Federal Cavalry Impression Standards

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Annabella Richardson
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1 1 Federal Cavalry Impression Standards Generally: The impression sought is a Federal cavalryman of In essence that means no obviously late war arms or accoutrements; such as Spencers or Henrys, or blatantly wrong items such as Paint horses or modern saddles. What follows is a detailed review of acceptable items and the details of what makes them so. Do not let these details prevent you from participating - contact the Federal cavalry commander is you have any questions about your equipment Tom Craig at tcraig@mainecav.org Uniforms A. Headgear 1. Forage cap Finely woven dark blue or royal blue wool (not navy blue) with painted leather brim and chin strap. Plain US regulation, small size buttons. Black or brown polished cotton or Selisia liner. Should not be worn with the sides of the brim rolled under as a modern baseball cap. Insignia: Cavalry, unlike the infantry, were issued hat brass for forage caps. Inspection records show "deficiencies" where the men are NOT wearing required insignia of regimental number, crossed sabers, and company letter. This means also that many men were wearing only some or no hat brass. 2. Hardee Hat ¼ inch ribbon at base of crown. Two (2) rows of stitching on brim. Shellacked with label inside. Regulation brass, insignia, plume and cord. 3. Slouch & other non-issue headgear - Period types only! Sewn-on edge binding of silk ribbon. Leather or cotton duck sweat band. Made of fine wool felt without a "fuzzy" appearance. Medium to dark gray, medium to dark brown, or black, with black preferred. No Garth Brooks stetsons. No limp hillbilly farmer hats. No hat cords of any color. No stampede strings. Hardee hat turned slouch is perfectly acceptable (see above).

2 2 B. Jackets 1. Mounted Service Jacket Of dark blue or royal blue wool broad-cloth or fine kersey. Padded or Quilted front Yellow dyed worsted wool tape piping, 2 rows of trim on standing collar. All visible buttonholes hand sewn. 2. Fatigue blouse Of wool flannel with a visible `wale' in the fabric, in a shade between a medium and dark blue color. A "wale" means you can see the diagonal weave. Avoid the blackish-blue material that fades to purple; it is the wrong color and it is too heavy. The color will NOT be a blackish `navy' blue which fades to an even more unacceptable purple color. The correct blouse has a short collar and faced lapels and cuffs. Four evenly spaced US eagle buttons should fit into handworked buttonholes. Sleeves should have a small, scalloped vent in the rear of the cuff. Unlined versions have all seams flat-felled. Lined versions should have a one-piece body lining of wool or wool/cotton weave and a sleeve lining of muslin. C. Pants 1. Mounted Pattern Trousers Made of sky-blue kersey-weave wool. Top of the waist band should reach the wearer's navel. Reinforced seat and instep strap. Thin, tapering waist band. Narrow, three to five button fly. Yoke in back. Raised back. Side pockets that start below the waist-band. Right-side watch pocket. Facings on vented cuffs. All detail work, especially buttonholes, finished by hand. 2. Foot Pattern Trousers - as above but without reinforced seat. 3. Dark blue Mounted pattern trousers - as above but dark blue. D. Shirts 1. US Issue Shirts Domet Flannel will have three tin buttons: one at the neck and one at each cuff. Domet flannel is a cotton warp and wool weft, off-white in color.

3 3 Gray Wool Flannel will have 4 or 5 tin buttons, with two or three on a placket front and one on each cuff. Blue Wool Flannel will have 4 or 5 tin buttons and almost always have a breast pocket. Knit 2. Civilian Pattern Shirt Made of 100 percent natural materials in woven check or plaid material, or with a printed geometric pattern on them. Small metal, bone, wood, shell, or mother-of-pearl buttons. Fall down collar or a banded collar, with or without a detachable collar. One, two or no pockets. No calico and no over-sized wooden buttons. E. Suspenders/Braces - Not an issue item, civilian pattern of period materials and attachments. F. Drawers o Canton flannel, cotton flannel, wool knit, and wool flannel all acceptable. o Button closure. o White, natural, colored acceptable. G. Footwear 0. Socks - Of solid-color yarn: off-white, gray, buff, blue, or bluish-gray. No rings or bands of contrasting color. No elastic. Of wool, cotton or a wool/cotton union. No modern hunting socks. 1. Shoes - Issue brogans with pegged or sewn soles. Heel plates optional. 2. Boots Correctly constructed, below the knee, military style boot. Single-piece vamp. Pegged or sewn soles. H. Overcoat 0. Mounted pattern Of correct make and construction. Sky blue wool kersey, double breasted with cape extending to the edge of the cuff. 1. Foot pattern is accepted Of correct make and construction. Sky blue wool kersey, single breasted with cape extending to elbow, and stand-up collar.

4 4 Accoutrements A. U.S. issue M1858 sword belt - Of black buff or bridle leather o 2 piece enlisted eagle buckle with applied silver wreath. o Shoulder strap optional. o Saber straps. B. Cap pouch C. Pistol Cartridge Box o For pistol cartridges - 3 sizes for.36 and 2 for.44 (one for 6 hole packets, one for 7 hole packets) - we do not carry extra cylinders! D. Holster - Black leather, butt forward, end plug, worn on right side. E. Carbine Cartridge box - M1860 or "Sharps." F. Carbine Sling - Of black buff or bridle leather with iron roller snap hook. G. Haversack - US issue tarred, may be worn on saddle or person - some opt for 2 haversacks. H. Canteen - M1858 smoothside o Hot dipped tin. o Cotton strap or undyed leather strap with iron roller buckle and leather safe. o NO snaphooks. o Wool covered; with jean, or blanket material. I. Blanket - Gray/brown US Issue with black stripes woven in. J. Shelter half - Light canvas with hand sewn grommets and bone buttons. Paperbacked tin buttons accepted. K. Gum blanket and/or poncho - with small grommets

5 5 Weaponry All weapons will be inspected every day. Weapons deemed unsafe will not be allowed. A. Carbine - To maintain uniformity, the Sharp's is the preferred carbine as it is the easiest reproduction to acquire. 1. Sharp's either model. The patch box does not designate a '59 or '63 - these are identified by their serial numbers - serial numbers beginning with C. are 1863 models, the others are '59s. Patch boxes are found, or not found on both models th Model Burnside (only originals and parts guns are available - NOTE: 1st Maine was armed with 2nd Model Burnsides - good luck finding one) B. Pistol - One sidearm or no sidearm. No "spare" cylinders. Pistols are loaded using cartridges. Company A was predominantly armed with 1860 Colt Army revolvers. 1. Colt model 1860 "Army" Revolver,.44 caliber. 2. Remington model caliber "Army" or.36 caliber "Navy" revolver allowed for events portraying Non issue "Private purchase" side arms must be approved. C. Saber Must be correctly constructed with wire wrapped, leather bound grip and peened tang. (sabers with the nut on the end will not be accepted.) 1. U.S. Model 1840 "wristbreaker." 2. U.S. Model 1860 "light cavalry." 3. Saber knots: With a tied leather lace turks-head, not an embossed sleeve. Horse Equipments A. Saddle - Model 1859 McClellan. All iron hardware, including jappaned or blued iron bar buckles. o Coat straps should be of correct weight with correct buckles, leather stops recommended. o Wool web or all leather girth and surcingle with iron roller buckles. o Crupper (optional) an issued item - use at your discretion. o Breast straps (martingales), were not an issued item though troopers would often go out of their way to get one. Any breast strap should therefore be of civilian pattern or field produced (three leather straps joined by an iron ring) Brass heart sutler row breast straps are not allowed. o Hooded wooden stirrups. o Saddle Bags

6 6 o o Smaller black bags with iron buckle closure. Should contain a correctly reproduced or original curry comb, brush, and optionally a hoofpick, and horseshoes. B. Halter - U.S. issue of black bridle leather and iron hardware. o Lead strap with jappaned or blued iron bar buckle. o Link Strap - with iron wire snap hook and buckle (optional). C. Bridle - Blackened bridle leather o 3 or 6 buckle. o All buckles should be jappaned or blued iron bar buckles. o NO Rosettes on browband. o Bit - U.S. issued iron bit. o Enlisted Reins - sewn in the center and to the bit. D. Nosebag (Optional) o Flat bottom; rounded bottom accepted. o Black or undyed leather with iron roller buckle. E. Picket Pin and Lariat (Optional) o 4-strand, left-laid hemp. o Whipped at one end. o Eye spliced to hand forged iron picket pin. F. Saddle Blanket - U.S. issued blue wool with orange stripe woven in. o "U.S." hand stitched in yarn at the center of the blanket. o Orange stripe should be lighter shade as per originals if possible. o NO saddlepads - use your issue grey wool blanket or shelter half. Horses A. Generally solid colored (aside from stars, blazes, stripes, snips, socks, stockings, etc.). B. No Paints, Appaloosas or other breeds with stand-out colorings and markings. C. Preferred breeds include: Morgan, Canadian, Standardbred, Saddlebred, Tennessee Walking Horse, Arab, and Thoroughbred.

Federal Uniform Standards and Guidelines: Uniforms:

1 Federal Uniform Standards and Guidelines: These standards are intended to help all participants achieve a common goal of correctly representing the Federal troops during the battle of McDowell in May