ezza123 | 15 Sep 2014 7:47 a.m. PST |
Is the only difference (speaking here in very general terms) between Northern and Southern Militia dress was that in the North they wore thicker coats and jackets than their compatriots in the South, who seem to have gone for the warmer weather look of light coats or shirtsleeves? Ezza |
afilter | 15 Sep 2014 8:00 a.m. PST |
I would say more slouch hats (Tri-corner/bi-corner pulled down) in the South to protect from the sun as well. |
historygamer | 15 Sep 2014 10:40 a.m. PST |
VA was the most populus state. NC, SC, GA not so much. Northern colonies would wear more wool, southern more linen. Shirt sleeves? I assume you mean with wearing a waistcoat. |
Supercilius Maximus | 15 Sep 2014 12:15 p.m. PST |
That's ok if you're going for a "look" that says definitively one or the other, but bear in mind both theatres had specific periods of the year when it was the opposite. |
95thRegt | 15 Sep 2014 1:01 p.m. PST |
s the only difference (speaking here in very general terms) between Northern and Southern Militia dress was that in the North they wore thicker coats and jackets than their compatriots in the South, who seem to have gone for the warmer weather look of light coats or shirtsleeves? >> The thickness of the wool has no bearing on clothing that was worn. Everyone in the colonies wore essentially the same style of clothes North to South. It got cold down South as well, and hot up North. Slouch hats were also worn in both theaters,as well as light linens. Bob |
ezza123 | 15 Sep 2014 1:46 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the comments. Yes, indeed it could get hot in the North and cold in the South dependent on the time of year (and vice versa) and clothing would change depending on the weather. So, no hard and fast rules on North or South militia dress. Great, that makes it so much easier for me to assemble units to either throw back the Redcoats or rally around to defend the Crown. Ezza |
Supercilius Maximus | 15 Sep 2014 4:32 p.m. PST |
Ezza – to some extent a man's clothing would be dictated by his daily work (more so if he lived in a coastal town or city, such as Boston) and by his wealth and/or social status. Thus, you would get poorer men in the South turning up barefoot and with a minimum of kit/extra clothing. Some would serve in their "Sunday best", others in working clothes; officers would often be smarter than the men they commanded. |
historygamer | 15 Sep 2014 7:04 p.m. PST |
I would not get too mental about north/south militia, unless it is a very specific unit such as the Over the Mountain Men. |
Major Bloodnok | 16 Sep 2014 5:01 a.m. PST |
The differences are going to be more cultural than weather based. As mentioned in other posts you don't see hunting shirts up in NE, nor do you see a lot of smocks. I doubt that many are going to appear in shirtsleeves or in waistcoats, after all we're not savages. What you will see are coats and jackets for outerwear. Hats will be cocked hats (in a variety of cocking), low crowned round hats with narrow or wide brims, possibly even workman's cloth bag caps. Legwear will be breeches, some trousers. Footwear will usually be shoes. Officers may or may not be better dressed than the "ORs" since at company level they were elected. It isn't a given that an elected militia officer is going to be from the "higher ranks" of society. As for gear it would be variable. The militia were extected to arm and equip themselves, as according to law. A common fine I have seen is "in need of all but a gun". Even then some some volunteers that went to Boston had to borrow guns. |
historygamer | 16 Sep 2014 5:58 a.m. PST |
Maryland had a horrible time trying to arm and equip their militia after the British landed there in late August of 1777 on the way to Philly. |
spontoon | 16 Sep 2014 12:03 p.m. PST |
So, it would probably be better to build two units of militia: Summer and Winter, rather than North and South? I do think that the officers would be of the wealthier classes since the main basis for acquiring votes of the company would be how many rounds they could stand in the tavern! |