| Headgear - Members DO NOT need to own both styles of headgear. We recommend all 5th MI members acquire a forage cap first. |
Forage Cap |
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The forage cap was the more typical style cap in the Army of the Potomac. For that reason, we recommend this be your first piece of headgear. |
Recommended Sources:
W.W. & Company
Price: $90.00 Shipped |
US 1858 Dress Hat |
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Commonly called a "Hardee Hat" by re-enactors, this hat was often worn by soldiers in the field. It could be dressed up with hat brass, but we recommend using it plain unless you add the proper company letter for the specific portrayal. |
Recommended Sources:
T.P. & H. Trading
Price: $101.00 + S&H
Vet tip - Pay the extra $15 and get the hat stretcher - it will care for your hat between events and make it last longer! |
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Also called a "Sack Coat," this four button garment was the workhorse coat for Union soldiers. Recently, a Michigan based company has made high quality versions of this coat available at reasonable prices. |
Recommended Sources:
W.W. & Company
Price: $145.00 Shipped |
Blanket |
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We consider the blanket one of the three most important historical purchases because it is so visible when spread out in camp.
There is currently only one source we know of for new reproductions. |
Recommended Source:
N. J. Sekala
$105.00 plus S&H |
Trousers |
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Union foot trousers were made of sky blue wool and overwhelmingly had watch pockets. Please make sure your trousers have a watch pocket. If you buy from either of our recommeded sources, you'll be in great shape. |
Recommended Sources:
Stony Brook
W.W. & Company
Prices:
SB - $95 + S&H
WW - $180.00 Shipped |
| Shirts - As with headgear, 5th MI members DO NOT need to own both to get started. Pick the style that works best for you. |
Contract Issue Shirt |
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The Union army issued shirts to the men made out of one material - WOOL! Reproduction of domet flannel, arsenal made issue shirts are very hard to find right now. The contractor made shirt has a more comfortable 3 button placket and has a breast pocket. Still, as one Civil War soldier wrote home, it is "rather coarse and scratchy." However, the men were issued these and they are an excellent layer on a cool evening. Typical colors are gray, tan and dark blue. All are acceptable. |
Recommended Sources:
W.W. & Company
Price: $100.00 shipped |
Civillian Shirt |
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Shirts sent from home or purchased from the sutler were also very popular with the men. Though they sometimes were sent in wool, more often then came in cotton. Pick any period appropriate check, stripe or solid pattern you like. This wasn't an issued item, rather one that either came from home or was privately purchased. If you haven't re-enacted before, you might make this your first shirt as your body adjusts to wearing wool outside in the summer. |
Recommended Sources:
W.W. & Company
Lorna Mitchell
of MAKE YOUR OWN WITH HELP FROM A VETERAN IN THE GROUP!
Price: WW $85.00
LM $45.00 S-L
$55.00 XL-XXL
LM - no felled seams
Homemade - $15.00 for materials |
Braces |
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During the Civil War, suspenders were more commonly referred to as "braces." They are the best choice to hold your trousers up. While necessary to your kit, talk to vets in the group. These are one of the easiest items to borrow! |
Recommended Sources:
W.W. & Company
Avg. Price: $35.00 |
Brogans |
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The Jefferson Brogan was the first army issue shoe to have a specific right and left shoe when issued. Be sure to get a good quality reproduction, your feet will thank you as we are often on our feet for long periods of time! |
Recommended Sources:
J. Lammers and Co
$115.00 plus S&H
Robert Land
$105.00 plus S&H |
Canteen |
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There is not a more important item in a re-enactor's kit! The canteen will keep water near you to keep you hydrated. We recommend the M1858 Smoothside canteen. Get it with a gray or brown jean cloth cover and a cloth sling. The leather sling is appropriate for early war impressions. |
Recommended Sources:
Blockade Runner - Best 1858 Tin Canteen Anywhere
$39.95 plus S&H
W.W. & Company
Cincinnati Depot Canteen
$70.00 Shipped |
Socks |
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Soldiers wore both cotton and wool socks during the war. We HIGHLY recommend acquiring the wool socks first. They will care for your feet better under the army brogans. Many of our vets always wear two pairs of socks during the day - cotton under wool. Old Soldier's Tip -Take the cotton socks off when you sleep. Wool does a better job insulating your feet and will keep you warmer. |
Recommended Sources:
Wool:
Machine made:
W.W. & Company - $40.00/pair Shipped
Hand Knit:
Larissa Fleischman - $40.00/pair
Cotton:
W.W & Company - $12.00 for 2 pair Shipped |
Cartridge Box |
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The cartridge box, it's belt (sometime called a sling), tins and plates are considered Ordnance as they support the weapon. We are fortunate to have an excellent maker in state who uses original boxes in his collection to reproduce these leathers. |
Recommended Sources:
J. Lammers & Co.
Cartridge Box (.58 cal) - $65.00
Cartridge Box Belt - $25.00
Box & Breast plate - $9.00 each |
Cap Pouch |
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The cap pouch, also Ordnance, attached to the waist belt and sits on the right of the belt plate. We recommen the standard pouch, though either the standard or shield front are appropriate for most of the war. |
Recommended Sources:
J. Lammers & Co.
Standard pouch - $40.00 |
Wasit Belt |
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Here we show three varieties of waist belt. The top example is an early war style. You can tell this because it has a leather loop at the end opposite the buckle. The middle example is a late war belt. The brass keepers didn't come in to use until XX. The bottom belt with the rectangular buckle is the NCO belt, usually worn by sergeants. |
Recommended Sources:
Early War "Federal Issue Waist Belt"-
Duvall Leather Work
$45.00
Late War Belt -
J. Lammers & Co.
$34.00
NCO Belt -
J. Lammers & Co.
$50.00 |
Knapsack |
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The knapsack serves as the major carrying device for all a solider's belongings. This is the "Double Bag Knapsack" a great reproduction and very durable. Knapsacks of this style were the most common in the American Army and are the preferred knapsack of the 5th Michigan |
Recommended Sources:
Missouri Boot and Shoe
$185.00 shipped |
Gum Blanket |
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The gum blanket served several purposes. It could be used as tent if one wasn't available. It served as a waterproof layer when sleeping and became the man's rain cape. |
Recommended Sources:
C & D Jarnagin
$96.25 plus S&H
N. J. Sekala
$119.00 plus S&H |
Haversack |
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This bag hung over the man's right shoulder and rested on his left hip on the march. It carried all the rations that were issued.
Purchasing the machine sewn copy is an excellent place to save a little money on your kit! |
Recommended Sources:
Machine Sewn
Missouri Boot & Shoe's "Harrison Wiley's Haversack"
$32.00 postage paid
Hand Sewn
"Quartermaster Museum" or "West Point Museum" Haveracks from Haversack Depot (shown)
$60.00 + $5.50 shipping
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Shelter Half |
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Beginning in April, 1862, Union Infantrymen were issued Shelter Tents for their homes in the field. Each man carried one-half and buttoned it together with a comrade when camp was reached at night.
VET'S TIP - Consider buying two halves from the same vendor so you know you have a complete tent. You can always share with a friend! |
Recommended Source:
W. W. & Company
Early to Mid-War Shelter Half
$95.00 shipped |
Soldiers from the Civil War had an entire uniform that they wore. They carried equipment to help them survive and to care for their weapons. They had a bag called a haversack on their side in which food was carried. A canteen carried water.