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RaggedAssSecond
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Topic: Confederate Blue and Yankee Grey Posted: 11-Jun-2012 at 21:01 |


Artifact Description: | CONFEDERATE SHELL JACKET; BLUE-GREY KERSEY, 1 PIECE BACK & 1 PIECE SLEEVES; LARGE BELT LOOPS,; 6 BUTTONHOLES ORIGINALLY, 5 EXTRA BUTTONHOLES ADDED. | Access#: | 1996.193.19 | Artifact Class: | CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES | Associations: | MAY, ALFRED\USED BY --TRIO GUARD --61ST REGIMENT,NC TROOPS --MAY FAMILY/ASSOCIATED WITH --CIVIL WAR/ASSOCIATED WITH | Dimensions: | [Lt]1' 10 5/8" [Wdt]1' 5 5/16" | Materials: | WOOL | Date Made: | 1864-1865 | Place Made: | | Place Used: | USA | Use History: | THIS GARMENT WAS MANUFACTURED AS A MILITARY JACKET FOR USE IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY. IT WAS ISSUED TO SGT. ALFRED MAY OF THE 61ST NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS SOMETIME IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE WAR AND WORN BY HIM UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE CONFLICT. THE JACKET REMAINED IN HIS FAMILY UNTIL DONATED TO THE MUSEUM. |
EXPANDED DESCRIPTION: BLUE-GRAY KERSEY WOOL IN A FIVE PIECE BODY. NO CENTER BACK SEAM. SHORT STAND UP COLLAR. ORIGINALLY A SIX BUTTON FRONT, WITH FIVE BUTTON HOLES ADDED AT A LATER TIME. "CSA" BUTTONS ARE POST-WAR, STAMPED ON REAR "S. BUCKLEY & CO./ BIRMINGHAM". SLEEVES ARE ONE PIECE WITH SLIGHT GATHERING AT SHOULDERS. ELBOW IS WIDEST POINT OF SLEEVE. TWO BELT LOOPS ATTACH AT SIDES: 4 3/8 INCHES LONG, 1 1/2 INCHES WIDE AT TOP AND 2 INCHES WIDE AT BOTTON. TWO BREST POCKETS IN LINING, EACH HORIZONTAL. NO TRIM. ALL HAND SEWN. DETERIORATION DUE TO MOTHS CONCEALS THE ORIGINAL END OF THE COLLAR ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: RARE AND ATYPICAL EXAMPLE OF A CONFEDERATE MILITARY UNIFORM TUNIC.
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Whoever stood in front of the corn field at Antietam needs no praise." . . . . . Rufus R. Dawes, 6th Wisconsin.
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Centrix Vigilis
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 21:16 |
As usual some fine contributions and analysis. I welcome RaggedAssSecond's efforts and encourgae him to continue.
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"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence"
S. T. Friedman
Pilger's law: 'If it's been officially denied, then it's probably true'
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Nick1986
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 19:08 |
 Use of the pleated frock coat by what the caption claims is a Confederate from the Rhett Guard or Richland Rifles, part of the 1st South Carolina http://www.cowanauctions.com/auctions/item.aspx?ItemId=22778
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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
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Nick1986
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 17:28 |
Originally posted by RaggedAssSecond
The 79th Regiment, New York State Militia went off to war wearing a highlanders uniform.
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 Smart uniforms, very close to our own Cameron Highlanders
Edited by Nick1986 - 10-Jun-2012 at 19:18
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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 16:13 |
Originally posted by Nick1986
 Uniform of Watson's Flying Battery from New Orleans
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The above photograph shows a reproduction uniform. The jacket is based off of newspaper descriptions of Watson's Fying New orleans Artillery used for the basis of a painting done by Don Troiani. No original uniform is known to exist.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 16:04 |
The 79th Regiment, New York State Militia went off to war wearing a highlanders uniform.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 15:59 |
Officer uniforms were private purchase and you will see some variations of them in comparison to those uniforms issued to the other ranks.
Many of the color plates posted in this thread come from Civil War uniform books authored by Philip Haythornthwaite. They are full of mistakes and not useful reference books for those seriously interested in Civil War uniforms.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 15:19 |
Colonel (later General) Burnside wearing a variation of the blouse. Photograph was taken in 1861 when he commanded the 1st Rhode Island Infantry.
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Nick1986
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 14:54 |
I'd be interested in what you find. The unidentified soldier's uniform does have some similarities with the Butterflies, but has more braid across the chest, a different hat, and different sleeve braid: http://www.minecreek.org/standing-collar/pennsylvania.html
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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 11:13 |
Originally posted by Nick1986
Originally posted by Nick1986
 The soldier from the 7th NY has a similar uniform to your mystery man
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The Hussar uniform of the 3rd NY has to be the most unusual, but the all-white uniform and English bearskin of the City Guards is equally interesting. I wonder if the 3rd NY was of French or Austro-Hungarian origin?
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I would have to check, but I don't recall the 3rd New York wearing a Hussar style uniform.
The 3rd New Jersey Cavalry (Fighting Butterflies) did wear a Hussar style uniform. Here are some examples:
Unidentified soldier of the 3rd NJ Cavalry.
1st Lt. Henry A. Van Ness, 3rd NJ Cavalry.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 11:07 |
Originally posted by Nick1986
Originally posted by RaggedAssSecond
This is a post Civil War Militia photograph. |
Any idea what regiment he's from? I've noticed similar jackets on military bandsmen and several New York militias (assuming he's not a French soldier)
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Common militia uniform. Even though the photographer is identified, his location isn't. Nothing about his uniform indicates his being a bandsman. If he were a French soldier, then the word "Photographer" would be in French.
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Nick1986
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 08:16 |
Originally posted by RaggedAssSecond
This is a post Civil War Militia photograph. |
Any idea what regiment he's from? I've noticed similar jackets on military bandsmen and several New York militias (assuming he's not a French soldier)
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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
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Nick1986
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 07:14 |
Originally posted by RaggedAssSecond
Originally posted by Nick1986
 Some late war confederate uniforms were such a dark shade of grey they were almost black. Officers tried to stop the men from wearing sky blue trousers out of fear they would be shot by their own side
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Your information on the Peter Tait jackets and on blue trousers issued by the Confederate Army is incorrect. I could spend hours writing on these subjects.
Pictured above is an original Peter Tait jacket issued to Stonewall Jackson's Courier, Private Benjamin S. Pendleton and worn by him at the surrender at Appomattox.
Two excellent reference books have been written on the Peter Tait jackets. |
Raggedasssecond, I'm impressed.  I thought it was common practise for Rebs to wear blue trousers taken off dead Yankees
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Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 06:08 |
Here's the other reference book on Peter Tait uniforms:

"Peter Tait was a true entrepreneur. He became the inventor of a new type of working practice - the production line, a new way of sewing garments where each person did a particular job, thereby making each garment quicker and easier to manufacture. The monograph tells the full story of his company - Peter Tait & Co of Limerick, Ireland - from its beginnings to becoming the biggest supplier of ready-made uniforms to the Confederate Government during the latter stages of the American Civil War. Just as importantly, this book casts doubt on the fact that all so-called 'Tait' jackets supplied to the Confederacy were indeed made by the Tait firm. It suggests that they were, in fact, a joint effort with the other major British supplier of military clothing of the day - namely Hebbert & Co of London. All the surviving 'Tait' style jackets are examined in detail, and are accompanied by exclusive photographs. Based on original invoices and extensive archival research, this is the complete story of both Tait, the man, and his company in becoming an official Supplier to the Confederacy."
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 06:01 |
You might this discussion on Confederate blue trousers of interest:
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 05:58 |
This is a post Civil War Militia photograph.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 05:44 |
Originally posted by Nick1986
 Some late war confederate uniforms were such a dark shade of grey they were almost black. Officers tried to stop the men from wearing sky blue trousers out of fear they would be shot by their own side
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Your information on the Peter Tait jackets and on blue trousers issued by the Confederate Army is incorrect. I could spend hours writing on these subjects.
Pictured above is an original Peter Tait jacket issued to Stonewall Jackson's Courier, Private Benjamin S. Pendleton and worn by him at the surrender at Appomattox.
Two excellent reference books have been written on the Peter Tait jackets.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 05:22 |
Originally posted by Nick1986
 The green uniform of this Reb from the 5th Georgia is even closer to the USSS than the private from the Alexandra Rifles. Indeed, the only thing to distinguish him from a Yankee is his D-guard Bowie knife
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Pictured above is an actual USSS uniform in the Smithsonian Institutes Collection.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 05:14 |
Company A and Company D of the 1st South Carolina Infantry were also issued with a pleated blouse. The above soldier might be a member of the 1st SC.
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RaggedAssSecond
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Posted: 10-Jun-2012 at 05:09 |
Several units (Union and Confederate) wore a pleated blouse early in the war. The above photograph shows a member of the 2nd Rhode Island Infantry wearing a blue blouse.
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