Impressions Is this uniform accurate?

[ElBraxtino]

Hi, I am just now getting into reenacting after going to the tactical battle at fort Gaines. I am going to portray an infantry private of the 29th alabama company D. (The unit I've joined) And I was wondering if the following uniform I have picked out would be accurate.

The jacket:
From Beauregard's tailor.
The trousers:
From Blockade Runner, I know navy blue pants weren't all too common (especially in the confederate army) but I figured if I'm the only one wearing one out on the field then it'll be accurate.
The kepi:
I found a kepi with a navy blue band that was apparently produced in the deep south. It should be suitable and it goes with my jacket too, neat!



Also, I already have a rifle and her name is Lula-Mae.

 

[captaindrew]

Welcome to the forum and welcome to the hobby! Good choices for jacket and cap but I would go with jean clothe trousers a similar color to the jacket. I would also check with the unit you're joining to see if they have any uniform guidelines.

 

[UnionistMarylander]

Everything looks good, besides the trousers. Your rationale behind wearing the navy trousers is all wrong, I'll leave it at that. I would say get a pair of Montgomery or Columbus Depot trousers, and even a Columbus Depot jacket instead, it would be more versatile for an Army of Tennessee impression. Slouch hats would have been more common, and they keep the sun off your face, but kepis also look much spiffier so it's really up to you.

Welcome to the hobby!

 

[Mississippian1861]

Jacket: I would go with a more non-descript "deep south" style jacket. The DoA is a pretty late war example, particularly those examples with cuff trim added.

Pants: Go with a depot style jeans trousers rather than the dark blue.

Cap/Hat: Cap is ok, but you may want to get a well made hat.

Since you seem to want to do it right, you need to reach out to your unit and see if they have research/guidelines, if they don't, perhaps you may want to look into a different unit (or a 2nd unit, which many guys do) I take it you're out of the gulf coast area?

 

[Manassas 1861]

You should consider using some captured yankee gear in your impression. Maybe a double bag knapsack, or a US blanket

 

[ElBraxtino]

Jacket: I would go with a more non-descript "deep south" style jacket. The DoA is a pretty late war example, particularly those examples with cuff trim added.

Pants: Go with a depot style jeans trousers rather than the dark blue.

Cap/Hat: Cap is ok, but you may want to get a well made hat.

Since you seem to want to do it right, you need to reach out to your unit and see if they have research/guidelines, if they don't, perhaps you may want to look into a different unit (or a 2nd unit, which many guys do) I take it you're out of the gulf coast area?

Yep I live near the gulf coast, on their facebook page they have similar jackets. For my hat I'm having one made by a guy named Russel Osmianski.

 

[Mississippian1861]

You should consider using some captured yankee gear in your impression. Maybe a double bag knapsack, or a US blanket

Lets not confuse the lad, that's getting into "Impressions 201" and another can of worms entirely.

 

[captaindrew]

You should consider using some captured yankee gear in your impression. Maybe a double bag knapsack, or a US blanket

Honestly I think that's way overdone in mainstream events. Shoot, you see half the Rebs walking around in Federal ski blue trousers and Federal accoutrements among other things. IMO if you're going to do a Confederate impression do a Confederate impression and do it 100%. You're right on the blanket though, they were always in short supply and if they could aquire a good US blanket and/or gum blanket they would hold onto them. Other than that I'd keep it all Confederate.

 

[UnionistMarylander]

Russel is

Yep I live near the gulf coast, on their facebook page they have similar jackets. For my hat I'm having one made by a guy named Russel Osmianski.

View attachment 553094

Russel is a great choice, his caps are really affordable and good quality, I get all mine from him.

 

[UnionistMarylander]

Honestly I think that's way overdone in mainstream events. Shoot, you see half the Rebs walking around in Federal ski blue trousers and Federal accoutrements among other things. IMO if you're going to do a Confederate impression do a Confederate impression and do it 100%. You're right on the blanket though, they were always in short supply and if they could aquire a good US blanket and/or gum blanket they would hold onto them. Other than that I'd keep it all Confederate.

It always irks me because they're so close to getting it right. The Confederates certainly wore blue trousers from the Richmond Clothing Bureau, English import, Spartanburg, and etc., but they just get federal trousers instead.

 

[jepridgen]

Hi, I am just now getting into reenacting after going to the tactical battle at fort Gaines. I am going to portray an infantry private of the 29th alabama company D. (The unit I've joined) And I was wondering if the following uniform I have picked out would be accurate.

The jacket:
From Beauregard's tailor.
The trousers:
From Blockade Runner, I know navy blue pants weren't all too common (especially in the confederate army) but I figured if I'm the only one wearing one out on the field then it'll be accurate.
The kepi:
I found a kepi with a navy blue band that was apparently produced in the deep south. It should be suitable and it goes with my jacket too, neat!



Also, I already have a rifle and her name is Lula-Mae.

View attachment 553062

View attachment 553064

View attachment 553065

Looks like this unit did a lot of garrison time. I'd have the kepi for whenever you do pre-1864 events in garrison. Kepis seem to have been much more common for garrison troops. Agree you need a good slouch for events that were in a campaign setting.

Avoid those trousers like the plague along with captured Union gear. These guys most likely didn't have any captured stuff even in 64 when they left garrison duty.

Definitely get a Deep South jacket and trousers. Those probably would cover any 29th activities through the whole war. Those DOA jackets were pretty late war.

 

[captaindrew]

@ElBraxtino here are some articles you might find interesting and may help with your choices. I actually don't think the Alabama jacket is a bad choice, late war yes, but so similar to other Deep South jackets and certainly appropriate to your unit. All CS jackets are time and place specific you can drive yourself crazy with it. What's appropriate early war may not be late war and vice versa. Unless your diving right in to a strict campaigner event that requires a specific jacket I wouldn't get overly picky just starting out as long as it's good quality. Buy good quality first, it will save you $$ in the long run. Here's the articles .... http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/state-of-alabama-quartermaster-uniforms-1861-1864.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....ippi-and-east-louisiana-1864-1865-part-i.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....ppi-and-east-louisiana-1864-1865-part-ii.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....he-cadet-gray-uniforms-of-mobile-alabama.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....e-east-louisiana-mississippi-and-alabama.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....e-east-louisiana-mississippi-and-alabama.html

 

[captaindrew]

I also was looking at Beauregard's Tailor site, haven't browsed around there in a while. I see he offers and earlier war version of the Alabama jacket. Maybe that would be a bit more versatile but again I like the one in your first post too. You're definitely on the right track looking at good quality stuff whichever you decide.

 

[jepridgen]

To add to captaindrew'scpost, definitely go for quality stuff from the start. Looks better, lasts longer even if it costs a bit more. Check out Facebook trade blanket sites also. Clothing by quality makers pops up all the time. South Union Mills also has a Deep South Jacket offering and mule ear pocket trousers that you can get pretty quick.

 

[ElBraxtino]

@ElBraxtino here are some articles you might find interesting and may help with your choices. I actually don't think the Alabama jacket is a bad choice, late war yes, but so similar to other Deep South jackets and certainly appropriate to your unit. All CS jackets are time and place specific you can drive yourself crazy with it. What's appropriate early war may not be late war and vice versa. Unless your diving right in to a strict campaigner event that requires a specific jacket I wouldn't get overly picky just starting out as long as it's good quality. Buy good quality first, it will save you $$ in the long run. Here's the articles .... http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/state-of-alabama-quartermaster-uniforms-1861-1864.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....ippi-and-east-louisiana-1864-1865-part-i.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....ppi-and-east-louisiana-1864-1865-part-ii.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....he-cadet-gray-uniforms-of-mobile-alabama.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....e-east-louisiana-mississippi-and-alabama.html http://adolphusconfederateuniforms....e-east-louisiana-mississippi-and-alabama.html

I probably won't start going to any campaigner events for a while but I plan to go to some one day.

 

[jepridgen]

I probably won't start going to any campaigner events for a while but I plan to go to some one day.

It's a lot easier to do that one day if you buy good stuff now. I do both sides of the hobby, and it never made sense to me to have multiple pieces of kit that you could only use for one or the other. Read and research stuff as much as you can before you buy your own stuff. Nothing wrong with saving up while you use loaner gear.

 

[Kirby the great]

Hi, I am just now getting into reenacting after going to the tactical battle at fort Gaines. I am going to portray an infantry private of the 29th alabama company D. (The unit I've joined) And I was wondering if the following uniform I have picked out would be accurate.

The jacket:
From Beauregard's tailor.
The trousers:
From Blockade Runner, I know navy blue pants weren't all too common (especially in the confederate army) but I figured if I'm the only one wearing one out on the field then it'll be accurate.
The kepi:
I found a kepi with a navy blue band that was apparently produced in the deep south. It should be suitable and it goes with my jacket too, neat!



Also, I already have a rifle and her name is Lula-Mae.

View attachment 553062

View attachment 553064

View attachment 553065

I'd say everything looks good but the pants, just try to replace them as soon as possible, I went close to a year wearing federal trousers before I could finally afford Jean ones