Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

[Charles Kaiser]

Hallo Kameraden,
the Fatigue Jacket or Shell Jacket, when did the SA start to furnish Units with this Item, or are Production- Statistiks known from this Item ?

[BrianHicks]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

The Fatigue Jacket, (Sack Coat) was initially adopted for mounted use in 1857. It wasn't until the following year that they were adopted for general fatigue use with General Orders No. 3, dtd 4 March, 1858. The coat was described in the revised regulations in 1861 as follows:

For Fatigue Purposes - a sack coat of dark blue flannel extending halfway down the thigh and made loose without sleeve or body lining, falling collar, inside pocket on the left side, four coat buttons down the front. For recruits - the sack coat will be made with sleeve and body lining, the latter of flannel.

Prior to the war, the sole manufacturer of fatigue blouses was the Army Bureau of Clothing and Equipage, aka the Schyukill Arsenal.

The sack coat saw its first recorded large scale active service in the campaign against the Mormans in the Utah Territory from 1857-1861.



See "For Fatigue Purposes..." The Army Sack Coat of 1857-1872, by Patrick Brown

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

Thank you Brian,
but Charles means the shell jacket not the sack coat. The plain shell jacket was first issued as fatiguie /stable garment in the eraly 50s as far as I recall.
Charles and another comrade are searching infos about the issue of these jackets as they want to reproduce the SA shell jacket. Originals cannot be examined on this side of the pond so again we solely have rely on the help of our comrades on the other side of it;-).

[BrianHicks]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

He asked about the Fatigue Jacket or Shell Jacket. I responded with information about the Fatigue Jacket, or more commonly known as the Fatigue Blouse. Knowing that the Fatigue and Shell Jackets are two different styles of jackets, I provided the info on the one which I was familiar with.

[Charles Kaiser]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

Okay, here is the corrected Version "the Fatigue Jacket or so called Shell Jacket" A coat is a coat, and a jacket is a jacket, otherwise I have asked for a Fatigue Coat or called Sackcoat or Fatigue blouse. I know this terms are often mixed by the people.
Just my two cents

[BrianHicks]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

Sorry, I've never seen, read or heard of the Shell Jacket referred to as a Fatigue Jacket

I have however known the Shell Jacket by these other names: Roundabout and State Jacket.

[Silas]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

I had the same thoughts as Brian. I've not heard of a "fatigue jacket." Got a period reference for this particular garment being used by that particular name?

[Charles Kaiser]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

I thought, that this term was not uncomon, I read about in this Book: Frederick B. Todd, "American Military Equipage 1851-1872"
I Quote : The fatigue jacket of 1851 carried a standing, hooked-up collar about 3 inches high. By 1861 the collar was reduced to barely 1.5 inches and was open in the front.
If i was wrong, please correct me.

[fedhead]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

this is a very intresting article,

http://www.lazyjacks.org.uk/shelljk1.htm

perhaps this could be of help Christof

[Benedict]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

So I guess we are talking about the "Infantry Jacket"?

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

He asked about the Fatigue Jacket or Shell Jacket. I responded with information about the Fatigue Jacket, or more commonly known as the Fatigue Blouse. Knowing that the Fatigue and Shell Jackets are two different styles of jackets, I provided the info on the one which I was familiar with.

I am sorry Brian if my words sounded harsh to you this was not my intention. Please accept my appologies. Of course you were right I just wanted to bring the thread on the correct track as Charles has simply written it in a misleading way( "fatigue" "or").
Shell jacket, state jacket, roundabout jacket that is what he is searching for.

[BrianHicks]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

No foul....no harm done.

[coastaltrash]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

Bro. Hicks,
The SA INFANTRY jacket and the state jacket are two totally different beasts for a totally different discussion I suppose. I just wanted to interject with that clarification. Never seen a fatigue jacket referenced, but have heard it called an Infantry jacket or shell before.

[J.H.Berger]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

Yes it is the infantry jacket we are talking abouzt Pat. The simple plain shell jacket not the NY state jacket for example.

[Benedict]

Re: Schuilkill Arsenal Fatigue Jackets in 1861 ?

Is there only the Lazy Jacks article on this subject (Infantry Jacket)?