Confederate State Navy uniform done right?

[major bill]

I went to Fort McAllister two days ago. One of the displays is a Confederate salior. Did the people at Fort McAllister get the Confederate State Navy uniform right?

 

[WJC]

Looks like a period USN uniform- in grey. Was that the only difference?

 

[major bill]

There is some information available about CS naval uniforms. Most world navies wore similar naval uniforms. One could say Confederate naval uniforms were similar to union naval uniforms or that both navies in general followed the standard world view of navy uniforms.

 

[WJC]

Is there any historical evidence- invoices, contracts, surviving uniforms- that show the uniform was grey? Frankly, had I not seen this photo, i would have thought the uniform color was dark blue, like the USN and RN at the time.

 

[major bill]

Some blue uniforms here.

 

[major bill]

here is one writer's view

 

[major bill]

Another view.

yet another view

 

[major bill]

Note not one image shows white naval caps or blue trimmed jumpers.

 

[WJC]

Some blue uniforms here.

View attachment 173937

Thanks for your response.
It would seem easier to simply buy standard uniforms from British merchants or from whatever southern contractors might have made for the U. S. Navy. Further, there wouldn't have been a great need to distinguish rebel sailors from their U. S. counterparts like there was in the army.

 

[major bill]

There is little chance of Confederate sailor wearing blue uniforms on a ship flying a Confederate flag could be mistaken for a Union sailor. One issue would be what color of cloth was available.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Did the people at Fort McAllister get the Confederate State Navy uniform right?

I would say they got it right.

The Confederate Naval Officer Corps were livid (re: the gray uniforms) from the start .
"All navies wear blue ! " . . . they argued.

Here's one of many threads about CSN uniforms:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/co...e-of-little-saylors-creek.101833/#post-928003

By using this site's search function, one can easily find many conversations about Confederate States Navy uniforms

 

[Klaudly]

As for the army, in the navy the uniform worn by the crew members was not homogeneous, and diversified from station to station, but it is certain that from the blue uniform worn by the crew of 1861, gradually from 1863 the uniform of clothing changed to gray, sometimes used both. surely also gray cloth pea coat.

 

[rebelatsea]

I would say they got it right.

The Confederate Naval Officer Corps were livid (re: the gray uniforms) from the start .
"All navies wear blue ! " . . . they argued.

Here's one of many threads about CSN uniforms:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/co...e-of-little-saylors-creek.101833/#post-928003

By using this site's search function, one can easily find many conversations about Confederate States Navy uniforms

Well they got that wrong ! The Russian and Austrian navies at that time wore some shade of dark green !

 

[DixieRifles]

I have no clue. But when I was a member of SCV, one of our career Navy vets would portray a CS sailor. His uniform was closest to one on the left in the 2nd plate, labelel "H", with the 3 figures.
It was a darker grey than the museum figure. Also the first thing I noticed about the museum's figure is the pants are too baggy around the thighs. We know sailors have always worn bell-bottom trousers but the are usually tight fitting.
I think the manequin is wearing standard Infantry pants---that may be why they have him seated.

 

[major bill]

The manikin's white trousers are summer wear and one would have to look at summer trousers. It is possible that sailors wore Army trousers if naval trousers were not available.

 

[Klaudly]

Initially captured union blue cloth wa used, then an important contribution were the imports: uniforms, cloth and various items came from England and France, probably blue cloth. By late 1862 gray began to seep into the enlisted ranks. In Augusta, Georgia, a naval factory was erected to produce other footwear and uniforms of Gray cloth. Clothing establishments were started in Richmond (VA), Mobile (ALA) and Savannah (GA), probably gray trousers were produced, but also white ones. Except for some period, or isolated case, the seamen of the South were dressed in a satisfactory manner. The shoes, as for the army, were a problem, but in addition to imports, we managed to produce a fair number in the homeland, allowing the sailors to have a sufficient number.

 

[major bill]

I know that many navies, including the US Navy, wore caps with the names of the ship on the band. However, I am not sure I have seen images of this being done in the Confederate Navy. Does anyone have an image of this?

 

[major bill]

I looked through the limited number of images I have of Confederate sailors and failed to find any wearing the name of thier ship on thier caps.

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

I know that many navies, including the US Navy, wore caps with the names of the ship on the band. However, I am not sure I have seen images of this being done in the Confederate Navy. Does anyone have an image of this?

Just some thoughts here, not sure how accurate they are but:

1) Certainly in later conflicts the name band was removed during wartime...

Could this be the issue? Perhaps the CSA intended to have namebands on their caps but due to the above and/ or expediency due to lack of materials no attempt was made to issue them.

Thoughts? Specifically had the US Navy removed theirs? I ask because it looks from the couple of pictures that I quickly looked at that the US namebands are also missing...

2) Alternatively was this a more post war thing for the US Navy too? [This would also account for the lack of US Navy namebands]

Waits with interest to see what others think.

 

[major bill]

I have not heard that name bands were removed during the Civil War. I do not see a reason they would have been removed.