"1st and 2nd New Jersey regiments" Topic

What is the difference between the two uniforms? Is it only the color of the turnbacks (red for 1st, white for 2nd )

I think the differences are minimal, possibly the waistcoat and crossbelts?
I found these 2 pics:
1st NJ:

2nd NJ:

I am sure more informed members will verify if this is correct!?

AWI uniforms, for the Americans in particular, are hard to pin down. I am on the verge of painting the NJ Brigade too, and found the same pictures you did. The blue waistcoat on one makes me wish that Troinani had explanations, a la Mollo, accompanying his illustrations. Is the blue waistcoat
issue? Is it just from deserter descriptions? Were the color of the waistcoats unknown, and he just picked a color?
How long did they have this uniform, and when?
Its so nutty, that I am going with the OFM's advice to paint a bunch of regiments blue with red facings, and brown with red facings, and go from there.

I had found these also and the reenactors were no help. Some had white turnbacks some red. Some had red waistcoats. Doing the 3rd was so much easier. Thanks

The waistcoats are almost certainly not "uniform". The Continental Congress or the States could barely afford the proper coats and facings. I would guess that supplying a waistcoat with at least 50% of the fabric as the coat would be a non starter.
Those poor soldiers would be on their own for any more than the minimal coat, which many did not even get.

Basically, if you want to print the waistcoats red, white, blue, buff or striped, go right ahead.

On a cheap coat, the "turnbacks" would probably be the cost lining, turned back. Different colored turnbacks would be an added expense, but that doesn't mean they are unlikely.

The issuing body could have issued instructions stating the proper color breeches and stockings to be worn with the coat. Since the poor soldier is probably 6 months behind in his pay, that would be unlikely too.

When I want my Continental regiment to be uniform, I stop with coat color and facings. For the rest of the clothing, they may as well be Gauls.

So it might depend on what year you are doing? I believe at one point the 3rd NJ had gray coats​with green facings.

Oh yeah. Whatever the jobber contractor could get a good price on for the color cloth. ("Hey, I don't have much Blue. Grey ok?") Not the best quality either. Reenactors could of course afford better quality cloth. They pay so much for it!
And it wouldn't surprise me one bit for the contractor to double bill Congress and New Jersey. Corruption standards were a tad ….. looser back then.

Doing August '77 The Battle of Staten Island. 3rd New Jersey in grey with dark blue facings. I figure they wouldn't have changed to blue jackets yet.

Did you look at katchers book?

According to my research books, small clothes were likely mixed. The shorter coat with the small tacked down turnbacks with the facing color seems to be the most current thinking in respecting circles. I sat next to an officer of the First NJ Regt. Saturday night in City Tavern. His new coat was exquisite. Short red turnbacks.

So it might depend on what year you are doing? I believe at one point the 3rd NJ had gray coats​with green facings.
??
That would be drab faced blue. But for 1776. After that it was blue faced red.
I used to reenact 3rd NJ. If I can figure out how to post pictures I will..

Bob

BTW, the top picture is not 1st NJ. Its just a generic Continental done by Don Troiani in the early 70's.

Bob

Thanks Bob, for now I'll do the 1st in dark blue faced red and the 3rd in grey faced dark blue. I'll also do Frelinghuysen's Militia to finish off the troops Col.Ogden commanded on Staten Island