"Texan uniforms during their revolution" Topic
16 Posts
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| Col Scott 2 | 27 Jun 2008 3:21 p.m. PST |
I am trying to see what uniforms if any a Texas soldier would wear during the revolution from Mexico. Especially those in Gen Houstn's HQ. |
 Wolfshanza  | 27 Jun 2008 4:48 p.m. PST |
Try "Uniforms of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution" by bruce Marshall. Schiffer Military History Book. This covers 1835-1836.
Also "Uniforms of the Republic of Texas" 1836-1846 by bruce Marshall. Also published by Schiffer. |
 Saginaw | 27 Jun 2008 4:57 p.m. PST |
Col Scott 2, there doesn't seem to be any evidence of an "official" uniform that Texan/Texian forces wore during the Texas Revolution. Whatever the volunteer wore and carried, that was his uniform. They were varied, from formalwear to working clothes to frontier buckskins, and it wouldn't be uncommon for a soldier to wear a mix of the above items through acquisition and scavenging. Most would wear hats, too. The only uniformed units that fought for Texas were the New Orleans Greys, and individual soldiers that went AWOL from the U.S. Army at the time they were fighting the Seminoles in Florida. Here's some miniatures examples of what the Greys looked like: picture picture This next photo shows how a U.S. soldier and officer would have looked during this period while on duty in Florida. The rank and file also had an all-white cotton summer uniform, which also could have been used in Texas: link If I can find some more information, I'll post it. Good luck, Col Scott 2! |
| Saginaw | 27 Jun 2008 5:05 p.m. PST |
There's another book to seek out, Col. It's 'Alamo Sourcebook 1836', by Tim J. and Terry S. Todish, and published by Eakin Press. |
| 11th ACR | 27 Jun 2008 5:41 p.m. PST |
Try, link "This wargaming group is designed to encourage friendly discussion about the wars in Mexico after its independence from Spain. Including but not limited to the Zecatas uprising and Texian revolution, Mexican-American War, The Maximillian expedition upto the early twentieth century diversions with Pancho Villa and US Gen. Pershing. The site is an open forum for you to ask questions and hand out answers and advise about the little wars in Mexico, albeit small skirmishes to large battles. Photo; Courtesy of group member Dennis Trout of the recreation of the battle of Palo-Alto using an assortment of 25mm? figures. These wars in and for Mexico offer the miniature gamer many choices. Feel free to discuss and share rules, organizations, uniforms, weapons, tactics, and anything else related to this conflict through the files associated with this site and most of all, share and encourage fellow historians and gamers with a similar interest. That of recreating the battles in miniature of the many conflicts that created the Mexico of today. Let's have a few more pictures like the one shown above from our many members, to add to the site. That way our home page photos can change from month to month. This will visibly show any casual visitors to our site that we are an active and informative group of Mexican wars afficinados……" |
| Jake B | 27 Jun 2008 6:21 p.m. PST |
I think Marshall (see refs in 2nd post) argues that uniforms were designed, ordered, and shipped during the Revolution and could have reached Houston's army in time for San Jacinto. He illustrates the uniforms of several other volunteer units from other US states as well. Most sources insist that nearly everyone except the Greys and US deserters were not uniformed. |
| doc mcb | 27 Jun 2008 6:25 p.m. PST |
Marshall argues that there WERE more uniformed Texians than the NO Greys and the US Army deserters. Quoting from pp. 29-30 of UNIFORMS OF THE ALAMO AND TEXAS REVOLUTION, he lists supplies that had been received by San Jacinto as "867 jackets, 372 pair of pants, 1,550 shirts," etc. "Strength of the army ran from a high of 1,500 on the Colorado to a low of 500 at the Groce plantation, then up to 783 or so at San Jacinto. So, considering that the New Orleans Greys, Alabama Red Rovers, Newport Kentucky Rifles, and the US Army regulars were in their own uniforms, the balance of the rank and file were outfitted more or less uniformly with these components." His accompanying plate of "the common soldier" shows him in white "roundabout" jacket and trousers with straw hat, and a mix of black and brown equipment. I'm a bit confused by his listing the Greys and Red Rovers as though they were at San Jacinto, as of course they were mostly killed at Alamo or Goliad. Sidney Sherman was colonel of the Newport Kentucky militia company, who apparently volunteered en masse for Texas. Sherman was a manufacturer of bagging and seems to have provided his men with uniforms of some sort -- or perhaps they already had them from the Ky militia. One newspaper account (Cincinnati) noted that there were 52 men in the company, but only 30 in uniform. Marshall argues that Houston's force was better uniformed than popular accounts suggest. Splitting the middle, I'd put half or so of the Texians at SJ in some sort of uniform, the rest in civilian dress. |
| Col Scott 2 | 27 Jun 2008 10:02 p.m. PST |
Thank you all. As usual TMP comes through with great answers very rapidly. One of my sons is in a patriotic play as a soldier in Gen Houston's camp when they hear about the Alamo. With what you all have given me and a quick trip to the dress up box, he will look the part. My boys seem to think that I know everything about war, and it is nice to give them reason to think this. |
| Saginaw | 27 Jun 2008 10:05 p.m. PST |
Great to hear and know that we could be of some help, Col Scott 2. Make sure you take LOTS of pictures, as kids don't stay little as long as they used to! And as a side benefit of your question, if you ever want to paint up some Texas Revolution miniatures… 
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 mmitchell  | 28 Jun 2008 1:53 a.m. PST |
Thanks for a very interesting discussion and the resources, guys. My recolection of history was that there really weren't very many uniformed soldiers from Texas. Some, yes, particularly for officers, but most soldiers wore what they had on when they enlisted. My recollections, of course, are those from school book illustrations and some historical documentation. It's nice to have the resources to do some actual research. |
| Rudysnelson | 30 Jun 2008 8:20 p.m. PST |
I thought the Alabama Red Rovers were all executed when their transport was captured by the Mexicans. If not them, then which unit was that?
Thanks |
| FRENZYTNT | 02 Jul 2008 10:39 a.m. PST |
Does anyone know where I can buy Alamo figures (Texian & Mexican) in either 15mm or 6mm? |
| doc mcb | 02 Jul 2008 5:51 p.m. PST |
The Red Rovers were at Goliad, iirc, at least some of them. |
| doc mcb | 02 Jul 2008 5:52 p.m. PST |
link This art shows them at Goliad. |
| doc mcb | 02 Jul 2008 5:54 p.m. PST |
The Alabama Red Rovers, a group of volunteers, 61 strong, from Courtland, Alabama were organized by Dr. John Shackelford in December of 1835. After the unit arrived in Texas it was assigned to the Lafayette Battalion and joined Fannin at La Bahia. |
| Mr Martyn | 24 Jul 2008 1:54 p.m. PST |
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