Confederates Looking 1863
One aspect of the hobby that will increase both your knowledge and enjoyment of an event, is tailoring your impression to the specific event. This allows you to learn more about the material culture as well as giving the public a better vision of the troops of the period.
The Common CS soldier during this campaign traveled light and looked hard. They still would have been covered in road dust, and since the Central Government was now in charge of supplying the men, the look was far more uniform than seen previous.
Keep in mind the clothing a NC Soldier wore during this period, may or may not have differed from that which a VA private wore. Some individual states did equip many a regiment, such as North Carolina, but there is no hard rule that says if you are from North Carolina you would have been wearing a North Carolina Jacket. But it is a detail grossly under represented in our hobby.
In order to illustrate the items, I have original photos of these items with the description, as well as Weaver’s account of how he determined the “rebel” dead from the “national” dead when he was hired to rebury only the Federals in the New National Cemetery. This perhaps is the best view of the CS soldier during this campaign.
Head Gear-
There are many choices, and your decision would be based upon what unit you are depicting.
Choices could be-
Jean Cloth Kepi of gray or brown. You can see good examples of these in the Confederate Version of Echoes of Glory. Havelocks were not worn by this period.
Properly blocked and lined Civilian Hats, with little or no decorations and Hat Brass.
Coat-
There are several options for this as well.
Richmond Type II is the preferred coat. This is a 7-9 button jean or satinette short jacket, with epaulets, some having belt loops as well. This were mostly lined in osnanberg, with either Block I or Federal General Service Buttons. Light gray was the most common color seen, with various undertones of brown, blue, and green.
Other coats seen during this campaign, and thus as options are-
NC Jean Shell Jacket
GA Issue Shell Jacket
South Carolina Issue frock Coat
Civilian Frock or Sack coats
Trousers-
As with Coats there are a few variations you could wear. Basic Richmond or Civilian trousers should be the majority of trousers seen, with no trim on the seams.
These were sometimes lined 8 inches up from the bottom, allowing the trouser to fall naturally over a pair of boots. Notice I said over a pair, not tucked in, except for mounted officers.
These should be made out of jean or satinette, with some broadcloth and kersey trousers seen in the ranks. THIS DOES NOT MEAN FEDERAL ISSUE TROUSERS. This is a reenactorism, and highly overdone in the hobby. The fact is the CS Government did issue some Sky Blue trousers, but these were of their pattern, and not the Federal Governments.
Footwear-
At this point in the War, CS or Civilian Shoes would prove to be the most common, as the number of Federal Shoes worn by CS troops has been highly over estimated.
Canteen/Knapsack/Haversacks-
This is one other area in which you can “appear 1863”
Most Veteran Troops would have confiscated Federal Smooth side canteens and tarred haversacks, however the common plain tin drum, with cloth or leather strap would have been seen with newer units as well as the common white CS issue Haversacks.
In Fremantle’s accounts, the bedroll was far favored over Knapsacks, but a few units differed, and the occasional Double Bag would have been seen, as well as some English import bags
Good Luck, and I look forward to seeing you Looking 1863!
S. Chris Anders
