Uniform requirements for Sailors and Marines





Sailors

  • The flat hat is the only appropriate hat for formations. Straw hats where worn but this should be limited to very informal situations only.

  • Blue wool trousers Navy issue blue wool trousers issued from WWII thru the 1960's are acceptable substitutes. Some of these had zippers in the front slit pockets. Remove them. You should remove the plastic anchor buttons and replace them with plane gutta percha or mother of pearl. CAUTION! Many sailors of this time period had uniforms made of gaberdine. This was not regulation and should be avoided. Fly front or fall front trousers are acceptable.

  • White duck trousers in either fly or fall front are acceptable. Occasionally, you can find these in flea markets or second hand shops. Avoid those with rear pockets. Failing this, You'll have to have them made.White duck trousers rear view

  • Blue wool jumper The construction of this item is critical to the impression of Civil War sailor. These jumpers should have drop shoulders ie. The body should be in the shape of a "T" with the sleeves attached. All photograph evidence seems to indicate cuffed sleeves. Modified WWII jumpers are not acceptable.

  • White duck jumpers Construction of these are identical to the blue jumper. Blue denim cuffs and collars with white piping are appropriate.

  • Embroidery and embelishments are acceptable and encouraged.

  • Shoes CW Army brogans are acceptable.

  • Neckerchiefs Black silk 30-32 inches. (web master's note, please tie these correctly.)

  • Accoutrements Cutlasses, scabbards, pistol frogs and pistol cartridge boxes may be purchased from Legendary Arms. Pistols should be .36 cal. Navy Colts with iron frames. Brass frames are not acceptable.

  • Not Required But Nice to Have


  • Folding Sea Knife Hard to Find

  • Blue Jacket Love Those New England Winters




  • Marines


  • Headgear Kepi with bound visor and proper marine bugle. Slouch hats are not acceptable. Straw hats may be worn on off duty hours.

  • The undress coat is a seven button blue wool frock coat with red piping at the base of a stand-up collar. Two small buttons at the sleeve and two at the back.

  • Trousers are one of the few items you can use from your army impression. CW enlisted trousers without piping are acceptable for privates. White linen or white duck trousers with a button fly front are also acceptable.

  • Shoes Your army brogans are acceptable.
  • Accoutrements The white buff leather 1839 bayonet scabbard sling with oval plate is our standard, recognizing that there where variations. The cartridge box should be plain without a plate, with white buff leather sling. The waist belt was also of white buff leather with a plain rectangular plate. Cap box is the same as the army pattern.
  • Musket The preffered musket is the 1842 Springfield, however, any three band musket is acceptable.




  • The Impression


  • Do not come with an "attitude". A lot is made of the animosity between sailors and marines and it certainly was real, however, do not over do this. This animosity should be present in a subtle manner. Occasionally this animosity, aggravated by circumstances and stress boiled over into more aggressive displays, but this was not an everyday occurrence.
  • Because many of us have evolved into this through CW army, I feel the need for the following comment... Do not come looking like the Army of the Potomac after a hard campaign. Blacken your shoes. Clean, bright, brass and clean uniforms are a must for this impression. Marines onboard ship had more than enough time to clean thier uniforms and where required to do so.

  • Your army blankets are O.K.

  • A clean tin cup, flatware, and plate for the mess is a must. These should not be covered with soot from numerous camp fires.


  • This page is hosted by Get your own free home page


  • Go back to theKearsarge homepage