"confederate cavalry kepi colour?" Topic
9 Posts
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dualer | 07 Dec 2014 11:34 a.m. PST |
With the great news that Renegade Miniatures are back on the scene, I have the bit between the teeth and want to get my Confederate cavalry painted up. Can anyone advise me on the "correct" colour for their kepi colour. My sources say grey with a yellow cap band, plain grey, a blue cap band with yellow cap or yellow cap band and yellow cap. I realise that pretty much any of the above are correct, but would like some guidance! |
stdiv62 | 07 Dec 2014 11:45 a.m. PST |
Initially it was grey with a yellow band on the lower edge and then in early '62 it was switched to a yellow body with a a dark blue band. But eventually a plain grey cap became the norm. In the Eastern theater, caps were definitely the most prevalent military headgear for Confederate troopers. So I'd say it depends on the year that you are targeting, but I'd be most inclined to just use different shades of grey. |
Murphy | 07 Dec 2014 11:47 a.m. PST |
You can pretty much go with medium to dark shades of gray and you'll pretty much be spot on…the fancy colors went out after the first mass murders…errr.."battles" of 1861 and 1862 in which people learned that "Fancy uniforms get your shot real fast"… |
TKindred | 07 Dec 2014 12:35 p.m. PST |
Not just that, but as the CSQM Corps soon discovered, all those extra colors added to both the cost of manufacture, and the need for separate storage, inventory, etc, costs. By early 1863 the decision was made to produce uniforms sans trim. That way, requests for jackets and caps, etc, could be made from a single set of stores without regard to branch trim, etc. Now, two caveats here: SOME areas continued to produce and issue uniforms with solid branch trim. The Columbus Depot jackets and the "Deep South" jackets come to mind. The CD jackets had indigo blue solid color collars and non-pointed cuffs, while the other style had either an indigo blue or black collar. Both of these styles are associated with those depots, BUT should not be considered as exclusively issued to troops serving in the areas of issue. There is photographic evidence for the use of CD jackets in the ANV, at least in 1865. There is also one surviving CD jacket with red collar and cuffs, bit no known cavalry trimmed coats of this style are still in existence, or known to have been produced. In addition, any unit which wanted a specific style or trimmed jacket or cap could request such items from the CSQM department. That request would be filled by the nearest available depot. However, any costs for the trim or special styling, etc, would have to be paid for by the requesting unit. In advance. The Washington Artillery serving with the ANV did such a request in 1863, and one of the jackets from this order is in the collection at the visitor's center at Mannassas. The jackets were made of cadet gray material with red piping around the collar, cuffs (pointed) and down the front. So after saying all that, the answer, as posted by other commenters should really be "it depends". If you MUST have cavalry trimmed caps, then the easiest to paint are the yellow caps with a blue band. However, IMHO, the most common cavalry cap would be plain gray, in some shade. |
donlowry | 07 Dec 2014 8:49 p.m. PST |
I believe the colored caps (yellow for cavalry) with dark blue bands were the original "official" preferred items for the Confederate Army (not necessarily for volunteer units). But I doubt if very many troopers, or even officers, ever had one. Many early units had their own miitia or special uniforms. For instance, the 1st Va. Cavalry supposedly wore grey jackets and trousers with black collars, cuffs, stripes, etc., and black hats, not kepis. |
dualer | 08 Dec 2014 12:25 p.m. PST |
Very informative, many thanks for all your help. |
huevans011 | 08 Dec 2014 12:57 p.m. PST |
stdiv62, can you help an ACW dabbler out? I would have thought that CSA cavalry in the East would have worn slouch hats, like the infantry. TKindred, thanks for expanding my knowledge of the arcane world of Confederate clothing a little more. Much appreciated. |
stdiv62 | 08 Dec 2014 5:10 p.m. PST |
huevans, there certainly would've been a lot of civilian slouch hats as well. But in terms of military-issue headgear, caps were much more easier to produce and thus were highly prevalent among Confederate troopers(I would argue probably in both theaters). I think we tend to underestimate the widespread issuance of caps in all branches of the Confederate forces. |
Old Contemptibles | 10 Dec 2014 9:56 p.m. PST |
Wide variety for most cavalry especially midway to late in the war. Some of my regiments have kepi, round hats, slouch hats and Union kepis, all within the same regiment. The more variety the better. |
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