Blanket

[2ndDEboy]

Most union soldiers were issued tan blankets while confederates has the grey with black stripe? But I today's re-enactments it's the union that have the grey blankets with black stripe

 

[captaindrew]

Federal issue blankets were made in both grey and tan. Confederate blankets were always in demand and were made from whatever was on hand or imported English products. Confederates relied heavily on blankets sent from home or acquired Federal issued blankets.

 

[captaindrew]

I have a good quality reproduction Federal issue blanket

 

[Dan Kohli]

The 1861 U.S. Army Revised Regulations required blankets to be gray with black stripes. In practice the color did varied slightly, including brown. The some of the brown blankets have been sold as "emergency issued" blankets.

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

A tremendous number of blankets were used during the war, and not let us forget those which were privately purchased, and state issued red and blue blankets.

State of Ohio Id'd Issue Blanket – Lt. Samuel M. Smith, Co. A 44th Ohio Infantry.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I have a good quality civilian "sent from home" coverlet for my Confederate impression. They're often inexpensive compared to a regular wool blanket, however they are lighter weight and not nearly as cozy.

 

[RedRover]

As mentioned the US Army's blankets were to be gray:

Here's a photo of a pre-war made one, sent to Denmark in the late 1850s and now in a Danish museum:

Linked here is an excellent closeup showing the gray color to be on the brown side of gray rather than a bluish or steel-gray shade:

1850s US Army Blankets, Denmark, Military Horse


The Confederate Army regulations (1862 or '64) made no provision about blanket color, etc.

 

[Monkehbase]

Sorry to necro but where would one get a good quality U.S Blanket are south union mills good?

 

[captaindrew]

Sorry to necro but where would one get a good quality U.S Blanket are south union mills good?

Anything out of South Union Mills is generally good quality. If S&S has them in stock they sell a nice one, it's hit or miss if he has any.

 

[Dan Kohli]

Wambaugh, White, & Co. also occasionally has runs of various blankets.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

Sorry to necro but where would one get a good quality U.S Blanket are south union mills good?

ACW Kits (Ben Tart) also does occasional runs of them. He also has various blankets that are good for Confederate or non-regulation or emergency issuer Federal. (Which wasn't uncommon, even the US had trouble keeping up with the demand for a lot of the war)

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

And if you're looking to buy, an authentic blanket is probably the most sound investment you can make for a federal impression.

They are the correct length, making a blanket roll much more useful as storage on the march, and can comfortably cover both the feet and head of the user.

When the wind blows, you won't generally feel it.

And when you need to sell it, it will always be in demand, and you can generally get what you paid for it, considering the demand. In fact, I bought 8 blanket blanks about 10 years ago, stitched the US on, and closed the stitching on the ends…ended up selling them last year for about a 25% profit each.

Get a good blanket.

 

[Monkehbase]

And if you're looking to buy, an authentic blanket is probably the most sound investment you can make for a federal impression.

They are the correct length, making a blanket roll much more useful as storage on the march, and can comfortably cover both the feet and head of the user.

When the wind blows, you won't generally feel it.

And when you need to sell it, it will always be in demand, and you can generally get what you paid for it, considering the demand. In fact, I bought 8 blanket blanks about 10 years ago, stitched the US on, and closed the stitching on the ends…ended up selling them last year for about a 25% profit each.

Get a good blanket.

I've def learned my lesson from my first year of doing it...

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

I've def learned my lesson from my first year of doing it...

Hey don't beat yourself up. I did living history for about 20 years thinking my cheap horse blankets were good enough. Than I needed an authentic one at an event and had to borrow one. Best sleep I'd had at a reenactment, which pretty much made the decision for me to invest in a new one.

 

[Mississippian1861]

There were only two items that the US could not produce enough of domestically: modern weapons and blankets. A good blanket is a key part of any good impression.

 

[rebracer]

ACW kits usually carries a wide selection of blankets and coverlets made by Family Heirloom Weavers. All very nice and appropriate for various Confederate impressions. They can finish them for you or you can do the blanket stitch yourself.

They also have some blankets based on state issued federal patterns. Its the regulation US blankets that are so hard to come by.