Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

[Jeff Black]

Just curious (and after searching long and hard on the site) if anyone has any documentation that Mounted pattern Greatcoats were used by infantrymen? I would theorize that it did happen, just wondering if it happened enough for it to be used in an infantry impression or not. Trying to get ready for Rivers' Bridge, SC.


Jeff Black
33rd Alabama
Sgt. Major, Cotton States/Elk River Battalion

[1st Maine Trooper]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

The answer is yes but on a limited basis. I have a photo of an unidentified group of fed infantrymen wearing their overcoats and one fellow has a mounted pattern coat that he removed the cape from. Out of all of the guys in the photo, there is one guy with the double breasted coat.

Dave Myrick

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Going to one of my favorite sources, attachment 13 to Meigs' "end of war" report in the ORs (Series III, Vol. 5, p. 285), it appears that the U.S. government procured 2.8 million "foot" greatcoats during the war, and 1 million "horse." Since there were probably a lot more than 2.8 infantrymen and heavy artillerymen to every cavalryman, mounted artilleryman, and infantry officer, it seems reasonable to assume that some number of "horse" greatcoats found their way into the hands of the infantry, even though they cost (depending on the year) one to two dollars more apiece.

[unclefrank]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

I know that officers were authorized to wear them

[Marc]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

I began many moons ago in Mounted Artillery and of course had the mounted greatcoat. I have also done line infantry and Berdan sharpshooter and wore the same mounted overcoat. The reason cost and without any reasearch just assumed a few would have filtered to the infantry.

[Jeff Black]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Well, I will be portraying a Sergeant Major for the event, and I imagine a good foraging/scrounging man could easily have gotten to the QM first and procured one. But I would really prefer some documentation. Guess it is time to look up the LOC photos. Only place I find that has a pattern is Homespun Patterns (Which I have used in the past and seem to be ok with some adjustments) Wish Childs would put together a mounted pattern. Maybe I can talk to Scott Lyndon.

[ScottCross]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Sorry,

But I have seen no documentation for the use of Mounted Service Coats, used by infantry...either in account books or images.

If you are looking to justify your impression...you need to document it heavily yourself.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

"Maybe I can talk to Scott Lyndon."

Is he back around?

[FTrooper]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Are you doing federal or CSA? Because lets be honest, greatcoats were tossed and picked up all through the war. I think a hard up CSA soldier who downs a fed cavalryman or when Moseby rides into your camp with a wagon load full of captured coats, you're not going to be picky of the pattern. LOL!

Chris Fischer
F-Troop

[Secesh]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Out of curiousity, I have to ask why you would want a mounted great coat over an infantry great coat...? Obviously, the preponderance of Federal great coats used by CS infantry would have been infantry coats. Even taking into consideration the number of times Federal cavalry clashed with Confederate infantry, in weather cold enough to require a great coat, and looking at the number of casualties on the Federal side...well, the chance of an infantryman acquiring a mounted coat would have been small. More to the point, what unit will you be portraying? Are there any records of combat contact with Federal cavalry resulting in Federal casualties? It's hard to justify usage by saying " I could have picked it up by the side of the road"; unless you were the very first infantryman to march by and stumble upon it (and odds are that you wouldn't be) it isn't a likely scenario. Also, cavalry had a horse to lug their coats, not on their backs like infantry, so there was probably very little discarding of them (on the part of cavalry). Of course, there's always the chance that you just happen to like the cut of the mounted coat better, with it's double breast and longer cape, and that is not a very valid reason to attempt authentification and justification of usage. Personally, I think in the long run you'll be happier with the use of the infantry coat.....Thanks.

[Jeff Black]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Will be using for Federal use only. I already have a Reb Greatcoat. But thanks for the Advice.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Hallo!

Moderator hat on...

Please keep this to AC Forum standards of research and documentation, and not substituting modern reenacting preferences or habits.

Thanks.

Curt

[Jeff Black]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

Mods,
You may remove this thread if you deem necessary. Sorry to have been a problem....

[Pvt Schnapps]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

I think it was a good question. It made me look up the relative number of foot & mounted greatcoats procured. Another interesting stat, from p. 278 of the same volume cited earlier, gives the number of items on hand in the depots as of June 30, 1865 -- 651,564 foot greatcoats, and 278,161 mounted. This means the total issued to the troops would have come to about 2.15 million foot, and about 720,000 horse -- roughly three to one. Given that about 80% of union regiments were infantry (and some of the 20% remaining were heavy artillery -- see http://www.civilwarhome.com/armyorganization.htm) the ratio doesn't quite jibe, even accounting for officers. Unless horsemen wore out or lost their greatcoats at a higher rate than footmen (and I think that the anecdotal information trends in the other direction), some mounted service greatcoats must have found their way into the infantry. Not many, but some.

Or maybe I got something wrong there -- contrary opinions are always welcome.

[Secesh]

Re: Mounted Greatcoat use by infantry?

It was a good question and made for good discussion.