Tailor Pete
Sergeant
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2018
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Welcome to the Forum! I would start be doing a simple Google inquiry for the regiment. If there are any period studio pics floating around, they should pop up there. This will give you a pretty good idea of the unit's early war appearence.
As @major bill stated, by '62 Louisiana had established a uniform manufacturing system dependent upon incarcerated labor and local seamstresses to resupply the troops. Then there were private purchases... you say your ancestor was fairly well off? Then he might have purchased his own uniforms on occasion.
Shades of gray are always up for debate. Most all original surviving uniforms have oxidized over time, turning the natural dyes commonly used in that time period from a rich shade of gray to a faded, muddy, gray-tan color referred to as Butternut.
My research has shown that kepis were issued throughout the conflict, but soldiers in the field preferred the protection offered by slouch hats, the civilian style felt hats brought from home or purchased privately. Most were black or brown in color, though shades of tan were also to be had.
Rarely were issued uniform items made from the same shade or type of cloth. While the overall impression was that of a military uniform, hardly were the uniforms uniform from article to article or soldier to soldier.
Try mixing up shades of fabric, for an authentic look, and maybe mix in used items with new, as issued clothing items were often handed out sporadically, and different items wore at different rates. A note about private purchase uniforms, often a soldier with such means would order a matching set of clothing (kepi, jacket/coat, and trowsers) at the same time. These items would tend to share the same shade and material, and look sharp until something wore out and was replaced.
Good luck!
As @major bill stated, by '62 Louisiana had established a uniform manufacturing system dependent upon incarcerated labor and local seamstresses to resupply the troops. Then there were private purchases... you say your ancestor was fairly well off? Then he might have purchased his own uniforms on occasion.
Shades of gray are always up for debate. Most all original surviving uniforms have oxidized over time, turning the natural dyes commonly used in that time period from a rich shade of gray to a faded, muddy, gray-tan color referred to as Butternut.
My research has shown that kepis were issued throughout the conflict, but soldiers in the field preferred the protection offered by slouch hats, the civilian style felt hats brought from home or purchased privately. Most were black or brown in color, though shades of tan were also to be had.
Rarely were issued uniform items made from the same shade or type of cloth. While the overall impression was that of a military uniform, hardly were the uniforms uniform from article to article or soldier to soldier.
Try mixing up shades of fabric, for an authentic look, and maybe mix in used items with new, as issued clothing items were often handed out sporadically, and different items wore at different rates. A note about private purchase uniforms, often a soldier with such means would order a matching set of clothing (kepi, jacket/coat, and trowsers) at the same time. These items would tend to share the same shade and material, and look sharp until something wore out and was replaced.
Good luck!