Texans in white uniforms.

[major bill]

Tonight I am rereading this article. I still get a kick out of the white cavalry uniforms. They seem so unpractical because they would have been very hard to keep clean nd must have looked nasty within a few weeks. On the other hand the white uniform's would have helped to the wearers cooler.

The article shows 6 uniform drawings of DeBray's 26th Texas Cavalry Regiment. at first they were issued these white uniforms made at the Huntsville Penitentiary. 3 of the 6 uniform drawings show them in white uniforms. Any opinions on if white uniforms were practical?

 

[Stony]

Maybe in the northern snow, but Texas, ahh no.

 

[major bill]

This image of the white jacket of this regiment. Note the Hall carbine. I know what the pistol is, does anyone else know what pistol is shown holding?

 

[Legion Para]

This is the other thread on Texas White Uniforms by @major bill.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/texas-white-fatigue-uniforms.122361/

 

[major bill]

We have discussed this before but I was reviewing the uniforms tonight. I could almost see a Texas Infantry regiment wearing white, but it seems like the extra work done for the horses by a cavalry unit would have made a horrible mess of all white uniforms in short order.

 

[alan polk]

I'm late to all this, and I read the other thread quickly and came back here. I just want to ask those folks here who know about the Missouri Brigade in Vicksburg Campaign: did they not receive new uniforms in Jackson before Grant ever stepped foot on Mississippi soil in the spring of 1863? Or did only a portion of them receive new uniforms? It seems I read this somewhere, and it seems the uniforms they received were rather fancy - with trimming and all. Anyone else recall this, or did I dream it?

 

[AUG]

Thanks for posting more of these. Unless the the men of the 26th were kept under tight control I don't think some of them would hang on to those uniforms for very long, at least not while at home in Texas. It wasn't uncommon for Texans in the Trans-Mississippi to have homespun clothes & uniforms sent from home - much more readily than those stuck across the river - so a hodgepodge of white uniforms and homespun clothing mixed in was probably typical after many Texas units serving west of the Mississippi had drawn these uniforms.

I'm late to all this, and I read the other thread quickly and came back here. I just want to ask those folks here who know about the Missouri Brigade in Vicksburg Campaign: did they not receive new uniforms in Jackson before Grant ever stepped foot on Mississippi soil in the spring of 1863? Or did only a portion of them receive new uniforms? It seems I read this somewhere, and it seems the uniforms they received were rather fancy - with trimming and all. Anyone else recall this, or did I dream it?

The 1st Missouri Brigade was issued new uniforms during the winter of 1862-63, consisting of Columbus Depot jackets, trousers and caps. Its probable that they were issued new uniforms prior to that as well, while encamped outside Tupelo in summer of '62. According to Fred Adolphus, the John T. Appler undyed wool uniform was made in Mississippi in 1862 or '63, so its possible that the Missourians were issued more undyed wool uniforms as well.

 

[Tin cup]

http://adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/uploads/3/4/1/2/34124152/drab.pdf

Kevin Dally

 

[major bill]

Yes I have seen information about white uniforms in Vicksburg. Although white uniforms worn by some Confederates this is not something that is overly discussed. I think most people who study Civil War uniforms know about the white uniforms, I am less sure it is common knowledge. if you showed up at a reenactment in an all white uniform with all you gear wrapped in a white blanket, I thing many people would wonder about you.

 

[kepi]

I think some confederates surrendering at Vicksburg were reported to have been wearing "white".

I believe they were wearing undyed wool. Maybe someone else in here can shed light on it.

 

[kepi]

Would the white Texas uniforms be cooler in full sun?

 

[major bill]

Would the white Texas uniforms be cooler in full sun?

Yes they probably would be, but I have not seen any indication that this was the intent. the cloth may have been left white because the Huntsville Penitentiary did not have the ability to dye the cloth.

 

[kepi]

Yes they probably would be, but I have not seen any indication that this was the intent. the cloth may have been left white because the Huntsville Penitentiary did not have the ability to dye the cloth.

I think you are right.

 

[alan polk]

I know there is talk about a penitentiary making these white uniforms, but I'd also read somewhere that this was a common practice at plantations at the time. In other words, a soldier may look no different than many field hands on plantations. I think I read about that in Confederate Veteran sonewhere. Great thread!

 

[Frederick14Va]

The penitentiary cloth goods was a stop gap measure... not something that saw a lengthy widespread preponderance of issues... It tended to be mentioned more than most since it was quite different and a curiosity over what most others were making or using at the time... Also of note that it is referred to as "white"... but it wasn't a neon linen bright snow white.... it was a natural non-dyed wool... some may have been bleached.. but most doesn't appear to have been... that in majority of cases was a light tannish drab with a very light grey or brownish hue to it... Much lighter in color than your standard fair woolen dyed goods... but not the bright lily white that we tend to picture in our minds by how it is being written about...

 

[Legion Para]

I know there is talk about a penitentiary making these white uniforms, but I'd also read somewhere that this was a common practice at plantations at the time. In other words, a soldier may look no different than many field hands on plantations. I think I read about that in Confederate Veteran sonewhere. Great thread!

I have seen slave clothing which others thought were Confederate uniforms.

Read more about slave clothing here:

http://www.mesdajournal.org/2012/slave-cloth-clothing-slaves-craftsmanship-commerce-industry/

 

[2nd Dragoon]

The group I am with re-enacts the 26th Texas Cavalry CSA and were attired as mentioned below... Since no one was sure if the rest of the regiment was dressed as Col Debray and his second-in-command who is to say nay or yea...

Xavier Blanchard Debray, a graduate of the French military academy of St Cyr, was in the French diplomatic service until his emigration to Texas in 1852. A newspaper publisher in San Antonio before the war, he served as Governor's A.D.C. until commissioned to raise a regiment in Bexar County, with himself as Colonel. The 26th Texas Cavalry, also known as Debray's Mounted Riflemen, was uniformed and armed in a typically French fashion, the regulation cavalry dress having green facings and piping, brass shoulder-scales, and brass numerals '26' on the collars of N.C.O.s and privates. Musicians wore the usual pattern of lacing on the breast, but in the unusual green colour. It is not certain, however, whether this uniform was ever issued to any members of the regiment other than to Debray and his second-in-command. The 26th were armed with Mexican lances with yellow and blue pennons; these were a dubious advantage, and were replaced in October 1862 by Enfield rifles and revolvers. Debray, commissioned Colonel of the 26th Texas on 5 December 1861, rose to the rank of Brigadier-General by April 1864. His regiment served along the Rio Grande and in the Red River Campaign.

 

[Legion Para]

The group I am with re-enacts the 26th Texas Cavalry CSA and were attired as mentioned below... Since no one was sure if the rest of the regiment was dressed as Col Debray and his second-in-command who is to say nay or yea...

Xavier Blanchard Debray, a graduate of the French military academy of St Cyr, was in the French diplomatic service until his emigration to Texas in 1852. A newspaper publisher in San Antonio before the war, he served as Governor's A.D.C. until commissioned to raise a regiment in Bexar County, with himself as Colonel. The 26th Texas Cavalry, also known as Debray's Mounted Riflemen, was uniformed and armed in a typically French fashion, the regulation cavalry dress having green facings and piping, brass shoulder-scales, and brass numerals '26' on the collars of N.C.O.s and privates. Musicians wore the usual pattern of lacing on the breast, but in the unusual green colour. It is not certain, however, whether this uniform was ever issued to any members of the regiment other than to Debray and his second-in-command. The 26th were armed with Mexican lances with yellow and blue pennons; these were a dubious advantage, and were replaced in October 1862 by Enfield rifles and revolvers. Debray, commissioned Colonel of the 26th Texas on 5 December 1861, rose to the rank of Brigadier-General by April 1864. His regiment served along the Rio Grande and in the Red River Campaign.

This old thread might interest you.

http://civilwartalk.com/threads/debrays-26th-texas-cavalry-uniforms.6916/

 

[major bill]

Thank you.

 

[zburkett]

Slightly off topic, I ran across an Orange County, Virginia unit that was issued white pants and red jackets. That would seem to be both impractical and easy targets.