Cas City Forum Hall & CAS-L
Special Interests - Groups & Societies => The Barracks => Topic started by: smoke on September 25, 2021, 06:36:26 AM
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I was rereading one of the McChristian books last night..US Army 1870-80's....and I got to wondering if how late CW uniforms were actually issued out. New uniforms regs were adopted starting in 1872. but we know that troops on campaign wore the oldest uniforms or locally made if needed.
Does anyone have some type of documentation about CW uniforms issued out later than 1872?
Just a random thought on a Saturday morning while I wait for the coffee to kick in. :o
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I forget where I read it, but I believe the last stocks of CW uniforms were sold off as surplus in 1880. check my books when I get home.
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Being sold off as surplus doesn't mean that Quartermaster shelf stocks were emptied, and things stay on the shelves until exhausted.
The impecunious Frontier Army wasn't going to provide new-issue until they absolutely had to spend that money, and sadly, the soldier had little priority, so long as he was clothed and equipped for the job.
Weaponry was different.
Scouts Out!
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Some place there's a photo of a soldier (in a group) wearing a 4 button sack coat taken at Ft. Robinson in the 1890's. There's also a guy in the same photo wearing a 1872 pleased blouse and like 4 different models of campaign hats
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OOPS.
I should have double checked before I posted. The photo I was thinking of was at Ft. Grant and was in 1876.
Sorry
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.....from reading the different books, McChristian, Langolier and Rutledge being the most informative. 1880 or so would be pretty accurate. Anything painted, haversacks and knapsacks come to mind. Those deteriorated pretty quickly due to storage issues. Leather goods through use, modification and poor storage were probably next. Forage caps and shirts because of hard use would logically be next. All more than likely used up by the time the 72-74 issues started to catch up with the western units. With trousers, frock coats, which I understand were modified and shortened, then 4 button sacks being the items that stayed in the supply system the longest. These last items still seeing field use into the very early 1880's.
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Thanks for replying guys. I figured it was into the late 1870's. Has anyone read a first hand account of troops being issued CW uniforms that late? I have read accounts of how poor the uniforms were but don't recall any dates mentioned.