Generals' distinctive clothing

[Pollaco]

He's right ,nothing in that picture of Grant way back on post #1 depicts a private.

 

[Bentonville]

What is it about Grant's uniform was that of a "private?" I don't know any privates that wore double breasted frock coats with buttons in groups of three. (not to mention the shoulder straps with stars)

I think it's not so much a photograph thing as it was an everyday thing. Grant was savvy enough to cater to reporters 'needs'.

Personally I don't think it was anymore than a not getting shot sort of thing.

 

[Stryker65]

What is it about Grant's uniform was that of a "private?" I don't know any privates that wore double breasted frock coats with buttons in groups of three. (not to mention the shoulder straps with stars)

I meant more like "private soldier", as in "not a general", not flaunting his rank about

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

The gloves that Thomas Crittenden wears I'm his Brady portrait have always stood out to me.

 

[jackt62]

General Hancock favored wearing white shirts.

 

[PrivateBrooke]

Grant never dressed "like a private soldier" or "un-officer like." He wore a private purchase officer's sack coat, much like many other officers of varying rank. It was definitely a tailor made to fit him coat, and nothing like a depot issued enlisted coat in trim or fit.

 

[infomanpa]

I meant more like "private soldier", as in "not a general", not flaunting his rank about

Sorry, I still don't get your meaning in light of your statement, "General U. S. Grant wore a private soldier's uniform." There is no aspect of a "private soldier" in this photo. He is plainly wearing a general's uniform.

 

[HomegrownYank]

Sorry, I still don't get your meaning in light of your statement, "General U. S. Grant wore a private soldier's uniform." There is no aspect of a "private soldier" in this photo. He is plainly wearing a general's uniform.

I think it's a photo issue. Outside of photoes (everyone dressed up for the photos obviously), soldiers and officers who served under him often remarked on grant dressing simply - private purchase sack coat, sky blue trousers, undressed hardee, and all looking rather dingy. And famously, at Appomattox he stood in a depot sack coat and mud splattered boots while Lee was dressed to the nines. He was also known in the "Old Army" for not taking care of his personal appearance, which nearly got him kicked out of west point, and might have hhelped in getting him discharged. I think this is what OP meant, at least.

 

[Pollaco]

I seriously doubt it but I'll ask anyway, were privates sack coats anymore comfortable or warmer than General's double breasted coats?

 

[nc native]

A lot of generals had distinctive clothing during the war that specifically identified them, or set them apart from other generals. Here are a couple that I've come across:

1. General U. S. Grant wore a private soldier's uniform (@RedRover did a thread on him)
View attachment 495119
2. General F. C. Barlow traditionally wore a "checked flannel lumberjack shirt":
View attachment 495120
3. General M. K. Lawler famously wore a checkered shirt with the sleeves rolled up at Vicksburg, I can't find a picture of him in that though...
4. General D. H. Maury was nicknamed Puss in Boots since he (a small man) wore gigantic cavalry boots (no picture either)
5. General G. A. Custer always wore the gold lace in his hat and uniform, and the red bandana as a scarf:
View attachment 495122

What are some other famous ones?

The Confederacy also had a general who earned the nickname Puss in Boots. Brigadier General Montgomery Corse earned that nickname because of the high boots he wore on his short legs.

 

[Stryker65]

The Confederacy also had a general who earned the nickname Puss in Boots. Brigadier General Montgomery Corse earned that nickname because of the high boots he wore on his short legs.

General Maury was also a Confederate general. I don't believe they ever served in the same theater though...

 

[jepridgen]

I seriously doubt it but I'll ask anyway, were privates sack coats anymore comfortable or warmer than General's double breasted coats?

They were certainly more comfortable and loose fitting. As far as warmth, most coats were lined which probably meant there wasn't a ton of difference except that the frock covered more area. Grant wore a private purchase sack coat often which is entirely different in that it was made to fit how he wanted it, and it was of much better quality. I suspect his sack coat was superior in comfort to his frock particularly where loose fitting apparel was desirable.

 

[Pollaco]

A tailor made sack coat?

 

[jepridgen]

A tailor made sack coat?

Yep, he went to a tailor (no idea who) and had one made. Officers paid for their own uniform on both sides. CS officers seemed to be more partial to frocks, but they also had jackets and sack coats made. Federal officers seemed to be very pro sack coat with less jackets at least in the infantry. CS officers sometimes purchased enlisted depot jackets depending on availability of private options. That was rarer for federal officers.

 

[Pollaco]

Didn't both sides have regulations as to what could and couldn't be worn?

 

[jepridgen]

Didn't both sides have regulations as to what could and couldn't be worn?

They did have very detailed regulations. The higher they got in rank, the more they stretched them. Officers were authorized field options like the sack coat and eventually even "subdued" rank. Subdued just meant smaller and not necessarily a shoulder strap. I can't remember if CS regulations had a jacket option for officers or not. Seems like they put in more effort to have frocks, but they often ended up with jackets and even sack coats.

Fed officers ended up adding pockets or shortening their sack coats. Some added velvet collars or had coats that were virtually frock length. Some just stuck with a frock. They just had to be right shade of blue.

 

[RedRover]

Didn't both sides have regulations as to what could and couldn't be worn?

Yes. and these regulations allowed for the wear of the regulation uniform, as would be worn on formal occasions and on parade, as well an "undress" for particular occasions. There was also allowance for a "fatigue" dress. However, if one reads carefully, there is not much specific to dress in the field or on the march. US troops generally just wore their fatigue dress on the march, etc.

Union officers generally often dressed informally in the field, taking their cues from the higher ups. Like army commanding general McLellan, who wore a sack coat cut and trimmed something like a regulation uniform coat... but without the black velvet collar/cuffs, etc., and with side pockets...

As commanding General in '64-'65, Grant wore his uniform coat unbuttoned, and in the last just a plain citizen's sack with shoulder straps...

And from 1864 officers in the field could dispense with regulation rank insignia...

General Orders 286 November 22, 1864

Officers serving in the field are permitted to dispense with shoulder straps and the prescribed insignia of rank on their horse equipments. The marks of rank prescribed to be worn on the shoulder-straps will be worn on the shoulder in place of the strap. Officers are also permitted to wear overcoats of the same color and shape as those of the enlisted men of their command. No ornaments will be required on the overcoat, hats or forage caps; nor will sashes or epaulets be required.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR

The references to the sashes etc. is interesting, as according to Winfield Scott Hancock, writing to the Gettysburg cyclorama painters, the sashes weren't worn in the field generally by Gettysburg, over a year before the army "officially" allowed for them to be dispensed with for the purpose. (see Union Uniforms at Gettysburg, by Thomas Publications).

Here's some Union officers in the west prepared to march...

On the Southern side, for example, in mid-1862, the Confederate War department ordered that all officers in the field should wear less conspicuous "fatigue dress," including uniform coats without all of the rank insignia, or "jackets" (without specifying the type, whether long, short, standing or falling collar, etc.)...

The officers frequently wore slouch hats like the men in lieu of any kind of regulation cap...

General Lee at Gettysburg is described as wearing his uniform coat on the early morning of the second day, but otherwise dressed informally in a long gray jacket... identically to a country farmer by several accounts.

 

[jepridgen]

Lee was well known for his sack coat with three stars of colonel from his pre-war permanent rank. He rarely wore actual general rank.

 

[Pollaco]

The black plume in JEB Stuart's hat was certainly a trademark.

I think General J.O. Shelby wore a black plume in his hat as well.