"Color of roll tied to top of Union backpacks..." Topic

I have a bunch of Old Glory (1st Ed) soldiers advancing with backpacks\knapsacks that I'm painting as Union. On top of the backpacks is a roll. Early on I thought the roll would be their greatcoats so I started painting the rolls light blue. Years later (that's how long it takes me to paint 30 figures) I'm figuring it's a blanket and start painting them medium grey. Now I'm thinking it's the gum blanket and should be black. So, someone help me out here, what is the roll on top of their backpacks and what color should it be?

Everyone I know paints them grey!

I like to do perhaps a third as gum blankets, most of the rest a mix of grey, brown, beige and then perhaps a tenth of them as a civilian patterned blanket.

It helps break up the monotony of painting Federals.

By the regs it is supposed to be the geatcoat on top of the knapsack with the blankets stored inside.

However, after the first year of the war, greatcoats would be collected and placed in storage once the weather warmed up enough in the spring. So then blankets would be carried on top of the knapsack.

As far as colors go, sky blue, and shades of grey, grey brown and light brown are all fine.

Roll tied

Normally beige sliced down the middle buttered with a filling normally of turkey, chicken, salami or some other meat :D
I've like the rest above paint a mixture I tend to give smarter units like say the Iron Brigade more uniformly with most of a unit grey blanket or light blue g-coats, my more seasoned units with mixed uniforms even get reds, beige and patterned rolls it makes them look a tad more veteran.
Cheers

Mine are either grey or light brown – all the same colour per unit

mwindsorfw, so Crimson?

Yes, it's supposed to be the greatcoat. Greatcoats were issued with the straps used to affix it to the top of the knapsack. Blankets were supposed to be folded and stored between the two "bags" of the knapsack. That's per the regulations. Of course, in reality…

If you want something different do the 2nd Rhode Island Inf Regt who had a red roll on the top of their packs They certainly will be noticed

The reds were surplus Mexican war issue and very common in 62 especially amoung New England regiments

And apparently Illinois regiments too--------but I did stay at a holiday inn last night

Indeed. 3rd Maine and 4th Maine were issued with red blankets in '61 and many of the survivors still had them 3 years later.

It could also be white, or an off-white color to represent the shelter half rolled up on top. Having said that, most soldiers learned early on to place their blanket and shelter half INSIDE the knapsack if rain threatened, as both became sponges, soaking up pounds of water when they were wet.

If the blanket WERE to be carried rolled up on top, then the soldier almost habitually wrapped his rubber blanket around it to protect it from rain, etc.

Thanks Clays Russians ! I always wondered that. The Britain's Swappets of my childhood had red but I rarely saw it in paintings and uniform guides. I still learn new stuff on TMP ! ?