"Steve Barber's 28mm - CSA in Frockcoats?" Topic

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I like the combo of frockcoats and Havelocks –

Steve Barber's new range allows us to choose specific head types to top the bodies.

He produces "Iron Brigade" bodies in Frock and I wondered if these could be used (after swapping heads) as CSA troopers? I am no expert when it comes to this unit and wondered if there are just too many "Union" features to make it workable.

Any help is appreciated.

The gaiters would be a sticking point among a few other bits. If the models did not the gaiters you might just have to scrap off the Eagle chest plate and the cartridge box plate as well. The belt buckle might work if you just paint it over-coating the detail.

I agree – the big thing would be the gaiters, which I do not believe Confederates used (certainly not above the level of an odd militia company here or there)

For the rest, a little knife work and paint will do

Dang didn't notice the gaiters thanks for the info

Maybe not as Rebs, but you could always use them for Heavy Artillery.

I think it would fine to use these figs as confederates especially for the early war. Plenty of southern units were issued with frock and some with gaiters. The only thing is they soon degenerated to be replaced by a wide variety of uniform. For me thats when it started to get realy interesting the mix of uniform types different shades of grey and butter nut and mixtures of the two. Also the different cuts of jacket you could have frock coats, sack jackets and shell jackets all in the same unit. They also used captured union jackets dyed grey,butternut or even left yankee blue. I dont see any problem with you doing your troops the way you want them some with gaiters to it just applys more to the early war.

PS the buckels etc are not a prob either they knicked that stuff as well if that was better than what they had. They wore union buckels if they had to but upside down it was seen as an insult.

The first conversion unit i can see is berdan sharpshooters hadn`t checked his site for some time looks like he`s been busy still can`t see how to order another unit would be 1st carolina coloured unit

1st Sarg, the mix of early war "pretty" uniforms and the more practical stuff is exactly what I like.

I see not all Steve's Iron Brigade sport gaiters so I may well be able to create a fairly fun unit. Perhaps I should even "Imagineer" details…

"Plenty of southern units were issued with frock and some with gaiters."

Really? Like which ones?

Don

Some of hoods texas brigade were issued frock coats for a start they wernt that rare . If you mean gaiters the zouaves wore them the tigers , coppens.
In any case how often was confederate uniform consistant through whole regiments? this was always up for debate when i was re/enacting. Somebody would come with a photo of one of the regts companys oh they looked like that. what did the other companys look like? what did that company look like 6 months later or even 6 weeks later. So sorry mate if i see a photo of a single man from a single company with a particular uniform im not going to chance my arm by saying that regt wore that uniform. After all theres always going to be somebody to say your wrong.

Dear porkmann
I like the same mix myself i think its a more likly reflection of the confed army considering the surply situation during the war. I dont think gaiters is an issue although mixing in the odd one or two in my eyes is not a prob as i was trying to explain.
Without being there your self how can anybody know exactly how the army looked even im not that old. So nobody can say they never wore this or never wore that. A good old mix looks good to im glad im not doing a yankee army to much same or simaler.

Some states like South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Arkansas (N.C. in 61') all issued frock coats – SC until 1863! Eyewitness accounts say that the entire Louisiana Brigade was issued new Blue-Gray State uniforms of shell jackets, trousers, and white gaiters in Spring, 1862. So it's not that unlikely especially if your troops are for Manassas or similar battles.

On another note it is possible to get a pretty good idea of what these soldiers looked like from period photos, drawings, eyewitness accounts, and period clothing records (QM records located in many State Archives). It is a lot of hard work and research, but it is entirely possible. The newer CS Ospreys are pretty good as well.

There is no doubt Frock coats were issued but apart from Zouaves they generally did not use gaiters.

Thanks guys, i read the same account of the louisiana brigage. I would agree tha gaiters in confederate service was rare but found the implication of never a bit sweeping. I agree the research in this case is hard but it is there from the odd photo or account. As early war regts were often made up of independant localy raised companys there uniform from company to company could be different. The odd company with gaiters dosnt mean the whole regt wore them. But its also not true to say never.

I am curious as to the figure in CS uniform wearing M1839 forage cap. I want to convert some of these gems to MAW but don't see the M1839 Forage Cap, AKA "puff hat" in the list of available heads. I wonder if that was done with putty or if the M1839 is available?

B

I know he does one ive had it in my bags of heads before. why dont you ask him if he would do some im sure he would. When ive ordered my figs from him on the phone ive made suggestions to him about head types and he,s come up with the goods.

We now produce Texas troops in frock coats who also have knives and mixed slouch hat and kepis.