Michigan cavalry uniforms? Custer's men.

[major bill]

Being from Michigan I have some interest in Michigan Civil war uniform. This is an older Military Uniforms in America series. Sorry about the poor job my scanner does on 11x14 inch scans. So what about the uniform of the Quartermaster sergeant on the right? This is not a common mounted man's jacket. How common were mounted jackets with fall collars (corporal 5th Michigan Cavalry). Would the mounted jacket have been made with a fall collar, or would this be a field modification?

 

[Lampasas Bill]

I've seen photographs of soldiers in mounted jackets with the standing collar folded down, showing none of the yellow trim. I suspect the standing figure on the right with the unusual jacket was based on a photograph. I still have the text that goes with this plate, so I'll see if I can find it and get back to you.

 

[major bill]

I don't think I have the printed text, but would in the Journal that had this.

 

[Kurt G]

I know some cavalrymen , especially later in the war , wore infantry sack coats , but they wouldn't have that many buttons .
I did find a similar jacket on the statue called "The Picket" in Hanover , Pa . There are a few issues with this . Probably should be called "The vidette" and there is an issue with one of the weapons . I always thought the sculptor used a post-war jacket on the trooper , but it sure looks similar to the illustration . Could both be wrong?

 

[Kurt G]

Forgot the image

 

[Lampasas Bill]

Found it. Here's the part of the text for the plate dealing with the uniforms:

"Custer's 'Wolverines' largely wore the Union Army's regulation cavalry uniform . . . . But as in other volunteer organizations, officers tolerated a certain amount of individual expression in their men's dress. Quartermaster Sergeant Sam Brownson of the 5th Michigan cavalry sported a plain jacket with no trace of yellow braid. After Trumpter John W. Cunningham enlisted . . . he received a rather unique musician's jacket. The collar was cut shorter than usual, while the cuffs bore no yellow lace and each was closed by four brass buttons--rather than the normal two. Cunningham also had yellow stripes half an inch wide along the outer seams of his trousers. The Michigan Brigade's most conspicuous article of dress was the red necktie which all ranks adopted out of admiration for the flamboyant Custer [who wore one]. Philip Laboe, the brigade's forage master, proudly posed for a photograph in a zouave-style jacket and a Custer tie."

A footnote states that "this plate is based mainly on photographs in private and public collections and the eyewitness sketches of two Civil War combat artists, Alfred R. Waud and Edwin Forbes."

The text was by Dr. Gregory J. W. Urwin, who authored a book about Custer's Civil War career, and the artwork was by Clyde A. Risley of Imrie/Risley Miniatures fame.