Uniforms Old Reenactors & Movie Extras in original uniforms?

[RgtQmEllis]

I was wondering if there are any examples of reenactors or extras in old movies wearing actual Civil War surplus uniforms. This seems likely for movies made in the early days of film, but I also remember seeing a post that said some extras in the film Glory wore original pieces, 120 years after the war! It'd be very interesting to see any example of this, either in film or reenactment.

 

[bayonet]

I was wondering if there are any examples of reenactors or extras in old movies wearing actual Civil War surplus uniforms. This seems likely for movies made in the early days of film, but I also remember seeing a post that said some extras in the film Glory wore original pieces, 120 years after the war! It'd be very interesting to see any example of this, either in film or reenactment.

I seriously doubt that. 120 plus years later no way same uniforms for hundreds of extras. Someone is pulling your leg. Also I only knew 1 reenactor using an original Springfield musket during events.

 

[RedRover]

I was wondering if there are any examples of reenactors or extras in old movies wearing actual Civil War surplus uniforms. This seems likely for movies made in the early days of film, but I also remember seeing a post that said some extras in the film Glory wore original pieces, 120 years after the war! It'd be very interesting to see any example of this, either in film or reenactment.

Bannerman's was still selling some 1860s US Army surplus into the early 20th Century.

But the Civil War "uniforms" they sold included the 1880s-90's fatigue blouses (five buttons)... in other words, "Spanish-American War surplus...

The blouses like this soldier's (from an 1898 photo) with five buttons in front, and cuff buttons...

But per Bannerman, they were "Civil War uniforms."

From the beginning of Hollywood's war viz. "Birth of A Nation" (1915) the Union costume included the post-Civil War five-button blouses, etc. Maybe some of the forage caps were 1860s-ish, if the stuff came from Bannerman...

The trousers also Spanish-War period surplus (with a back pocket)...

The cartridge boxes are all McKeever boxes from the 1880s and 90s, etc.

Pretty much the same up through John Huston's "Red Badge of Courage" (1951)
Spanish-American War period blouses and trousers, canteens, haversacks, McKeever boxes, etc.

Gone with the Wind (1939) isn't equipment heavy, but if you look carefully, there's some 1860s style cap pouches on waist belts, but also the inevitable McKeever Cartridge boxes...

And Spanish-American war haversacks...

The Hollywood stock of "Civil War" uniforms was well used through the 1960s and 70s.

1974's "Red Badge..." included the common stock of 5-button blouses, etc., but improved the equipment, to include more correct waist belts and plates, and canteens with 1860s wartime style cotton slings...

No haversacks or cartridge boxes though.

Trousers look to be of the Spanish-war style surplus in some cases, with back pocket...

Only in the 1980s, with the increase in hobby reenacting, and large market of reproduction 1860s equipment, etc. was there some improvement. In 1981's "Blue and the Grey" the Union troops wear five-button blouses, and by the color, Spanish-American war costume trousers. Their equipment is more complete, and their Spanish-American war haversacks are painted black to look more like the 1860s article...

Some reenactors, even today, employ some original items in their hobby, particularly a few muskets here and there, or a sword or two.

 

[BuckPvt]

I was wondering if there are any examples of reenactors or extras in old movies wearing actual Civil War surplus uniforms. This seems likely for movies made in the early days of film, but I also remember seeing a post that said some extras in the film Glory wore original pieces, 120 years after the war! It'd be very interesting to see any example of this, either in film or reenactment.

From what I've heard from a number of sources in the past (and seen pictures of that I can't currently find) the use of original Civil War uniforms during the Civil War Centennial events (1961-1965) was reasonably common.

 

[Mississippian1861]

In "Major Dundee" one of the characters, a bugler, wears what I'm assuming is an original US mounted service jacket.

 

[Joe Whitworth]

JMHO but I doubt if any any CW clothing was worn in "Glory". Most people are too beefy to wear most of and it's too fragile with age. Perhaps an orignal hat or accruement plate was here or there by someone. It's not to far a stretch to think that some of the Yankee uniforms in "Birth of a Nation" may have been real, Bannerman's had a good supply if Hollywood needed CW uniforms and props.

 

[RgtQmEllis]

What's everyone's opinions on these Mounted Jackets in The Alamo(1960)? To me, they look very authentic, and I'm unsure if there were reproductions of this quality available before the centennial.

 

[Odessa1]

Many people these days are to big and fat to wear anything period. A lot of the surplus if you want to call it that are odd sizes and to small, even for those guys back then. I have never seen any movies using u actual real uniforms from the war. Keep in mind this is just my opinion. I dont claim to be a expert lol. In my times at the reenactment. I have worn , yes actually a real confederate canvas sling with cartridge box, with a original cap box on a reproduction belt, with a orginial musket. It was only for 2 hours. I just kept a few rounds in my pocket so just in case I spilled powder. It went home with me one
day. One time deal, and never again, $ 9000 plus set up. I had to wave my glory flag on this. Thanks

 

[R. Porter]

That sword Travis is wearing looks like a model 1840 or possibly even a model 1860 enlisted man's cavalry saber. It should be an eagle head spadroon or saber.

 

[Salterr]

While wearing original surplus was common in the early days of film it would be nearly impossible today. Many surplus uniforms are stamped in the armpit with the theatre or movie costumer markings but even trying to button a shell jacket on a mannequin can tear seams and pop buttons today. They surely wouldn't survive being worn 160 years later.

 

[bayonet]

While wearing original surplus was common in the early days of film it would be nearly impossible today. Many surplus uniforms are stamped in the armpit with the theatre or movie costumer markings but even trying to button a shell jacket on a mannequin can tear seams and pop buttons today. They surely wouldn't survive being worn 160 years later.

Apparently ACW Union shell jackets only came in 4 sizes.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

It seems that most of the sculptors who executed Civil War memorials relied on models wearing five-putton blouses. I wonder how often the aging veterans noticed?

 

[UnionistMarylander]

Apparently ACW Union shell jackets only came in 4 sizes.

Yup, both fatigue blouses and shell jackets came in four sizes, what we would call today XS, S, M, and L

Size 1 - 36in chest, 32in waist
Size 2 -38in chest, 34in waist
Size 3 -40in chest, 36in waist
Size 4 - 42in chest, 38in waist

 

[captaindrew]

There's just two sizes in the army.... too big and too small

 

[RedRover]

It seems that most of the sculptors who executed Civil War memorials relied on models wearing five-putton blouses. I wonder how often the aging veterans noticed?

I doubt many of them noticed. Any more than most of the public... but even if they did, such flaws are cast in metal and carved in stone, so not much than can be done about it.

No doubt, though, such monuments might have aided Bannerman's sales of "Civil War" uniforms, including the 5-button Span.-Am. war surplus blouses!


That said, I've seen comments by many veterans that the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, where the soldier wears MG belts bandolier fashion, he has them the wrong way, with the points up, (where they would stab his neck, etc.). But most of the veterans in my family, even where we viewed this monument in person, probably didn't particularly notice...

But some HAVE!

Similarly, the Korean War monument has the G.I.s wearing their ponchos over their cartridge belts... A total "no-no." Korean War era officers noted that in training at West Point, at the monument to Major Dade's command massacred in Florida in 1835, it was noted to be of critical importance to make sure the ammo belts were worn outside of their rain coats to avoid disaster in an ambush, etc. like that which befell Dade's command...

Gen. Ralph Puckett (MOH) recalled...

I've seen the same commented upon by a field artillery officer in his memoir, seeing some infantry G.I.'s in 1950 one day with their ponchos over their cartridge belts, recalling the lesson of Major Dade, as generally instructed, he was surprised their officers or NCO's hadn't stopped them, so he took it upon himself to trouble them to get squared away.

In spite of this, reenactors are inclined to copy the monument...

 

[bayonet]

There's just two sizes in the army.... too big and too small

Yeah Air Force probably gets everything tailored fitted

 

[Trooper "D"]

That's Festus in the top photos.

 

[Trooper "D"]

1970s production must have used the same trapdoor rifles as the earlier version of RBofC. HA!

 

[RedRover]

1970s production must have used the same trapdoor rifles as the earlier version of RBofC. HA!

Yes. Trapdoors in the 1974 production with Richard Thomas.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Yes. Trapdoors in the 1974 production with Richard Thomas.

View attachment 588606

Yep. I recall it being ok for the time period it was made. The one scene where the officer gets it in the forehead stands out. So does the yellow cuffs and collars of the Confederate Infantry.
Maybe its is time for another stab at it. Although reenacting is not as popular as it once was.
Cheers!