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Re: RD jackets and trousers, what were the most common colours?
James,
No one is sure what material the Richmond Clothing Bureau was using at any point in time, perhaps a number of different types of fabric were being simultaneously cut and distributed in "kits" to the various workers (mostly women) who sewed them together to produce the final uniforms. I am sure where they could they first tried to meet the actual uniform regulations and when they couldn't do that they tried to at least furnish well made, sturdy garments that could stand up to the rigors of the field. If you don't have specific documentation on cassamere thats OK just don't make assertions that you can't substantuate.
I am afraid that much of the 'common wisdom' on Confederate uniforms is based upon sterotypes derrived from post war writings or early research. One of the reasons Jensen's research was so significant is that his work began to breakdown those sterotypes using facts from period resources. My reason for spending so much time on the use of imported English Blue Gray Kersey early in the war was to help show another side of what was going on beyond the usual sterotype begun interestingly enough by Jensen's Company article that English "Army Cloth" was only a late war thing. Dave Burt and others have done some great work in advancing the state of knowledge to correct that mistaken belief. Was "Army Cloth" the dominant fabric used in early war RD product, definitely not but there was certainly some in the ranks. Also as pointed out in some of the other work on the "Blue and Gray Marching" site the Richmond Clothing Bureau ("Richmond Depot") wasn't the only source for clothing to the ANV, even late in the war. North Carolina supplied a tremendous amount of uniforms for their state troups and those from other states as well. Ross Kimmel in his work on Maryland uniforms documents a complete suit of NC clothing which was part of an issue to the 2nd MD Infantry toward the end of the war. These jackets and trousers were of a different pattern from the RD product and were, at least based upon a number of existant examples made of woolen cloth with a cotton warp (jeans, etc.) and are generally your Butternut Brown in color. How many NC troups were in Lee's Army? Georgia also provided uniforms for their troups separate, one would presume, from the CS Government 'Depots' at Atlanta and Columbus. This is different from the early war Commutation uniforms. but actual state manufactured clothing.
As more research comes out some myths are busted and true facts get clarified. Being too pragmatic on this stuff is never a good idea because we have so little solid information.
Dick Milstead
Hardaway's Alabama Battery
Company of Military Historians
James,
No one is sure what material the Richmond Clothing Bureau was using at any point in time, perhaps a number of different types of fabric were being simultaneously cut and distributed in "kits" to the various workers (mostly women) who sewed them together to produce the final uniforms. I am sure where they could they first tried to meet the actual uniform regulations and when they couldn't do that they tried to at least furnish well made, sturdy garments that could stand up to the rigors of the field. If you don't have specific documentation on cassamere thats OK just don't make assertions that you can't substantuate.
I am afraid that much of the 'common wisdom' on Confederate uniforms is based upon sterotypes derrived from post war writings or early research. One of the reasons Jensen's research was so significant is that his work began to breakdown those sterotypes using facts from period resources. My reason for spending so much time on the use of imported English Blue Gray Kersey early in the war was to help show another side of what was going on beyond the usual sterotype begun interestingly enough by Jensen's Company article that English "Army Cloth" was only a late war thing. Dave Burt and others have done some great work in advancing the state of knowledge to correct that mistaken belief. Was "Army Cloth" the dominant fabric used in early war RD product, definitely not but there was certainly some in the ranks. Also as pointed out in some of the other work on the "Blue and Gray Marching" site the Richmond Clothing Bureau ("Richmond Depot") wasn't the only source for clothing to the ANV, even late in the war. North Carolina supplied a tremendous amount of uniforms for their state troups and those from other states as well. Ross Kimmel in his work on Maryland uniforms documents a complete suit of NC clothing which was part of an issue to the 2nd MD Infantry toward the end of the war. These jackets and trousers were of a different pattern from the RD product and were, at least based upon a number of existant examples made of woolen cloth with a cotton warp (jeans, etc.) and are generally your Butternut Brown in color. How many NC troups were in Lee's Army? Georgia also provided uniforms for their troups separate, one would presume, from the CS Government 'Depots' at Atlanta and Columbus. This is different from the early war Commutation uniforms. but actual state manufactured clothing.
As more research comes out some myths are busted and true facts get clarified. Being too pragmatic on this stuff is never a good idea because we have so little solid information.
Dick Milstead
Hardaway's Alabama Battery
Company of Military Historians
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