Union uniform regulations

[Flybox1977]

I was wondering if there is any information out there regarding Union Cavalry uniform regulations? Mostly pertaining to the Ny Dragoons uniforms. Were uniform regulations as strict as today's military so that everyone looked the same?

 

[RedRover]

The 1st New York Dragoons, organized in 1863 by the conversion of the 130th Regiment of New York Volunteer Infantry to mounted service.

From their regimental history:

Regimental History of the First New York Dragoons

www.google.com

As the 130th New York infantry, they wore US Army clothing procured from Army quartermasters, including the forage cap, and infantry uniform coats... and common US leather accoutrements... Like worn by Corporal William Manning of Company G in the common forage cap, and infantry accoutrements:

Private Van Velzer of Company B in infantry coat:

This was pretty much the common uniform of Union Army infantry, like these "U.S. Colored Troops":

Also for fatigue wear the four-button fatigue blouses, very commonly worn by Union soldiers in the field. Like that worn by James H. Weaver of Company F.

The forage cap and flannel blouse (or "sack coat") was the common wear in camp and field for the Union Army, like these Maine Volunteers:

As the veterans of the 130th New York testified in their history, in 1863 when they were mounted and reorganized as the 1st New York Dragoons, they were supplied with cavalry arms and equipment, and the common cavalry clothing of the army.

This generally included the same forage cap as the infantry, but instead of the infantry coat, the cavalry uniform jacket, as shown on this Pennsylvania cavalryman and some other photographs:

The jackets were commonly worn by the cavalrymen of the Union Army, though sometimes with the bright yellow trimmings removed or modified, like with these Indiana cavalrymen:

The Cavalry also employed the fatigue blouse on occasions.

Also, unlike the sky-blue woolen trousers of the infantry, the Cavalry's sky-blue trousers were lined on the inseams and seat with a reinforcing layer of cloth...

The Regulations of the Army, describing army clothing like that employed by the 130th NY/1st NY Dragoons, from 1863:

 

[Flybox1977]

The 1st New York Dragoons, organized in 1863 by the conversion of the 130th Regiment of New York Volunteer Infantry to mounted service.

From their regimental history:

View attachment 523326

Regimental History of the First New York Dragoons

www.google.com

As the 130th New York infantry, they wore US Army clothing procured from Army quartermasters, including the forage cap, and infantry uniform coats... and common US leather accoutrements... Like worn by Corporal William Manning of Company G in the common forage cap, and infantry accoutrements:

View attachment 523329

Private Van Velzer of Company B in infantry coat:

View attachment 523346

View attachment 523332View attachment 523340

This was pretty much the common uniform of Union Army infantry, like these "U.S. Colored Troops":

View attachment 523333

Also for fatigue wear the four-button fatigue blouses, very commonly worn by Union soldiers in the field. Like that worn by James H. Weaver of Company F.

View attachment 523328View attachment 523330


View attachment 523331

The forage cap and flannel blouse (or "sack coat") was the common wear in camp and field for the Union Army, like these Maine Volunteers:

View attachment 523334

As the veterans of the 130th New York testified in their history, in 1863 when they were mounted and reorganized as the 1st New York Dragoons, they were supplied with cavalry arms and equipment, and the common cavalry clothing of the army.

This generally included the same forage cap as the infantry, but instead of the infantry coat, the cavalry uniform jacket, as shown on this Pennsylvania cavalryman and some other photographs:

View attachment 523335View attachment 523337
View attachment 523339

The jackets were commonly worn by the cavalrymen of the Union Army, though sometimes with the bright yellow trimmings removed or modified, like with these Indiana cavalrymen:

View attachment 523336

The Cavalry also employed the fatigue blouse on occasions.

View attachment 523338

Also, unlike the sky-blue woolen trousers of the infantry, the Cavalry's sky-blue trousers were lined on the inseams and seat with a reinforcing layer of cloth...

View attachment 523344View attachment 523345


The Regulations of the Army, describing army clothing like that employed by the 130th NY/1st NY Dragoons, from 1863:

View attachment 523341
This is great information. I feel like I could make my own jacket now. Was the anything about placement of shoulder stripes? A certain distance down from the shoulder or up from the cuff?

 

[RedRover]

"This is great information. I feel like I could make my own jacket now. Was the anything about placement of shoulder stripes? A certain distance down from the shoulder or up from the cuff?"



Rank chevrons to be "above the elbow":
So the point of the chevron is just above the elbow.

For making your own..
Best patterns from C.R. Childs.

Chas.R.Childs/County Cloth

crchilds.com

Wambaugh and White and Ben Tart sell the correct cloth, etc.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

Not shown in the photos are the belt pillows for mounted and artillery jackets. If you don't have a pattern don't forget to add them. Here's a view of one I made