"ACW Trans-Mississippi (Uniforms)" Topic

I would like to do some Trans-Mississippi units in 28mm and was wondering about how uniform they would have been compared to the ANV or AOT. What ACW figures would probably be best to use (28mm)? Should I include Indian units or Quantrill raiders as well? Any comments, recommendations, painting tips, etc are welcome.
Thanks,
Bob

Indians weren't really a big factor in ACW battles. They tended to disappear at the cannons first roar, which is probably pretty smart considering what happens when you don't. The union folks probably looked fairly close to all the other union folks. The rebs might have been a bit more "ragged." I have no Indians and no Quantrill, nor any other type of raider. They have limited use. I like to game the Trans – Miss and Western theaters.

Foundry had a range of troops for the Trans Mississippi. This included Indians and other folks of the Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Okalahoma territory wars.

There are a couple guys at HMGS-HA who are pretty knowledgable about this area of the war. They put on convention games with all the troops in the right uniforms and flags.

There's a couple of Ospreys on the subject.

The more irregular you are, the more irregular you look, and the Trans Mississippi had some of the most irregular units in the entire ACW. There were also scads of fairly "normally" dressed and equipped units on both sides also. It just depended on what you were and where you were. The CSA had a system of bringing the more trained and well organized units over the river to join up with various CSA field forces, and this was almost always a permenant transfer! What was left behind, over time ,got less and less "normal" in kit, organization, and quality. The USA had a much more standard look, with a few exceptions!

You have, as noted, a lot of lattitude in dealing with the Trans-Mississippi theatre – while the Rebs were often very irregular, the Union had some units that also had a rough and ready look, like the Kansas Red Legs

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FWIW, here's an image of some Maine indians serving with the 7th Maine AoP. They are dressed and armed like everyone else their only notable difference being their complexion and facial features.

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Note, too, the M1841 rifles with sword bayonets, and the men wearing the M1855 rifleman's belt and cap box, but with the cartridge box and sling issued for rifle-muskets.

V/R

The Confederates were more standard than you might think.
Trans-Mississippi Confederate Uniforms:
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lazyjacks.org.uk/shirts.htm
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