Confederate uniform help??

[thrashassault]

Hello everybody. I haven't reenacted in many years and thought about getting back into it. I have always wanted to piece together a butternut uniform. I just always loved the brown tan color. But my friend who has reenacted for a long time says the butternut is getting very taboo. Also that if I was going to do do butternut that I should not buy wool and get a jean wool because the wool would not have been very common. Any incite? I prefer the wool over jean wool but I want to look authentic. I'm not joining a specific group but did want to find a specific Regiment and Company to module a butternut uniform under. I was thinking something of Hardee's Corp. I love the Western theater of the war.

Thanks for any help!!!

[larry_cockerham]

Hello everybody. I haven't reenacted in many years and thought about getting back into it. I have always wanted to piece together a butternut uniform. I just always loved the brown tan color. But my friend who has reenacted for a long time says the butternut is getting very taboo. Also that if I was going to do do butternut that I should not buy wool and get a jean wool because the wool would not have been very common. Any incite? I prefer the wool over jean wool but I want to look authentic. I'm not joining a specific group but did want to find a specific Regiment and Company to module a butternut uniform under. I was thinking something of Hardee's Corp. I love the Western theater of the war.

Thanks for any help!!!

If you'll send me your direct e-mail address via private message here, I'll send you a couple of photos of local Confederate re-enactors for your use and study. Most of their costuming will probably have come from the Blockade Runner in Bellbucke, Tennessee (they have a website) or Jarnigans in Corinth, Mississippi (also a website.) Since the Confederate soldiers did a lot of self-uniforming, there were many variations of material, so you can have some flexibility as a Confederate. Richmond wool, butternut and the variations are all far different looks. The guys you'll see are from SCV camps in Lebanon and Murfreesboro who take this a bit seriously.

[larry_cockerham]

Here are some examples. Sam Davis 1293.

[larry_cockerham]

Men from Murfreesboro SCV #33:

[larry_cockerham]

Winstead Battery at Hoover's Gap Park

[thrashassault]

Awesome pictures! Thanks I will use these to help. I will also send you my email if you want to send more photos!

[johan_steele]

http://www.stonybrookcompany.com/

If you've never spoken to Mr Sullivan... he is IMO the foremost scholar on the subject of ACW uniforms in the field today and he's a nice guy willing to share his passion and knowledge. His business is first rate on top of all that as well.

[johan_steele]

Ok I added the pic but I couldn't add more text. IIRC that is a pic from the 145th Chickamauga and is of a group of hardcore CS boys. IIRC the picture was originally provided me by Ranger White of the above said NPS Park.

Western Reb was more likely to have the butternut; if you are more interested in a specific unit look to perhaps the 1st TN or 19th TN Inf, 29th or 4th AL, IIRC there are fairly complete uniform records for them. Somewhere I have detailed notes on Early War Alabama Infantry units which I believe detail what they were initially issued and as early as the spring of 62 Alabama units were getting butternut uniforms.

[101combatvet]

Any particular state?

Hello everybody. I haven't reenacted in many years and thought about getting back into it. I have always wanted to piece together a butternut uniform. I just always loved the brown tan color. But my friend who has reenacted for a long time says the butternut is getting very taboo. Also that if I was going to do do butternut that I should not buy wool and get a jean wool because the wool would not have been very common. Any incite? I prefer the wool over jean wool but I want to look authentic. I'm not joining a specific group but did want to find a specific Regiment and Company to module a butternut uniform under. I was thinking something of Hardee's Corp. I love the Western theater of the war.

Thanks for any help!!!

[thrashassault]

Any particular state?

Not really, just one that fought in the western theater. A couple of guys wanted to start up a new Confederate regiment cause the old one (11th Mississippi Company B) we participated in fell apart. Most of the guys who started that moved away so we really wanted to start something new. I'm a big fan of butternut like I said so I want to pick a reg. and company that was known for this type of uniform. I also wanted to do a group that had a different battle flag. I have always been drawn to Hardee's or even Van Dorns or Polks. If we got enough guys to come with us I think it would be cool to see these flags fly with us as well.

Also thanks johan steele for the picture and info!

[101combatvet]

Not much butternut in the 11th.

http://www.11th-miss.com/history.htm

[bama46]

You mentioned in your first post that butternut is "becoming taboo"
can you elaborate on this a little bit for me.. I am not a reenacotr and have a hard time understanding why a historical uniform would become taboo..

<<<<mutters to self and scratches head and other bodyparts>>>
just checkin for fleas...

[thrashassault]

Not much butternut in the 11th.

http://www.11th-miss.com/history.htm

Nope we wore Grey Shell Jackets with Black Trim and Black Wool Pants. Not even sure if that was correct either.

[thrashassault]

Perhaps a butternut civilian sack coat may an option. There is a book titled "Cadet Grey and Butternut Brown" it covers Confederate uniforms, and really is inexpensive, I think you may be able to find a copy for around $16.00. I think that it is a good source if you want to research CS uniforms.

I actually just bought this book, haven't read the whole thing yet. Very well detailed uniforms so far.

[thrashassault]

You mentioned in your first post that butternut is "becoming taboo"
can you elaborate on this a little bit for me.. I am not a reenacotr and have a hard time understanding why a historical uniform would become taboo..

<<<<mutters to self and scratches head and other bodyparts>>>
just checkin for fleas...

My friend said that... and I thought the same thing. But I guess its more on the material of the butternut uniform. Cause wool butternut was uncommon were jean wool mix was. I guess??? That's why I made this thread to get better insight from people who know. And maybe my friend just ran into a bunch of guys who were ranting about things they don't even know about. /shrug\

[Mark Wadsworth]

I know a thing or two about Confederate uniforms. Right now I am sitting at the gate in the air port so I can't really type up anything long. When I get back home in the morning I will be able to write up something with some real info.

[101combatvet]

The problem I have with butternut of today is that it comes in one shade. In fact it varied from a chocolate dark brown to a light khaki back in the day.... and I'm sure that few uniforms were a similar shade. Some of the best uniforms are the ones you make yourself.

My friend said that... and I thought the same thing. But I guess its more on the material of the butternut uniform. Cause wool butternut was uncommon were jean wool mix was. I guess??? That's why I made this thread to get better insight from people who know. And maybe my friend just ran into a bunch of guys who were ranting about things they don't even know about. /shrug\

[Mark Wadsworth]

What most folks think is butternut is a faded gray.

[larry_cockerham]

What most folks think is butternut is a faded gray.

I believe the faded gray is a superior 'look'. Butternut wool is more of a brighter tan, almost orange, from what I've seen. I wear period Richmond wool because I'm not trying to protray anything more than a podgy older man who is standing in the way. I like the color and it's cheap by comparison. Leather is another story. As the quality increases, so does the price. The true re-enactor, whatever that is, has a choice between substantial investment or developing skills of a challenging craft.

[101combatvet]

I have never seen a real example that even looked close to gray.

What most folks think is butternut is a faded gray.

[Mark Wadsworth]

I have never seen a real example that even looked close to gray.

Dyes fade very quickly. Some of the period dyed woolen jean fabric that I make garments start out as a very nice shage of gray will fade and turn tanish brown in a very short time. It has the butternut color that folks like but it started off as gray.

I will find a piece of scrap and do the fade test and post a pic in a few weeks.

[101combatvet]

It should not fade that easily.... when considering how often you guys are in the field.... here is what it should look like. The real dyes did not fade much.

http://www.thepiper.com/fiberart/pla...utternuts.html

Dyes fade very quickly. Some of the period dyed woolen jean fabric that I make garments start out as a very nice shage of gray will fade and turn tanish brown in a very short time. It has the butternut color that folks like but it started off as gray.

I will find a piece of scrap and do the fade test and post a pic in a few weeks.

[johan_steele]

Actually they could and did. Deep reds can fade quickly (relatively speaking) to a pink... it's SALMON **** it! Browns and blacks as well fade, why blue doesn't fade so dramaticly I don't know. I think the difference may be the fabric more than the dye but again I don't know, I'm no laundress er launderer... aww hell I don't do laundry as a profession.

[Mark Wadsworth]

Logwood and sumac dyed fabric will fade a small bit each use. You can spot the fade on the very first time. On average it takes a vegetable dyed garment about one reenactment season to fade out. I tell my customers it is "guaranteed to fade and turn ugly".

I have had logwood jackets fade out while being on my clothing rack waiting to be sold.


Sumac is a nice shade of gray when it is fresh. In short order it will be the color of dead grass.

Remember the garments that you see in the museums are 145 years old. Not only has the dye faded the wool has aged also.

[bama46]

Logwood and sumac dyed fabric will fade a small bit each use. You can spot the fade on the very first time. On average it takes a vegetable dyed garment about one reenactment season to fade out. I tell my customers it is "guaranteed to fade and turn ugly".

I have had logwood jackets fade out while being on my clothing rack waiting to be sold.


Sumac is a nice shade of gray when it is fresh. In short order it will be the color of dead grass.

Remember the garments that you see in the museums are 145 years old. Not only has the dye faded the wool has aged also.

Am I wrong to think that that is exactly what happened to the soldiers who wore those uniforms? I had always thought that butternut was a term used to describe faded gray rather than a "color" all its own..