Worst US Army gewgaw?

[major bill]

What was the worst US Army gewgaw (a showy thing, especially one that is useless or worthless) of the Civil War?

1. The ammunition strap plate. It had no real use as far as I can see. All it did was give the soldier something to polish and possible loose and have to pay for.

2. The ammunition box plate. Same as in #1 except it's weight might help keep the lid closed.

3. The badge on the side of the Army Hat. It was to hold up the side of the hat so did at least have a use. The problem was there was no real reason for the side of the hat to be held up except if it helped to keep the side of the hat from being hit with the musket.

4. Any suggestions for other a showy thing issued to soldiers that had no real use? The pockets in the rear of the frock coats would not have been much use as they were hard to get to. The early war eyes and hooks on the sides of the frock coast so the frock coat could be made to have hammer claw tails at the side of the legs. Perhaps this might have allowed more air flow and ease of marching, but was little used. It also made the frock coat look silly.

 

[amweiner]

Gaiters and shoulder scales were silly looking as well. One thing I disliked about the eagle plate on the box sling was its location: seems like a perfect way to say "aim here".

 

[GELongstreet]

Definitely agree on shoulder scales. Luckily they weren´t issued to most volunteer units and so the only one to care about them were regulars. They were said to be transported, while not worn, collected in a chest on the company wagon and even on that being a real burden. One regular officer practically "lost" (reads: dumped) the respective crate of his company while on campaign and, though having his company constantly being reported to be out of scales on parade and mustering for the rest of the war, clearly regretted nothing.

 

[major bill]

Shoulder scales were one of the military items that were once of some use but had become little more that decorations. At one time shoulder scales would have some use to protect a soldier's shoulders from saber cuts, sort of like a small piece of armor. However all use of this type of thing was of no real use by the mid 1800s.

 

[zburkett]

The whole design of many Civil War uniforms was ridiculous and caused many deaths due to heat.

 

[Chattahooch33]

The whole design of many Civil War uniforms was ridiculous and caused many deaths due to heat.

It was the best option at the time. Wool does not burn which makes it nice for being around cannons, guns, and campfires and it is also extremely durable. Cotton uniforms would have lasted maybe a month.
People then were tough when it came to heat. It was nothing new to them. If it was summer, you were hot and they had been accustomed to it since birth. We know A/C so we have that to compare to when we are hot.

 

[Chattahooch33]

What was the worst US Army gewgaw (a showy thing, especially one that is useless or worthless) of the Civil War?

1. The ammunition strap plate. It had no real use as far as I can see. All it did was give the soldier something to polish and possible loose and have to pay for.

2. The ammunition box plate. Same as in #1 except it's weight might help keep the lid closed.

3. The badge on the side of the Army Hat. It was to hold up the side of the hat so did at least have a use. The problem was there was no real reason for the side of the hat to be held up except if it helped to keep the side of the hat from being hit with the musket.

4. Any suggestions for other a showy thing issued to soldiers that had no real use? The pockets in the rear of the frock coats would not have been much use as they were hard to get to. The early war eyes and hooks on the sides of the frock coast so the frock coat could be made to have hammer claw tails at the side of the legs. Perhaps this might have allowed more air flow and ease of marching, but was little used. It also made the frock coat look silly.

#3 is to prevent the brim from getting in the way when the soldier was at shoulder arms.

 

[James Brenner]

Light artillery saber.

 

[major bill]

W

Light artillery saber.

Were artillery swords of much use except to chop wood?

 

[MHB1862]

Everything Zouave.

 

[Dave Hull]

Definitely agree on shoulder scales. Luckily they weren´t issued to most volunteer units and so the only one to care about them were regulars. They were said to be transported, while not worn, collected in a chest on the company wagon and even on that being a real burden. One regular officer practically "lost" (reads: dumped) the respective crate of his company while on campaign and, though having his company constantly being reported to be out of scales on parade and mustering for the rest of the war, clearly regretted nothing.

Not unlike today, a big ticket item for a payroll deduction was the loss of a scale or scales and they were not cheap. I think many Regulars stayed in because they could not afford to get out, owing the Paymaster so much for lost gear.

 

[Dave Hull]

It was the best option at the time. Wool does not burn which makes it nice for being around cannons, guns, and campfires and it is also extremely durable. Cotton uniforms would have lasted maybe a month.
People then were tough when it came to heat. It was nothing new to them. If it was summer, you were hot and they had been accustomed to it since birth. We know A/C so we have that to compare to when we are hot.

Not sure but I would think some level of thought went into worrying more about cold than hot. A wool uniform insulates much better in cold damp weather than cotton. It is a very durable fabric which dries much quicker than cotton, a plus during those gully washing summer down pours that leave as fast as they come in.

 

[Will Carry]

Didn't Nathan Bedford Forrest tell his recruits to send their swords home and have them hung on the mantle piece? "They will only get in your way out here."

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

#3 is to prevent the brim from getting in the way when the soldier was at shoulder arms.

This is exactly what I was going to do to my brim, except when I looked up photographs of brims being bent, it was on the left side. When at shoulder arms, you are using the right side of your body.

I only saw one photo where a group of me from the 19th Indiana folded the right side of their brims.

Could it possibly be a preference between it either not getting in the way of support arms or at shoulder arms?

 

[zburkett]

Wool is a great winter uniform. I have a repro jacket that I wear a lot in the winter just because it is so comfortable. During the war of Northern Aggression a lot of Yankee boys died because they were unable to cope with the southern summer campaigns (most of them) in wool uniforms. At Fredericksburg wool was a good choice. Not so the Wilderness. That said, I don't think the powers that be gave much consideration to the comfort of their soldiers.

 

[major bill]

Did the tassel on a Zouve cap have any use? Maybe to tickle the neck? Keep flies off your neck?

 

[Tennessee_Mountainman]

Wool is a great winter uniform. I have a repro jacket that I wear a lot in the winter just because it is so comfortable. During the war of Northern Aggression a lot of Yankee boys died because they were unable to cope with the southern summer campaigns (most of them) in wool uniforms. At Fredericksburg wool was a good choice. Not so the Wilderness. That said, I don't think the powers that be gave much consideration to the comfort of their soldiers.

Um no, I wear wool a lot in the summer reenactments and they breathe well.

 

[major bill]

This is exactly what I was going to do to my brim, except when I looked up photographs of brims being bent, it was on the left side. When at shoulder arms, you are using the right side of your body.

View attachment 152794

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I only saw one photo where a group of me from the 19th Indiana folded the right side of their brims.

Could it possibly be a preference between it either not getting in the way of support arms or at shoulder arms?

The images are reversed and the hats are turned up on the left.

 

[Billy Yank]

I've always felt sashes were a bit superfluous.

 

[major bill]

Wool is a great winter uniform. I have a repro jacket that I wear a lot in the winter just because it is so comfortable. During the war of Northern Aggression a lot of Yankee boys died because they were unable to cope with the southern summer campaigns (most of them) in wool uniforms. At Fredericksburg wool was a good choice. Not so the Wilderness. That said, I don't think the powers that be gave much consideration to the comfort of their soldiers.

A bit of an over statement as by the end of the war most Confederates wore wool uniforms made from British cloth. Also Notherners and Southerners do equally well in the hot or cold. It only takes a couple of weeks for the human body to adjust to the local weather.