SouthernYankee
Private
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2017
- Location
- Rowsell, Ga.
Hi everyone,
I know that the wearing of Continental type uniforms by some militias, most famously the Continental Morgan Guard, has been discussed in other threads, but I haven't seen much on the shortcomings of these uniforms.
Judging from the period pictures that I've seen, it seems as though the vast majority of soldiers who began the war in Continental uniforms had replaced them with more contemporary styles by 1862, and the Continental Morgan Guard reenactment website specifies that impressions from 1862-1865 should be done with typical Confederate uniforms instead of the Continentals.
So my question is, what were the shortcomings of the uniform? Obviously, similar uniforms had been worn by armies during the American Revolution and throughout the early Napoleonic period, so they were definitely becoming outdated by the 1860s, but what put them at a disadvantage when compared to contemporary uniforms? Was there something specifically wrong with them or was it more of a supply and replacement issue?
If, by chance, anyone has reenacted in a unit that used the Continental style uniforms, was there a particular disadvantage or annoyance that you experienced?
I know that the wearing of Continental type uniforms by some militias, most famously the Continental Morgan Guard, has been discussed in other threads, but I haven't seen much on the shortcomings of these uniforms.
Judging from the period pictures that I've seen, it seems as though the vast majority of soldiers who began the war in Continental uniforms had replaced them with more contemporary styles by 1862, and the Continental Morgan Guard reenactment website specifies that impressions from 1862-1865 should be done with typical Confederate uniforms instead of the Continentals.
So my question is, what were the shortcomings of the uniform? Obviously, similar uniforms had been worn by armies during the American Revolution and throughout the early Napoleonic period, so they were definitely becoming outdated by the 1860s, but what put them at a disadvantage when compared to contemporary uniforms? Was there something specifically wrong with them or was it more of a supply and replacement issue?
If, by chance, anyone has reenacted in a unit that used the Continental style uniforms, was there a particular disadvantage or annoyance that you experienced?