"Perry ACW for US Cavalry Plains Wars??" Topic

I am wondering whether or not the Perry's plastic figures could be used for US Cavalry for Plains Wars…both mounted and unmounted (infantry)?? I have not seen the internal components in either boxed set, so I was hoping someone on this forum could help me. Thank you very much in advance. I am nearing the absolute and total completion of my very first gaming project, and figured, what the heck, let's prolong this beast a bit more with some US Cavalry figures….
Regards,
Hitman

Don't know about Perry's minis in particular but historically you should be fine using ACW cavalry for at least the earlier days of the "Plains Wars". When troops were first sent out to fight the Indians they had either old muzzle-loaders or muzzle-loaders that had been altered to fire metal cartridge ammo called "trapdoor guns." It was these conversions that were the forerunners of the Springfield breach loader which served the Army up until the late 1800's when the army began to incorporate Winchesters into its arsenal. Same story with the pistols I believe. Until 1874 when the army purchased the Springfield breach loader and the Colt SAA weapons were a hodge-podge of ACW guns and conversions.

ALV

It will depend how picky you are. I think a lot of uniform and kit details will be wrong -the saddle bags are not the correct issue IIRC.

But heck, navy blue coat, sky blue trousers and a slouch hat will pass my inspection any day!

There will be differences in the uniform but I say go for it. They are close enough and you can't beat them on quality/price.

As Extra Crispy says, you should probably give them slouch hats.

Thats what I did with my Perry cav. Slouch hats and pistols and I mixed them in with Artizan troopers. You can't tell them apart until you pick them up and realize it is plastic.

Only one thing though and that is the Perrys come with sabers. Most western cav boxed theirs up while on campaign. I left mine on the figure as the straps were molded on it as well and I am not 100% certain that ALL cav units left their sabers back or boxed them. Only the 7th has it mentioned before the Big Horn campaign.

Either way, I'm not changing them!
Larry

You might want to take advantage of any figures you can get that come with just shirts. I can't recall offhand if Perry gives you that option at all.

Too bad you can't convert the occasional buckskin from a Perry plastic!

Thank you all. I figured the guns and some equipment might be off a bit, but as Pictors said…you can't beat price or quality for Perry stuff!! Do the Perry figures come with Slouch hats?

I would like to get some figures to use for dismounted cavalry as well. Cheap price, but decent figures. Any ideas? I will have to find someone with a boxed set of Perry ACW Cavalry and take a good look at them.
Regards,
Hitman

I agree with the above – the Perry cav will work, ideally with slouch hats and the occasional kepi – you can overlook the sabers

The Perry figs are great but are very ACWish, i.e. they have sabers – the dismounted Rebs are in slouch hats but again some have those danged sabers

RAFM has mounted and dismounted Plains War cavalry – prices are good but the figs are, as I recall, a bit small

rafm.com

Well, it depends on the period. If you are doing any engagements prior to mid-1867, they would be fine. On the Northern Plains this would include Fetterman's Massacre, the Wagon Box Fight, the Powder River Expedition, Carrington's mission to build forts along the Bozeman trail, etc.

In the middle part of the plains you could do the Sand Creek Massacre, Beechers Island, the burning of Julesburg, etc.

On the Southern Plains, you could do 1st Battle of Adobe Walls, the Elm Creek Raid, etc.

In the Southwest, you have Carleton & Carson defeating the Mescaleros & forcing the Navajo onto the Long Walk.

Too many of us think that the Plains Indian wars was a single campaign around the Little Big Horn. There were plenty of engagements in the 1860s where your ACW cavalry & infantry would fit in. The Plains Indian Wars occurred over a period of 80 years with relatively few years of peace.

Elaine has covered it quite well.

Even the sabres are not a problem for the 1860's as they were very often still carried, even if little used. IF I remember correctly, the Perry saddle bags are 1859 single strap models which were in use through 1876. The 1874 Odnance Memorandum adopted a different bag, but very, very few were issued until 1877 or later. They kept using up Civil War surplus.

I now do 1870s Sioux Wars with primarily Foundry. The very best in this period in my opinion, but very pricey. I happened to get most at 20% off before a price increase a few years ago.

However, I intend to add the 1860's Sioux Wars period as well, both in the Powder River country and along the Platte. For this, I will use Perry mounted cavalry. For dismounted cavalry and for infantry, I have purchsed Old Glory Civil War. The infantry are with light equipment.

So far I have been unable to locate mounted infantry figures on horses. Mounted infantry was somewhat common. They should probably not be as effective as cavalry. There shouild be a greater penalty for mounting and dismounting.

Tom

IIRC, the first major uniform change after the Civil War was
in 1872 when the horrible pleated blouse and slouch hat that lost its shape in the first rain were introduced. Perry Cav should work well for the years preceding that.
Count Natokina.

Thanks everyone for your input…provides me with a fair bit of info to mull over…now I would just like to see an opened boxed Perry ACW set in person.
Regards,
Hitman

Tom is right about the mounted infantry. Carrington in particular was short on cavalry & made use of mounted infantry. Unlike the cavalry, the mounted infantry carried the regular infantry rifled musket & not a carbine.

What is ironic in this period right after the civil war is that the regimental bands often had the newest & best equipment.

I say go for it. I mix Old Glory dismounted ACW Cavalry with thier Plains Wars dismounted cavalry, looks fine.
That gives me some in kepi and some in slouch hat. Nice combination.