"The way you prefer your Condeferate units to look?" Topic

Do you prefer the "ragged reb" look with various colors of grey, Browns, buffs, tans ---various slouch hats, kepis, blanket rolls all over the place ,some in bright colors,or even plaid, etc,etc?

OR

Do you prefer the nice uniformed orderly look?

My taste is very much the first choice as it adds a lot of color to the table top.

Russ Dunaway

I think it depends on what year in the war you are trying to represent. The butternut would be more late war than early. The unit I'm working on right now is my Tigers in their 1861 Manassas uniform, pistols and knives in the spiffy blue coats. TIG

Ragged all the way – though for a few elite units – I like them uniform in their ragged appearance

Most units get the Ragged Reb treatment. Some get the "we just came from the depot" look

Ragged rebs for me. Every photo I see of actual Confederates shows a wide variety of dress.

Always the non-uniformed look for me.

Mostly ragged rebs but I do have a few "spiffed up" units that can represent either newly raised units or troops from states like North Carolina that took a bit more care in making sure their troops actually had uniforms

I seem to recall reading that in the ANV many soldiers received new uniforms before the start of the 1863 and 1864 campaigns. And of course, North Carolina seemed to have an endless supply of new uniforms that were only dispensed to its own state regiments.

So,you could have units that have new looking uniforms, but have a look of individuality as the soldiers select their own hat style. My guess ( and I don't know for sure) is that veterans would have gotten rid of backpacks and wore the more practical blanket roll.

Were blanket rolls removed prior to the start of a battle and then picked up after the battle? This would seem a bit risky as theft or not being able to get back to the baggage would result in the soldier losing all of his personal possessions.

I try to have a mix if I can, usually using the ragged reb on veteran units.

Der Alte Fritz-
Good advice. What I read about not only the ACW, but also uniform issue in all wars, indicates that most units get all of their clothing at once from the same source.
The CSA was no different (most of the time). So, NC units have a certain issue. Longstreets Corps sent to Chickamauga all had UK dark grey uniforms (mistaken for blue in the heat of fighting).
Back in High School, I thought "butternut" was the result of getting homespun uniforms died with nuts from home. I've since learned that such is incorrect (in most cases).
Butternut's various tannish to brownish shades actually result in issue uniforms died with bad grey dyes that quickly faded upon wearing.
So, a single unit is likely to be wearing about the same cut and color of uniform at any given time. Pants wear out first, and supply issues may result in variations in color, source ( Federal sky blue) or civilian types. If uniforms are delayed, patches appear at stress points like knees and elbows.
Shirts in the CS army seem to be all private purchase.
Hats mostly too, as slouch hats provide more protection and kepis became scarce as issue items.

As tigrifsgt says, it kind of depends. Sterling Price's Missouri State Guard at Pea Ridge had a new issue of undyed white uniforms, for example.

I do both. Although I personally like the multi-color Rebs best.

I like them to look like they're fleeing.

I painted mine a mix of colours.

An interesting piece on Confederate uniform colors:

link

Depends on year and scale. Early and small scale are (for me) usually painted by regiment and uniform. But availability of figures is also a factor. If all the castings are identical--or even just wearing the same uniform and carrying exactly the same equipment--I can't see six shades of brown and gray. Give me 24 different 28mm or 54mm castings, and I'll try for some variety in the painting.

Mostly ragged. But sometimes it depends on when and what unit.

Ragged for me.

I am aware that the Confederate army actually had a better uniform resupply than they are frequently credited with. Where I disagree with some is that I think that only really applies for the first months after uniforms were issued, and only for troops actually present when the uniforms were being handed out. My original Confederates were a grab bag of regulation clothing in good shape, ragged uniforms, items of civilian clothing and a few captured clothing items. When I redo my Confederates it will have a more vaguely uniform appearance, but still will have worn items and some nonregulation items. So I guess my answer is ragged but not too ragged.

As others have said, depends on the unit, year and condition. Some mixed and raggedy looking, some more uniform.

I have a mix, some all grey some all mixed. A couple unique units as well.

I have several regiments in each brigade. The first thing I did was pick a shade of gray for the brigade (some lighter and some darker). The first regiment in each brigade has a mostly regular uniform and as the regiments progress they become more and more ragged.

The worst year of the war regarding uniforms – and especially in the West – was 1862 as original uniforms wore out and replacement clothing was difficult to obtain. Many soldiers had to depend heavily on clothing sent from home.

So ragged early on.

Later in the war, I think I would show some uniformity in the shell jackets, as they were issued by company or regiment from shipments received from the depots, but still go with a variety of trousers and headgear.

I've never read of Confederates dropping their blanket rolls before a battle. Intuitively, you would think they offered a bit of protection.

79thPA +1.

Uniforms are a snapshot in time. I have "ragged rebels", same issue uniform, some in great coats. It's playing the game I'm after.

Nice uniformed look.

But I do both.

I started out in 1976 with the uniform look involving a similar pose. Sometime in the 1980s I went to multiple poses with a variety of uniform colors. For the past decade I have largely gone back to similar poses and an uniform look, but vary the pose and colors between units. I have just found it easier to distinguish units of the table by the pose and uniform. The multiple color and poses units actually blend together and make it harder to distinguish. Game practicalities rule!

Variety is the spice of life. More spice for me.

These are mine, as I said, a mix!