Uniforms Michigan cavalry uniform questions

[Homeschooler]

I'm trying to recreate a uniform of my ancestor who served in the Michigan Cavalry Brigade (6th Michigan Cavalry) as a major for a class project. I have a few questions about trying to get the uniform as authentic as possible. From the one photograph that exists showing him as a second lieutenant I can tell he was wearing an officer's frock coat with a single row of buttons, but as a major would he have had a frock coat with double rows? He was promoted to major in February 1865 so would sky blue trousers with a yellow cord be appropriate? Lastly, what hat might he have worn?

P.S. I'm a reenactor so yes I know how much this will cost.

 

[major bill]

This may not answer your question, but this is from my data base.

The 6th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment was mustered into federal service in Grand Rapids Michigan. They were raised by Representative Francis William Kellogg, under the authority of the Secretary of War. George Gray became the colonel. The 6th Michigan Cavalry were reportedly issued blue shell jackets, reinforced mounted pants, a kepi and boots.i​ The horses were all purchased in Michigan; Company A received bays horses, Company B brown horses, Company C gray horses and so on. In February 1863 the 6th Cavalry were armed with Colt revolvers and sabers. They were issued sabers, Spencer repeating rifles, and single-shot breech-loading Burnside carbines. The company commander Captain James H. Kidd's first uniform was ordered from a tailor and was of union blue with brass buttons, bright yellow facings and the shoulder straps of a captain of Cavalry.ii​
i Stowe, Mark S., Company B 6th Michigan Cavalry 2nd Ed., self-published, Grand Rapids, 2002, p. 3. Mr. Stowe does not note were he gets this information and the accuracy of his disruption can not ve verified.
ii One of Custer's Wolverines the Civil War Letters of Brevet Brigadier General James, H. Kidd, 6th Michigan Cavalry, Edited by Eric J. Wittenberg, The Kent State University Press, Kent Ohio & London, 2000, p. 11.

Officers probably purchased tailor made uniforms for their first uniforms, perhaps/probably a Michigan tailor. After that they would have purchased new uniforms from a tailor near where they were stationed. So I guess a tailor made frock coat with two rows of buttons. Probably U.S. staff buttons, but perhaps he would have purchased Michigan Staff Buttons. Private purchased sack coats were also popular. These would be tailored made and the tailor would have provided anything the officer wanted. As a major he likely had a frock coat and some form of campaign coat or jacket. Much of what you want might depend on if you want to show him in garrison or winter camp or on campaign. Many Michigan officers opted for tailor made loose fitting, long, five button sack coats.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Don't forget that some men of the Michigan brigade wore red scarves to honor their commander, George Armstrong Custer, who wore a red tie. This earlier post has uniform info: https://civilwartalk.com/threads/michigan-cavalry-uniforms.130617/

 

[RedRover]

I'm trying to recreate a uniform of my ancestor who served in the Michigan Cavalry Brigade (6th Michigan Cavalry) as a major for a class project. I have a few questions about trying to get the uniform as authentic as possible. From the one photograph that exists showing him as a second lieutenant I can tell he was wearing an officer's frock coat with a single row of buttons, but as a major would he have had a frock coat with double rows? He was promoted to major in February 1865 so would sky blue trousers with a yellow cord be appropriate? Lastly, what hat might he have worn?

Regulation uniform of a Cavalry regimental field officer (Field grades, of major, lt. Col. and Col.) included the double breasted frock coat.

Trousers for regimental officers, per the regulations in the war's first year, were dark blue with a branch colored welt in the side seam.

Here's Lt. Col. Copeland of the 5th Michigan Cavalry in the regulation uniform...

At the close of 1861, the Army Regulations changed to require sky-blue trousers for regimental officers.

However, officers were still often found wearing the dark blue trousers... like this Indiana Cavalry officer photographed at Petersburg in 1864 in fatigue dress, with a jacket, etc.

Or a couple of the 1st Mass. Cavalry officers in 1864...

Dress in the field might vary. Many union officers wore a fatigue dress, like these officers of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry in custom sack coats, etc.

Officers of cavalry in the field were allowed to wear enlisted men's sky blue great coats when necessary...

Sheridan's cavalry in 1865...

 

[RaggedAssSecond]

6th MICHIGAN CAVALRY ID’D CAPTAIN’S FATIGUE BLOUSE: CAPT. WILLIAM HYSER, MICHIGAN CAVALRY BRIGADE — Horse Soldier

6th MICHIGAN CAVALRY ID'D CAPTAIN'S FATIGUE BLOUSE: CAPT. WILLIAM HYSER, MICHIGAN CAVALRY BRIGADE

 

[Homeschooler]

At the close of 1861, the Army Regulations changed to require sky-blue trousers for regimental officers.

View attachment 562623
The image cut off, but would the sky blue trousers still have an eighth-inch welt?

Thank you all for sharing such detailed information! I really appreciate it.

 

[RedRover]

View attachment 562623
The image cut off, but would the sky blue trousers still have an eighth-inch welt?

Thank you all for sharing such detailed information! I really appreciate it.

Yes. the welt is the same as previously described. the text cut off just mentions the welt for infantry officers was necessarily changed from light blue (the branch color) to dark blue for the sky-blue 1861 pattern trousers. Cavalry officer's welt remained the same, yellow.

As mentioned, large numbers of regimental officers continued to wear the dark blue trousers, or in the field any trousers.




The regulation hat insignia for cavalry officers, when worn, was as follows...

So the Cavalry officer's hat cord, when worn, would have been black silk and gold, with acorn ends. Something like this...

Regarding their hats, the Army's regulation uniform included a black hat, with ostrich plumes and various insignia. A cloth forage cap for fatigue wear. Union Army officer frequently wore black "slouch hats" in at least a nod to the regulations, sometimes with some of the insignias. J.H. Kidd of the 6th Michigan Cavalry, however, noted that outside of Co. A, the bulk of the regiment never bothered about the ostrich plumes for their hats...

Forage caps were allowed for wear by the officers.. as fatigue wear, but "slouch hats" seem to have been generally preferred.