greatcoats question

[Billy1977]

Hello everybody, I was wondering did officers (on either side) in the Civil War wear the same greatcoats as enlisted men or did they have a fancier version?

 

[James N.]

Hello everybody, I was wondering did officers (on either side) in the Civil War wear the same greatcoats as enlisted men or did they have a fancier version?

This has been discussed previously but I don't know where the thread is. Briefly, according to U.S. Army regulations, officers' greatcoats were supposed to be DARK blue with similar knots on the sleeves as on Confederate officers' frock coats, but in BLACK mohair wool braid. In photographs it can be hard to see the black braid on the dark blue sleeves!

 

[Billy1977]

Thanks James N.! That makes sense and explains why in black and white photos I've had trouble distinguishing a difference between enlisted and officers' coats. Black mohair would be hard to see in photos against the dark blue coat. Thanks again.

 

[Package4]

As James N said previously, regulations required officers to wear dark blue to distinguish themselves from the ranks, but in reality, this changed rather quickly. Many line officers obtained overcoats similar to enlisted men as not to stand out to the enemy, this pertained to gold braid on kepis, large shoulder straps and any other conspicuous indication of officer rank. Front line officers became very savvy as their experience grew, of course this did not pertain to all, but a study of extant uniforms and pictures shows that, if the officer wanted to increase his chance of survival, inconspicuous was the way to go.

I have a captain's overcoat and it is a federal issued enlisted man's greatcoat, though he did customize it by removing the cape. The piece came out of the famous Stamatelos collection.

 

[Frederick14Va]

As mentioned by others regs are a good base line reference point, but in reality what was obtained or actually used in the field tended to vary greatly...

Some of the early war state issues vary also... here we find an Enlisted Ambulance driver wearing a dark colored Great Coat..

Captain in the 35th Mass, wearing an Enlisted GC

Officer versions can be found in a wide array of variations... buttoned up or rope/frog closures... with and without cape... with or without trimmings or sleeve rank braids...

 

[Bryan_C]

Hello everybody, I was wondering did officers (on either side) in the Civil War wear the same greatcoats as enlisted men or did they have a fancier version?

I think most officer overcoats tended to be private purchase.

And this is in interesting great coat for this enlisted man because it's dark blue like an officer's coat. I understand some federal overcoats came in different colors than sky blue.

 

[Package4]

I think most officer overcoats tended to be private purchase.

And this is in interesting great coat for this enlisted man because it's dark blue like an officer's coat. I understand some federal overcoats came in different colors than sky blue.

Many states issued their own overcoats early in the war and many were in black and dark blue, this changed as the federal government's clothing depots were able to catch up with the demand. Reading diaries and looking at pictures of officers in the field, you will see an increasing number of references and pictures of line officers dressed very similarly to their troops.

Rank straps became less conspicuous, braid on kepis went from gold to black, metal collar bars began appearing, frock coats were packed away and private purchase sack coats took their place. I'm not saying that all officers did this, but the numbers were significant with line officers. Confederate forces had sharpshooter battalions and companies, who were instructed to remove leadership where possible.