The 1884 Fatigue Uniform: Easy, Comfortable, inexpensive.

[Mustang Gregg]

BRAVO.
I am still going over that information.
It's great.

[Niederlander]

WPG's Boer war tunic is not really an exact copy of the p1896 tunic.  The 1896 had the standing collar.  The WPG tunic has the stand and fall collar of the P1900 regs with the pointed pocket flaps of the p1896 regs.  Seems like an easy enough fix.

I had mine changed to a standing collar.  Pretty easy for any seamstress.  (I doubt if I could ever do it myself........)

[Guns Garrett]

Reading thru McChristians book, concerning the 1884 brown duck uniform, he states (near the bottom of page 141) that "Chevrons, however, were not authorized for wear on either the duck coats or the stable frocks."  Since the subtitle of the book states that it covers "1880-1892" , were these authorized later?  I am considering an impression from Gen. Miles' 1886 Geronimo Campaign, and was trying to determine if I would need trouser stripes/ NCO chevrons (of course I could always be a Private)

[Guns Garrett]

I did find, on a uniform vendor's site, that COTTON chevrons were authorized in 1898...but can find no refernce on wear prior to that.

"Help me, Obi-Drydock...you're my only hope..."

[Drydock]

If you look at footnote #35 back on page 299, you will see where General Sheridan later issued a decision (1885) that noncoms of any grade, including General Staff, could wear the brown canvas clothing.  Prior to that it was thought only privates would be wearing this outfit, but it proved to be too popular among all ranks.  I suspect soon after Sheridans decision,  rank began to be displayed on the tunics, certainly by the SAW.   This would not be by regulation, but the wearing of rank on shirtsleeves in the tropics was not regulation either: it made sense to the troops, so they did it.

[Guns Garrett]

Well, 1886 Arizona Territory is a loooong ways away from Washington DC and Gen. Sheridan...I know Crook wasn't picky about uniforms, considering his khaki "safari suit" and Woolsey helmet...and tennis shoes.  Wonder if Miles was one to distrupt the status quo?

[Pitspitr]

Wonder if Miles was one to distrupt the status quo?

Yes, Miles liked the regulations...at least when applied to the men. He wass also something of a "peacock" though so he might have liked the idea of chevrons on the stable uniform.

The chevrons on the fatigue blouse weren't authorized until 1876, but it was a common practice since at least the civil war. I can't imagine that it wouldn't be the same with the brown duck jacket, at least after it's every day wear became common.


I hope St. George will chime in.

[Guns Garrett]

I wonder if the same applies to the stripes on the trousers...some sutlers (QM Shop, one example) offers the 1884 uniform in trimmed in "branch colors".   The reference in McChristian states NCO's were authorized to draw and wear the 1884 brown uniform, but throws in the "however" about the insignia of rank NOT being authorized for wear on it...but Pitspitr and Drydock both have valid and true points.

I wonder if any chevrons would have the blue wool backing as for the fatigue blouse, and whether this would carry over to the Senior and "specialist" NCO's, such as QM Sgt, Saddler, Signal Corps?  I mean the "arc" area above the chevrons - would that arc area have the blue wool backing?  (I'm referring mostly to pre-1890's)...  I reference Drydock's profile pic as a SAW Artillery Sgt - a few years after the era of my current interest.

Speaker of of campaign uniforms...I just finished reading Leonard Wood's journal of his time "Chasing Geronimo".  After Geronimo's agreement to surrender to Miles, a group of Mexican militia arrived, demanding Geronimo be turned over to them for "justice".  Wood negotiated with them, wearing his. "campaign uniform", described as: moccasins, drawers, undershirt, and a campaign hat with no crown.

[Pitspitr]

Reading thru McChristians book, concerning the 1884 brown duck uniform, he states (near the bottom of page 141) that "Chevrons, however, were not authorized for wear on either the duck coats or the stable frocks."  Since the subtitle of the book states that it covers "1880-1892" , were these authorized later?  I am considering an impression from Gen. Miles' 1886 Geronimo Campaign, and was trying to determine if I would need trouser stripes/ NCO chevrons (of course I could always be a Private)

Not the period you're asking about but on pages 7&8 of Cowboys in Uniform are original period photographs of Sgt.'s wearing the brown duck uniforms with chevrons and leg stripes.

[Niederlander]

Gentlemen,  I just got the 1884 uniform blouse from What Price Glory, and it is excellent!  Now to have it modified to an officer's piece, as were the originals......(No two alike, evidently.)

[1961MJS]

Hi
I got one from Coon Creek(right?) a few years ago, but don't wear it much.  On the hill its either too much coat, or not near enough coat.  Shirtsleeves or wool shirt, vest, and sack coat.
Later

[1961MJS]

I wonder if the same applies to the stripes on the trousers...some sutlers (QM Shop, one example) offers the 1884 uniform in trimmed in "branch colors".   The reference in McChristian states NCO's were authorized to draw and wear the 1884 brown uniform, but throws in the "however" about the insignia of rank NOT being authorized for wear on it...but Pitspitr and Drydock both have valid and true points.

Hi again
I'm getting a second pair of the 1884 trousers, and was going to get an officer set with the yellow stripe for when I range officer and when I shoot staff officer.  Cowboys in Uniform shows a lot of pictures of the uniforms with the various stripes, but there is no mention of wool or cotton stripe.  If wool is the only choice, I may skip out on the stripe.  I don't want to dry clean Canvas duck.
Later

[Robert Swartz]

.....some curious questions.  This uniform was being replaced by the denim in 1911, considering my own military service. I was in the Army when the OG 507 was being replaced by the BDU. New recruits started showing up with the BDU's in early 1981. Many us were still wearing greens when I left the service in 1984. Am I off base in thinking one could shoot an EEM in this outfit with an 03 Springfield, DA revolver (or maybe even an 1911),  the new green or khaki belts and pouches and the 1911 campaign hat? BTW, when I left the 507 greens still had more than a year before they were no longer authorized for wear.

[Niederlander]

I believe the original stripes, trim, etc. was wool.  I'm using cotton I got from Leta at Coon Creek.  I'll still get the nice one cleaned and pressed.  The field ones should be fine washing in cold and hanging dry.

As an aside, I've decided to go with a 1904 Marine Officer for EEM.  I can use a Krag rifle (didn't get the '03 until about 1909), and I can use the blue field shirt and khaki trousers.  Easier to bring ammunition.

[smoke]

I believe the original stripes, trim, etc. was wool.  I'm using cotton I got from Leta at Coon Creek.  I'll still get the nice one cleaned and pressed.  The field ones should be fine washing in cold and hanging dry.

As an aside, I've decided to go with a 1904 Marine Officer for EEM.  I can use a Krag rifle (didn't get the '03 until about 1909), and I can use the blue field shirt and khaki trousers.  Easier to bring ammunition.

What trousers did you decide ot go with?  FYI, WPG is having a good sale on ebay.  Their British Boer war uniform is really close to the USMC khaki pattern.  The tunic has  the correct pointed pocket flaps.  The collar would need to be changed from the stand and fall to a standing collar.  Buttons are Brit of course and would need to be swapped.

I think the whole uniform was around $110 shipped to me.

[Quick Fire]

Is WPG no longer carrying the 84 fatigue uniform? I found the 98 but not the 84

[Robert Swartz]

Is WPG no longer carrying the 84 fatigue uniform? I found the 98 but not the 84

.....the earlier uniform per WPG, the "84" brown canvas duck was sold as separate trousers and jacket on EBAY.  All I've seen available there lately are a couple different size trousers. Coon Creek, C & C Sutler and maybe S & S Firearms might still have the pieces. If you want a truly historically correct outfit. Contact Joe Blunt, proprietor of Carter & Jasper Mercantile.

Boy, I hate autocorrect, funny it never catches msspellings! Yet corrects words you don't need corrected.

[Niederlander]

What Price Glory plans to restock on the 1884, but they said it may be a few months.

[Pitspitr]

The Quartermaster Depot is a good source too although they sometimes take quite a while for delivery.
https://www.quartermasterdepot.com/

[Quick Fire]

Jerry, the quartermaster is 20 weeks and beyond  for delivery according to their website.