"War of 1812 Americans" Topic

I can't seem to get a definitive answer as to trouser color for American infantry in the War of 1812,gray,or white? And not overalls,the loose trousers like the British wore.

Bob

The Osprey I have shows a number of regiments in white trousers. Though another is in blue, and yet another is black.

I think white is a safe bet: picture

Ugh,I hate painting white trousers! I can never get the shading right..

Bob

Regulation was blue in the winter, white in the summer. But blue cloth was in short supply, so grey and brown cloth was widely used, especially with the grey round-about 'fatigue' uniform that was issued mid-war to many units, such as Scott's brigade.

Regulation was blue in the winter, white in the summer. But blue cloth was in short supply, so grey and brown cloth was widely used, especially with the grey round-about 'fatigue' uniform that was issued mid-war to many units, such as Scott's brigade.
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Yes,but I believe the blue,and black,and brown were meant for overalls. I'm talking about later on 1814/15 when most were in trousers.
i'm doing white anyway//:-(

Bob

In the South, the gray winter trousers were made of course wool or a thick canvas accordign to one account. The units in the Creek War wore their blue winter unifrom for those battles.

In the 1814-15 period there were still shortages of blue and green cloth. Gray cloth overalls & sleeved waistcoats and then coatees (the thinking that an all gray uniforms was better than a mixture of blue coat and gray overalls) were authorized and produced. Most of the American units in the 1814 Niagara campaign managed to get blue coatees and white trousers except for Scott's brigade (Gen Wilkinson diverted Scott's brigade uniforms to his own command), which wore the gray "woolen round abouts with sleeves" the short tailess coat and gray overalls.
As has been metioned, in the south US regulars wore blue coats with white cloth or linen trousers.
Source: Uniforms and Equipment of the Unitted States Forces in the War of 1812 – Rene Chartrand, p 42-44.

OFFICIALLY, blue for the winter, white for the summer. dye problems saw lots of variations on grays, and browns as subtitutes for official pants colors.

also remember that some troops also wore the dirty white "summer uniform", too. this could actually look gray'grey but was actually "white".

DAWGIE