"Union Infantry in FROCK Coats" Topic

I want to paint up a heavy percentage of my federal infantry in frock coats (Solely because I like to LOOK of them better than sack coats). Is there a particular campaign/battle/time period/theater you gents would recommend to make it at least SOMEWHAT plausible historically?

Thanks as always,

Chris

I would think there would be a higher percentage of them in 1861, but they continued to be issued and used throughout the war.

Early War

Eastern Theatre

Iron Brigade (I have 5 regiments in frock coats and Hardee hats)

Did US regulars continue to wear the frock coat?

If so, there are some brigades made up of US regulars.

True about the Iron Brigae and I THINK that the U.S. Regulars wore them at least later on into the war….But is it kosher to mix them in with sack coat sporting line infantry?

I'd have to do some digging, but I think if you checked out some of the photographic histories of the war you'd see pretty extensive use of the frock coat. Of course, that doesn't tell you that they wore them in the field. I'm sure there was some mixed use just as the regular issued uniforms wore out before replacement. Union troops in the field could get pretty raggedly looking (food and ammo transported before new uniforms.)

What percentage are you talking about? The Iron Brigade were first known as the Black Hat Brigade and stood out because they wore the dress uniform in full.

Bill

Actually Union Gen. Burling's entire brigade wore them at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. They wore Forage caps but they did NOT wear gaiters.

By Antietam the Regulars no longer wore Frock coats.

Also there are numerous photos of all NCO's in a regiment wearing Frock coats while the privates wore Sack coats, even out West.

I'm talking specifically about Perry Miniatures' catalog # ACW 34: Union Infantry in frock coats, forage caps and back packs- Advancing with shouldered arms. These figures are wearing trousers, not gaiters….I just have one 6-figure pack of them, but I love the look and the way they're painting up….I wanna use 'em for mainstream federal regiments… I'd like to do at least a brigade's worth….

Yeah… Burling's brigade. I already posted that.

Burling's Brigade would work…..Would it be appropriate to mix sack and frock within the same REGIMENT, or would the regiment be uniform as to coats?

asgard636,

Yes, it would be perfect to mix them. Burling requested a huge resupply of Frock coats after the battle of Gettysburg in his brigade quartermaster report. They wore out their Frock coats and in the middle of the campaign had to settle for Sack coat replacements. They probably had mostly Frocks (as seen in their photos) but no doubt he wanted a more uniform look again. I would guess they did get a full replacement in the Bristoe Campaign and Mine Run campaign.

Good scoop, thanks!

Some units were given a choice as to what to wear in the beginning of the campaign season. Given the choice,I'd choose the sack coat EVERY time. The frock is much more from fitting and restrictive. Try wearing one on a 95 degree day!Even Berdans Sharpshooter regts put them in storage later on for blue sack coats.
Sure frock coats "loo" cool,but if you have to wear them on the march and in battle on hot summer days,they're not so neat then..

Bob

Bob,

YES! I've worn it for a loooong hot weekend once and couldn't wait to get back onto the company street and strip it off. It is nice for cool weather though. :)

I remember reading something about the entire 3rd corps favouring frocks with forage caps and white canvas gaiters…Maybe in Troiani's book on ACW regiments??? The men were given the choice of wearing the dress coat/Frock or the fatigue coat/sack coat in the field. Some like New Englanders seemed to favour frocks more than sack coats.

There were no contracts issued for Frock coats in '64 or after. But you could paint them as Heavy Artillery.