Mobile Depot Jacket

[modelf85]

I recently saw a mobil depot jacket that is everything I have ever wanted in a confederate coat. I saw it on the cotton city tailors website and I know it is correct for the western theater, but is it correct for the eastern ANV theater?

Answers welcome,

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Hampton

This jacket is also know as the "Mystery Jacket"....because there isnt allot know about it other than it may have been made in Mobile.

[markj]

Hi,

You are likely talking about the Mobile Depot (square front) jacket on the "CCT" site. Yes, it's very nice and I've also considered getting one as well. However, if your impression is primarily Army of Northern Virginia I would recommend you stick with a Richmond Depot-style jacket or something identified to a depot definitely known to supplied items to ANV units.

Of course, it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility that some Western depot items might have filtered into Eastern units (e.g., jackets and trousers issued to Longstreet's troops while they served in Georgia and Tennessee) but I would suggest sticking with what the preponderance of evidence indicates.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[modelf85]

I thought about that but I never cared much for the richmond depots

thanks,

[3alabama]

Back in 1981 Chris Schreiber and 2 others formed the 3rd Alabama. They did so because "they saw in a back issue of the Men at Arms magazine that had a photo of a 7 button front,balloon sleeved uniform jacket with a single left side slash pocket identified to a member of the 3rd Alabama".That picture helped them make the decision to form the 3rd Alabama because " atleast we know what they wore". That Description sounds like a Mobile Depot AKA Mystery Jacket to me. I have never seen the magazine they saw this picture in. I wanted to post this in hopes one of you may have some old issues around and can post this picture. I would love to see a copy of it or any other documentable evidence of this coat in the ANV.

[coastaltrash]

Bud,
You should go after what is correct for the impression, not what looks kewl. Research, documentation and actually giving a damn is what seperates this part of the hobby from the rest.

[markj]

Let's focus your search a little bit: Are you portraying a specific unit or are you trying something "generic?" This can make a world of difference.

To piggyback on what another individual mentioned previously, half the battle in reenacting is overcoming your personal desires and sticking with what was actually done (at least within a reasonable doubt). You are portraying people who thought like you, in some ways, and very differently than you in others. What seems "right" or "correct" to you may have been incomprehensible to them in the context of the age they lived in. To most soldiers, "a jacket was a jacket"; they cared little about where it came from (unless it was from home!) as long as it fit them reasonably well and did the function for which it was intended.

I felt the same way about my field jacket that was issued to me when I was in the Marines: I didn't give two hoots about where it came from as long as it looked decent and kept me warm during those long, lonely nights out in "The Bush."

Regards,

Mark Jaeger

[modelf85]

I just like the outside pocket, shame its not authentic,

thanks,

[bcatgrappler]

once again, go with what is right for the impression, not what you think is cool, and if that means getting a richmond depot, then get it

Mike Ray
Ruff n' Readys

[hireddutchcutthroat]

I thought about that but I never cared much for the richmond depots

thanks,

Maybe you should portray the Army of Tennessee, and wear Western Depot jackets such as the Columbus, Demopolis, and Mobile in all their outside pocket glory. :rolleyes:

[PrettyBoyDonovan]

Demopolis Jacket? Never heard of that :confused:

Also, once you research you're unit you may be able to find some diversity in what they were issued. Though Richmond Depot's were the most common jackets in the ANV, they weren't the only ones. Do some research on the unit you're attempting to portray, then decide on what jacket to wear

[James Masson]

Demopolis Depot....also known as "Dept. of Alabama". If a pocket is going to be the deciding factor in your purchase why not go with a non-descript shell jacket with an outside pocket or a frock coat with a pocket? Or better yet get a civilian sack coat with a pocket.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Demopolis Jacket? Never heard of that :confused:



Also know as the Department of Alabama Jacket.

http://company.military-historians.org/journal/confederate/confederate-3.htm

[PrettyBoyDonovan]

OK, now I know what it is.

That's one thing I've never really understood. Most of the names we use for the jackets seem to me that they are modern-day terms, and I've always been curious as to what different styles of jackets were refered to by the soliders, if they had special names at all.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

OK, now I know what it is.

That's one thing I've never really understood. Most of the names we use for the jackets seem to me that they are modern-day terms, and I've always been curious as to what different styles of jackets were refered to by the soliders, if they had special names at all.


All of the names of these jackets are modern decriptions, and in some cases the names are tenative due to the fact that there is not definant provinance on some of these garments.

What would the men have called the different jackets at the time? To them it was just a coat/jacket, and they probably did not know if it was made in Columbus, Atlanta or Richmond....and they probably didnt care even if they did.

[modelf85]

I know richmond depots were the most common for ANV with out a doubt, but I gave it some thought last night and it came to mind that there were Alabama and Mississippi units in the Anv and at least some of them might have been clad in that uniform, maybe, just maybe :sarcastic hmmmmm and then they could have seeped into the ANV and then Virginia guys could have got them of their dead compadre from an alabama company but well thats just my mind workin :D

In all seriousness, I will give the Depots a thought and thanks for all your help,

[James Masson]

I know richmond depots were the most common for ANV with out a doubt, but I gave it some thought last night and it came to mind that there were Alabama and Mississippi units in the Anv and at least some of them might have been clad in that uniform, maybe, just maybe :sarcastic hmmmmm and then they could have seeped into the ANV and then Virginia guys could have got them of their dead compadre from an alabama company but well thats just my mind workin :D

In all seriousness, I will give the Depots a thought and thanks for all your help,

More than likely not. You have to understand the way the depot system worked. Let's say if a brigade needed new uniforms...well that request would work it's way up the chain of command until it reached the Quartermaster General in Richmond. The QM Gen. would then send the request to the depot that was closest to the men that needed to be re-fitted. That depot would supply the soldiers (someone correct if I'm wrong). So, as you can see, a depot in Alabama (supposedly) would not supply men that were in Virginia even if they were from Alabama or Mississippi. Also, this jacket (Mobile Depot) is believed to be a late war issue. So, as everyone else has told you, as far as we can tell (from the current research) this jacket IS NOT correct for an ANV impression.

[modelf85]

thanks for all your help and I think I just found a richmond depot II from http://www.kabar44.com/

which looks really good so thank you guys,

P.S. I now understand the Depot system

[Gallo de Cielo]

Hampton,

As far as exterior pockets on jackets go, you may be in luck with a Richmond Depot. KC MacDonald of the Lazy Jacks mess has done some great uniform studies, some of which are accessible vis-a-vis the LJ's website and others which he has not publicly posted. KC also has an impressive collection of period images, at least one of which (if my memory serves me correctly) shows a Richmond Depot jacket with an exterior pocket. Moreover, I believe that KC indicated the pocket looked issued rather than field-added.

I'll attempt to lure him this way as he may be able to add a few more details and correct any errors of omission that I may have added.

Kind regards,

Fred Baker

[NC5thCav]

The Les Jensen article on Confederate depot jackets has an interesting section at the end about western depot jackets on ANV soldiers. There are several pictures of ANV veterans and soldiers wearing what appear to be Columbus depot jackets. Interesting, but there is no definite evidence to prove it. Like others said, stick to whats definetly correct.