First things

I've had an interest in the Battle of 1st Bull Run/1st Manassas for as long as I can remember.Not really the AmericanCivil War, just 1st Bull Run.I think it was two pictures which drew me to find out more about the battle.The picture of Francis Brownell 'Ellsworth's Avenger' with his foot on the rebel flag standing proudly in the first uniform of the 11th New York and an unknown private in the 12th New York State Militia which was in an Almark publication I still have. Both these uniforms were much more exotic than those of the  Airfix ACW figures I was playing with at the time.As it turned out Ist Bull Run was the only engagement either of these two regiments fought in.
     After a number of failed attempts to collect wargames armies to game 1st Bull Run, I wasn't happy that the figures looked 'right'.
  The advent of the Perry Brothers ACW Bull Run figures has inspired me to have another go.So I've dusted down my books and previous research on the net, some sites have gone but most of them are still there and I've also come across some exciting new sites,and I'm fired up to have another go.
     My intention for this blog is to share my findings with anybody with a similar interest and also I hope get direction from you if I'm going down the wrong track.It certainly isn't meant to be definitive (no chance of that) but merely how I intend to paint my figures. So the more help I get from you the happier I'll be. Thanks
     What I hope to do is describe by unit the uniforms worn and flags carried (if either or both are known) at the Battle of Ist Bull Run/1st Manassas

So lets make a start with the 4th Alabama.Happily the flag is available for all to see on this excellent site from where the picture of the original flag (below) is taken from.
http://www.archives.alabama.gov/referenc/flags/index.html
 A number of flags are listed for the various companies of the 4th Alabama.The one carried at 1st Bull Run however was that of Coy. G  Marion Light Infantry.

A much faded cotton bale can just be made out on the middle white stripe and part of the lower red stripe.The reverse of the flag was a plain 11 star National flag (as depicted in Don Troani's  'Up Alamabamians', which also nicely shows the uniform of Coy F Huntsville Guard)

I'm not aware that the 4th Alabama carried a state flag at 1st Bull Run. I'd be happy to be corrected on that.

Uniforms.
Here goes. The fabled 'Sunday Picnic Uniforms' by Paul Stevenson published in Military Modelling October and December 1987 has information on 4 companies of the 4th Alabama. A colour plate based on a photograph of a corporal of Coy F shows a  grey Kepi,Frock coat and trousers all trimmed black.
Also with a comment that knapsacks were worn in action. (As shown in the Troiani picture referred to above).
Coy B Tuskegee Zouaves are described as possibly wearing red Fez, dark blue zouave jacket and trousers.The officers described as wearing dark blue frock coat frogged on the chest and dark blue trousers and gold epaulettes.
Coy C Officers wear Hardee hat, dark blue frock coat and grey trousers. Other ranks are not described but Stevenson suggests possibly AVC regulation uniform with kepis. This would be dark blue frock coat  and cadet grey trousers.
Coy K again only officers uniform described, Hardee hat, dark blue frock coat and trousers.
Ron Field in Men-at-Arms 426 describes the AVC uniform in more detail and also how chaotic and varied were the initial uniforms worn by the first units going of to war. With specific mention of the 4th Alabama he describes the uniform of Capt Evander Law of the Tuskegee Zouaves as wearing the uniform described by Paul Stevenson though stating the trousers were either dark grey or blue. Of the uniform of the other ranks he says they are unknown.

Two photographs of 4th Alabama Coy K officers are shown in 'Faces of Manassas' by JoAnna McDonald. The Captain and Lieutenant both wear Hardee hats and dark probably untrimmed frock coats. The Lt is wearing light coloured trousers with a broad dark stripe. Essentially with the exception of the hats they appear to be dressed the same as the officer wearing the havelock in the Troiani picture.
The Capt was killed at Bull Run and the Lt survived. This at least means the photographs were taken at some time  prior to the battle. Of course that doesn't help with OR's uniforms. Were they the same as Coy F grey or AVC regulation blue and cadet grey or indeed neither of those?

The Time-Life series Voices of the Civil War volume 'First Manassas' on p92 has a quote from Sgt Maj Robert Coles which begins "The regiment moved out from camp in light marching order on the evening of the 18th." I don't know what light marching order is, does it include knapsacks? Sadly his company is not identified.

So that what I've come up with. sadly it raises as many questions as it answers about what the 4th Alabama wore at 1st Bull Run. What did the other companies who haven't got a mention wear?, were Coy B still wearing Zouave uniform in July 1861?, did all the companies retain their knapsacks in the battle?, was Coy H the flag company during the battle?

Well for my purposes the approximately 700 men will be represented by 4 companies of 5 men each.
I'm going to have a zouave company, more than likely painted as described in 'Sunday Picnic Uniforms', two companies dressed as per Coy F in grey frock coats and one company dressed as per AVC regulations in blue frock coats. Probably. With or without knapsacks? Hmmmm?


I hope its been worth the read.