Confederate yankee

[reb290]

Hello all,
I hope this is in the right place. There is a vendor in Guilford, Connecticut name'd confederate yankee. My question is are their Uniform's,accoutrements, etc meet the standard? They used to have a website but cannot find it know. positive or negative about it, would be great. Thanks:)

[Tom Craig]

Aaron,
The short answer to your question is no, they wouldn't be recommended. Back in the '90's they used to turn out some decent stuff when no one else in New England was selling anything other than blanket weight garbage. They discovered however that more folks would buy tourist junk than halfway decent uniforms, so the good went out, and the just plain ugly came in.

Flash forward to 2007...after the couple that ran the sutlery ran into some "peculiar" personal issues the business has been on pretty shaky ground. I am not 100% sure that they are even still in business as the last time I saw them in operation they looked to be having an "everything must go" type of sale...

I have to ask if you belong to a unit of folks that are still in the mainstream? I see you posting a bunch on the forums, but I don't recognize your unit's name. Sned me a PM and I will be happy to invite you onto our New England campaigner yahoo group.

Take care,
Tom Craig

[Jimmayo]

Hello all,
I hope this is in the right place. There is a vendor in Guilford, Connecticut name'd confederate yankee. My question is are their Uniform's,accoutrements, etc meet the standard? They used to have a website but cannot find it know. positive or negative about it, would be great. Thanks:)

I bought a shell jacket from him about 8 or 9 years ago. I have no complaints.

[tarheelmilitia]

Simply no.

[Clsinclair]

The Confederate Yankee caters to the mainstream and the campaigner by offering something for all. I purhased a pair of Richmond Depot Trousers and they remain my favorite trousers. She will also custom make items for you. Myself and others regarded her Campaign rack as first rate.

Claude Sinclair

[reb290]

I guess they still are in business. They are going to be at the woodbury event or so the vendor list say's. I just don't want to waste money on crap good's.

[Terry Sorchy]

They used to go to a few events in the midwest but have not been seen in the past few years. Very nice folks, but they tried to carry uniforms, models, toy guns, etc..
To many vegetables in the soup I guess.
Cheers
Terry Sorchy

[johnfhopper]

Shame............. they "did have a rack of good clothing that was beyond mainstream sutler goods" but that was a couple of years ago.

[Secesh]

I purchased some variegated trowsers from them back in 1998 at the Gettysburg 135th and they were first rate. They wore like iron, and I have no complaints nor regrets. As to their personal situations, I believe it to be nobody's business but their own, and this forum isn't the place to gossip. In all my dealings with them they treated me with courtesy, respect, and prompt delivery, and that's what is most important to me. "Judge not lest ye be judged...". Best regards.

[reb290]

Thanks to all that reply'd. I guess the general word is they had better gear a few year's back.

[Secesh]

Hello,
I would suggest that, while you are at the event, you take a stroll by their booth and check out their work for yourself. Seeing it first hand is better than any info we can give you. Best regards.

[reb290]

Hello,
I would suggest that, while you are at the event, you take a stroll by their booth and check out their work for yourself. Seeing it first hand is better than any info we can give you. Best regards.

Will do if they are at the event.

[westcoastcampaigner]

Hello,

I can't comment on their current work but I will vouch for the trousers I have. I have two pairs of Richmond Depot pattern trousers from them that I bought back around 2001 and they are well made, however, I have had to make minor adjustments such as hand sew the button holes and do some visible top stitch work as their trousers are primarily machine sewn. Other than that they are of the correct pattern and wear high on the waist like they are suppose to. Yes, there have been personal issues but it's their business, not mine. Last time I saw them in the field was either at the 145th Manasas event or last years Cedar Creek, I'm pretty sure they are still around. They use to be one of the only vendors that carried "better than mainstream" clothing as far as construction goes. I believe they use to be one of the first vendors to carry Robert Land footwear as well. If you see them in the field take a look at what they have. Good luck in your decision making.

Best Regards,

Josh Sawyer
Liberty Rifles
Hardtack Society

[Spinster]

Last I saw was about a year ago---a mixture of typical sutler row, with some fabulous high points of fine construction and excellent material at an excellent price.

I purchased a number of aprons and underpinnings and a nice shirt, as well as some vintage odds and ends. Alas, my feet still do not fit into Mr. Land's shoes, but since she does carry them, I was able to ascertain that without mailing shoes back and forth.

As with any clothing purchases in this hobby, one must first do the basic research on the item in order to know whether a particular reproduction is acceptable to you.

[reb290]

Hello again,
Just got back from the the event and they were there. Like said above most of their stuff was mainstream. But on there campaigner Jacket's they were ok. What I can say is that they were the only vendor there with the jacket I was looking for.

[bAcK88]

Hello again,
Just got back from the the event and they were there. Like said above most of their stuff was mainstream. But on there campaigner Jacket's they were good. What I can say is that they were the only vendor there with the jacket I was looking for.

Aaron,

I was at that event before leaving early for family matters, but before I left I was able to check out their goods. I really wasn't impressed with what they had; nothing farbtastic but nothing great as well. It seemed like mainstream jackets made out of jean wool.

[reb290]

Aaron,

I was at that event before leaving early for family matters, but before I left I was able to check out their goods. I really wasn't impressed with what they had; nothing farbtastic but nothing great as well. It seemed like mainstream jackets made out of jean wool.

Ya that sum's it up. It's a good thing I didn't get anything from them.

[Bummer]

You have to know what you're looking for, and know what's right or not. You root through a bunch of 'mainstream rack' stuff and find the gem as several here have mentioned. I have one of their jackets I like, but when rooting through their Union trousers they were all the usual junk...except for one pair that is now (with a little work) my best pair.
So if you know what you're looking at you can find good stuff most anywhere.
They -can- come up with some of the best, but obviously they are going with where the money is--can't blame them really.
And they have always been a pleasure to deal with.

[sumter_guard]

I bought cotton jean trousers and had them do some overshirts for my program here. The stuff that came back was all good with the exception of some really weird buttons on some shirts. The trousers were totally great and I still have my staff in some of them and this is going on our 4th season. We just haven't needed more clothing or I would have called them again. Terry and Dennis are good folks and, as far as I know, Terry will do custom work and it will look darn good.

Andrew

[Kramoz]

Hello Aaron,
To answer your question, I purchased a "dark gray" Jean Wool, 9 (federal) button front, red check lined Confederate shell jacket from "Confederate Yankee" on the filming set of "Andersonville" when we filmed for about 3 months, way back in 1994. It was completely all hand sewn - I watched him build it, I checked out his progress every day until he handed it over to me! When I wore it to the film set the next day, Rob Hodge took one look at it and stated to me that "that's got to be the best looking reb jacket I've ever seen" and immediately asked if he could try it on. Being the excellent guy he is, and was with us, I of course let him try it on! You should know who Rob Hodge is - he's the best.

Since I brought that jacket home to CA from Georgia, I've literally had at least one compliment from someone every time I wear it. That was about 13 years ago, and I still haven't seen a coat that I'm more impressed with. Rob was right, it's about the finest jacket I've seen. I wore it to an even a couple weeks ago, and it still looks as great as it ever has, and it's never been washed!:D Although all my other apparel is from Charlie Childs and Chris Daley, you won't go wrong with CY.

Definitely make your purchase from him.

[D Harrelson]

Dennis/Denise made me a New York State roundabout about six or seven years ago and it was spot on and priced about $140-$150. Saw her this weekend and the tent had a hodge-podge of apparel-- some good, some bad, mostly ugly. I did find a good deal on FHW shirting material at half off. Most everything was half off so I assume she's going out of business.

D Harrelson