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I recalled, when watching Gods and Generals in the scene where Lee was gathered with his staff in the home of the Beales -- I do recall seeing General Lee wearing a 'buff' or 'cream' color sash. The uniforms in this scene was 'formal' or 'high formal' and dress uniform. One who may have the 'formal' or 'ceremonial' dress code for Confederates may have the alternative sash. I'm sure General Lee had many sashes.
Oh, Zou/Blue_Zouave -- At least Scarlett didn't wrap a window curtain sash of green around Ashley's waistline. [Chuckles]. Now, when Ashley went to enlist- he was mounted, so most likely he was in the Cavalry. I wager his family stable was thrown into the cause as well.
Honestly, the only yellow sash I can ever recall seeing was the one Scarlett gave Ashley in Gone With the Wind... not a particularly accurate source document.
Zou
I have several books which show drawings of officers with what are clarly yellow sashes, including Stonewall Jackson. One I am looking at right now is William C. Davis' "The Commanders of the Civil War."
Knowing what I have gotten off this thread, however, I question the accurancy in that it has several current photos of officer gear from the time and shows red (crimson) sashes with general officers' gear but notes them only as "officers silk sashes" and while clearly implying that they are part of the uniform for the general officer, they do not specifically so state.
Now some people have told me that the cavalry wore yellow sashes while others say they wore the crimson sashes, the same as the infantry and artillery.
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
In your list, you do not mention a different color sash for General Officers. Was it indeed the case that they wore buff sashes?
Further, when you say
"Confederates
Army officers indicated Confederate officers -
Red - Artillery
Yellow - Cavalry
Light Blue - Infantry
Black - Medical"
This is for the piping, not the sashes, correct? Did they use the same color sashes as the Union or are these the sash colors as well?
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
If you go back to my initial post (1st one) I put the trouser color code for the Confederates, right under the Sash color designation.
IN the meantime -- being curious how 'buff' came into the picture and or questions, I see in Confederate Reenactor supply, they list 'buff.' They also designate the Black sash for chaplins.
I think I was a bit excited -- It is Maj.General Fitzhugh Lee's presentation gauntlets, gold sash at this site. [Note: although silk, it is not a strong yellow gold, so it could be considered buff, if in a different material. I have seen silk sashes and wool sashes.]
Here is what the information is listed as:
Item # UR326 - Presentation Gauntlets & Sash OF Gen’l. Fitz. Lee
Major General Fitzhugh Lee, C.S.A. Price: US $90,000 Qty Required 1
These are original Gauntlets presented to General Fitzhugh Lee. The last cavalry commander of the Confederacy. General Lee's gold General Officer sash is also included in this prized grouping. The Gauntlets are both inscribed:
"Gen'l. Fitz. Lee, from his friend Mr. Collie, October 22nd, 1864". This is likely the last pair of Gauntlets worn by General Lee. A very rare chance to own a personal item from a Confederate General Officer. They come with a letter of authenticity from Russ Pritchard SR. formerly Adm. at the Civil War Library & Museum in Phila.
Major General Fitzhugh Lee – The Nephew of General Robert E. Lee and also the nephew of General Samuel Cooper, both top Confederate Generals. As a graduate of West Point class of 1856 he served in the 2nd U.S. Cavalry. He was wounded fighting Indians in Texas and later, resigned his commission in the Union Army in May 1861 to remain loyal to
his native state of Virginia. He participated at Bull Run, J.E.B., Stewart's ride around McClellan's army, Seven Days Battle, South Mountain, Antietam, Kelly's Ford, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Spotsylvania.
At Appomattox, he busted through Union defenses to avoid surrendering with Robert E. Lee's Army. He surrendered two days later.
In the Spanish American War he again served his country in a Blue uniform, as a Major General of Volunteers.
If you go back to my initial post (1st one) I put the trouser color code for the Confederates, right under the Sash color designation.
IN the meantime -- being curious how 'buff' came into the picture and or questions, I see in Confederate Reenactor supply, they list 'buff.' They also designate the Black sash for chaplins.
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
I have sent an E-mail to The American Civil War Center in Richmond, Virginia about these colors, ranks, sashes, etc.
I'll share when I get some good information and in asking my questions, I have asked for were references to this information would be, e.g. uniform regulations, etc.
Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf
PS -- You know this interesting discussion is de-railing my project [Grins];
My father was a railroad buff and left many fine photos from 1939-1960s; so assembling and making a photo album of all the Virginia RRs --It is very interesting to find 18 known railroads operating in Virginia during the Civil War. [Smiles]
I hope the American Civil War Center can answer what color sash General Robert E. Lee at the time of surrender. It is one of many questions asked.
Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf
I have to give the credit to blue_zouave. He is the one who first led me to the regulations.
__________________ "There must be more historians of the Civil War than there were generals figthing in it... Of the two groups, the historians are the more belligerent." David Donald, Lincoln Reconsidered (1961)
I have sent an E-mail to The American Civil War Center in Richmond, Virginia about these colors, ranks, sashes, etc.
I'll share when I get some good information and in asking my questions, I have asked for were references to this information would be, e.g. uniform regulations, etc.
Sincerely,
M. E. Wolf
PS -- You know this interesting discussion is de-railing my project [Grins];
My father was a railroad buff and left many fine photos from 1939-1960s; so assembling and making a photo album of all the Virginia RRs --It is very interesting to find 18 known railroads operating in Virginia during the Civil War. [Smiles]
So where does Gen. Lee's uniform fall under and what was the color of his sash at the surrender of his army?
__________________
"States Rights are about States Wrongs" - Jesse Jackson
While enlisted men wore what the Army provided for them, officers were responsible for providing their own kit. This lead to some wild variations in what was worn, such as G. A. Custer's velvet coat. Officers, as "gentlemen," would have their uniforms made up by a tailor, as their civilian clothes were. That's why the officers tend to look so dapper in CDVs. Since there was no color photography at that time, we don't know what colors they actually wore, and you can't put much faith in paintings, either contemporary or modern. You don't know what kind of research the artist did, if any.
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