Company "A" Uniform Requirements:

Overview: 

We are portraying troops at a coastal fortification in 1861.  As such, it is important to remember that the war hasn’t started yet.  The era of Confederate ersatz and the ragged rebel and veteran campaigner are still off in the future and undreamed of.  (As one comrade joked, “This event is so early war, there isn’t even a war yet!”)  With that in mind, please consider these general rules when crafting your impression for this event.

1. Wear your best stuff. 
2. No ragged or patched clothing.  In fact, let’s try to look as clean as possible.
3. Uniformity- Even if we aren’t wearing exactly the same clothing and equipage, let’s try to look typical.
4. In these guidelines, the term “jean,” is being used generically to include the variety of wool/cotton blends and includes jean, cassimere, satinette, etc…
5. While an early event, let’s work together to avoid oddball stuff like mechanic’s caps, pikes, etc…
6. Spit and polish is the rule of the day!

I.  Clothing:

Uniform Coat:

• Preferred- A clean frock coat in a good medium gray.
• Secondary- A clean frock coat in a neutral brown or tan.
• Third- A clean frock coat in another shade of gray or brown

*Uniform coats should be outfitted with proper SC buttons.

Trousers: 

• Preferred- Clean trousers of a documented pattern and of a material that matches your coat.
• Secondary- Clean trousers of a documented pattern that do not match you coat

Shirt:

Shirts can be of any documented civilian pattern.  White dress shirts would not be uncommon at this time (and can be worn with a cravat) but woven stripes, plaids, and checks are acceptable.  As a general rule, avoid prints.

Shoes:

• Preferred- Civilian boots or shoes.  Shined and blackened.
• Secondary- Confederate issue shoes. Shined and blackened.
• Third- Federal issue shoes.  Shined and blackened

Headgear:

• Preferred- Gray cap with black band and stitched leather brim.
• Secondary- Gray cap with stitched leather brim.
• Third- Blue cap (“McDowell” or early style.)

*Camp hats and other casual headgear are appropriate for off-duty time and you are encouraged to bring such items.

II.  Accouterments:

General:

We are going to allow a bit of variety in accoutrements but here are some general rules:

• All items should be clean and in good repair.  Brass plates should be polished.
• White buff must be real white buff.  No latigo, whitened leather, or other false buff will be allowed.
• SC troops were being issued quantities of blackened belts and slings so don’t be afraid to wear these items.  A blackened box sling is just as “early war” as a web or white buff sling.

Belts: 

• Primary- Blackened waist belt with “SC” plate with Allegany Arsenal-type “arrow” hooks.  Small or large variety of the US M1839 pattern are acceptable.
• Secondary- Clipped corner belt plate on white buff or webbing belt.
• Third- Roller buckle belt in good condition.

Cartridge Box:

• Preferred- CS copy of US M1839 box.  These “old pattern” accoutrements were copied extensively by SC makers like McKensie and issued in quantity.
• Secondary- CS cartridge box.  Please avoid maker-marked boxes unless it is an SC maker.
• Third- US M1839 or M1857 box of any type.  (.69 round ball, .69 elongated ball, or .58 elongated ball.)

Cap Box:

• Preferred- CS copy of a US model cap box.  Full front preferred but others acceptable.
• Secondary- US model cap box.  Early models preferred.

Bayonet Scabbard:

• Preferred- CS scabbard.
• Secondary- Early model US scabbard. (Two-rivet, “sewn loop”, etc…)

III.  Equipage:

Haversacks:

• Preferred- White cotton haversack.
• Secondary- Blackened haversack.

*Please note the white cotton bag has been made the “primary” item in the interest of achieving uniformity.

Canteen:

• Preferred- Tin drum with leather sling.
• Secondary- Tin drum with cloth sling or filter canteen.
• Third- Federal M1858 “Smoothside” canteens are acceptable as a last resort.

            *Please avoid Gardner, Nuckolls, and “Bullseye” canteens.

Belt: 

• Preferred- Blackened waist belt with “SC” plate with Allegany Arsenal-type “arrow” hooks.  Small or large variety of the US M1839 pattern are acceptable.
• Secondary- Clipped corner belt plate on white buff or webbing belt.
• Third- Roller buckle belt in good condition.

Knapsack:

• Militia hard pack, “Mexican War” pack, blanket roll, short roll, or blanket carrier are all acceptable.

*Please avoid I&C and Federal issue packs.

Blanket:

• Preferred: Civilian blanket, coverlet, or quilt*
• Secondary: US M1851 or Mexican War blanket.  (County Cloth versions recommended.)

*Quilts must be of a documented pattern correct to the period and using period materials and construction techniques.

Bed Tick:

• This is not mandatory, but for your comfort, a bed tick is a great idea.  They are cheap and easy to make and were produced in great quantities for garrison troops early in the war.

Weapon:

• Preferred: M1816/35 .69 conversion.  (Any conversion type acceptable.)
• Secondary:  M1842 Springfield
• Third:  M1855 or P53 Enfield. (Enfields MUST be in the white.)
• Please avoid 1861 and later Springfields and Richmond muskets.

*Muskets should have a bayonet with properly functioning locking ring (if applicable.)                 

Company "E" Clothing Requirements: 

Will maintain Civilian impression the entire weekend.  Remember what you wear tell what you social status was and what you occupation was.  I.e. don’t show up in a overskirt and jean trousers and tell the enlistment officer you occupation is a shop keeper, most likely you are a laborer or a farmer.  All civilian attire will be of  proper civilian material and patterns.    

Jackets: 

1. Frock,

2. Paletote

3. Civilian Sack

4. Over shirt

Officers uniform suggestions:

Taken from:

    The Complete Civil War" ISBN 0-3-4-36660-9 (1992), Cassell Military Paperbacks; on page 256-257.

The state's 1861 uniform regulations called for a dark-blue frock coat, single breasted for company-grade officers and double-breasted for higher grades. State buttons were gold for generals and staff officers and silver for regimental officers. However, only a handful of silvered French-made and war-time pewter Southern-made buttons with the state seal exist; the rest are gilt. Epaulettes were of the same color as the buttons. Rank badges were the same as in the US Army except that a major general wore a silver crescent betweeen two gold stars; a brigadier general, two silver stars; and a colonel, a gold palmetto tree. The epaulette insignia was also worn on shoulder starps for undress. Staff non-commissioned officers wore white worsted epaulettes on a company grade officers's uniform. Trousers were dark-blue with a stripe an inch and a half wide for generals and field-grade officers, and an inch wide for staff and company-grade officers. Stripes were gold lace for generals and staff officers, silver for field-grade, and white for company grade officers. A French chapeau was authorized for field grade officers and above. A white ostrich feather tipped black was worn by a major-general; tipped red for a brigaider general, and white cock feathers by a filed-grade officers. Company grade officers wore a dark blue forage cap with a silver palmetto tree and the regimental number on its left and the letter 'R' on its right; photographs show a wreath around the tree but, no numbers or letters. The same cap was authorized for other officers for undress. The general's and staff officer's cap badge had the letters 'SCV' within a gold wreath; field grade officers wore a silver wreath around the regimental number. Regimental staff officers wore the letters 'A' , 'Q', 'C' or 'S' for adjutant, quartemaster, commissary, or surgeon. Enlisted men's uniforms for other than staff non-commissioned officers were not described"

Uniform Contacts

SC Officer Shoulder boards and hat emblemGiltWire@aol.com  IWPFabrications

SC Buttons d Military warehouse  www.historicalreproductions.com  BT-5 Best bet

Hanover Brass for the Sword belts SC Milita sword Belts

All invited guests must register via the internet. We've created an online form for your convenience and to cut down on paper work for us. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact Neill Rose @ ironscout@charter.net