Over Shirts.

[major bill]

Early in the war volunteers from both sides wore over shirts in place of jackets or coats. I have seen many terms used to describe these over shirts.

Over Shirts, Battle Shirts, Fatigue Shirts, Shirt Blouses, and Hunting Shirts are all terms for this type of garment. Specialized types are called Guerrilla Shirts, Miner's Shirt, Fireman's Shirts, Rhode Island Blouse, Rhode Island Shirt Blouses, Garibaldi Shirts, Guernsey Shirts, Wampuss or Waumus, and Plastron Shirts.

I favor the term Over Shirt but others seem to like the term Battle Shirt, is one more accurate than the other? What were they called during the Civil War era?

 

[7th Texas Mounted Rifles]

I've always heard them referred to as 'linsey-woolsey' shirts... A whole lot of Texas Vols wore them in the TMD.

 

[Legion Para]

The Southern Banner [Athens, Ga.], August 6, 1862, p. 4, c. 7

Wanted!

1000 yards country Cotton Cloths, plain, striped and checked;
1000 yards Woolen Linsey for Overshirts;
500 yards " Jeans for Coats and Pants for all which the best market price will be paid in cash.
July 16. I. M. Kenney.



Dallas Herald, December 6, 1862, p. 2, c. 2

We have been shown a donation of 31 pairs worsted socks, 50 flannel overshirts, 2 undershirts, and 6 pair flannel drawers, for the soldiers, made by a lady and her two daughters, in Grimes county. The flannel was all of home manufacture, and the best article of the kind we have seen in many a long day. This donation is worth at least $75, probably $100.—Telegraph.
According to our calculations, the above articles would bring not less than $450.

 

[Legion Para]

Different terms may have been used simultaneously, but in different geographical regions. I will try to dig through my files later this weekend.

 

[Legion Para]

I don't think I have seen a Civil War document, letter or newspaper article using the term 'Garibaldi Shirt', particularly in reference to the uniforms of the 39th New York.

 

[Legion Para]

Expired Image Removed
18-NOV-2007
Garibaldi's red shirt, with medals

 

[major bill]

One of the problems one faces when studying uniforms is what to call a garment. Here in Michiagn I have not seen the term Battle Shirt used nor have I found the term Over Shirt use much. The most common name here is Shirt or Shirt made to be worn tucked in or worn out side. For example the 1st Michigan Three Month Volunteer Infantry Regiment were issued blue"Miner's Shirts" to be worn with or without their jackets. The exact shirt they wore is open to question: Did they wear shirts that real miners in California wear, wear shirts like Michigan miners wore or shirts that the newspaper reporter thought some miner might wear.

The next question is what should I call them if I write an article about a unit that wore these shirts. If I use the period term it might not help the article reader understand what they wore as the reader is more familiar with the modern term . If I use the modern term things become confusing when I quote a newspaper that uses the period term and the article reader might some how think they wore two types of garments due to the use of two terms for the same shirt.

 

[Poor Private]

Mostly the term I have used is "Battle Shirt". In books about Missouri and their guerrilla fighting that is the term I read the most.

 

[Private Watkins]

I have also seen the term Battle Shirt used most frequently with regards to Southern usage, but admit that may be more of a modern than period convention... Lots of great examples out there, but here are a couple of my favorites...

 

[yellowthornoftexas]

Image of a young Jesse James wearing an over shirt, battle shirt etc

 

[major bill]

I have seen the term Guerrilla Shirt used for the type worn by Jesse James. Note his shirt is made to show off his other shirt and tie while most to the rest are made to be worn in place of a shirt and second over shirt.

 

[Legion Para]

The next question is what should I call them if I write an article about a unit that wore these shirts. If I use the period term it might not help the article reader understand what they wore as the reader is more familiar with the modern term . If I use the modern term things become confusing when I quote a newspaper that uses the period term and the article reader might some how think they wore two types of garments due to the use of two terms for the same shirt.

First off, there is no one correct answer to your question.

Secondly, you may have to use different terms when writing about specific styles of shirts. You may have to explain the usage of these terms in the article.

I suggest the following if you have the luxury of time:

--A thorough search of wartime documents, letters and newspaper articles that mention shirts and see what term/terms are used. This search will have to include Northern states, Southern states and Border states.

--A study of the various terms used. The words Raider and Partisan were used during the war. But what about the term Guerrilla.? The term Guerrilla Shirt may be postwar.

Late last night I found seventeen additional wartime references to overshirts. Even though they were describing overshirts, they only referred to them as shirts. Two of these references clearly mentioned NCO insignia being sewn to the shirts. Two of these documents were for Michigan and they used the term shirt.

I will look into this further after the holidays.

 

[Legion Para]

Since you are a member of the Company of Military Historians, I presume you have searched through the journals and the reference book AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPAGE, 1851-1872.

 

[major bill]

Since you are a member of the Company of Military Historians, I presume you have searched through the journals and the reference book AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPAGE, 1851-1872.

Yes not only have I read the the journals and the reference book I have talked to the two gentlemen that finished the book AMERICAN MILITARY EQUIPAGE, 1851-1872 after Mr Todd died, but not on this particular issue. Other authors use various terms and over time it appear the the term "Battle Shirt" became used more often. I do have access to some of the authors of uniform books, but hate to email them too often and in the end they study this kind of thing and may use terms that most Civil War readers might not use.

 

[samuel orris]

I never saw that image of Jesse James before. First thought it was a woman. Sorry!

 

[major bill]

Legion Para I will take your advice. I see Ron Field in his latest book Rally Around the Flag some times uses the term fatigue shirts. This seems to be a fairly good modern term for the Civil War era over shirts and separates this type of shirt form under shirts or dress shirts worn under jackets or coats. In general current authors seem to like using "Battle Shirts" for the Confederacy but often use other terms for the same type of shirts when worn by Northern troops. In the end I will probably go with the term Overshirts. I, like you see the term "shirts" most often used and am starting to wonder if Southerns much used the term "Battle Shirts" during the Civil War.

 

[Package4]

I would ask Les, next time CMH meets, or just email him at the USMA; I'm bringing a few pieces of headgear for him to study next month, but I'm sure you'd like an answer before then.

 

[major bill]

I would ask Les, next time CMH meets, or just email him at the USMA; I'm bringing a few pieces of headgear for him to study next month, but I'm sure you'd like an answer before then.

I have submitted an artillery about per Civil War and start of Civil War Michigan militia unifoms. To keep it as short as possible I used the term over shirts without expanding on the subject. But now I am thinking of a 100 page coverage of the subject to give to the Michigan State Library. Thus I want to use terms that people who are not as well versed in uniform study will understand. Because I have the luxury of more space I can go in to greater depth. If I say an a Michigan company woe overshirts much like Confederate battleshirts it might help the reader understand what the wore. The newspaper simply said gray shirts.

 

[Nathanb1]

http://www.jamescountry.com/battleshirts.html

I have no idea how authentic (or not) these may be....but I see a photo referenced that sounds interesting.

http://www.civilwarvirtualmuseum.or...mpaign/thomas-issac-duvall-william-duvall.php

 

[major bill]

Nathanb1 there was such a verity of these during the Civil War that almost anything might be considered authentic. In some units a church or ladies society would make these up and a whole company would sort of match. In some cases each man's wife or mother would make each man a shirt and the shirts in one company were dissimilar in the extreme. This becomes a problem when one studies uniforms. A bib front fireman's shirt is a battle shirt but so to is a long pleated blouse. In my research of Michigan units the most common term was "shirt" of "shirt meant to be worn over the trousers or tucked in" while the First Michigan Three Month had jackets but also were given "Miner Shirts". I believe the term "Battle Shirt" is popular for Confederate reenact's shirts but have heard the term "smock Shirt" for some Northern reenactors shirts. If I ever do write a non publish book on my research, for the State Library, I am hesitant to use the word "Battle Shirt" but some Michiagn units could pass as Confederate images. Ron Flied in his new book uses the term fatigue shirt and although I like the term is it not in common use today nor was it a term used during the Civil War. Package4 suggests I ask some people at the next Company of Military Historians Convention. which is a great idea. I get to ask question at the Convention for free, but answers often cost me a red pop in the motel bar.