Blanket

[rebracer]

It's the gray one with the dark gray stripe, I want to nab that one you're talking about and a Brooke blanket too.

Yes, the gray one with a black stripe, they identify it as vegetable dyed, it will fade to tan/brown as sumac does and with an irregular appearance, it looks great. Id get one now if you can. Yes, I would like to have the Brooke blanket as well.

Over the years Family Heirloom Weavers has made some great limited run random pattern blankets. Ive got a very large sort of cream color jean blanket with pairs of gray stripes it has the seam down the middle. Beautiful blanket.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Blankets are things that more authentic minded reenactors tend to horde. I have four: a old mainstream "emergency issue" US blanket I got when I first started, a nice authentic US blanket from S&S, a lightweight jean blanket perfect for summer CS use, and a blue-grey NC issue blanket.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Blankets are things that more authentic minded reenactors tend to horde. I have four: a old mainstream "emergency issue" US blanket I got when I first started, a nice authentic US blanket from S&S, a lightweight jean blanket perfect for summer CS use, and a blue-grey NC issue blanket.

Very true. I still like the blankets made by Charlie Childs and Fred Gaede.

 

[Mississippian1861]

Very true. I still like the blankets made by Charlie Childs and Fred Gaede.

The NC blanket might be a Charlie Childs, I got it second hand so I'm not 100% sure. Ben Tart is making one now. I need a good coverlet to add to the collection.

 

[Kirby the great]

The NC blanket might be a Charlie Childs, I got it second hand so I'm not 100% sure. Ben Tart is making one now. I need a good coverlet to add to the collection.

The coverlets made by tart are pretty good for the price. SUM also has a lot of very very good ones.

 

[Kirby the great]

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

I will say this, blankets early war were a rainbow of colors, especially Reb ones, but the union usually kept their blankets as a tan or gray, Reb blankets varied heavily through to the end but generally mid to late war you'll see the imported British blankets, but you'll still see the sent from home jean blankets, and some union blankets in the ranks. For federal I'd say pick up a nice union blanket like the ones wambaugh made, and that'll cover most of the war. For Rebs I'd pick up several blankets, a coverlet for early war, a Jean blanket for mid war, and an English blanket for late war, but if you're short on money a simple Jean blanket will be fine.

 

[Mississippian1861]

I will say this, blankets early war were a rainbow of colors, especially Reb ones, but the union usually kept their blankets as a tan or gray, Reb blankets varied heavily through to the end but generally mid to late war you'll see the imported British blankets, but you'll still see the sent from home jean blankets, and some union blankets in the ranks. For federal I'd say pick up a nice union blanket like the ones wambaugh made, and that'll cover most of the war. For Rebs I'd pick up several blankets, a coverlet for early war, a Jean blanket for mid war, and an English blanket for late war, but if you're short on money a simple Jean blanket will be fine.

If you portray both sides then a good federal blanket will be your first priority, since it is also correct for CS in many applications. Then a solid wool civilian style blanket, followed by stuff like jean blankets, import, and coverlets. If you really want to get into the weeds then a carpet blanket is an interesting choice for certain impressions. By the summer of 1862 the CS government was advising reporting conscripts to bring their own blankets with them. Quilts were donated but shifted to use in places like hospitals.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

I will say this, blankets early war were a rainbow of colors, especially Reb ones, but the union usually kept their blankets as a tan or gray, Reb blankets varied heavily through to the end but generally mid to late war you'll see the imported British blankets, but you'll still see the sent from home jean blankets, and some union blankets in the ranks. For federal I'd say pick up a nice union blanket like the ones wambaugh made, and that'll cover most of the war. For Rebs I'd pick up several blankets, a coverlet for early war, a Jean blanket for mid war, and an English blanket for late war, but if you're short on money a simple Jean blanket will be fine.

@Kirby the great Union blankets were colorful as well and I'm not sure the Confederate blankets were more so.

Post in thread 'Union Blankets'

Oct 15, 2026

• The Pennsylvania Line

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[The Pennsylvania Line]

This information was taken from a post on the authentic-campaigner website.

Red Blankets in the Federal Army??? - Authentic Campaigner

Discussions About Primary Sources, Research, Original Accounts, Photos, History & Books.

www.authentic-campaigner.com

NY state contracts for blankets

I have a series of state records and there are many early contracts that are not listed in the federal Records but contain more information. Here is a little piece from the State of New York purchases of blankets from the year 1861-62.

Blankets.
Cronin, Hurxthal & Sears, New York City, May 28, 1861; dated at Quartermaster General's office ---securities $20,000; O. De F. Grant, Wm Barton.
15,000 all wool army blankets, at $s.12 1/2; no restriction as to size, color, &c.

Strong Brothers & Co., Albany, April 25, 1861; in four days endorsed by Frank Wheaton, U.S. Army—no security or terms of payment.
500 pairs brown grey blankets, at $2.12 ½
200 pairs of dark brown blankets, at $2.75
200 pairs of brown grey blankets, at $2.50
300 pairs Gentilla blue blankets, at $2.75
400 pairs Gentilla blue blankets, at $3.50
200 pairs scarlet blankets, at $4.75
1,100 pairs blue grey blankets, at $2.75
2,900 pairs.

 

[rebracer]

Blankets are something that if made of correct materials and made in an 19th century manner can really be any reasonable color or pattern and be correct. There was an extremely large amount of varied blankets at the time, looking at surviving examples make this clear. We have a prewar blanket at Confederate Memorial Hall that was used during the Mexican war and carried by a CS Cavalryman and it is the wildest red, black white and almost pinkish zigzag pattern, you would swear it was from the 1960s, its incredible. My point is not to seek out a bizarre color or pattern, but also dont get hung up worrying about the color or pattern. The focus should be on the material and construction.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Blankets are something that if made of correct materials and made in an 19th century manner can really be any reasonable color or pattern and be correct. There was an extremely large amount of varied blankets at the time, looking at surviving examples make this clear. We have a prewar blanket at Confederate Memorial Hall that was used during the Mexican war and carried by a CS Cavalryman and it is the wildest red, black white and almost pinkish zigzag pattern, you would swear it was from the 1960s, its incredible. My point is not to seek out a bizarre color or pattern, but also dont get hung up worrying about the color or pattern. The focus should be on the material and construction.

@rebracer is there any chance you could post a photo of this Mexican War blanket and provide more information on the Confederate cavalryman who carried it?

 

[rebracer]

@rebracer is there any chance you could post a photo of this Mexican War blanket and provide more information on the Confederate cavalryman who carried it?

Yes I can, it will be later this week as I have a Board Meeting at the museum Wednesday Night. Ill get some photos of it.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Yes I can, it will be later this week as I have a Board Meeting at the museum Wednesday Night. Ill get some photos of it.

Sounds great. Thank you.

 

[Trooper "D"]

I have a good quality reproduction Federal issue blanket View attachment 485606View attachment 485607

Nice lettering. I have done somewhere in Grey that had the US really stitched.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I actually have jean wool blanket that looks very similar to the US issue blanket. I got it from Ben Tart. I don't think the average person would probably even be able to tell so I've been using it as an all purpose blanket.

 

[rebracer]

Sounds great. Thank you.

Ok, here we go. Below are two photographs through the display case with as minimal glare as I could manage. This is included in our display that includes many personal items of the common CS Infantryman and Cavalryman. As you can see this is an incredible blanket.

The blanket belonged to Col. John G. Stocks, of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry (CS not the federal 7th) he was initially Captain of Company G The Independent Rebel Rangers, before eventually being in command of the entire Unit. The museum records indicate he carried this both during the Mexican war and the Civil War. The 7th was part of the fighting in west being part of Trans Mississippi and the AOT. Note: That is not Stocks in the photo below the blanket.

 

[The Pennsylvania Line]

Ok, here we go. Below are two photographs through the display case with as minimal glare as I could manage. This is included in our display that includes many personal items of the common CS Infantryman and Cavalryman. As you can see this is an incredible blanket.

The blanket belonged to Col. John G. Stocks, of the 7th Tennessee Cavalry (CS not the federal 7th) he was initially Captain of Company G The Independent Rebel Rangers, before eventually being in command of the entire Unit. The museum records indicate he carried this both during the Mexican war and the Civil War. The 7th was part of the fighting in west being part of Trans Mississippi and the AOT. Note: That is not Stocks in the photo below the blanket.

View attachment 593135

View attachment 593136

Thank you very much @rebracer for posting these photos! Another very interesting blanket with Confederate provenance.

 

[rebracer]

Thank you very much @rebracer for posting these photos! Another very interesting blanket with Confederate provenance.

My pleasure, this has actually prompted me to plan some further research into it and see what I can find further so I can put together a video about it for the museum. I would say it sort of has a Mexican pattern look to it, so it would be interesting to find out if that is Stocks got it.

I use it again to emphasize that there were many patterns and colors of blankets used during the war. In terms of living history, would a whole company have this blanket, no. Could one or two men have something unique like this, possibly. This would be a leopard trousers situation, should we seek out a wild unique blanket, probably not. Should we stress over the pattern, color, number of stripes, etc. on an authentic loom produced correct material wool/jean wool blanket, I would say no, unless we have definitive written documentation of what a unit was issued at a specific time.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I do believe some men carried two blankets, especially early and late in the campaign season when temperatures at night would get COLD or if one of a proper weight couldn't be procured. One may have been issued, the other sent from home, and then either sent home or to storage once it warmed. Especially you didn't have an overcoat, I could see a second blanket being REALLY nice to have and worth carrying.

 

[rebracer]

I do believe some men carried two blankets, especially early and late in the campaign season when temperatures at night would get COLD or if one of a proper weight couldn't be procured. One may have been issued, the other sent from home, and then either sent home or to storage once it warmed. Especially you didn't have an overcoat, I could see a second blanket being REALLY nice to have and worth carrying.

Yes, you are correct, especially around winter quarters where they were in one place for a while, if an extra blanket could be had it was a welcome addition. There is photo documentation of this both of early war use of a knapsack bulging with a blanket inside but also an additional blanket rolled on the exterior as well as evidence of men carrying a blanket wrapped in a covetlet. Carrying multiple blankets was not ideal on the long march or in battle nor in the summer months.