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7. Clothing. The uniform and equipage items are presented in approximately the order in which you should acquire them.
Explanation of terms:
MANDATORY - Required item, no option.
REQUIRED - Mandatory item with options.
OPTIONAL, STRONGLY SUGGESTED - To your benefit to obtain.
OPTIONAL - To be obtained at your discretion
a. Eyeglasses.
(1) REQUIRED (if you can't see without glasses)
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Civil War period frames of oval, rectangular, hexagon, or octagon shape. Materials used; gold, silver, brass, plated brass and steel. Should be quite thin.
- Pre-Civil War frames shaped the same as Civil War Materials used are the same but much thicker. Temples (side pieces) are often of the two piece sliding type. 8 War of 1812, frames are heavy and bulky, shapes are oval and rectangular. Temples were sliding.
- Post Civil War (1866-1900), frames are thin, lens area is a little larger oval. Temples are sometimes the conform cable that goes behind the ear.
- Small round frames - not the large John Lennon type.
(3) Comments. Wearing modern eyeglasses in a Civil War reenactment or living history program is easily noticeable to the public, and seriously detracts from the authentic image the 10th North Carolina State Troops is trying to portray. If you wear eyeglasses, you have three options:
- Buy a set of period frames and have your prescription fitted to them.
- Wear contact lenses.
- Do without them. If glasses are a necessity, then they should be one of the first items purchased.
b. Footwear.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- US Jefferson brogan.
- Black leather boots
- Southern military shoe, straight lace.
- Short artillery boot.
- CW period civilian shoe, wooden soled shoe, imported shoes.
(3) Comments. Federal brogans are preferred because of superior quality and comfort, they are also required for a federal impression.
c. Trousers.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Federal sky blue - (can also use for Confederate impression).
- Confederate Richmond Gray.
- Any civilian style of the mid-nineteenth Century.
- Any other Confederate enlisted man's style, gray or butternut.
(3) Comments. Captured federal trousers were used when the Rebs could get them. If you plan to do a federal impression you can use the same trousers.
d. Suspenders.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Any military or civilian style as long as they are made of linen and leather.
- Home made out of mattress ticking.
- No modern stretch ticking.
e. Headgear.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
For Confederate Impression:
- Slouch hat , any color, with or without red artillery hat cord and cannon insignia.
- Forage cap, Medium/Richmond Gray in color with artillery red band, with or without cannon insignia or company letter.
- Kepi, Medium/Richmond Gray with artillery red band.
- Federal forage cap, kepi, or Hardee hat.
For Federal Impression:
- Hardee hat.
- Forage Cap.
- Kepi.
- Black slouch hat
f. Shirts.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Federal issue gray cotton/muslin shirt.
- Any civilian style shirt of the Civil War period.
g. Jackets and Coats
(1) MANDATORY
(2) Federal Impression. Sack Coat or Shell Jacket.
(3) Confederate Impression. Army of Northern Virginia pattern Shell Jacket, Medium/Richmond Gray in color, 9 button front.
These are the variations of the pattern:
Type I: (1862) Piped at the cuff and collar in Artillery Red, belt loops and with or without shoulder epaulets and cuff buttons.
Type II: (1863-64) With or without shoulder epaulets.
Type III: (1864-65) Plain jacket, no piping or epaulets.
- Early war impressions may include the 1861 pattern North Carolina Regulation Sack Coat with red epaulets. Dress uniform will be a 9 button enlisted frock coat piped at the collar and cuff in red. Will also allow a variety of Army of North Virginia shell jackets in the variety of patterns and Richmond Gray in color.
- The preferred button is the "Block A", "N.C. Starburst", and the federal eagle buttons.
h. Socks.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Homemade woolen knit socks.
- Ski or hiking socks, of white, tan, gray or brown.
(3) Comments. Homemade woven or knit socks would be the most common southern style, but wear out quickly. Modern ski and hiking socks should be wool or heavy cotton, without colored stripes.
i. Belts and Buckles.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options include:
Federal.
- Model 1856 with US oval belt plate.
- NCO waist belt and plate for SGTS.
Confederate.
- Roller buckle with black leather or painted cloth and leather waist belt.
- Georgia frame buckle with black leather waist belt.
- Forked tongue buckle with black leather waist belt.
- US model 1856 waist belt with US or CS oval buckle.
j. Individual Weapons. Each officer and NCO is Required to be armed with a period revolver the preferred versions are the 1851 Colt Navy Model or the 1860 Colt Army Model. An artillery sword may be purchased but is not required. Individual cannoneers are not required to have sidearms or artillery carbines, for safety sidearms are not recommended.
k. Haversacks.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Tarred Federal - for Federal Impression.
- Any style U.S. tarred haversack.
- C.S. untreated haversack.
l. Canteens.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- U.S. bullseye or smoothside canteen.
- C.S. tin drum canteen or any C.S. style.
- Wooden canteen.
- C.S. style pottery canteen.
m. Shelter Tent.
(1) REQUIRED - minimum 1/2 shelter tent.
(2) Options in order of preference:
- U.S. model 1862 shelter half tent (2 piece, open ended)
- U.S. model 1864 shelter half tent (3 piece, with end flap.) Tent is about 6" longer.
n. Blankets.
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Any U.S. style blanket.
- Any wool blanket or quilt in subdued colors.
o. Mess Gear (Utensils and cup).
(1) REQUIRED
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Standard heavy gauge tin plate period utensils and small coffee boilers cup.
- Tin plate or canteen half, period utensils and standard unhinged cup.
- CW period blue/white splatter ware plate, spoon and cup. This isn't the modern dark blue speckle ware. There is only one known source for the correct pattern - Fort Chambers Muzzle-loading Gun Shop.
p. Drill Manual. MANDATORY - "Field Artillery Tactics 1864"
q. Poncho.
(1) OPTIONAL but strongly suggested.
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Any period poncho or oil cloth.
- Tarred cloth.
r. Vest.
(1) OPTIONAL
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Civilian Vest.
- Military Vest.
s. Greatcoats or Overcoats.
(1) OPTIONAL
(2) Options in order of preference:
- U.S. enlisted man's greatcoat, sky blue in color.
- C.S. enlisted man's greatcoat.
t. Knapsack.
(1) OPTIONAL
(2) Options in order of preference:
- U.S. Model 1851 double bag, early war version.
- Single bag.
- U.S. circa 1833 hard pack.
u. Lantern.
(1) OPTIONAL
(2) Options in order of preference:
- Wood & Glass.
- Metal & Glass.
v. Cold Weather Clothing. OPTIONAL - Scarves, gloves, knit caps, etc. (All items should be made of knitted wool).
w. Underwear (CW period).
(1) OPTIONAL
(2) Options in order of preference.
- Long underdrawers.
- Short underdrawers
x. Straw hats. OPTIONAL - Both sides wore straw hats during the summer.
y. Miscellaneous Comments.
(1) All leather is to be black.
(2) Before you purchase anything, please consult with your company commander, the QM SGT of the 26th Regt, or one of the officers. Occasionally, you may find a used item. This could save you money, but all equipment must comply with the requirements outlined above.
(3) When you equip yourself as an authentic reenactor you are not shopping for fashion. Confederate soldiers did not look like the dashing figures portrayed in some popular media.
(4) Many new recruits want to know whether it is feasible to make any of their uniforms. Generally not, unless you or someone you know has special knowledge of the techniques used in manufacturing 19th century uniforms. 100% wool of the correct color is also quite expensive and difficult to obtain.