Thread: Billy Yank

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Sorry. Didn't mean to close the other thread.

Usually around this time of year is when I plan for Halloween. Right now, I've consider dressing up as a Union solider from the Civil War. I want to look authentic as possible, and there are many sites that sell items and articles of clothing that are 100% authentic, but the problem is, it would be very pricey in order for me to buy all that, so I'm trying to think of ways of looking as authentic as possible, but without having to spend my entire paycheck. But also without looking cheesy.

There are many questions I need to ask. If you'd like to help, I welcome it. But my reason for this post is not just for info, but also because typing things out has usually always helped me out when facing any problem.

The only plan I have as of right now is to be a combo of authentic, and a little cheesy. The first thing is I gotta go through the cheapest route that is available, and that is get the Union solider uniform that is sold on sites such as Amazon, Nightmare Factory, and Halloween Express.

This is a picture of the uniform -



It's nice, but not authentic at all, but it would be very pricey to get an authentic uniform. The above uniform itself is over a hundred dollars, so I'm sure you can imagine how much an authentic one would be.

My big pursuance might be the greatcoat featured on this website -

Civil War U.S. Uniforms

The hat -



Again, not exactly authentic, and I could get a pricey hat, but I would worry about drunk people trying to grab it, and steal it. At least by getting a cheaper hat, if that happens, and they somehow manage to get it, no big deal. But I am concerned with the hat fitting, because my head is kinda big. I'd have to get the largest size they have.

Gloves - Not all the soldiers worn gloves, and not all soldiers were government issued gloves. Some would wear their own personal gloves they brought with them, or the gloves their families made for them, and sent them. So I'm thanking I could either not have gloves, or use my own, just as long as they looked 1860ish.

Shoes - As it was said in The Shawshank Redemption, "How often do you look at a man's shoes?" I'm thinking I could just wear my black dress shoes.

Belts - In some films, such as Gods and Generals, I've seen some soldiers marching with the jacket open, so a belt would not be needed if I decided to leave it open. That way, the other part of the uniform could be seen too, but I admit, I like how the jacket looks all buttoned up, and I could use my own belt I have, and just would be without a fancy U.S. belt buckle.

But if I did that, it makes me question if I should even consider buying the other part of the uniform on Nightmare Factory, but I would still need the pants however. So that presents the question of asking my Mother to sew some pants like that for me, buying the pricey pants on the website, maybe looking elsewhere for the pants that look like them, or just getting the entire uniform.

All the other little extra stuff soldiers had such as a canteen, a knapsack, a musket, etc, I'd just have to do without. I could carry a toy gun, but I think it'd look a little too much on the cheesy side, and in downtown Austin, the local police can be kinda strict about "weapons".

Try visiting several Civil War reenactment sites. They usually have some "general store" tents set up at their campsites.

I've been to those, and many of their products thus far have been pricey, but I'll keep looking. Thank you.

Do you or someone you know sew? If you're looking for a more affordable authentic costume, I would recommend looking for patterns that are either based directly on surviving period clothing or are meant for serious reenactors. That's the best option I can think of if you have a resource of sewing experience. I'm afraid I don't have an eye for distinguishing an authentic costume from one that is less-so like the one in your post's picture, and feel a little shaky suggesting patterns and sources, but maybe the following links will give you an idea:
Past Patterns
Civil War Patterns , Fall Creek Sutler
Abraham's Lady
Civil War Men

I'm sure there are better sites out there offering patterns but that would take a little digging around. Simplicity patterns also have a historical series, and if you have a JoAnne's fabrics store nearby, it may be worth taking a look at one of the huge simplicity catalog books to see if there is anything that may fit what you're looking for.
Good luck!

my girlfriend sowed my civil war coat and it turned out great.

Opened recently in Savanna, Ill. possibly 200 mannquins dressed in authentic uniforms, hats, swords, guns, all different(did you know there were so many uniforms in one war?)
This all came together using a retired teacher's hobby of collecting all this STUFF!
Right now they had realistic dummys of numerous US Presidents around a table playing cards.
Gene Wright, the creator of this collection used to take these guys around in an old school bus, set up a huge tent and show them in the summer, what alot of work!
Savanna is on the Miss. River in north western Ill.3 hours due west of Chicago on rt. 64. where you will also find THE widest spot of the Miss. River and the high cliffs of the Miss. Palasades State Park. My house, the Ravens Grin Inn is in Mount Carroll, just 10 miles east from Savanna.
Civil War cannons and statued monuments are just a block from my house.

Zombie Machairodont - Thank you very much. I think sewing is probably the best way to go. I'm thinking if I could get some sewed pants, maybe I could just not wear the upper part of the uniform, and just wear the overcoat only. Especially if no one would even be able to see it since I've be wearing the overcoat.

savagehaunter - Nice! Got any pics?

Gym Whourlfeld - Very cool stuff! Thank you for posting that. I've always loved history!

IMHO, if you want to look the part of a fresh new soldier than find the patterns at JoAnns fabric stores, etc. for the uniform. But...if you want to look war torn and distressed, the dirtier the better. Start shopping the thrift and goodwill stores for gray or blue pants and look for the desired shirt. a lot of the soldiers began taking misc. items from the dead and prisoners. A lot of the soldiers were bare foot or had bandages wrapped around their feet. Some of the soldiers had really vibrant colored uniforms to distinguish them from others (Irish, French etc.). Dirty up your face with makeup and dirty up the costume. Can't wait to see the results. Good luck

Off the record, aren't you gonna be looking over your soldier dressed as Billy Yank in a state full of Johnny Rebs? lol.

lol. That's another great thing about the costume - I'm suppose to be scary since it's Halloween, and there's nothing scarier to a bunch of proud rednecks then a Yankee solider.

Great post by the way. I was thinking of being a combo of the two for right now. Because I do want the coat to look good and fresh.

I pretty much have all the little things I need. All I really need is the large jacket, and that way, I won't even have to worry about the top part. I'll probably just wear a regular shirt underneath since no one will hopefully ever see it.

Then there's the pants, and I am thinking it would save a lot of time and cash if I can get convincing pants somewhere at a cheap pice, since people will most likely only see half of the pants since the overcoat will cover a lot of it.

Then lastly, the hat, which I am still debating if I wanna get the pricy one where I know it will fit me, or the cheap one, which may not be a perfect fit, and won't look authentic, but will still look decent.

If anyone knows of any decent blue looking pants that may not exactly be 1860's army issued pants, but still almost look the part, and could inform me, I'd be grateful.

Was also thinking, check out the local costume rentals. Or get the gray pants and stitch some yellow stripes down the sides. To win the heart of every Texan/southerner you could carry a stick with a white surrender flag to add a bit of humor to it, lol.