"Western Theatre Union Uniforms" Topic

On a recent thread a few posters mentioned the need for Union troops fighting in the Western Theatre.
How do their uniforms differ from those in the east? More tatty due to supply issues? More slouch hats?
I assume (probably foolishly!) that Confederates would look fairly similar to their Eastern comrades.
Thanks!

IIRC More Slouch hats for both sides

Slouch hats and sack coats. Currently, not a common combination available from figure manufacturers.

Currently, not a common combination available from figure manufacturers

We do them in luvverly 6mm….

As noted, the Union troops would have more slouch hats than you would expect in the East, although there were still plenty of Union troops with forage caps

The Confederates would be pretty similar to those in the East – one somewhat unique distinction, one of the State depots turned out a number of light-blue trimmed jackets, including ones that were issued to artillery – so some (and I would emphasize some) Confederate gunners in the East had blue trim

I'd like to be able to put together groups that look like these photos:

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The men in idon'tbelieveit's first picture are generally NOT wear sack coats and some may not be wearing coats.(Button counting, I know) The second picture has them in frockcoats. It is the hats that makes these distinctive.

If You use Redoubt 28mm then Shirts, Sacks, jackets and Frocks are available and you can put any of a Gazillion different heads and headgear on them. Don't think any other 25/28mm line does that. Smaller scales 20/15/10 are not so diverse usually, but things come out all the time that are new and maybe there are some new castings that would fill the bill in smaller scales!

I'm going with Redoubt for My troops because they have the head option.

"Confederates would look fairly similar to their Eastern comrades"

Nope. Much more use of light beige colored (butternut) woolen 'jean' cloth in jackets and pants made by the western army depots. Collars and cuffs frequently a medium to dark blue. Some red trimmed jackets made for artillery seem to have been issued regardless of branch of service.

Drill was exclusively Hardee's manual i.e. muskets carried at the right shoulder Union style as opposed to most ANV troops carrying them 'sloped' on the left (Gilham's heavy infantry tactics)

White edged, square Blue battle flags with a white disc bearing the unit name as opposed to the 'southern cross' battle flags in the east

number4

The blue flag you described was the so called Hardee Flag and WAS carried for some time by many units, but several other styles were also used early on. In 1864 a battleflag very similiar to the ANV was intoduced and almost all other styles were discontinued!! The blue Hardee flag style WAS kept by Cleburnes Division up to the end!

I thought the butternut color was degraded gray actully , but I could be wrong there!!

I always thought Old Glory's "First Edition" offered some good options for western theater Federals, at least for 25mm. Look at the "Blanket Roll-Hat" packs. You will also find a mixture of sack coats, shells, and an occasional frock in each bag. Works for me. YMMV.

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Note that the WBS-20 is labeled "Skirmishing-Blanket Roll-Kepi". As you can see from the pic, "Hat" should replace "Kepi".

Drill was exclusively Hardee's manual i.e. muskets carried at the right shoulder Union style as opposed to most ANV troops carrying them 'sloped' on the left (Gilham's heavy infantry tactics)

Good information there – thanks for that, horse.

Those Illinois boys look like they are wearing shell jackets.

They do. There are cases where the frock coat was cut down to a jacket.

What about the Perry plastics???
Only about half the box has frock coats, but there are enough slouch hats for all of them…

"What about the Perry plastics???
Only about half the box has frock coats, but there are enough slouch hats for all of them…"

_None_ of the plastic Perry figures have Frock coats. They have either Sack coats or shells. Oh okay…. well one does for the officer.

Yeah, but for 15mm you are pretty much out of luck on the slouch hat/sack coat combination. There are a few random ones in Old Glory and Battle Honors packs, but only a few poses. You would have to buy and sift through an awful lot of packs to get enough to make whole units out of them.

Uh, Stone Mountain sculpted most of their 15mm Rebs in sack coat and slouch hat. Only issue is that they wear blanket rolls, but many Union troops used those too. Are Stone Mountain 15s still available? I think Musket Miniatures sold them, last I checked.

I thought the butternut color was degraded gray actully , but I could be wrong there!!

You are. The wool is dyed using black walnuts which results in a light tan, almost sandy beige color. Jean cloth has this beige color woven over a natural linen colored thread so the effect is a light buff color.
A few photos of the real thing:
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and
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and
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Well you seem to know better than me about this, so thanks for the info and pictures! Maybe someone else has additional info and opinion they could add too about the butternut/gray origin!!

Painting butternut is tough. Anyone have good suggestions for that?

I think it still gives an overall "grayish" cast. It could be the lighting in the photos or maybe aging, but I see some green in there too. I think it's a hard color to accurately describe, and probably to paint.

I've seen reenactors wearing this, and in the full sun it does look very light in some cases, almost an off-white. Kind of looks like they're wearing prisoner clothing.

I found this site which shows close-ups of various colors of Jean Cloth. So you do have some options on the color.
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I was going to say Baccus, but they beat me to it.

And we still need figures for Wilder's brigade.

I have read that Confederate uniforms in the west (actual government issue stuff) was lighter than in the east (different manufacturers).

IIRC, Wisconsin regiments tended to prefer frock coats.

"Kind of looks like they're wearing prisoner clothing."

This stuff was sometimes made in prisons! Wheeler's command received uniforms made at the Huntsville jail. As for painting it, dry brush a light linen color over dark brown primer (Krylon ultra flat camo is excellent), then wash with the ink of your choice