Federal
Infantry Impressions
One aspect of the hobby that will increase both your knowledge and enjoyment of an event is tailoring your impression to the specific event. This allows you to learn more about the material culture as well as giving the public a better vision of the troops of the period.
In order to illustrate the items, I have original photos of these items with the description. Be sure to view them carefully, and I have found if you look at them for a minute or two, do something else, and them go back, you will see details that normal viewing does not pick up.
Keep in mind these suggestions only cover the period from May to late June, 1862, and are not intended for other periods.
CORPS BADGES ARE NOT PERMITTED
There are three basic choices for this period. For most units the Standard Federal Forage Cap is the rule, however some units, such as the Iron Brigade, were wearing Dress Hats, and some like NY State troops were wearing State issued Kepis.
Some photographic evidence exists of many units wearing Civilian Hats, but be sure to document this to the unit or units you are portraying for the weekend.
There are several options for this as well:
The most common would be the Standard US issue Fatigue Blouse, made out of 8-ounce wool flannel and lined. There are many photographs of field adaptations to these garments, from adding additional buttons to pockets, both inside and out.
US Issue Dress Coat (Frock). These were worn heavily during this period, and especially for units such as the Iron Brigade.
State issue Jackets, such as the New York or Ohio Shell Jackets were also very prevalent during this period.
During this period the Standard Issue Foot Trousers in Sky Blue Kersey would be the most prevalent, though some Dark Blue Trousers were still being issued.
US issue Brogans would have been most common, with private purchase boots also represented.
This is the event for the Leather Sling or canvas sling Smooth side with a jean or blanket cover. Only the first canteens ordered had the sky blue cover, the rest were either of sack coat lining (jean, flannel) or out of US issue Blankets. Take a look at the color photo of extant Sack coats and the various hues to see what color the canteen lining may have been.
Most units would have been carrying the US pattern Double Bag knapsack, although many units may have been using blanket rolls, both the short and long roll.
Federal Issue Flannel Shirts would have been the most common seen, with State issue and Civilian shirts also acceptable.
Cavalry Impressions
Generally: The impression sought it a Federal cavalryman of 1862. In essence that means no obviously late war arms or accoutrements; such as Spencers or Henrys, or blatantly wrong items such as Paint horses or modern saddles. What follows is a detailed review of acceptable items and the details of what makes them so.
Do not let these details prevent you from participating - contact the Federal cavalry commander is you have any questions about your equipment Tom Craig at tcraig@mainecav.org
I. Uniform
- Headgear
- Forage Cap
Finely woven dark blue or royal blue wool (not navy blue) with painted leather brim and chin strap.
Plain US regulation, small size buttons. Black or brown polished cotton or Selisia liner.
Should not be worn with the sides of the brim rolled under as a modern baseball cap.
Insignia: Cavalry, unlike the infantry, were issued hat brass for forage caps. Inspection records show "deficiencies" where the men are NOT wearing required insignia of regimental number, crossed sabres, and company letter. This means also that many men were wearing only some or no hat brass.
- Hardee Hat
1/4 inch ribbon at base of crown.
2 rows of stitching on brim.
shellacked with label inside.
Regulation brass, insignia, plume and cord.
- Slouch & other non issue headgear - Period types only!
Sewn-on edge binding of silk ribbon
Leather or cotton duck sweat band
Made of fine wool felt without a `fuzzy' appearance.
Medium to dark gray, medium to dark brown, or black, with black preferred.
No Garth Brooks stetsons.
No limp hillbilly farmer hats.
No hat cords of any color.
no stampede strings
Hardee hat turned slouch is perfectly acceptable (see above).
- Jackets
Mounted Service Jacket
Of dark blue or royal blue wool broad-cloth or fine kersey.
Padded or Quilted front
Yellow dyed worsted wool tape piping, 2 rows of trim on standing collar.
All visible buttonholes hand sewn.
- Fatigue blouse
Of wool flannel with a visible `wale' in the fabric, in a shade between a medium and dark blue color. A "wale" means you can see the diagonal weave. Avoid the blackish-blue material that fades to purple; it is the wrong color and it is too heavy. The color will NOT be a blackish `navy' blue which fades to an even more unacceptable purple color. The correct blouse has a short collar and faced lapels and cuffs. Four evenly spaced US eagle buttons should fit into hand-worked buttonholes. Sleeves should have a small, scalloped vent in the rear of the cuff. Unlined versions have all seams flat-felled. Lined versions should have a one-piece body lining of wool or wool/cotton weave and a sleeve lining of muslin.
- Pants
- Mounted Pattern Trousers
Made of sky-blue kersey-weave wool.
Top of the waist band should reach the wearer's navel.
Reinforced seat and instep strap.
Thin, tapering waist band.
Narrow, three to five button fly.
Yoke in back.
Raised back.
Side pockets that start below the waist-band.
Right-side watch pocket.
Facings on vented cuffs.
All detail work, especially buttonholes, finished by hand.
- Foot Pattern Trousers
As above but without reenforced seat.
- Dark blue Mounted pattern trousers
As above but dark blue.
- Shirts
- US Issue Shirts:
Domet Flannel will have three tin buttons: one at the neck and one at each cuff.
Domet flannel is a cotton warp and wool weft, off-white in color.
Gray Wool Flannel will have 4 or 5 tin buttons, with two or three on a placket front and one on each cuff.
Blue Wool Flannel will have 4 or 5 tin buttons and almost always have a breast pocket.
- Knit
- Civilian Pattern Shirt
Made of 100 percent natural materials in woven check or plaid material, or with a printed geometric pattern on them.
Small metal, bone, wood, shell, or mother-of-pearl buttons.
Fall down collar or a banded collar, with or without a detachable collar.
One, two or no pockets.
No calico and no over-sized wooden buttons.
- Suspenders/Braces
Not an issue item, civilian pattern of period materials and attachments.
- Drawers
Canton flannel, cotton flannel, wool knit, and wool flannel all acceptable.
Button closure.
White, natural, colored acceptable.
- Footwear
Socks - of solid-color yarn: off-white, gray, buff, blue, or bluish-gray. No rings or bands of contrasting color. No elastic. Of wool, cotton or a wool/cotton union. No modern hunting socks.
Shoes - Issue brogans with pegged or sewn soles. Heel plates optional.
Boots - correctly constructed, below the knee, military style boot.
Single - piece vamp.
Pegged or sewn soles.
- Overcoat
Mounted pattern: Of correct make and construction. Sky blue wool kersey, double breasted with cape extending to the edge of the cuff.
Foot pattern is accepted: Of correct make and construction. Sky blue wool kersey, single breasted with cape extending to elbow, and stand-up collar.
II. Accouterments
- U.S. issue M1858 sword belt - Of black buff or bridle leather
2 piece enlisted eagle buckle with applied silver wreath.
Shoulder strap optional.
Saber straps.
- Cap pouch
- Pistol Cartridge Box - For pistol cartridges - 3 sizes for .36 and 2 for .44 (one for 6 hole packets, one for 7 hole packets)- we do not carry extra cylinders!
- Holster - Black leather, butt forward, end plug, worn on right side.
- Carbine Cartridge box - M1860 or "Sharps."
- Carbine Sling - Of black buff or bridle leather with iron roller snap hook.
- Haversack - US issue tarred, may be worn on saddle or person - some opt for 2 haversacks.
- Canteen - M1858 smoothside
Hot dipped tin.
cotton strap or undyed leather strap with iron roller buckle and leather safe.
NO snaphooks.
Wool covered; with jean, or blanket material.
- Blanket - Gray/brown US Issue with black stripes woven in.
- Shelter half - Light canvas with hand sewn grommets and bone buttons. Paperbacked tin buttons accepted.
- Gum blanket and/or poncho - with small grommets
III. Weaponry
All weapons will be inspected every day. Weapons deemed unsafe will not be allowed.
- Carbine
To maintain uniformity, the Sharp's is the preferred carbine as it is the easiest reproduction to acquire.
Sharp's either model. The patch box does not designate a '59 or '63 - these are identified by their serial numbers - serial number beginning with C. are 1863 models, the others are '59s. Patch boxes are found, or not found on both models.
5th Model Burnside (only originals and parts guns are available - note: 1st Maine was armed with 2nd Model Burnsides - good luck finding one)
- Pistol - One sidearm or no sidearm - No "spare" cylinders. Pistols are loaded using cartridges.
Company A was predominantly armed with 1860 Colt Army revolvers.
Colt model 1860 "Army" Revolver, .44 caliber
Remington model 1858 .44 caliber "Army" or .36 caliber "Navy" revolver allowed for events portraying 1864-65.
Non issue "Private purchase" side arms must be approved.
Saber Must be correctly constructed with wire wrapped, leather bound grip and peened tang. (sabers with the nut on the end will not be accepted.)
- U.S. Model 1840 "wristbreaker"
- U.S. Model 1860 "light cavalry"
- Sabre knots: With a tied leather lace turks-head, not an embossed sleeve.
IV. Horse Equipments
- Saddle - Model 1859 McClellan - All iron hardware, including jappaned or blued iron bar buckles.
Coatstraps should be of correct weight with correct buckles, leather stops recommended.
Wool web or all leather girth and surcingle with iron roller buckles.
Crupper (optional) an issued item - use at your discretion.
Breast straps (martingales), were not an issued item though troopers would often go out of their way to get one. Any breat strap should therefore be of civiliam pattern or field produced (three leather straps joined by an iron ring) Brass heart sutler row breast straps are not allowed.
Hooded wooden stirrups.
- SaddleBags
Smaller black bags with iron buckle closure.
Should contain a correctly reproduced or original curry comb, brush, and optionally a hoofpick, and horseshoes.
- Halter - U.S. issue of black bridle leather and iron hardware.
Lead strap with jappaned or blued iron bar buckle.
Link Strap - with iron wire snap hook and buckle (optional).
- Bridle - Blackened bridle leather
3 or 6 buckle.
All buckles should be jappaned or blued iron bar buckles.
NO Rosettes on browband.
Bit - U.S. issued iron bit
Enlisted Reins - sewn in the center and to the bit.
- Nosebag (Optional)
Flat bottom; rounded bottom accepted.
Black or undyed leather with iron roller buckle.
Picket Pin and Lariat (Optional)
4-strand, left-laid hemp.
whipped at one end.
Eye spliced to hand forged iron picket pin.
- Saddle Blanket - U.S. issued blue wool with orange stripe woven in.
"U.S." hand stitched in yarn at the center of the blanket.
Orange stripe should be lighter shade as per originals if possible.
NO saddlepads - use your issue grey wool blanket or shelter half.
V. Horses
Generally solid colored (aside from stars, blazes, stripes, snips, socks, stockings, etc) no Paints, Appaloosas or other breeds with stand-out colorings and markings.
Preferred breeds include: Morgan, Canadian, Standardbred, Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, Arab, Thoroughbred
Commander Message
Coming Soon!
Order of Battle
Coming Soon!