Fatigue Blouse Authenticity

[UnionistMarylander]

Greetings all,

An old reenactor friend is getting rid of a bunch of his old gear, and offered me one of his fatigue blouses. It was free, so of course I took it. It's an enlisted fatigue blouse with 1st Lieutenant shoulder boards sewn on, never worn, made by the Regimental Quartermaster.

I know that Regimental is considered a mainstream sutler, and this is definitely an off-the-rack blouse, but how does it look? Are there any glaring innaccuracies? I was thinking of starting a federal officer impression, and this would have been a good start. Thanks.

 

[RedRover]

The tags in the neck are definitely not 1860s.

Externally, it has most of the evident features of the 1860s army enlisted men's fatigue blouse. Notched cuffs. Pocket stitching in front, four buttons, etc. The originals are made of flannel.

http://njsekela.com/reference/cmh/Sack%20Coat%20Article.pdf

 

[captaindrew]

Well the good news is the price is right. The typical sutler row fatigue blouses are the wrong material, wool instead of flannel, the wrong color which quickly fades to a purplish in the sun, and doesn't have any hand sewn features such as the button holes. Here is a side by side comparison of a typical sutler row blouse to a top quality blouse made by Wambaugh and White (top)

 

[captaindrew]

Now if your just starting reenacting in the ranks for mainstream events your blouse will work fine. To do a good officer impression, they were responsible for outfitting themselves, you'd want a private burchase blouse or frock coat. They wouldn't be wearing an enlisted issue blouse. Although I've been asked in the past to fill a Federal officer position and I added shoulder boards to my blouse but I rarely do Federal, especially an officer, and couldn't justify buying another coat.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

I recently bought a Wambaugh and White blouse to swap with a mainstream loaner at Rem Day. I compared the two on the spot, and the difference was glaring. The mainstreamer was not even the right color and was made out of some too-heavy wool. Even in November I was starting to sweat just walking down the street in that thing, and it was unlined. The WW is the best purchase I've made, it's so much nicer and comfortable. Do yourself a favor and go get one.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

I recently bought a Wambaugh and White blouse to swap with a mainstream loaner at Rem Day. I compared the two on the spot, and the difference was glaring. The mainstreamer was not even the right color and was made out of some too-heavy wool. Even in November I was starting to sweat just walking down the street in that thing, and it was unlined. The WW is the best purchase I've made, it's so much nicer and comfortable. Do yourself a favor and go get one.

One of our regular setups is comparing mainstream and campaigner garments, as one of the most common questions I've gotten over the years is, weren't they hot wearing that? There is a glaring difference between wool flannel and just straight up wool.

 

[1st New Jersey Brigade]

I wish that I could decide to be an officer.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

One of our regular setups is comparing mainstream and campaigner garments, as one of the most common questions I've gotten over the years is, weren't they hot wearing that? There is a glaring difference between wool flannel and just straight up wool.

It's amazing the difference isn't it? And the material isn't terrible in winter either. I had a winter camp event a couple of weeks ago and it was enough for most of the day, I did need to wrap myself in a blanket after sundown for a while, but I was surprised.

 

[Dan Kohli]

I do think that Regimental Quartermaster is one of the better mainstream sutler out there. But ultimately getting your hands on Wambaugh, White & co products would be worth while.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Greetings all,

An old reenactor friend is getting rid of a bunch of his old gear, and offered me one of his fatigue blouses. It was free, so of course I took it. It's an enlisted fatigue blouse with 1st Lieutenant shoulder boards sewn on, never worn, made by the Regimental Quartermaster.

I know that Regimental is considered a mainstream sutler, and this is definitely an off-the-rack blouse, but how does it look? Are there any glaring innaccuracies? I was thinking of starting a federal officer impression, and this would have been a good start. Thanks.

View attachment 533321

View attachment 533322

It was free? Roll with it. Using an enlisted blouse and saving your private purchase officer's coat from damage in the field is appropriate. You have something to build on.