Civil War Drawers: Lets talk about your underwear!

Start your impression out on the right foot! Using a good pair of drawers will create a strong foundation for the rest of your clothing.

[@mickeyholding7970]

Received my Confederate drawers with my uniform from Wambaugh and White. I'll be using them for our upcoming event in early March here in Oklahoma. I can't wait. 5 years later and the prices haven't changed. Next I'll be getting a Union shirt and drawers. Thanks Steve.

[@lanced3256]

A fascinating part of this topic is that any soldier who served in the civil war would have been intimately familiar with the trials and tribulations of drawers and we can have the same experience with these garments. It's a very intimate connection to the past. It humanizes the impression more than any weapon or standard issue gear like say a cartridge box or belt Thank you for the amazing post gentlemen Best wishes

[@sharingtimeagain]

Great Video. Glad I found it. I'm sewing my first Wambaugh kit and the up close videos you have on here of the drawers helps me see what some of the final parts look like. The Wambaugh pics are tiny to me.

[@11thovc]

Glad we can help!

[@BenBomb5]

These videos are great, can't wait for more, exactly the kind of information I was looking for!

[@kaylamarie8309]

Hmm..well I suppose a T-back or thong panties is completely out of the question then lol. On a serious note, I found this video entirely more interesting than I thought it would be. Great job! I knew Civil War re-enactors took their hobby seriously but I never knew it was this serious! :-)

[@jasons.7506]

We take it very seriously

[@kaylamarie8309]

@@jasons.7506 it shows

[@scottdunkirk8198]

In the southwest the soldiers in the summer used the drawers as field pants as they were cooler than the wools, there were linen sack coats made and other field uniform parts made out of cotton and some civilian clothes also worn. In many books on the subject of the Indian wars in the southwest mention the use of drawers as trousers

[@jeffbaxter8770]

Love this. As a boer war enthusiast, i have wondered what rules applied to latrines for the regular army in the field.

[@arfyego0682]

Hah who needs drawers when you're in the 79th NY?

[@OwenBudd1]

You mean the unit who wore tartan trews for 1 battle and then wore the same uniforms as everyone else? Even the 79th wore under drawers.

[@wild_west_hippie]

Honestly a good pair of trousers and drawers will be the most comfortable set of clothes you can own historical or not

[@OwenBudd1]

I gotta agree, and even in the heat of a Virginia summer, I didn’t feel unnecessarily hot. It stays remarkably comfortable.

[@jcstev22]

Nice video. My only constructive criticism is that the host/narrator keeps incorrectly pronouncing "canton" as "cotton." While canton flannel IS indeed a cotton textile, it's not the cotton flannel we're all used to in 2016, and this could cause confusion and mislead some viewers. As defined by Scissors and Yardstick (1872) canton flannel is: "A heavy cotton drill, bearing a soft, downy nap upon one side. This nap also is produced by the teasling operation. Single fold. Width, about 3-4."

[@11thovc]

jcstev22, well said and duly noted. We will state it more accurately in future videos! Thanks again for the constructive suggestion.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@11thovc I got my period underwear from Blockade Runner, I happy with them for years.

[@Joseywales414]

Thank you so much for helping keep us on track , don’t forget about us Infantry ? ,,,,

[@11thovc]

John Arnold, You bet! Many of our videos carry over to the infantry side as well! Our friends over at the Civil War Digital Digest help fill in some of the Infantry specific gaps that we leave! Be sure to check them out!

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@11thovc Another fantastic episode!! Us Infantry boys thank you!!

[@manuelkong10]

great, fun vid!!

[@jason60chev]

Keep your drawers on!

[@omegamanprivate7132]

Did civil war soldiers shave their chests?

[@jason60chev]

HAHA!!!......."a Brief history on drawers...."

[@thecanuckredcoat4142]

Hey can we get a link to the Sutler for the Drawers, I cannot find it searching for it! Thanks!

[@11thovc]

Canuck Redcoat, there are a few good manufactures of US issue drawers but a common one is W&W at wwandcompany.com/usdrawers/ If you want knit drawers, look here: www.njsekela.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=drawers&x=0&y=0

[@jason60chev]

What did the big boys wear?

[@jaseamcrojabushcraftandpre346]

I did Civil War reenactment I still wear my boxers shorts on that uniform.

[@11thovc]

There is some definitely some modern benefits in wearing modern underwear under your drawers. Some of our members still wear tight boxer/briefs to prevent ticks in getting to their junk.

[@itgaam]

11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry Why not just wear modern boxers and the trousers with no drawers? Wouldn't that help against the heat?

[@OwenBudd1]

@@itgaamI wear drawers under my uniform, and they don’t seem to make the uniform any hotter. If anything, they seem to facilitate wicking sweat off the body and keeping you cooler - which I dare say is the whole point. They weren’t fools, properly made drawers are superior to modern boxers, especially in the department of tick prevention too.

[@gladiatordude3723]

Union suits

[@Nick-md2ro]

Is there some one who does this same content for the foot infantry other then that one company of bardan sharp shooters?

[@theanimalguy7]

Closest would be Civil War Digital Digest

[@lscott3ful]

Would CJ Daley be considered good quality products as well?

[@11thovc]

Taylor Reynolds. I have not personally looked or handled his drawers but I have heard his quality is very good. However, I have also heard it takes a bit of time to get your order.

[@skylargross5509]

Should you wear 21st century underwear under the drawers

[@Elk6903]

It depends on why you reenact. If you want to portray an authentic soldier of the time and experience what they did, then don't wear anything modern underneath.

[@jcstev22]

What would be the point? I've done both, and frankly, I prefer wearing my drawers as they were intended, as underwear. Not only is it period correct that way, it's also a heck of a lot more comfortable. Is the concern that the family jewels are going to somehow sneak out of the front opening? That'd be a good case for tucking your shirt into your drawers, though generally drawers fit loosely enough that escapes aren't often an issue I've heard people complain about.

[@11thovc]

That was the point of the video...to try and challenge our hobby to wear them as intended. And jcstev22 is right about a side benifit of tucking in your shirt....if you don't, your family jewels will eventually hang out.

[@brianfuller5868]

Drawers are comfortable.

[@jamesrichardson3322]

@@11thovc They only issue one pair Federal issue underwear? They had go to First Sergeant or Corporal tell they are need of new pair and the First Sergeant or 2nd L.T. or 1st L.T. or Captain the issue paper to the Quartermaster Grant a new pair?

[@derekchecketts8461]

Looking for any pointers on good books for Indian war era.

[@11thovc]

Hey Derek! What specifically are you looking for regarding the Indian war era?

[@ValEForge-ii5xd]

Derek: For Fetterman Fight (1866) to Victorio War (1879-1880), You can't beat Dr. McChristian's U.S. Army in the West 1870-1880 Uniforms Weapons and Equipment

[@themischeifguide]

Campaign Clothing: Field Uniforms of the Indian War Army 1866-1871 by Lee Rutledge, has excellent information on the use of civil war clothing in the early IW period.

[@jimwestberg4771]

Forty Miles a Day on Beans and Hay and Hard Tack and Cofee is a fantastic start. Past specific books on the background for your impression, first hand accounts are essential to form the overall view of the average soldier are especially vital.

[@mikeburch2998]

Crotch riding is still a problem. Especially if one's wife buys their undies. :-)

[@DMEII]

Who offers authentic drawers?

[@danielkohli1542]

Wambaugh, White and Company offers authentic drawers based on the original clothing article.

[@michaelkurz9067]

Cotton is the worst item to wear