Impression Guidelines
for the
First Texas Infantry
(circa mid-1863)
(click here for a printable copy of this document)


Pards,

     Here are the equipment and uniform guidelines for Company A, First Texas Infantry for the middle of 1863. While our unit is the First Texas, we predominately seek to portray the common infantryman in the Army of Northern Virginia.

      These are very loose guidelines and anyone considering trying this hobby and buying equipment is STRONGLY encouraged to ask many questions before making any purchases. There are many fine vendors out there who care about authenticity and making quality products. There are may more, however, who will sell you anything to make a buck.

      Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have and I will be happy to help.

Bill Treadway
treadwayhome@gmail.com

Jacket
Richmond Clothing Bureau "Type II" Jacket made of wool/cotton jean, "English" kersey, cassimere or other period materials. Properly constructed frock coats are also acceptable

Trousers
Confederate or civilian style trousers made of wool/cotton jean, wool, cassimere or other period materials.

Shirt
Civilian style, Confederate issue osnaburg, English army shirts, Federal issue shirts.

Accoutrements
Plain blackened leather accoutrements with no markings are most common

Cartridge Box
Confederate, English, or Federal boxes, box should match caliber of weapon being carried. Note: All cartridge boxes MUST have tins. This is a safety concern then and now!!

Cap Box
Confederate, English or Federal manufactured.

Belt
Confederate manufactured or civilian models. Some of the most common buckles are fixed frame forked tongue and roller models.

Scabbard
Confederate (tin, lead or no finial- no rivets), Enfield pattern or Federal 2 rivet pattern. Scabbard should be appropriate to the bayonet being carried.

Haversack
Confederate cotton or painted cloth, civilian, English or Federal.

Canteen
Confederate tin drum, wooden “Gardner” pattern, civilian, or Federal M1858 “smoothside” model.

Knapsack (if worn)
Mexican War copied bag ("Kibler" or "Johnston" style), S. Isaac Campbell and Company,  Federal M1853/55 Double bag, or a blanket roll.

Blanket
Confederate, civilian, Federal, coverlet, or proper period quilt.

Ground Cloth
Painted or Oiled cloth, Federal rubberized blanket.

Musket
.69 caliber percussion smoothbore, .577 caliber Enfield "3-band" rifled-musket, or .58 caliber model 1861 Springfields. ENFIELD RIFLED-MUSKETS ARE PREFERRED.

Bayonet
Socket type made for the musket being carried. All muskets shall have a bayonet.