Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

[Thomas Alleman]

Is there a post on which units and when wore grey in the Union at the beginning of the war. I remember reading that Sherman was mad that some units still had grey uniforms at Shiloh.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

Before the battle of Wilson's Creek the 1st Iowa was issued with grey overshirts.

After the battle they got grey frock coats to wear back to Iowa. By the time of the battle they were hardly wearing anything.

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

If you read "The Life of Billy Yank" By Bell Wiley, which was just re-released with an updated edition in 2008, he talks about the popularity of grey in pre-war Militia units as a uniform, and talks about some of the problems with Shiloh as an example, as well as Wilson's Creek where Federal Militia units being in Grey caused confusion. (Ch 1, Pg 22 in the updated edition).

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

Hi,

Pennsylvania issue grey shell jackets (that look almost like Richmond Depot style) to their Reserve Corps. Also, company L of the 28th Pennsylvania wore these shell jackets in 1861, but they were replaced in 1862. The 2nd New Hampshire wore grey shell jackets trimmed in red, along with grey trousers and grey kepis.

Andrew

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

I heard of the 1st IA wearing, not just grey shirts but hunting frocks, has anyone heard else this or read about it. I went to Wilson's Creek in 2000 doing 1st IA and we were told they had hunting frocks not shirts but hey they, the park service, could be wrong. I wonder how long it took to replace grey completely from the US ranks?

[Jim of The SRR]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

Hares Brigade was made up of the 8th Ill, 18th Ill, 11th Iowa and 16th Iowa and wore gray uniforms from mid 1861 until a couple of weeks prior to Shiloh.

Jim Butler

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

"The coat as made, was a hunting frock. of the pioneer Daniel Boone type, fitting closely a the neck, cuff and belt, but full of surplusage everywhere else." pg. 79 The Lyon Campaign and History of the 1st Iowa.

Since none of the hunting frocks or overshirts survived the war we put together what we thought they would have looked like. If in your 2000 company had green you were in our company, red the 15th Iowa, and the other company that I heard about I have no idea. They were not with us. And not with the AoP.

One thing you must remember is that these were made of grey material and in a short time frame. Thus, we believe they were in the style as we call overshirt. Ware also refers to a canteen as a "tinflask".
True the regiement was issued military frocks at the end of the campaign. Now the Governor Greys did in fact have military frock coats. They were very well taken care of. THe other companies called these men the Governor Pets.

Once again by the time the battle was fought their uniforms were rags.




Take a look at my album page to get an idea of what we came up with. And be sure to put our living history August 2010 at Wilson's Creek on your event list. Impression: 1st Iowa

The 11th Iowa wearing grey is news to me. I would like to see the documentation on the 11th and 16th Iowa. We have been researching the 11th Iowa since 1990 and have never run into any documentation in which it says they had grey. I just looked over my first edition Downing Civil War Diary and it does not state anywhere that they had grey uniforms. It does say that two companies roughly two weeks before the battle were issued Belgian rifles. Jim, please send me what you have.

Thanks!

[Thomas Alleman]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

"The coat as made, was a hunting frock. of the pioneer Daniel Boone type, fitting closely a the neck, cuff and belt, but full of surplusage everywhere else." pg. 79 The Lyon Campaign and History of the 1st Iowa.

So I was not crazy after all. Well I was with the "cough" Cumberland Guard, so we made grey overshirts with black trim, the other companies had other color trims. It was a fun event, fought the MSG and almost got trounced on by red cav but our own cav stopped them. I do wish it did not rain though, we left, and it sucked. Anyway would like to try that event again.

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

I was at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum last week and am posting a photo of three early war/militia coats they had on display. Unfortunately there was no item identification as to what units were issued these pieces.

My research on the Sixteenth Iowa also bears no mention to gray uniforms. If memory serves me correctly they received dark blue trowsers as well as frocks. Now at least two companies of the Sixteenth were formerly German militia units from Davenport's large German population, so early reports of gray uniforms may relate to the drill/parade uniforms worn prior to enlistment.

Ich bin ein dumbkopf. There is a display card within the plexiglass that contained the uniforms, but I can't read it in my photograph. As I can not get the image to upload, I'm attaching the page from the Vet's Museum website with the same uniforms that I was attempting to post.

http://museum.dva.state.wi.us/Gal_show.asp?GalleryID=1

As an added bonus, you get Stephen Ambrose and Gregory Peck. 'Cuz I'm jus that kind of guy.

[FranklinGuardsNYSM]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

The 7th New York Militia, I believe, has the distinction of keeping a grey uniform while in Federal service the longest. They were assigned to the 8th Corps in Maryland, still wearing their grey fatigue uniform in July, 1863.

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

Most of the companies of the 1st Iowa had different trim color. This is in Wares book and I found a reference to it in the Mt.Pleasant Home Journal.
You were those black trim guys...


The 11th did not have grey. Just like the 16th.
Again Jim if you have "new" information that would show we are wrong please send it to me. I would like to see it.

Why would the state issue grey uniforms after what they had seen happen at Wilson's Creek and Bull Run?

[Jim of The SRR]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

"The coat as made, was a hunting frock. of the pioneer Daniel Boone type, fitting closely a the neck, cuff and belt, but full of surplusage everywhere else." pg. 79 The Lyon Campaign and History of the 1st Iowa.

Since none of the hunting frocks or overshirts survived the war we put together what we thought they would have looked like. If in your 2000 company had green you were in our company, red the 15th Iowa, and the other company that I heard about I have no idea. They were not with us. And not with the AoP.

One thing you must remember is that these were made of grey material and in a short time frame. Thus, we believe they were in the style as we call overshirt. Ware also refers to a canteen as a "tinflask".
True the regiement was issued military frocks at the end of the campaign. Now the Governor Greys did in fact have military frock coats. They were very well taken care of. THe other companies called these men the Governor Pets.

Once again by the time the battle was fought their uniforms were rags.




Take a look at my album page to get an idea of what we came up with. And be sure to put our living history August 2010 at Wilson's Creek on your event list. Impression: 1st Iowa

The 11th Iowa wearing grey is news to me. I would like to see the documentation on the 11th and 16th Iowa. We have been researching the 11th Iowa since 1990 and have never run into any documentation in which it says they had grey. I just looked over my first edition Downing Civil War Diary and it does not state anywhere that they had grey uniforms. It does say that two companies roughly two weeks before the battle were issued Belgian rifles. Jim, please send me what you have.

Thanks!

This is based on research done by John Pillers. I have attached the image of Thomas Riddle in the uniform. This again was provided to me by John Pillars. I will get with John again and ask for the citation again from his documentation. My understanding from John is that it was the ntire brigade, but it may have varied among regiments within the battalion.

Jim Butler

[Will Eichler]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

Thomas,

To bring some of the discussion a little closer to home, the most recent edition of the Journal of the CMH had an article by Bill Carr of Lansing in it on Michigan's grey uniforms. It's excellent and covers a few regiments (don't have it in front of me right now so I won't quote beyond the 3rd) as well as the Camp of Instruction Uniform for Fort Wayne.

I'll bring it when we get together later this week.

For the rest, check the article out.

Best to all and hope this helps further the discussion.

Will

[jdanner723]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

I was at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum last week and am posting a photo of three early war/militia coats they had on display. Unfortunately there was no item identification as to what units were issued these pieces.

I'm anxious to see these images. I just posted in the thread Iron Brigade Uniforms asking for a color photo of one of these. I lost my color photo long ago of this uniform. Did one look like this?

[Sewing Vixen]

Re: Grey Uniforms in the Union Army

I realize the 7th was mentioned, but here are some pictures of their fatigue and dress uniform. Anyone correct me if I'm wrong, but the dress uniform might be post war because of the button placement on the chest. Not too post war because the cuffs still have four buttons and not 3 as seen later.