Trivia 4-25-18 Coats

[Trivia Master]

What was the winter coat of a union soldier called, and what was the shoulder flap for, and how many flaps did a infantry coat get?

credit: @Wellwords

 

[captaindrew]

Was called a greatcoat or overcoat. It had one cape if that's what you mean by flaps for added protection from the weather.

 

[Jimklag]

The Union winter coat was called a greatcoat. Number of shoulder flaps = 2. Flaps used for officer rank insignia (Shoulder boards). SWAG

 

[GS]

Greatcoats or overcoats were for winter, its shoulder straps indicated officer rank or branch of service, and the private in infantry had no flaps.

 

[Brenal]

My ignorance of uniforms now becomes apparent as all I can answer to this question, that I am probably not understanding correctly, is that the winter coat was called a greatcoat and the flap in question of which there appears to be but one was a six button cape designed for extra warmth and rain protection.

 

[hughes]

Greatcoat

retain warmth and repel moisture

one

 

[Wellwords]

The Greatcoat

The shoulder flap was like an attached scarf, the soldier could flap it up over their heads and around their necks in very cold weather.

One big shoulder flap

"As per the U.S. Army regulations, "1568. All other Enlisted Men [not Mounted]--of sky-blue cloth; stand-up collar; single-breasted; cape to reach down to the elbows when the arm is extended, and to button all the way up; buttons""
https://www.regtqm.com/Great-Coat-Infantry-Pattern-p/feu-002.htm

"The beauty of the greatcoat lies in its versatility. In the past, I have used mine as a pillow, extra blanket, ground cloth, raincoat (not recommended), and even as a coat, from time to time. I've even seen one desperate fellow try to use his as an end closure for his shelter half (better than a big rainy hole, but not by much)."
http://www.47thvirginia.com/pages/articles/greatcoat.html

 

[Northern Light]

The coat is called a great coat. The flap, or more correctly, cape, is meant to repel rain or snow on the shoulders. An infantry coat had one flap/cape.

 

[BlueNGrey]

Overcoat or "Cloak coat" per "Regulations for the uniform and dress of the Army of the United States, 1861", page 14
also referred to as a greatcoat. I have no idea what the "shoulder flap" is referring to. A infantry great coat was single breasted with a cape to the elbows. A mounted greatcoat was double breasted with cape to the wrists.

 

[mofederal]

wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_of_the_Union_Army

http://www.newrivernotes.com/topical_history_wars_1851_army_uniform_dresscode.htm

https://archive.org/details/0255005.nlm.nih.gov US Army Regulations 1857

The Overcoat in regulations we commonly refer to it as a greatcoat, to be sky blue model 1858, first issued in 1851. In 1851 the regulations called it an overcoat. The infantry model was also called a dismounted model. The greatcoat were also produced in dark blue, even black. The shoulder flap was tp secure the cartridge box sling. One on the left shoulder, as the sling of the cartridge box strap was worn over that shoulder. Accoutrements were expected to be worn over the greatcoat.

 

[FarawayFriend]

I suppose this question points to a particular source, which I have not found yet.
Right on the contrary, many sources I found stated that the uniforms worn in the Civil War varied a great deal, so it is hard to say which coat the submitter had in mind when asking that question.
From Wikipedia:
The Uniform of the Union Army was widely varied and, due to limitations on supply of wool and other materials, based on availability and cost of materials during the United States Civil War.

However I have found the "Revised Regulations for the Army of the United States" dated 1861, which has a section about overcoats. The name for overcoats, worn in winter, is stated as "Cloak coat" - so that might be the official answer. Although many sources also refer to the name as "Greatcoat".
https://www.regtqm.com/Great-Coat-Infantry-Pattern-p/feu-002.htm

As to shoulder flaps, in this official regulation there is no information about the purpose of such a flap or the number of flaps designed for infantry coats.

OVERCOAT
For Commissioned Officers.

1559. A "cloak coat" of dark blue cloth, closing by means of four frog buttons of black silk and loops of black silk cord down the breast, and at the throat by a long loop á échelle, without tassel or plate, on the left side, and a black silk frog button on the right; cord for the loops fifteen-hundredths of an inch in diameter; back, a single piece, slit up from the bottom, from fifteen to seventeen inches, according to the height of the wearer, and closing at will, by buttons, and button-holes cut in a concealed flap; collar of the same material as the coat, rounded at the edges, and to stand or fall; when standing, to be about five inches high; sleeves loose, of a single piece, and round at the bottom, without cuff or slit; lining, woolen around the front and lower border, the edges of the pockets, the edges of the sleeves, collar, and slit in the back, a flat braid of black silk one-half inch wide; and around each frog button on the breast, a knot two and one-quarter inches in diameter of black silk cord, seven-hundredths of an inch in diameter, arranges according to drawing; cape of the same color and material as the coat, removable at the pleasure of the wearer, and reaching to the cuff of he coat-sleeve when the arm is extended; coat to extend down the leg from six to eight inches below the knee, according to height. To indicate rank, there will be on both sleeves, near the lower edge, a knot of black silk braid not exceeding one-eighth of an inch in width, arranged according to drawing, and composed as follows:

1560. For a General--of five braids, double knot.
1561. For a Colonel--of five braids, single knot.
1562. For a Lieutenant-Colonel--of four braids, single knot.
1563. For a Major--if three braids, single knot.
1564. For a Captain--of two braids, single knot.
1565. For a First Lieutenant--of one braid, single knot.
1566. For a Second Lieutenant and Brevet Second Lieutenant--a plain sleeve, without knot or ornament.


For Enlisted Men.

1567. Of all Mounted Corps--of sky-blue cloth; stand-and-fall collar; double-breasted; cape to reach down to the cuff of the coat when the arm is extended, and to button all the way up; buttons (1467).

1568. All other Enlisted Men--of sky-blue cloth; stand-up collar; single-breasted; cape to reach down to the elbows when the arm is extended, and to button all the way up; buttons (1467).

1569. For Cavalry--a gutta-percha talma, or cloak extending to the knee, with long sleeves.

http://howardlanham.tripod.com/unireg.htm

As for the purpose of the shoulder flap, I found in various sources that a "shoulder flap" in military clothing is a so called "gun flap", designed to protect the garment from being damaged when the wearer is shooting (or shouldering) his gun. It also offers a kind of padding against the effects of the recoil.

On the other hand, no illustration shows any gun flaps on a Union greatcoat, while many show a cape. The book
"Uniforms of the Civil War" describes an Infantry overcoat as follows:

https://books.google.de/books?id=I2...er flaps infantry greatcoat civil war&f=false

There is no mention of any shoulder flaps, only a cape is mentioned.
The purpose of a cape is providing warmth and rain protection.

So here comes my final answer:

• Name of the coat: Cloak Coat
• Purpose of a "shoulder flap"(a) or cape (b): rain protection (b), warmth (b), protection of garment from effects of firing or carrying a gun (a), protection of the wearer from recoil (a)
• Number of shoulder flaps on Union Infantry greatcoats: (none) - one cape

That's the best I could come up with within a reasonable amount of time.

 

[Henry Brown]

answer: Overcoat/Greatcoat i can find nothing on "flaps" ? infantry used single breasted and cavalry double breasted coats. shoulder straps on frock coats indicate rank i believe and striping on collar and cuffs on shell jackets indicate service.

Federal Enlisted Infantry Overcoat/Greatcoat

Worn over his uniform during the cold months, Union soldiers were issued a greatcoat from the Quartermaster whereas Confederates usually recovered discarded coats along the road (from marching federals during the warmer months) or from captured depots. As per the U.S. Army regulations, "1568. All other Enlisted Men [not Mounted]--of sky-blue cloth; stand-up collar; single-breasted; cape to reach down to the elbows when the arm is extended, and to button all the way up; buttons "

Union Soldier Uniform

A typical Union soldier uniform during the Civil War consisted of:

• light blue pants
• blue overcoat with a cape
• dark blue jacket
• heavy shoes
• woolen socks
  
• a cap called a kepi
• gray woolen shirt
• knapsack
• haversack

 

[MaryDee]

Source: Wikipedia, "Uniform of the Union Army," and the LOC photo below are the only sites that came up on search that were not commercial. I don't consider modern commercial sites (selling models or uniforms) a reputable source! (My own experience with women's wear)

The winter overcoat is called a greatcoat.
I could find no reference to "shoulder flaps"--presumably that refers to the rain cape. "Overcoats were single-breasted for infantry, double-breasted for cavalry with a rain cape." So the infantry soldier got one cape, and it was for rain.

Here's a photo from Library of Congress: The coat is single breasted, so would be for infantry. Note the single cape.
https://cdn.loc.gov/service/pnp/ppmsca/37100/37101v.jpg#h=1024&w=899

 

[JOHN42768]

The Great Coat. Hold canteen or other sling straps in place. Two

 

[WJC]

What was the winter coat of a union soldier called, and what was the shoulder flap for, and how many flaps did a infantry coat get?

credit: @Wellwords

What was the winter coat of a Union soldier called?

M1851 Greatcoat.
The greatcoat came in both Foot and Mounted versions:

The Foot version was worn by Infantry, Heavy Artillery, Engineers and Hospital Stewards. It was single breasted with a standing collar and a removable elbow-length rain cape. The cape was often removed and replaced by a rubber poncho. It featured cuffs on the sleeves that could be turned down, a split back seam, a two-piece belt with two buttonholes and one button for waist adjustment.
The Mounted version, worn by Cavalry and Mounted Artillery was similar but double breasted with a stand and fall collar. The cape extended to the top of the cuff. ​

What was the shoulder flap for?

Shoulder flaps were provided so that equipment having shoulder straps could more easily be carried. ​

How many flaps did an infantry coat get?

Two shoulder flaps were provided for carrying a knapsack.​

 

[SWMODave]

What was the winter coat of a union soldier called, - Great coat in some regulation, also known commonly as an overcoat

and what was the shoulder flap for, and - I do not find the term "shoulder flap".
I do see where many uniform jackets or coats had shoulder straps, used to hold rank ensignia on both shoulders. This did not apply to the great coat, which revealed no rank.

how many flaps did a infantry coat get? - see last answer

Sources
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5

 

[sarladaise]

A Union infantry soldier wore a single breasted greatcoat with standing collar and an elbow-length
cape, which served for extra warmth and, depending on the material it was made of, also as rain repellent.
You could say an infantry coat had two flaps, one on each shoulder (cape).
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/looking-for-information-for-federal-great-coat-regulations.102749/

 

[Copperhead-mi]

Great coat. I cannot find any information relating to shoulder flaps or any other flaps on the coat.

 

[Stony]

1. Greatcoat
2. There were no so-called shoulder flaps. There was a cape, sometimes lined, that had the option of being buttoned up to provide additional protection from the wind and the cold.
3. 0
source-http://www.47thvirginia.com/pages/articles/greatcoat.html

 

[DBF]

The winter coat: Greatcoat
Shoulder Flaps: Were used to show rank
How many flaps for the Infantry: 0
https://www.quora.com/What-are-shoulder-flaps
http://www.civilwarhome.com/uniformsunion.htm