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Uniform Guidelines
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Images:Early War Picture, Mid to Late War,
Click here for a list of Sutlers
Uniform
Coat: 50% N.C. Sack coat & 50% private contract patterns, pre-war militia and others.
Pants: N.C. issue plain gray
Hat: Predominately McDowell pattern forage caps. Kepis, Some plug hats and other styles. Some pre-war militia and U.S.
Overcoat: None
Weapons and Accouterments
Weapons: Almost exclusively pre-war conversion smoothbores (U.S. M1816, M1822, M1835, M1842) provided by the Militia Act of 1808 and stored at the Fayetteville, N.C. armory. Some Model 1841. 1841 Mississipppi, 1842 Springfield, 1853 Enfield, 1855 US Springfield, 1861 Colt Special, and 1861 Springfield.
Cartridge Box: Almost exclusively 1855 pre-war .69 cal. made completely of leather or U.S. issue or militia types. Some .54 cal. Tins are required. 1861 NC Issue with tarred straps, 1861 Issue belt only.
Cap Box: Pre-war government issue
Waist belt: Leather with pre-war militia plates, roller buckles, NC buckles, or other unit-specific types. 1861 issue belt.
Haversacks - Use either the Confederate model of plain cotton duck or the US model in tarred black. The soldiers cherished the US model. However, the Confederate model can be washed more easily. Early War Haversacks.
Knapsack: Hard packs
Canteen: Pre-war, private contract types and others, Wooden.
Footwear: Brogans, boots, civilian and others
Note: Bayonets, Springfield Scabbard , appropriate to firearms for all years. North Carolina produced uniforms for enlisted men were almost exclusively made of jeans cloth material for the entire war.
Uniform
Coat: North Carolina sack coat, North Carolina shell jacket, other private contract patterns, captured U.S., and civilian.
Pants: Same as above
Hat: McDowell pattern forage caps, slouch, plug, Kepis, bummers, pre-war militia and U.S., captured U.S., civilian, etc..
Overcoat: Some N.C. issue, civilian, captured U.S.
Weapons and Accouterments
Weapons: Many pre-war U.S. models (converted), imports, C.S., N.C., 1853 Enfield, Enfield Scabbards and 1861 Springfield
Cartridge Box: Standard .54, .58, 69 cal. models, some imports. Tins are required.
Cap Box: Standard issue, some imports
Waist belt: Black leather or prepared cloth with roller buckle, some pre-war militia and captured U.S. or Snake Buckle
Knapsack: Hard and soft pack types, some imports.
Haversacks - Use either the Confederate model of plain cotton duck or the US model in tarred black. The soldiers cherished the US model. However, the Confederate model can be washed more easily
Canteen: Government models, private contractors, etc..
Footwear: Standard brogans and private contractors
Note: 1862, particularly Summer and Fall, North Carolina Troops were less uniformly clothed and more "threadbare" in appearance than any other time during the war. Combination of N.C. issue, private contractors, civilian and captured U.S.
Uniform
Coat: Predominately N.C. shell jackets, some privately contracted unit-specific patterns, untrimmed Richmond Depot Type II style with shoulder straps( epaulets ) and belt loops. Nine button front in jean cloth.
Pants: N.C. issue plain gray, some unit-specific patterns.
Hat: 80% slouch and plug hats (brims worn up) .
20% forage cap and others.
Overcoat: N.C. issue, some others
Weapons and Accouterments
Weapons: Predominately pre-war U.S., captured U.S., imports, some N.C. issue.
Cartridge Box: Standard .54, .58, .69 cal., U.S., C.S., N.C., or tarred with some imports. Tins are required.
Cap Box: Same as above
Waist belt: Black leather or prepared cloth with roller buckle, some unit specific others.
Knapsack: Mostly soft pack, some hard pack, some imports.
Haversacks - Use either the Confederate model of plain cotton duck or the US model in tarred black. The soldiers cherished the US model. However, the Confederate model can be washed more easily
Canteen: Standard U.S., C.S. types, some wooden.
Footwear: Standard brogans, etc..
Note: The lack of uniformity of 1862 decreased in 1863. Supply and demand dovetailed at about the time of Gettysburg. North Carolina Troops ended 1863 looking much more uniform and well equipped than when the year began.
Year: 1864 & 65
Uniform
Coat: N.C. shell jackets made of jean cloth material. Color: gray untrimmed Richmond Depot Type II style with shoulder straps( epaulets ) and belt loops. Nine button front in jean cloth.
Pants: N.C. issue, plain gray, jean cloth.
Note: The gray color varied somewhat from one cloth batch to another. In the field, as a result of varied conditions, usage, etc.., the shade of gray varied somewhat from man to man and unit to unit.
Hat: 80% slouch or plug hat (brim worn up).
20% forage cap and others.
Overcoat: N.C. issue gray.
Weapons and Accouterments
Weapons: 80% Enfield's, U.S. M1861, M1863.
20% .69 cal. N.C. rifles, others
Cartridge Box: Standard .54, .58, .69, some imports or tarred.
Cap Box: Standard issue and some imports
Waist belt: Black leather or prepared cloth with roller buckle.
Knapsack: Soft pack and some imports.
Haversacks - Use either the Confederate model of plain cotton duck or the US model in tarred black. The soldiers cherished the US model. However, the Confederate model can be washed more easily
Canteen: Standard U.S., C.S., N.C., and some others.
Footwear: Standard black and brown brogans.
Note: Leather gear was predominately black. Prepared cloth was gradually replacing leather for belts and cartridge box slings. One half or more of the soldiers used knapsacks. Soldiers were required to keep uniforms and equipment clean and repaired. As the war progressed, the use by North Carolinians of cartridge box plates, waist belts, and cartridge box sling plates declined significantly.