"N. B. Forrest's soldiers" Topic

How did they look, escpecialy when fighting dismounted ?
Long boots or short shoes ?
Cartridge boxes on waistbelt or crossbelt ?

And generally – the same question about all Western Theater Cofederate cavalrymen.
Any help appreciated.

Don Troiani has some good works on NBF men. Also, Dixon 28mm has a range that gives a good look. I live in Mississippi and they definitely would be in shirt sleeve order during the summer months for many. Some wore boots, some shoes like the Jefferson boot, etc. Classic mix of cavalry and mounted infantry. They liked carrying 2 pistols with a long arm. Almost all wore a slouch hat.

There was Forrest's brigade (later division) in Bragg's army, and later (after Chickamauga) his corps in Northern Mississippi -- very few troops made the transition with him. So there might have been differences. But, I suspect shoes more than boots, hats more than caps, conventional cartridge boxes (they did carry rifles or carbines), revolvers rather than sabers.

Don't forget to put in a few black faces.

link

Don't forget the "Critter" Company.

I was reading a report from an Alabama Infantry Regiment from east-central part of the State.. One of their Lys had been wounded and went home to recover. When he was ready to return to duty, he decided that he was tired of walking. He went to the muster center for a cavalry troop and volunteered to be demoted to a private so he could ride a horse.

The point is that there was no standard uniform. Shoes and boots were worn as was a number of different coats and cloaks.

Forrest troops was a mix of regulars, local volunteers for a specific action and home guard res ponders often assigned to guard or scout a specific ford or route into a town. Mounted Home guard battalions were rare and often consisted of men from training camps, muster points and locals. So you can imagine how divergent the dress would be. Men would come to muster points in old unit outfits and newly issued ones.