Help on colourfull ACW units/Confederate militia

[Stonewall]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

I've recently read the Osprey titles dealing with the CSA, focusing on the colourfull state units resp. militias. Now I'm wondering, if anybody has more information on their actual combat participation and if they used those interesting uniforms or if they had switched to the grey and butternut by then.

Some (small) examples from the Osprey homepage (I hope that's OK in regard of copyrights):





Thank you!

[joroas]

It is doubtful whether many of these uniforms were worn in combat, and even then, they would have worn out shortly after the start of the war.

[Mr Pommeroy]

... but that is no reason to not re-create some of these colorful units in miniature and have them get into action on the tabletop in my book, gentlemen!

First Bull Run might be a battle to point your attention to, if your fancy demands historic accuracy.

[Conquistador]

If your games are more skirmish oriented they could be some 1861/early 1862 skirmishes (or theoretically issued from storage for late 1864/1865 skirmishes as the CSA pulls out all the stored items for equipping hastily raised militia units to oppose Union raiders.)

Imagination in scenario design would let you use those uniforms I think.

Gracias,

Glenn

[joroas]

First Bull Run would serve as a vehicle to display these outfits and, indeed, the Perrys make a number of infantry units useful for this.

Try this site for info.....

http://www.firstbullrun.co.uk/About/index.html

They would look odd later in the war, but it depends on what YOU want to do, it is YOUR game.

[flags_of_war]

The First Manassas is a good shout.

[Vonkluge]

Militia units or any unit other than those raised by federal (north) or confederate (south) governments directly were 90 percent clothed and equipped by private individuals either using their own private wealth or by donations as when a town or area raised its own unit. These unit were very popular and did see combat during the first year or so of the war wearing their colorful and sometimes outlandish outfits. After that while they continued to fight their uniforms quickly wore out and became more and more like the regular army since cost and supply of anything out of the normal uniform was just to expensive and hard to get. Buy the end of the war most of these unit were indistinguishable from regulars but here and there in the ranks some of the soldiers who had survived from the beggining might still be wearing that od piece of original uniform such as a Fez, Hat, Shell jacket...ect. Much of the clothing produced for both sides was of inferior workmanship, quickly cobbled together to satisfy the enormous demand and make a quick buck! looting the dead was NOT uncommon.

So I have several Zouave units and a unit of "Cajun" Louisiana Tigers to ad color to my ACW army s, why not its a game, they do not fight any different because of what they ware. I guess if you are a real stickler for absolute realism per year then you will be painting lots more units for every year, i don't. I play Napoleonic's and If I need an extra unit for an 1809 game I don't hesitate in slapping down some troops uniformed for 1815 if I have to!

My 1st Louisiana zouaves charge across a pontoon bridge!


They hit the Union line and carry the wall!

[Trooper]

For a really good take on the American Civil War, it would be well worth your while getting hold of a copy of Don Troiani's book Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War, published by Stackpole Books. Mr T is a brilliant artist in the style of the French salon painters of the 19th century and he really knows his stuff about the ACW. It will knock those Osprey books out the window in terms of quality and content.

[joroas]

The quality of the paintings of Don Troiani, certainly.  But I believe that Ron Field is unmatched in his knowledge of Confederate uniforms!

[The Gray Ghost]

any idea who the soldiers in the first plate are? they look like they are in the South Western U.S. which is an area I am thinking of doing.
I am also considering getting some of Gringo 40s countra guerrillas as zouaves  

[joroas]

I am also considering getting some of Gringo 40s countra guerrillas as zouaves 

Why?  There are any number of companies producing ACW Zouaves, not least the Perry plastics. 

[The Gray Ghost]

I wouldn't use the sombrero officer but I just think they look neat, Western zouaves wore a much simpler outfit than what Perry make.

[ARKOUDAKI]

While Gringo's Zouaves are indeed nice the Perry's are easy to convert...you just need a sharp blade!

[Calimero]

IIRC Redoubt do eastern theater zouaves...

[sepoy1857]

any idea who the soldiers in the first plate are?

First two plates are Louisiana troops; Third plate is South Carolina; other plates I don't know (I don't have those books). 1st plate shows the Washington Artillery, Something-or-other Swamp Rangers, and the Louisiana "Garibaldi Guard" (From New Orleans). The description of the plates in the back of the book usually gives a brief sketch of the unit history. Most of these units ended up as companies in standard regiments in the larger armies (ANV, AOT, Trans-Mississippi). Joras is 100% spot on when he says these uniforms barely lasted into the first battles of the war.