Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

[Jeffrey Cohen]

Greetings:
My boys and I may may have to go Confederate for Manassas this year I assume artillery based in a fort might wear frock coats. I've seen some pictures of coats that had the wide red cuffs like I see on sutler row.`
On a lighter note the 6th NY Ind. Batt is now in the possession of an original bronze Napoleon. Do you think people will mind that the barrel says 1863?
Regards,
Jeffrey Cohen

[bAcK88]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

What particular battery will you be representing?

[Jeffrey Cohen]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

I don't know maybe Washington Artillery.
Regards,
Jeffrey Cohen

[Secesh]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

Photos taken of the Washington Artillery in camp (1861) show them in shell jackets...Check out the National Historical Society's Photographic History of the Civil War - The Boys of '61.

[rebjeb04]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

I read once before, I think it was in Brassey's Uniforms of the Confederacy, that the Washington Artillery wore dark or French blue frocks trimmed in red. The confusion created required them to turn the frocks wrong side out! After the battle I think the coats were sent to Richmond or New Orleans for storage. Then they purchased the cadet gray shell jackets which became the regulation uniform for enlisted throughout the war. It would really be a sight to see some artillery batteries wearing frock wrong side out at Manassas!

[Kanawha Riflemen]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

Hi Jeff,

Are you going to be part of a detachment for the National Park side in July or is this a public event? Because Kevin French of the Southern Grays and Ranger John Reid at Manassas has been giving my detachment plenty of options for early war artillery. I think for the NPS event we are protraying the Rockbridge Artillery. If Kevin see this maybe he can chime in and help you out as well.

John A. Miller
South Mountain State Battlefield
Monterey Pass Battlefield, Washington Township, PA.

[ktfrench]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

Hi Jeff,

We are going to meet with John Reid in the coming weeks to finalize details, but our detachment plans on portraying Imboden's Staunton Artillery who were on Henry House Hill wearing red overshits and gray trousers. We considered the Washington Artillery, but it was decided we did not have the time to pull together that impression. As stated earlier, William Owen says in his book "In Camp and Battle with the Washington Artilllery of New Orleans", the frocks were sent to Richmand after 1st Manassas, so the impression is only correct for a limited timeframe. Hanover Brass has WA buckles, but some other details like the pin with their "try us" motto, the buff belts etc. will take some effort to find.

Regards,
Kevin French

[David Fox]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

I believe the camp photos of the Washington Artillery in jackets are of the western theatre 5th Company.

[Ferguson's Artillery]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

Jeff,

Battle shirts are an appropriate, documented and less expensive alternative to frock coats. At the 150th First Manassas, the men of Ferguson's (SC) Artillery Co. will be wearing the 1861 Lynchburg Artillery (Latham's Battery) battle shirt, based on a period photograph. The photograph, and links to the Confederate order of battle and an article on the battle shirts of central and Piedmont Virginia units can be found here: http://lynchburgartillerybattleshirt.webs.com/ We look forward to seeing what other Confederate units will bring to the First Manassas event.

Regards,

Chris Rucker

[Cornstalk]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

What follows is a bit of historical research I’ve done into uniforms worn by the artillerymen at Charleston during the bombardment in April 1861. This research is not complete by any means, but is what I had time to do. (This does not include
the other uniforms worn by the infantry, cavalry, fire corps, dragoons,
riflemen, etc in Charleston at the time.)

Documented Uniforms:

There were a myriad of uniforms worn by the troops occupying Charleston in 1861. In some respects, the artillery uniforms were similar to what was
being worn by the rest of the army. (There is more to this story relating to the
supply situation at the time and the authorities trying to get the newly created
Army of SC uniformed in something other than militia garb.) Essentially,
however, there were a few "regular" uniforms that were widely worn by the new
AOSC. They were generally as follows:

AOSC Typical Styles:

Style A - Gray Frock Coat + white pants + gray kepi
Style B - Gray Frock + Gray pants w/black stripe + gray kepi
Style C - Blue Frock + white pants + blue kepi
Style D - Gray Frock w/green velvet stripes on seams/collar/cuffs + gray pants
w/ yellow or buff stripe.

In addition to the above, the following are some of the other uniforms worn by artillery units who participated in the bombardment:

Charleston Fire Department (Artillery):
This unit wore a Gray jacket with red trim, gray pants, and a gray kepi with the
letters ᴁ G on it.


Lafayette Artillery (Charleston):
The undress uniform of this unit consisted of a 5 button gray sack coat with 2
pockets on front, trimmed with red taping on the collar, front seam, and
inverted V on the cuffs. Trousers were gray with dark (red?) seam stripe. The
hat worn was a gray forage cap with a red cord stripe around the crown. Brass
crossed cannons and the letters LA adorned the cap.


Charleston German Artillery:
The fatigue uniform of the Charleston German Artillery included a gray satinet
jacket with yellow braid trim, dark colored pants (exact color unknown), and a
gray kepi w/ glazed cover.


Beaufort Volunteer Artillery:
This unit wore a blue frock coat, blue pants with a red stripe, and a matching
blue forage cap.


Washington Light Artillery:
Uniform for this unit was a cadet gray frock coat, matching gray pants with
black stripe, and a black Hardee hat pinned up on the left with a palmetto
cockade.


Artillery of the "Regular Service" of SC (aka Army of South Carolina):
In General, the uniform consisted of gray frock or shell jacket, gray pants with
a dark stripe, and a gray kepi.


Company C, Battalion of Artillery, Army of SC:
This part of the army wore gray or blue frock coats with white pants and a gray
or blue "french hat" (aka kepi).

Thanks,
Charles

[Ferguson's Artillery]

Re: Proper Confederate artillery uniform for Manassas

"Artillery Enlisted Belt Plate circa 1832-1839" is how Hanover Brass describes its replica plate I have purchased for the 150th First Manassas. An original is worn by a member of the Lynchburg Artillery (Latham's Battery) in an April, 1861 dated ambrotype; our unit will wear reproductions of his uniform. The proprietor of Hanover Brass has not been able to give me a resource to learn anything about the belt plate. I'd appreciate any further documented information. A photo of the plate ("TG-1832") is at:

http://www.hanoverbrass.com/BucklesPg7.htm

Regards,

Chris Rucker