Civil War Shirts: What makes an Authentic Shirt?

[@njuscg]

Seeing the photo of colonel Childs and his staff is a great honor to me , the reason why is Colonel Childs is my great great great great grandfather. He is the reason i got into reenacting and he is my impression.

[@zacharywalker1176]

Where'd did you studying yur englizhnis

[@wimsele]

I read somewhere that wearing just a shirt in that era was akin to wearing just a "wifebeater" today... Thanks for these great videos!

[@m.j.9318]

What is a wifebeater?

[@69gunguy]

Just spent all day wearing a contract shirt. Its much more comfortable with I expected, but in a blizzard it is not as warm as I'd hoped. Still going to wear it as often as I can!

[@jamesrichardson3322]

I want to get the Wambaugh and White Co Contract Issue Shirt ( Gray), I protray Western Theater Soldier ( Illinois Infantry Volunteer). Trying be more authentic with my impression.

[@franksrailway8020]

I just ordered a grey contract shirt from Wambuh White and Company getting more authentic.

[@jayhallman6666]

You got that right. Love their kits.

[@kidhammer2567]

I like ironing the square shirt for it fits the ironing board so easily.

[@scotthalladay2210]

I like the non issue personality’s with the shirts bring

[@TheMomanslm]

Good, well researched video as usual. As for kits, is there a detailed resource or video series showing how to properly assemble the pieces?

[@davidgay2792]

In the winter time I would like to have a knit shirt to wear under a flannel shirt.

[@garyweaver8284]

I have been reenacting since 1989, but I don't know what "NUG" is. I use white flannel doing Army of the Potomac.

[@illusionclassicrock6742]

NUG = Normal, Usual, General. Their version of PEC = Plain, Everyday, Common.

[@josephgonzales4802]

I own all three reproduction shirts and the knit one is by far the most comfortable and cooler one. N.J.Sekela is the only person that I know who make it. He sells it for $88.00 plus P/H. 😊

[@jomasmith2416]

I am only ten but u guys inspired me so much your my heros

[@11thovc]

Thanks for watching!

[@zacharywalker1176]

You really need better heroes, child.

[@comontater]

In most of the photos I think the men are trying to look their fiercest and their best. They have their best uniform, maybe not their own, but borrowed sometimes. They hold lots of weapons. usually a saber a musket or something more modern if they can borrow one and two pistols. I think most of these photos are an exaggeration of what they actually had when they went into the field. They were ragged and lucky to have one good weapon They stripped the dead to have any thing more than that.

[@jordanhicks5131]

Strip enough dead men and you'll have a fine set of clothing in no time, just go for ones who got shot in the head and loot officers to get clothes without holes.

[@monbarque]

My left ear really enjoyed this video

[@moparwill3785]

It’s about time to remake a slew of these videos. Even though I’m doing a generic western federal impression your videos have been a ton of help. 5 years is a bit long in the tooth. Time for a update.

[@BenBomb5]

I have a question about undershirts. I own a sutler row white muslin shirt, and want to use it as an undershirt. Would it be appropriate to have a collar on an undershirt, or should the collar be removed? Excellent video as always!

[@11thovc]

BenBomb5, Thanks for watching! As with anything in this hobby, there is no easy or simple answer. When I was conducting research for this video, we ran across a good sample of the plain white or off-white undershirts. As I mentioned in the video, the sutler row fabric weight is still not durable enough, even for an "under-shirt" for a working class man. However, to answer your question about the collar, I can only go off what my impression was with all the pictures we saw. The majority (not vast majority but still the majority) had a very short collar around 1/2 to 7/8. It looked more like a tape/boarder rather than an actual collar, but keep in mind this is my unprofessional opinion. As a disclaimer, i do not pretend to be an expert nor historian. We do these videos as actual questions that have arisen within our own unit, so we do whatever research we can and then turn it into a video to help others that may have the same questions.

[@brandon7482]

1:26 new pants that cost $12!!! Damn, I bought some shorts at goodwill they other day for $4.99

[@DynamixWarePro]

I have a question about shirts and I have looked it up but have not been able to find an answer. How is the collar supposed to fit on Civil War era shirts? I was looking at getting a period Civil War US military shirt and saw a sutler had several which were made to order both in cotton and in wool, some with tin buttons. The sutler had no mention of what the collar size was on their shirts, just chest size of the shirts. Before ordering one, I enquired about them so I wouldn't order one with a collar size too small and they said their small shirts with 40 inch chest had just over a 14 inch collar and the medium with a 42-44 inch chest had a 16 inch collar and that the shirts were meant to be a bit oversized. I know shirts in the 1800s were bigger than modern shirts with bigger chest, arms and longer back. I have several 1860s-1880s reproduction civilian shirts where the chest is a few inches bigger than my chest size, arms are bigger but the collar fits my 15 inch collar size perfectly and is the same collar size as I wear on modern shirts and I need that or I couldn't wear period neck ties well. I have one 1870s era US Cavalry navy blue cotton pullover shirt with rubber buttons. It is 42 inch chest, so slightly big in the chest for me and about an inch bigger in the collar than I usually wear. I was told the shirt was meant to be a bit baggy.

[@smoothrenunciation]

south union mills has good stuff.

[@SLOROB55]

Did federal troops ever end up in confederate cotton? Also, I’m curious about stirrups. Wood, iron, hood, no hood? What was issued to whom and why? Did troops deviate?

[@cassie.G]

This was so helpful. Thanks!!

[@11thovc]

Cassie, Thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful for you.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@11thovc Was vest common for privates to N.C.O.'s to wear? I got into heated debate with another reenactor on this subject. He told only officers only wore them, I debate that privates to NCO's did wear them. I found photos of Illinois soldiers wearing them, so it's NUG!! What do you think?

[@joshuabale4923]

To me, the grey flannel looks more blue.

[@justinfitzhugh248]

good info thanks

[@11thovc]

Justin, Thanks for watching!

[@civilwarguy0072]

it is only when i'm on earbuds

[@jkrause365]

For the life of me, that knit shirt looks like a Henley I have in my underwear drawer in my dresser.

[@rebekah-chriss-k4872]

Do you know of any good fabric suppliers if you want to sew your own shirt ?

[@jamesrichardson3322]

Rebekah-Chris S-K go to Wambaugh and White Co, and NJ Sekela you can Google that!! If question ❓ please ask I will be happy to help.

[@ronbednarczyk2497]

Shirt pocket or no shirt pocket? Are shirt pockets incorrect? Your white shirt had no pocket, but your gray one did.

[@AmBotanischenGarten]

No pocket on white muslin or cotton. Stand collar is later Victorian. Tie for soldier optional, usually square knot (See Gen John Buford in Gettysburg). The poorer our "country", the more non-regulation you'd see.

[@WilliamSmith-xm1rf]

Where can you order the Union undershirt from?

[@gordongeideman6484]

Who wore white muslin shirts?

[@jomasmith2416]

is it non authentic for me to join a normal white reenacting regiment or do you now of any black reenactment regiments?

[@11thovc]

Joma, That issue has a different answer for different units. We consider it similar to the "women" issue or any other number of physical characteristics that would exclude many of us from the hobby. While some units may not allow certain ethnicities (like they don't allow women), there are many more who would be happy to have you ride with them. From an authenticity standpoint, there is the famous "Buffalo Soldiers" that represent the famous black regiment just after the Civil War. If you let me know where you live, I can hook you up with some units in your area that would be happy to talk to you. The more cav soldiers, the better....we are a dying breed.

[@jomasmith2416]

11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry i live in Batavia NY thank u

[@Sarah-hc3wn]

Joma Smith awe joma!! I love u pumpkin!

[@mackenzieblair8135]

Joma Smith I know of some USCT (United States Colored Troops) reenacting groups in NY state, especially closer to NYC. That's of course if you want to go infantry. Since you're in NY, which is in close proximity to New England, you might be able to find some units portraying the 54th Mass of Glory fame.

[@jordanhicks5131]

You could enlist in a southern unit as well, Sam Bass is a famous example, he was a slave who went to war and fought for the south before deserting after punching an officer iirc and heading to indian territory

[@leslielively3092]

Ok how about his look it’s hot in the south (some times) so sometimes it’s ok not to ware your over coat especially for Confederates.

[@TheWaywardpilgrim]

Never saw a photo of any dead in just a shirt.

[@clawhammer704]

How the heck did they stand to wear that heavy cloth clothes in the summer heat.

[@geauxherd762]

While likely somewhat uncomfortable, you have to remember that people in the 1860s were used to living without AC. They would have been a tad more hardy to changes in the weather then we are used to with more controlled climates today.

[@AmBotanischenGarten]

Odldly, loose knit wool keeps the morning coolness next to your body longer. 18 oz. wool was not uncommon. No creased pants until about 1890.

[@reggieburkes4471]

Buy budget first to get into the hobby. I bought authentic and I am still waiting for it to be stitched together.

[@pelonehedd7631]

For Me these videos are fascinating. I always wondered how soldiers could endure all their activities wearing wool coats and shirts in summer heat

[@владимирмоскаленко-щ8д]

Фотографий мала.рисунков много.а я принц Савойский.

[@robertschultz6922]

I'm thinking the knit shirts were of poorer quality and thus have not survived to today

[@gym7144]

Wow times were incredibly different in the past. To me, their dress norms seem ridiculous. Why overdress and sweat while doing manual labor?

[@josephwalukonis9934]

Go talk to an old farmer. They wear their flannel underwear/long johns year round. The goal is to drink enough water and to sweat through your shirts. They believe it protects you from heat prostration.

[@sqike001ton]

best way to descried the shirt in today's terms is wearing a wife beater or A shirt in public

[@jillatherton4660]

👍

[@civilwarguy0072]

my audio is crappy

[@11thovc]

Civil War Guy 007, I just listened to the video on another device than what I created the video on and it seemed ok. Could other guys who have audio issues please speak up too? We have had some issues with our wireless microphones that we have been using. Any information could help.

[@chrisb2738]

Sometimes when a video is just uploaded the quality is real low, but after a few minutes its good, maybe that's what happened

[@TheMomanslm]

civil war guy 007 I hear a slight popping like audio on a record player, but it is not too bad only slight.

[@11thovc]

Thanks!

[@Hi-lb8cq]

Nug?

[@11thovc]

High 69, at 3:54, it describes NUG as wearing whatever was Normal, Usual, and/or General. This acronym is a good filter to make sure we represent the "average" soldier. We want to represent the norm, not the exception. A good example of this is sack coats vs. shell jackets. Even though most cavalry reenacts today wear the sharp looking Shell jacket, it is actually the sack coat (fatigue blouse) that was more common...therefore more normal. Hope this helps. Thanks!

[@Hi-lb8cq]

11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry very cool....thank u

[@Hi-lb8cq]

11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry I have an old "killer angels" sack coat still ...one made in the early 80s...no lining and one kidney breast pocket

[@jhigh1082]

This is a very one sided video. Not so much civil war but just focus on the union side. What about the south army? They weren't issued shirts.

[@11thovc]

Jenn, sorry for the confusion. On our organization's mission statement on our youtube homepage we clearly state that we focus on only the federal side of the civil war. We leave the southern specifics to other historians. Thanks for watching!

[@Monkey_1861]

The Southern army was issued shirts and drawers as well, there were hundreds of thousands of these produced in Richmond during the war.

[@manuelkong10]

oh give me a break....maybe the issue shirts went the way of the hardee hat....THROWN IN A RIVER