Officers trousers

[Billw12280]

Hello everybody,

We all know Civil War trousers are a rarity and costly when they are offered for sale. I would love to find a pair that is in my price range but sadly that will probably never happen. So I think I found the next best thing in a couple of pairs of post ACW officers trousers. My question is what are the main differences between these trousers and actual ACW era trousers? Can anybody help pinpoint a model year for these pants from the pictures? The lighter blue pair definitely looks older than the darker pants. The lighter blue pair has a buckram stiffener in the waistband. The dark blue pair has bone buttons and 2 waist adjustment buckles on the sides of the trousers. I can provide more details later if anybody is interested.

 

[Package4]

Are you looking for the differences between IW officer's trousers and ACW officer's trousers, if so there was no real specification for ACW officer's trousers since they were privately purchased and various tailors had their own patterns and methods. I have four sets of officer's trousers and all are different. The ACW enlisted trousers are roughly to specification as they were inspected by the various arsenals and have largely the same characteristics. Let me know and when I get time I'll post pictures of each, I was lucky to pick up a pair of enlisted from the Stamatelos collection some years ago.

 

[Billw12280]

Are you looking for the differences between IW officer's trousers and ACW officer's trousers, if so there was no real specification for ACW officer's trousers since they were privately purchased and various tailors had their own patterns and methods. I have four sets of officer's trousers and all are different. The ACW enlisted trousers are roughly to specification as they were inspected by the various arsenals and have largely the same characteristics. Let me know and when I get time I'll post pictures of each, I was lucky to pick up a pair of enlisted from the Stamatelos collection some years ago.

Thank you, I wasn't thinking about the officers trousers being privately purchased. Did enlisted officers purchase their own uniforms as well? I think the lighter pair is for a sergeant based on the width of the leg stripe. The dark pair is narrower so I think they were for a corporal? I would love to learn more about the enlisted trousers.

 

[Package4]

Thank you, I wasn't thinking about the officers trousers being privately purchased. Did enlisted officers purchase their own uniforms as well? I think the lighter pair is for a sergeant based on the width of the leg stripe. The dark pair is narrower so I think they were for a corporal? I would love to learn more about the enlisted trousers.

When you say "enlisted officers" are you referring to non-commissioned?

 

[Package4]

I would also pick up Army Blue and More Army Blue by Langellier, he goes over the uniform regulations and differences.

 

[Billw12280]

When you say "enlisted officers" are you referring to non-commissioned?

Sorry yes NCO'S.

 

[Billw12280]

For some reason I have become fascinated by trousers. Weird, right? I just bought a pair at the Mansfield Ohio Civil War show. The color is very bright blue unlike any I have ever seen, I guess it's possible they are not military but they were cool and I had to buy them. They have a patent date on the belt adjuster of 1888 so they are definitely after that but I thought I would share them. I have also added a picture to show the difference in colors.

Let me know what you think.

 

[Package4]

I think those are sweet and military, they are to the 1881 regulations that call for a 1-1/2 inch stripe of the branch color, except infantry which would be dark blue, a fine acquisition. Is the seat reinforced?

 

[Billw12280]

I think those are sweet and military, they are to the 1881 regulations that call for a 1-1/2 inch stripe of the branch color, except infantry which would be dark blue, a fine acquisition. Is the seat reinforced?

Thanks @Package4! Unfortunately no reinforcement in the seat. I also just realized the stripes appear yellow in the pictures. They are actually a buff/white color. I wish they were cavalry trousers though. I did find a nice pair of Indian War cavalry trousers with the thin yellow welt in the seam but the seller wants $4500.

 

[Billw12280]

I just reread Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment: The US Army on the Frontier 1880-1892 section on trousers. It says the Quartermaster General approved the change to white linen webbing for NCO infantry striping on October 23, 1884. It also states linen webbing was found to be unsuitable so the NCO infantry stripes were changed to a white woolen cloth on August 24, 1887. My pair has the white wool cloth so it coincides with the 1888 date on the belt adjusters. So, thanks to @Package4's info the pants are 1881 pattern made post 1888 with the new colored striping.

I took the other trousers with me and spoke to James Mountain who said he felt the light blue pair were probably 1872-1880 pattern.

With this new information the dark blue "saxony?" colored pants must then be prior to 1884?

 

[Package4]

This might be right up your alley:

https://historical.ha.com/itm/milit...6188-53070.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

 

[Billw12280]

This might be right up your alley:

https://historical.ha.com/itm/milit...6188-53070.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

Now that is a lot of trousers. I may try to win those! I can just imagine my wife's response.

 

[Package4]

Now that is a lot of trousers. I may try to win those! I can just imagine my wife's response.

Tell her she can have a pair....

 

[Billw12280]

Tell her she can have a pair....

I like that idea...

 

[Billw12280]

I may have an addiction, I caught the collecting bug and can't stop buying uniforms. I just acquired a sweet pair of trousers that were sold to me as late Indian War trousers, though I think possibly early Indian Wars? They are really neat and will display nicely in my collection. This pair of trousers has the 1/8th inch black wool welt down the leg seams and a 5 button fly. The backing material on the waist belt and the fly closure is a polished brown cotton. The brass buckle on the waist belt reads "Patent 1855". There are 2 front pockets with a watch pocket at the upper waist band and two back pockets (which may be a later addition?). The pants are a combination of machine sewn and hand sewn throughout with hand sewn buttonholes. The buttons are "japanned" tin. The interior waistband lining has two different weave patterns? that give the appearance of stripes. There are several areas of possible "field" repairs that give these pants character. You can tell these trousers were well used but are still in nice condition overall. Thoughts?

 

[zburkett]

Really nice collections with good information. Thanks to all of you.

 

[Package4]

Very nice pick up, I agree that they are not late, most likely mid IW, rear pocket construction is the tell tale.

You are amassing quite an impressive collection!

 

[Billw12280]

Very nice pick up, I agree that they are not late, most likely mid IW, rear pocket construction is the tell tale.

You are amassing quite an impressive collection!

Thanks @Package4! I think I found my niche in uniform collecting. I still have a lot to learn but I really enjoy the research and the hunt.