Frock Coats (1 Viewer)

[rharry]

Union troops in Frock Coats. Could someone give me some history about them? Also what are sack coats and are these two coats from a different state or unit?? Thanks Rick

 

[Scott]

The Frock Coat is the dress coat. You do see them worn in the field by some units in photos. Heavy artillery fighting as infantry in 1864 is an example or The Iron Brigade. Sack coats are the fatigue coat sometimes lined or left unlined used for working in but often the main uniform coat for many units in the field. Shell jackets are state issue coats rather than US issue and are fitted short coats.

All of the above vary from state to state and year to year. Reenactors sometimes the term us "4- button" for the sack coat but sack was a period term for an unfitted man's coat. Frock coat was also a civilian term for a long fitted coat. "Blouse" gets thrown in there for the fatigue coat.

 

[mestell]

Union troops in Frock Coats. Could someone give me some history about them? Also what are sack coats and are these two coats from a different state or unit?? Thanks Rick

Once the war progresssed, the Federal government provided, for the most part, the uniforms for the army. Of courese, individuals within the ranks (especially officers) could have private tailors make their uniforms for a price. The "coats" were not so much from different states as from different contractors. Contractors were given government "specs" as to what was to be provided. Even with that, the coats varied somewhat from contractor to contractor.

Frock coats were used by the Federal army and the Confederate army for the most part in the earlier war years. For lack of material (Confederates) and for mass production (both sides), the sack coats and shell jackets were easier to "knock out" and cheaper to provide. With a few exceptions as Scott indicated above, by middle of the war most troops were using sack coats and shell jackets.

Common uniform of the Union (mid to late war): Sack coats and Forage Caps.
Common uniform of the Confederacy (mid to late war): Shell jackets and Kepis/Forage Caps (or personal headgear such as the beehive/slouch hat)

Here are some pics of Union Frock Coat, Sack Coat (4-button) and an 1858 model Forage Cap:

 

[mestell]

Here are some pics of Confederate Frock Coat, Shell Jacket (Richmond Depot type II), Kepi, and an 1861 model Forage Cap:
Mike

 

[Ken & Ericka Osen/H&A Studio]

Research has shown that the regulation 1858 pattern single breasted frock coat was worn in great numbers in the field. The state of Ohio, like many other Northern states, contracted for 6000 of this pattern coat for Ohio volunteers so they would be dressed in the same fashion as Federal infantry.

The single breasted sack coat began to be issued in 1859 as a practical work and combat garment. This closed with 4 brass eagle buttons and was issued in large quantities during the civil war.

After December of 1861 sky blue trousers replaced the previous issue of dark blue as supplies were depleted.

Many states including New York, Ohio and Michigan contracted for short dark blue jackets with or without trim.

The classic wartime appearance of the union infantryman would become one of these three style coats or jackets, sky blue trousers and the 1861 pattern forage or 'bummers' cap.
Hope this helps,
Ken

 

[rharry]

Thanks everyone for the information........

 

[BlackHat]

Trying to describe a "typical" ACW appearance is tricky. Appearances varied by time and location. Forage caps appear to be very common for the Army of the Potomac; however, they were less common in the Army of the Cumberland and quite rare in the Army of the Tennessee.

Having lived most of my life in Illinois, I've given a lot of attention to the uniforms of the "Suckers". Based on both photographs and written descriptions, the sack coats were not much in use for most Illinois regiments until 1864. Earlier in the war, Illinois issued shell jackets with epaulettes that buttoned on the shoulder near the neck. Frock coats can also be seen in a number of photographs.

Forage caps are very rare in photos of Illinois troops. Most wore an undecorated version of the Hardee hat. Often the men folded in the crown to lower the overall height of the hat. Forage caps were issued too, but frequently the men complained about them. One sergeant in the 36th Illinois wrote to his mother from outside of Atlanta requesting that she send him a civilian hat to replace his cap, which provided inadequate protection from the sun.

 

[Scott]

I've done several Bentonville, NC reenactments where many of the Union reenactors are from the East Coast usually portraying Army of the Potomac. We had to switch to a "Western" look as the troops in that campaign came from the Western theater of war.

Historically Frock coats were issued in Savannah for the troops going North thru the Carolinas. Uniforms received so much wear that Union soldiers sometime cut the frock coat tails to use the cloth for patches and were left with a jacket. In this case you have troops wearing field made jackets, frock coats, hats rather than caps and even civilian and captured Confederate clothes from some accounts. Cover that look with pine smoke and pitch from the burning property.