Trousers?

[LioZac0261]

I was searching for a pair of trousers for civilian/confederate impressions and I found these: http://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/catego...&category=3930.

I'm not exactly sure how historically accurate they are. Could anyone help me?

[Spinster]

Not being fully familiar with the Cowboy Action Shoot hobby, I can't speak to the suitability of these trousers for their intended period, which is post CW.

For the Civil War period, they are too tightly cut, a poor fabric choice, with an outsized waist band and a modern pocket choice.


You'll do better here:
http://www.carterandjasper.com/menswear.htm

Or here

http://shop.originals-by-kay.com/cat...categoryId=91p

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

Mrs. L nailed it - these are not appropriate to the period immediate to or during the American Civil War. You're looking at late 1870's to mid 1890's trousers based on pattern and fit. For "our" period, the waistband is too large, the legs cut too narrow, the buttons are too large, the back belt (although correct to 1860's style) is a bit too long, the hips and rear are not cut full enough.

[LioZac0261]

Thank you all for the replies!

If I were to make cotton trousers for civilian/Confederate impressions, what material would you recommend (i.e. cotton drill, cotton duck, linen, canvas, etc.)? I'll probably find some kind of grey fabric, so it looks remotely uniform.

I understand, living in SC, it was common for Confederate troops and Union officers to get cotton trousers, because of the heat and humidity.

[Spinster]

For a summer wear Civilian impression, a good linen is an excellent choice.

For military wear, mmmmm........no.

We look to represent the common soldier in these uniforms. For the overwhelming majority, that means wool trousers, unless there is a shortage of goods. For Federal troops, wool cloth was in ready supply whether issue or private purchase. For Confederate troops, shortages meant the use of Jean Wool--cotton warp, wool weft.

Some Texas troops and some Alabama troops were issued all cotton twill trousers, but this was a function of shortages, not 'heat and humidity'. It's miserable uniform fabric, cold and wet and chafes the skin.

Unless your specific unit is documented in both location and time to have received an issue of all cotton uniforms, it's a bad idea.

[Ross L. Lamoreaux]

What she said. It was NOT common for CS troops or Union officers to have cotton trousers (although there are images of Fed officers wearing corduroy trousers, they are vastly in the minority). There is some research that showed that cotton trousers were issued or procured by some western states as a stop-gap measure due to the critical shortage of wool and wooljean material, but they were viewed as "last measure" and were not very adabtable to military usage , i.e. they fell apart quickly. Some officers had the ability to purchase cotton trousers, but again, if they didn't hold up to the campaign, they weren't desired. Cotton duck and canvas was used to provide tenting, so there wasn't much of that to go around for general clothing usage, plus it shrunk up tremendously and fell apart rapidly as well. Linen is a good lighter choice, if you're portraying the first couple of years of the war, but flax and linen became short throughout the south after that time. My advice is to go to a lighter weight jean cloth from Wambaugh and White or Ben Tart and wear some nice cotton or linen drawers under them

[LioZac0261]

Yeah, that makes sense actually.

Do you have any recommended wool suppliers? Once again, I want to go with a dark grey, like "Tuscaloosa" color. I'll probably use unbleached muslin to line the pockets/fly.

I already have a pair of "X"-back bracers for my sky blues. Also, if you know of a website with suitable patterns, that'd be great. Preferably ones that are at a 100% discount, if you know what I mean.

[Spinster]

Now, let's expand a bit. I think our poster is trying to solve a couple of problems here. I could be wrong, as I often am so, but based on the type of questions: He'd like to be comfortable in the heat, have a correct item, and maybe not spend so much.

I've seen more than one reenactor in the Deep South grasp at the straw of a few all cotton uniforms, trying to get comfortable. Part of this has to do with what they have seen available in trousers. The run of the mill trouser available on sutler row (often 'skye blues') are made of fabric that is too heavy. Some even mimic a modern cut in the way the trousers are fitted. Thus, they are heavy wool, and made too snug--so they are going to be hotter.

Period cut trousers, loose in the seat, stride, and leg, allow more air circulation than modern cut trousers. Proper weights of wool fabric make these much more comfortable and breathable.

Only during early war do you see much documentation of civilian trousers on troops. If you want to portray that in the appropriate time and place, go for it with a suiting weight linen or a tropical weight wool. You'll have trousers that will do fine in hot weather. Unless something about the impression requires me to wear a cotton dress, I'll choose a tropical weight
woolen dress, winter and summer-it wears better, and breathes better in humidity.

Uniforms are just that--a standard appearance garment. There are a few pieces that can pass for civilian wear--like a pair of dark blue Schuykill Arsenal trousers. Confederate jean wool uniform trousers are more problematic in passing for civilian wear due to issues of class. Jean is an extremely low class fabric---in civilian life, only the very poor would have utilized this fabric.

Essentially, you are going to be more correct (and often more comfortable) by having each impression stand on its own. When cost is a barrier to that, then often the best choice in the long run is to not do the extra impression until you can afford to do so.

[Spinster]

These nice folks will sell you a garment kit, already cut out with thread and instructions. No pattern needed.

http://wwandcompany.com/

[LioZac0261]

Wow, that's really great, thank you!