Question for Civil War uniform expert

[44caliberkid]

I'm putting together a Civil War era uniform, an artillery man.  My question is about the jacket/ coat.  When I first had this idea many years ago, the uniform producers had sack coats with red piping.  Now all I find is the shorter jacket which I don't nessesarily care for, however, I want to be accurate.   Did artillery men only wear the short jackets, or did some have sack coats?  If you have documentation I'd appreciate it.

[Major 2]

Union Shell jackets were piped in red worsted tape for Enlistedmen Artillery , Reg. Army Regultion dress Frocks were piped in red edge welting.
Officers wore red fields on their shoulder bars.
Sack coats were fatigue dress and not piped though enlisted rank  Corpl. & Sgt. had red chevrons also the 5 years service hash bar were red ( these were very rare however )

Confederate service Reg.'s called for Red Trim and is seen in some early war photo's ( shortage in materials percluded the use beyond early 62 ) on Shell jackets , less so on simlar Round Jackets. 

There was a later 1872 5 button sack coat ( CW era was 4 button) edge welted in red for Artillery...

[Ransom Gaer]

I belong to a reenactment artillery battery called Turner's Battery.  Otherwise known as the 1st Mississippi Light Artillery.  Our unit uses typically a seven button shell jacket with gray trousers.  Our jackets are trimmed in red around the wrists and collar.  The rest of the jacket is in a color called Tuscaloosa Grey.  It is a sort of reddish grey.  The Quartermaster Shop has a color swab of Tuscaloosa Grey on their website.  By the way that is where I got my shelljacket.  This uniform is a mid war uniform.

Ransom Gaer

[Daniel Nighteyes]

Though I don't belong to an artillery reinactment outfit, I did some fairly careful research on the artillery uniforms (such as they were) of the Trans-Mississippi Confederacy, and particularly American Indian outfits such as the Second Cherokee Artillery.

Shell jackets seem to have been fairly common from Texas northward along the western bank of the Mississippi.  The red trim, however, was somewhat less so.

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy Kid,

Try Fall Creek Sutlery     http://fcsutler.com/     for the uniform.  They sell Quartermaster Shop uniforms and also offer a "Made in the USA"  economy price version.  They have sack coats and complete uniform deals.  They are very reputable and you get good service too.

['Monterrey' Jack Brass]

.44 cal kid,

I'm assuming Federal light artillery is what you're interested in. For a good general on-line reference try: http://www.cwartillery.org/artillery.html.

For good books showing pictures of original stuff, artillery uniforms and other, you can't go wrong with "Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Union" and "Echoes of Glory: Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy".

Good luck with your search for the uniform information you seek.

Brass

[44caliberkid]

Thank you for your responses gentlemen.  My uniform would be a federal (Union) uniform.  Sounds like I could do a sack coat with the red corporal chevrons, trousers with the red tape stripe down the leg and the crossed cannon emblem on my kepi.  There were so many variations I may fit in somewhere.

[Dr. Bob]

Sounds like a plan, Stan!