completely  unfimilar with them... but the hubby wants a pair. ive seen leather and ive seen canvas... but which one is the right? pictures are hard to tell from. anything else you can tell me that i need to know?

First thing responders will ask is "right for what"? Which regiment, what period of the war? It's my understanding that generally, they're seen way more often on mainstream reenactors than they were during the war, except in particular historic situations, but those with more military knowledge will come along and correct or expand on that, I'm sure!

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

Actually, I only want them for when we are a Color Guard. Gators have historically been used when the company was at drill.  They keep the pant legs from getting in the view of the "Perfect cadence"  

--Last edited by trappedonrr on 2007-12-03 18:51:05 --

yah.. what he said lol.

Madam:

The "federal issue" gaiters that were widely worn by members of the Iron Brigade for example were based upon French patterns which laced up the sides, in the same fashion as the leather jambieres (which are leather covers for the top of gaiters). I produce the ones below based upon a pair in the Troiani collection and is also pictured in Echoes of Glory.

They definitely are on a unit by unit basis. There is a famous quote of Confederate General John B. Gordon who mentioned the Federal Troops advancing on his line at the Sunken Road at Antietam. The Federal Third Corps was issued these gaiters just prior to the Chancellorsville Campaign. Since they were issued prior to an active campaign, it makes it unlikely that their use was limited to drill or limited applications.

The pair that I copied was originally produced by a female contractor, Harriet J. Moore, who was the wife of a minister. She had several substantial contracts for uniforms during the war, among which were these gaiters.  

--Last edited by Histcloth on 2007-12-04 04:59:51 --

I see a lot of photos of the white button type too. But, again it would be on a unit to unit basis. As for the black or white canvas deals with leather buckles sold most everywhere...Naw. Save your money.

Thank you Mr. Sekela... that is actually very helpful.

Dave... Im not buying, Im making. I never buy when I am capable of using a sewing machine and making it correctly

Dulcie and Kevin,

Dulcie, I would rethink that making them yourself idea, unless you have a very heavy duty sewing machine. Please note the heavy canvas, the leather foot strap, the rivets, the buckle at the top, and the gromets going up the side. Gaiters are not an easy item to make correctly.

Kevin, if you and your pards want to put together a generic parade or honor guard unit, gaiters would look sharp. As others have mentioned, gaiters weren't very common for troops on campaign. They seem to be one of those items that were issued more often than used and they weren't issued all that often! My guess is soldiers got real tired of dealing with them PDQ.    

Bill:

You are correct, gaiters, ESPECIALLY Federal ones, were contractor produced, large quantity items. They are definitely NOT homemade.

Gaiters WERE common for soldiers on campaign, but it depends what unit you portray.

I would agree with Mr. Townsend, and NOT waste money on anything that is NOT based on an original.

thank you its one reason i asked. i refuse to do anything wrong well.. i try not to.

where to buy one based off originals?

I wore those for 8 weeks in Boot Camp.  I seriously doubt I would ever wear them at an event.  

Quote :

chatrbug wrote : thank you its one reason i asked. i refuse to do anything wrong well.. i try not to. where to buy one based off originals?

http://www.njsekela.com//OSCommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=63&osCsid=a2fe152a60ebbe057c0848cff0bc2281

If that link does not work try this:
http://www.njsekela.com

Thank you sir...

and Kev... dont click on that link!

Quote :

chatrbug wrote : Thank you sir... and Kev... dont click on that link!

Mrs. White,

You can't drag your husband to the party and then tell him he can't drink!   What the fun in that?  

lol... So very true. And he has been dragged into this

Dulcie,

one of the best things about being new in the hobby is all of the studying and learning one gets to do.  You probably already know this, but you will study totally different things than Kevin will, but you can share your experiences together.  Listen to what the veteran reenactors have to say because most have been there before.  I'm leaving the spectrum of the hobby out of this because you can do the above in any part of it .

True Ken... Ill leave the guns and such up to him But he knows if hes going to wear something, its going to have to be based off an original.

Im always listening... only way to learn.

Quote :

chatrbug wrote : True Ken... Ill leave the guns and such up to him But he knows if hes going to wear something, its going to have to be based off an original. Im always listening... only way to learn.

Hopefully an original exists(and most do)...my case in point...for the Berdan Sharpshooters at the beginning were issued leggings (not gators)which were quite long and extended almost to the kneee on some fellows. Period pictures are available, but no known orginals have been found. The sharpshooters called them 3 day leggings. One day to put on, one day to wear and one day to take off. Some of us have tried to replicate based on the pictures, trying to count buckles etc, but we have yet to come up with an authentic pair taht we can say, yes this matches the orginals.

Just food for thought while on the topic of gators and originals.

Marc:

Could you possibly share some pictures of the leather leggings? Troiani has a pair of leather short gaiters in his collection, and the buckles are actually suspender/vest back type buckles.

Any idea who might have originally made the leggings? Were they French as the knapsacks?

Nick,

I know of no pictures of the leggings by themselves. Only the pictures of a standing berdan with leggings on. I try and come up with a few of those picture. I know a couple other berdans are on this site and maybe they have some pics readily available to post.

The knapsacks were from an Austrian pattern and were contracted to be supplied by Tiffanys.