some volunteer units wore blue uniforms prewar, or looted US equipment following the capture of Harpers Ferry. Likewise, there were several notable Union regiments attired in grey in 1861 (like the New York Fire Zouaves), resulting in many casualties from friendly fire. Other units wore adapted civilian clothing, like the red shield-front overshirt (Louisiana tigers) or the fringed hunting jacket:
http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/Confederate_Uniforms.htm
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
tjadams View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar
Suspended, go back to historum

Joined: 17-Apr-2011
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1188
  Quote tjadams Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02-Dec-2011 at 19:31
True. Early in the war the US was woefully prepared & green to fight combat.
The array of uniforms on both sides reflected just how both sides made do
with what was on hand. Sadly, both figured out what to do and the deaths
mounted. 
Back to Top
Cryptic View Drop Down
Arch Duke
Arch Duke

Retired AE Moderator

Joined: 05-Jul-2006
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1962
  Quote Cryptic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-Dec-2011 at 08:39
European miitary styles, and especially French military styles, were the tre chic in America.  Both sides formed Zouaves regiments and they were especially popular in the north.  Two regiments of union sharpshooter were issued Jaeger style uniforms.  Another continental  European inspired uniforms was the 1st New Jersey cavalry, nicknamed "Butterflies" due to their uniform. 
 
As a side note, the Federals ordered 10,000 Zouave uniforms from France only to learn that the French were physically smaller than many Americans. Most of the ordered uniforms were too small and could not be used.


Edited by Cryptic - 03-Dec-2011 at 08:41
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03-Dec-2011 at 19:47

Not a Confederate soldier, but a US National Guardsman. In many early war regiments there were companies who wore different uniforms to the others

Edited by Nick1986 - 03-Dec-2011 at 19:48
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04-Dec-2011 at 19:04

Confederates in blue: uniforms of the Washington Artillery, 1858-61
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-Dec-2011 at 16:45

You might think the sniper in green is a member of Berdan's Sharpshooters. Actually he's a rebel from the 17th Virginia (Alexandria Rifles)
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
tjadams View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar
Suspended, go back to historum

Joined: 17-Apr-2011
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1188
  Quote tjadams Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05-Dec-2011 at 19:02
I'm thinking even CSA General Thomas Jackson wore his 
US Army tunic for much of early part of the war. What an odd
site all these uniforms must have presented itself.
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-Dec-2011 at 19:04

Those Rebs really had a thing for English bearskins, as shown in this artist's impression of Kentucky Confederates on campaign in 1861. The drummer and fiddler are from the same regiment
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
tjadams View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar
Suspended, go back to historum

Joined: 17-Apr-2011
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1188
  Quote tjadams Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06-Dec-2011 at 19:14
Technically Nick, Kentucky being a Border State was neutral, although
it did provide troops to both sides. The photo you provided looks more like
Union troops. I'm just going by what the photo reads.
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07-Dec-2011 at 19:10
They're definitely Confederates from what would eventually become the Orphan Brigade. The one in the English-style uniform is from the Citizen Guards (9th KY), and the two musicians are from the Lexington Rifles. I can't quite make out the caption for the soldier in blue, but i think he's a National Guardsman as i've seen similar uniforms on early war Georgian troops.
Flags of the Orphan Brigade
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
tjadams View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar
Suspended, go back to historum

Joined: 17-Apr-2011
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1188
  Quote tjadams Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07-Dec-2011 at 20:52
Originally posted by Nick1986


Those Rebs really had a thing for English bearskins, as shown in this artist's impression of Kentucky Confederates on campaign in 1861. The drummer and fiddler are from the same regiment

What book is this from?
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08-Dec-2011 at 20:28
These illustrations came from a book on Civil War uniforms by Philip Haythornthwaite. Most of the Kentucky Citizen Guards joined the rebels. Those who remained loyal called themselves the Kentucky Home Guard

http://openlibrary.org/works/OL928416W/Uniforms_of_the_Civil_War_in_color


Edited by Nick1986 - 08-Dec-2011 at 20:55
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10-Dec-2011 at 19:03

Note the similarities between the Kentucky Confederate and this pvt from the 5th Georgia. Both these uniforms are derived from that of the regular army, right down to the kepi and sky blue piping. The Marylander's kit is equally interesting: at a glance it appears identical to that of Northern Zouaves like the 14th Brooklyn
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11-Dec-2011 at 19:03

From a distance the uniforms of the Veteran Reserve Corps could appear grey. This unit was made up soldiers no longer fit for frontline service. They were issued sky blue shell jackets because these were cheaper than the navy blue uniforms of the infantry
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-Dec-2011 at 19:21

An Alabama Confederate wearing what appears to be a variant of the War of 1812 uniform. The tailcoat, blue trousers and shako were still worn as full dress by the regular army as late as 1858
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13-Dec-2011 at 19:44

The grey Zouave uniform worn by the 11th NY at Bull Run
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
tjadams View Drop Down
Chieftain
Chieftain
Avatar
Suspended, go back to historum

Joined: 17-Apr-2011
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1188
  Quote tjadams Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13-Dec-2011 at 21:37
I don't have much to offer as far as you're doing.
Keep it up; fun reading here.
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-Dec-2011 at 19:04
What about the uniforms of your state TJ? While i imagine most Texans would have worn the standard militia grey, there must have been some who wore more exotic stuff
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16-Dec-2011 at 19:16

This is Captain Richardson, a Texan cavalryman who went to war in leopardskin pants
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
Nick1986 View Drop Down
Emperor
Emperor
Avatar
Mighty Slayer of Trolls

Joined: 22-Mar-2011
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7940
  Quote Nick1986 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17-Dec-2011 at 19:09
Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 9>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.56a [Free Express Edition]
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz

This page was generated in 0.094 seconds.