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Background
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The Impression
The 2d and 4th U.S. Infantry,
“Sykes' Regulars”, were part of “the Old Army,”
the original 10 regiments that formed the standing army of
the U.S. prior to the Civil War. As such, our uniform and
equipment reflected the pre-war issuances in effect when the
war started. As the war drew on, pieces of clothing and equipment
were replaced as items were lost or wore out.
The primary focus for new members
of “Sykes' Regulars” should be in developing an
early war impression (1862), and as such our uniform and equipment
guidelines are heavily influenced by the pre- and early war
periods. In addition to our basic impression, the unit often
participates in events in which we are required to portray
specific volunteer units related to the event. In such cases
we will follow the uniform guidelines of the event organizers.
Members are therefore permitted and encouraged to add other
items to their impression if they choose, which may be specific
to late war impressions or that of a volunteer unit.
The History
At the outbreak of the war, a dismounted
soldier was permitted to draw $30 per year in clothing allowance.
Should a man’s clothing allowance be insufficient to
get him through that period he drew what he required, but
the extras were charged against his clothing account and deducted
from his pay at the end of the year. If a soldier did not
overdraw his allowance he received the difference in cash.
Clothing lost due to no fault of the soldier, such as in combat,
was usually written off.
Regulations stated that old stores
of clothing would be used up before new items were issued.
Nevertheless, with this constant issue of clothing (and equipment),
some newer items could have shown up as early as they were
made available. In other words, even in 1861 - when the new
uniform regulations were issued - some men would have older
style equipment and clothing and some would have newer styles.
As long as we don’t have any items later than the period
we are portraying, a variety of earlier items would be acceptable.
Clothing allowance for a 5-year enlistment
(Regulations of 1857)
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1 great coat (1 per 5 years)
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2 blankets (1 per 1.5 years)
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11 pairs flannel drawers (1 per 5.5 months)
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13 pairs trousers (1 per 4.5 months)
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15 flannel shirts (1 per four months)
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20 pairs bootees (1 per 3 months)
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20 pairs stockings (1 per 3 months)
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Dress uniform
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2 leather stocks (1 per 2.5 years)
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2 pompons (1 per 2.5 years)
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2 eagles and rings (1 per 2.5 years)
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5 cap covers (1 per year)
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7 dress caps (1 per 8.5 months)
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8 frock coats (1 per 7.5 months)
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Clothing allowance for a 5-year enlistment
(revised Regulations of 1861 and GO 95). (Prices are from
“The Company Clerk” 1863):
- 1 great coat (1 per 5 years) $9.50
- 2 blankets (1 per 2.5 years) $3.60
- 5 forage caps (1 per year) $0.56 (cover $0.18)
- 10 sack fatigue coats (1 per 6 months) lined $3.14, unlined
$2.40
- 11 pair flannel drawers (1 per 5.5 months) $0.95
- 13 pairs of trousers (1 per 4.5 months) $3.55
- 15 flannel shirts (1 per four months) $1.46
- 20 pairs of bootees (1 per 3 months) sewed $2.05, pegged
$1.48
- 20 pairs of stockings (1 per 3 months) $0.32
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Dress uniforms
- 5 dress hats with trimmings (1 per year) total $2.04
(hat $1.68; feather .15; cord and tassel .14; eagle
.02; bugle .03; letter .01; number .01)
- 5 frock coats (1 per year) $7.21
- 2 leather stocks (1 per 2.5 years) $0.10
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The full text of the Army regulations (1861/62)
regarding uniform and equipage can be found here.
The full text of General Order 6 (March 1861) on Uniform and
Dress can be found
here.
A Note on Suppliers
Providing uniforms and equipage for Civil
War reenactors has become a major cottage industry in the past
fifteen or twenty years. There are literally hundreds of manufacturers,
large and small, supplying reproduction items. Known as "sutlers,"
the name given to entrepreneurs who sold basic items and luxuries
to the soldiers, these modern companies often sell their merchandise
through catalogs, internet, and at large reenactments. Like
any other business or industry, there is often a wide range
of quality and in this case, authenticity. But let the buyer
beware. Just because a sutler sells it and claims that it was
copied from an original doesn't mean it really is authentic.
The suppliers listed here are accepted
by discerning reenactors as those producing the highest quality
reproduction items available today. This is not a list of
every sutler that makes reproduction items, nor is it intended
to be. It is intended to let the new recruit get it right
the first time and save money in the long run by avoiding
costly mistakes. If you have questions about a sutler not
listed, please contact members of the unit before making a
purchase. While it may be a reputable company, we may know
something you don't and visa versa.
A Note on Cost
The complete uniform, equipage, and
musket is not inexpensive. However, this is not an investment
you will need to make right away as the unit owns extra equipment
for the purpose of loaning to new recruits. New recruits have
two years to assemble their kits. When you start buying your
gear we recommend that you start in the following order: shoes,
hat, shirt, trousers, sack coat, and then your accouterments.
The sequence for obtain your kit is describe in more detail
at the end of this article. It should be noted that some of
the quality sources can take weeks or even months to fulfill,
however, their quality is often worth the wait for discerning
reenactors.
A Note on Fit
Uniforms produced during the Civil
War came in four standard sizes, marked 1 through 4. While
these garments seldom fit when first used, each Company was
required to have a
tailor
in the ranks to ensure that the soldier’s uniforms fit
properly. Therefore, the clothing you wear should not be too
long or too short, but should look like the Company tailor
has properly altered it for you. Today's sutlers and makers
of repro uniforms mostly use modern sizes, though the fit
can vary from maker to maker. Click
here
for additional discussion on fit.
Recommended Sequence for Obtaining
Your Kit
A recruit has one year to get all of the
Stage I items and most of his Stage II items together, and
a second year to complete his Stage II items and get of his
Stage III items.
Stage I. Basic Field Dress
Clothing
Forage cap
Shirt
Sack coat
Drawers
Trousers
Socks
Bootees
Equipage (War gear)
Musket with sling
Springfield musket tool
Wiper (worm)
Bayonet and scabbard
Waist belt
Cap pouch
Cartridge box and strap
Haversack
Canteen
Stage II: Camping Gear
Cup
Plate
Eating utensils
Pocket Knife
Shelter half
Wool Blanket
Gum blanket
Rain cover (for the forage cap)
Cleaning kit (shoe and clothing brushes, metal and boot polish,
button stick, gun oil, cleaning rags)
Housewife (needles, thread, extra buttons, clothing swatches)
Toiletries (razor, shaving brush, soap, comb, toothbrush,
tooth powder, towel)
Sleeping cap
Knapsack
Great coat
Stage III: Dress Uniform
Dark
blue trousers (get this first because you can still wear it
with the
sack coat)
Hardee hat
Frock coat
Shoulder scales
White gloves
Leather neck stock
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