"White Dusters?" Topic

British eyewitnesses say that the French marched onto the battlefield at Vimeiro in "white dusters". I have also seen them depicted in a painting uniformed as such.

Was this "duster" just a white greatcoat? If so, isn't that contrary to the uniform issue of Brown? How long did they wear these white dusters? Until they were repatriated? Did any other French soldiers wear them in the Peninsula? Did this have something to do with the white uniform issue?

Were they brown but appeared white because dust?

Dusters of undyed linen, so white, off-white. Unlike greatcoats, not meant for any kind of warmth or protection from the rain, just a very lightweight covering to keep dust and dirt off the uniform.

Possibly an anachronistic description; a modern commetator or translator using American English terminolgy applied to an early C19th context.

: a long lightweight overgarment to protect clothing from dust
(2) : a long coat cut like a duster

— called also 'duster coat'

(Merriam Webster online )

Just noticed your ref to 'eyewitnesses' – I see from the online etymological dictionary that the meaning of "light overcoat or wrap worn to keep off dust from clothing" dates from as late as 1864.
link

scratches head…

The greatcoats were by regulation unbleached wool, or "beige" but not in the meaning of the word today afaik. So the colour would depend on the colour of sheep in the region. So they were not brown by regulation, and could differ in colour, some naturally being a lighter shade of beige. From Calpe's description on their website:

"…of natural wool with round cuffs, collar and shoulder straps of the same colour; fastened on the chest by means of five rows (as it was double breasted) of cloth covered buttons, the hem of the coat reaching a point 32cms from the ground, divided at the back by a vent 20cms in length. "

Combined with sun bleaching cloth and dust and sand covering the coats, an initially light grey unbleached wool coat could very much look white.

This exact topic has been up before, there are some intersting points in this thread, particularly the mention of tunics used earlier on in the period:

TMP link

Thanks setsuko.

Mike P.- Would it be possible to post what the British observers at Vimiero actually wrote?

It is a long white linen jacket.

link

(Colonel Leslie, who observed them at close hand)

I used a phrase from the Osprey Campaign series about Vimeiro.

Would painting a greatcoat white pass? In 10mm :)

42flanker, similar thought about the word occurred to me, that it was a term from the American West of a later period, so I guess what we've got is part of a paraphrase of the original passage suitable to an American readership, if indeed the eyewitness account were in English to begin with. Now I'm wondering whether I've used "guess" correctly -- or in the American way[!].

Thank you, Whirlwind

Interestingly, the actual phrase that Leslie wrote was ,'long white linen frocks.'.

At that time, 'frock' in this context would have had a specific connotation with the dress of agricultural workers; usually a knee-length linen overall, buttoning at the front; so, similar to a greatcoat in form but not in weight of cloth.

Robert le diable, as I understand it, 'Guess' in the American was formerly the English way.

I meant to add the relevant passages from Leslie's memoir:

"…the French had been marching the whole of the previous night, and were heavily laden, every man being dressed in long white linen frocks — their shakos, pouches, &c., covered with the same material — and their
uniform coats being strapped outside their knapsacks…"
.

"…Fatigue parties having been left to bury the dead, many
of our men had possessed themselves of the French white
linen frocks ; and it was grotesque enough to see Highland
soldiers strolling about the bivouac in these dresses."

p51

In Philippe Loutherbourg's painting of a review at Warley camp in 1778, we can see two artillery driver in what is, arguably, a uniform version of the frock, but in the back ground can be seen a civilian in a frock (aka. 'smock-frock') trying to dodge round a sentry detailed to keep the public at bay.

link

I believe there are accounts of Saxons, in 1806[?] wearing white frocks, as well as one from the SYW where Bavarians were asked to were white frocks to cover their coats so they are not mistaken for the enemy due to their blue coats.

What would 'frock' be in German?
(Was the Austrian 'rock' related?)

Could the term frock be a shortened form for frock-coat?

French "frac"?
In the painting by P de L, doesn't that artillery team have seven horses, harnessed in pairs all but the hindmost?

Could the term frock be a shortened form for frock-coat?

Mike, other way round,in fact. 'Frock-coat' derives from 'frock.'

Originally, a frock was any loose, long garment; then, deriving from the agricultural costume, acquired the meaning of a loose coat worn for shooting, riding etc.

Frock coats as we understand them, when first they became accepted as British officers' undress uniform, were- just to confuse- originally referred to as 'greatcoats.'

When did they become a ladies garment? ;>)

In the painting by P de L, doesn't that artillery team have seven horses, harnessed in pairs all but the hindmost?

Yep, looks like: "The wheeler.' Just to confuse.

I imagine the 'wheeler' could be used to help manoeuvre the piece into position, while the rest of the team was moved back.

frock in this context would mean Kittel in German, as the Saxons did wear over their white uniforms not only in the battles of 1806 but beforehand also when on field duties to preserve their white woolen uniform.
This kind of Kittel is however different in outlook with a more rural frock – a Kittel is still worn in the medical profession, in white to be worn over your usual dress.

The French and a similar item, I don't know how widespread it was on campaign, it was called sareau and made of linen and looked like a loosely cut shirt – without a complete line of buttons and worn over the trousers as well, as 42 flanker describes.

'Sareau' – that sounds like the 'white linen frocks' that Col Leslie of the 29th recorded the French to be wearing at Vimiero.