Trousers for Field Artillery

[westcoastcampaigner]

Hello All,

I had a question regarding the type of trousers that would have been issued to field artillery. Would all artillerymen in the field artillery have been issued the mounted style trouser or would just the drivers have received them? I'm guessing that everyone would have been issued mounted style trousers in a mounted artillery unit attached to cavalry. I fall in with a artillery unit that represents a field artillery unit every once and awhile and I'd like to do it right so any input on this would be great.

Also on a side not, is there any evidence that suggests that artillery units would have been issued the Schuylkill Arsenal Infantry jacket? THanks for the help.

Best Regards,

Josh Sawyer

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Trousers for Field Artillery

Most photos of light artillery in the field, where the telling feature is visible, show mounted trousers being worn by artillerists. Two examples are attached.

Can't help you as far as the use of SA jackets.

[Jeffrey Cohen]

Re: Trousers for Field Artillery

I notice he's got red trim on his jacket. It also looks like he has somthing in his hat, could it be a priming wire?
Regards,
Jeffrey Cohen

[3rdUSRedleg]

Re: Trousers for Field Artillery

Sir;

May I suggest...
mounted service trousers ..... go with either mounted or non mounted... remember some units of infantry were recruited as well for certain units.. and or calvary units as well for depleted ranks.. heck one quartermasters draw of trousers just may be of regular not reenforced mounted trousers.

As for jacket... go with a simple sack coat or a mounted jacket..either would suffice.. largely the plates in the library of congress shows a mixed bag...as for the mouned (shell) jacket you may wish to place yourself into deep research mode for the area in wich you are reenacting and what units you are falling in with and or portraying.. st lous arsenal or schuylkill arsenal as well as cincinatti arsenal in witch that arsenal seem to be the most prominent in photoraphs.. but you need to reseach for whome the mounted unit was most issued and at what time frame.. If I can recall (but not positive)in some cases both jackets were issued the sack coat for fatigue duty and the shell jacket for dress. But that i can only recall not give valid proof.

also, speak in depth to the unit historian and or commander for guidance in there dress code...
example: if your unit is portraying a regular and not a volunteer unit then most likly you were attached to a calvary corps under a horse artillery brigade... in wich your stores would be pulled along with the calvary corps, under your horse artillery quartermaster (note: alot of pics with general horse artillery officers wearing calvary sabors, and sloppy sack coats.)

all in prespective, if you want it bad enough and to know as much as you can...... research....research....research!

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Trousers for Field Artillery

Gents,

You might notice that this post in a few months old. However, I was looking through an old copy of the September 2005 America's Civil War magizine and found a photograph on p. 36 of two union soldiers standing next to two Mountain Howitzers. Both are clad in sack coats, one gentleman's a little too snug for his build. Perhaps they are gunners or just passerbys? The image is from the LOC but I was not able to find the little bugger.

Regards,

[roundshot]

Re: Trousers for Field Artillery

Here you go.

[Lazarus Driver]

Re: Trousers for Field Artillery

All
Lets get the terms or names for the field artillery in proper use. Field artillery is divided into two parts:
"Horse Artillery, which is generally atttached to and manoeuvers with cavalry, the cannoneers being mounted on horseback, and Mounted Artillery, which is generally attached to and manoeuvers with infantry, the cannoneers marching at the sides of their pieces, or , when necessary, mounting the ammunition chest"

If you are protraying a Horse Artillery unit then you need the horse to do it right, however if you are doing mounted you are walking along just like an infantryman minus the musket. Unless you are a driver... but that is a whole different kettle of fish..

Bill Thomas
Lazarus Battery

[3rdUSRedleg]

Re: Trousers for Field Artillery

All
Lets get the terms or names for the field artillery in proper use. Field artillery is divided into two parts:
"Horse Artillery, which is generally atttached to and manoeuvers with cavalry, the cannoneers being mounted on horseback, and Mounted Artillery, which is generally attached to and manoeuvers with infantry, the cannoneers marching at the sides of their pieces, or , when necessary, mounting the ammunition chest"

If you are protraying a Horse Artillery unit then you need the horse to do it right, however if you are doing mounted you are walking along just like an infantryman minus the musket. Unless you are a driver... but that is a whole different kettle of fish..

Bill Thomas
Lazarus Battery

Sir;
I was referring to just that.. mounted artillery as well as horse artillery...that is why I explained with infantry attachments and calvary attachments to whatever unit this gentileman is researching...

btw in the photo of the soldier sitting on the carrage looks to be rather worn pants due to frequent riding.. note the re stiching of the crotch area from wear.. and the sholder strap he is NOT wearing with his sword belt but has the sword hangers attached.