For
those looking to appear more as the CS soldiers of
this campaign, I have put together some simple
thoughts and original photographs to you to
review.
It
is not required that all CS participants
adhere to this list, but it is encouraged so as to
provide the public and your fellow reenactors a
more accurate material depiction of the
Boys.
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.
This
is the event for the worn and torn look. The Common
CS soldier during this campaign traveled light and
looked hard. They still would have been covered
in road dust, and their clothing and equipment
would be coming to the end of its useful life span.
The Commutation System was in its death throes, and
the Central Government Issue system was not fully
functional yet. And the common soldier paid for
this.
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. The individual states did
equip many a regiment, but there is no hard rule
that says if you are from South Carolina you would
have been wearing a South Carolina Frock Coat. 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.
Keep
in mind these suggestions only cover the period
from Mid July to Early September 1862, and
are not intended for other periods.
Head
Gear
There
are many choices, and your decision would be based
upon what unit you are depicting:
Jean
Cloth Kepi with a black or blue band, sometimes
rising into a peak at the front. You can see good
examples of these in the Confederate version of
Echoes of Glory. Havelocks were not worn by this
period.
CS
Jean "McDowell" caps
Properly
blocked and lined Civilian Hats, perhaps folded
into a "tri-corn", seen on troops from many states
in early war photos.
Coat
There are several options for this as
well:
NC Jean "Regimental" Coat
NC Jean Shell Jacket
GA Issue Shell Jacket
South Carolina Issue frock Coat
Richmond Depot I
Commutation Jackets
Over shirts (battle shirts)
Civilian Frock or Sack coats
If
all you own is a Richmond Depot II or III style
jacket, you can do a "quick fix" and make these
jackets appear as Early War by stitching some black
or blue tape trim to the collar and/or cuffs and/or
epaulets. On many originals I have found, the
stitching is very poorly done, so you do not have
to be a master tailor to pull it off! Remember
there is a general acceptance that the Richmond
Depot Pattern Jackets were based off of earlier
patterns, with cost cutting measures.
A
few dollars in black or blue tape trim, and about
half an hour, and you now have a jacket that is
much more period for this timeframe.
Trousers
As
with Coats there are many state variations you
could wear. Basic CS or Civilian trousers will
suffice, perhaps you might want to add a black or
blue tape stripe to the out side seam of the
trousers, as was often seen in this
period.
As
with coats, most of the trousers worn during this
period would be state issued or commutation
pattern. They do not differ greatly from standard
Richmond Pattern Foot Trousers, but were often seen
with tape trim on the legs, once again black or
blue, and 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.
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
This
is one other area in which you can "appear 1862"
The
most common canteen would have been the plain tin
drum, with cloth or leather strap. This is an
inexpensive purchase, and the whole unit would look
"uniform" buy carrying these, as well as common
white CS issue Haversacks.
As
with shoes, the number of CS troops carrying
captured Federal Gear has been exaggerated in many
cases, and especially for this campaign.
Good
Luck, and I look forward to seeing you Looking
1862!
S. Chris Anders
