CONFEDERATE IMPRESSION
Primary Impression: Army of Northern Virginia, North Carolina Infantry soldier, depicting mid to late war uniform and accouterments. The infantry soldier of this period will have a uniform of jeans cloth, probably dyed with natural dyes. Pants and shell jacket will be issued at different times, therefore the color of each piece should vary slightly. Color should approximate a medium gray. Jeans cloth with a brown warp is recommended. The majority of infantry soldiers wear civilian, wide brim “slouch” hats that may have been modified with a wider hat band and blue infantry hat cord. Brass company designations on these hats are not a common sight at this point in the war. Brogans are standard “Jefferson” style issue. Unlike their Federal counterparts, accouterments such as cartridge boxes and shoulder slings worn by these Confederate troops rarely have brass plates on them. Though knapsacks are worn by some soldiers, blanket rolls are the preferred method for transporting personal items. The soldiers’ weapon is a 58 caliber, 3 banded, rifled Enfield, Richmond or Springfield.
(Listed in suggested buying order)
Shoes: Jefferson style brogans, black leather with heel plates (EOG, p. 175).
Shell Jacket: North Carolina pattern 6 button jacket. Must be made of medium gray jeans cloth (EOG, p. 144). The shell jacket requires 6 buttons but you should buy at least 8 buttons in either the North Carolina brass sunburst pattern or state seal type (EOG, p. 97). Later you may wish to add a Richmond Depot jacket to your wardrobe, the Company of Military Historians have an excellent article covering depot jackets.
Ben Tart Many have Ben's 5J jean cloth, Ben prefers his 10J jean cloth.
County Cloth/Charlie Childs
Pants: Basic infantry pattern, made from jeans cloth in a contrasting gray to the shell jacket. A pair of civilian pants for an early war impression are acceptable (EOG, p. 145) or Federal sky blue wool pants are a good purchase for a second pair. The sky blue can be used with your Confederate impression and are required for the Federal impression.
County Cloth/Charlie Childs
Ben Tart
Suspenders: Of period design and materials, documentation required for non-typical pieces.
Hat: Slouch hat with stiff, turned up wide brim, any dark color (EOG, p. 157, 166). Optional hat cord (blue). The slouch hat is documented in photographs of actual Confederate troops as being 80-90% of the type of hat the soldiers wore. Early war photographs of North Carolina troops show the McDowell Pattern Forage Cap, made of gray wool or jeans cloth as being a possible early issue item (EOG, p. 145). Kepis were the least worn type of hat by privates and NCO’s.
Clearwater Hats
Dirty Billy's Hats
Tim Allen Hats
Greg Starbuck
Jersey Skillet Licker
Regimental Quartermaster
Shirt: Authentic pattern with wood, bone or tin buttons (EOG, Hyde shirt on p. 155). Materials often worn were small calico and drab plaid prints. Typically shirts were made of cotton, wool or a cotton or wool flannel. Woven check patterns are most widely seen but other patterns and some prints are period correct.
Drawers: Period underwear for men are similar to today's longjohns. Usually made of cotton flannel (light flannel for summer and heavy flannel for winter), the drawer legs have ribbons to secure the rawer legs from dangling below the pants and getting dirty (EOG, p. 154).
Socks: Two or three pairs of gray wool or undyed cotton. No white athletic socks with stripes. Mickey Black makes good socks for the money.
Belt: Prepared cloth or leather. Prepared cloth is the preferred type for mid to late war Confederate use.
Belt Buckle: Prepared cloth belts will have the English roller buckle on them. Leather belts require a brass buckle plate. Purchase the pre-war militia Eagle or Star belt buckle. Oval NC or CSA buckles are not approved for use. The Federal US buckle may also be purchased but should be used for your Federal impression. Some Confederates wear the US buckle upside down.
Cartridge Box: Black leather or prepared cloth for 58 caliber rounds. Plain face without brass plate is highly recommended. Can be worn on belt or with optional leather or canvass shoulder sling.
Cap Box: Black leather or prepared cloth. (Do not remove the wool lining.)
Canteen: Wood, tin, or stainless steel reproduction. There are many styles to choose from. Be very careful purchasing a wood canteen. There are quite a few bad designs on the market. Talk with your mentor about the pros and cons of each type before deciding what to get.
Haversack: The Confederate haversack is made from unpainted canvas or cotton. The Federal haversack is made from painted canvas. The choice is yours but the Federal type will serve you well for both impressions and is very appropriate for Confederate use.
Cup: Authentic large tin cup with wide flat handle, or mucket cup with lid. Stainless steel thermos cups with wire type handles are not approved. Blue speckled enamelware is not approved.
Knife/Fork/Spoon: See your mentor for the appropriate styles. The sutlers sell modern types that are not appropriate. The spoon looks like a large soup spoon, the fork is a 3 o4 4 tin type with a wood or bone handle. The knife looks like a butter knife with a wood or bone handle.
Plate: Plain tin plate. Authentic reproductions can be purchased from Tin Works Sutler for $14.95. Blue speckled enamelware is not approved. (Enamelware was not available to the mass public until the 1870’s.)
Blanket: Wool blanket in a gray, brown, or dark blue. There is an authentic North Carolina issue blanket available through some sutlers that will cost more than a generic type. Hand sewn quilts are also appropriate.
Musket: 3 banded reproduction of 58 caliber Enfield, Springfield, Richmond, or 69 caliber smooth bore. The Enfield is the most appropriate for Confederate mid war impression.
Bayonet: Buy the bayonet to match your musket. Purchase it in person to make sure it fits. Bayonets are made for specific types of muskets.
Scabbard: Black leather bayonet scabbard with blunt metal tip. Buy the scabbard with the bayonet to make sure it fits.
Gum Blanket: Authentic India rubber poncho, has a slit for your head. Ground blankets can also be purchased without the slit. Not required but you will want one and it will be your friend.
Knapsack: Hardpack, Mexican war, or double bag Federal type, made from prepared cloth.
Lantern: Made of wood. Railroad lanterns are not approved.
Tent: Privates and NCO’s will purchase Civil War A frame (wedge tent), or shelter half. A frames come in a variety of sizes. The new recruit is greatly encouraged to purchase the small to medium size wedge tent. If you purchase the large or monster wedge, do not exceed in size; 7 feet high, 10 feet wide and 11 1/2 feet deep. Only officers will be allowed to have wall tents and tent flys. Shelter halves and gum blankets will be used for campaign events.
Vest: (Optional). Almost all men wore vests during this era. Privates will wear the civilian style vest with 5 buttons and wide lapels. The vest should be made from a material that contrasts with the uniform shell jacket. Wool or flannel in a plaid, tapestry, or herring bone print is suggested. Buttons should be wood, bone or ivory. Only officers should wear the military style vests.
Overcoat: (Optional). North Carolina pattern great coat made of gray jeans cloth with a flannel lining (EOF, p. 151), or Federal issue sky blue great coat for infantry.
Secondary Impression: Army of the Potomac Infantry soldier, depicting the rank and file infantry soldier from the army that generally fought against the Army of Northern Virginia throughout the war. No specific unit designation to be given. The focus of our Federal impression is to be able to fall in with other Federal units as a platoon or second company at those events where more Federal reenactors are needed to make the event more realistic for the public. Since some of your basic gear will double for both impressions, the list of Federal equipment is much smaller. Begin purchasing for this impression after you have your Confederate impression complete.
FEDERAL IMPRESSION
Coat: Standard dark blue sack coat, 4 button front. Schuylkill or Cincinnati Arsenal type. Most originals were lined, but you can purchase an unlined jacket for economic reasons (EOG: US, p. 125).
Pants: Federal-issue, sky blue enlisted men’s trousers (EOG: US, p. 127).
Hat: Enlisted men’s Forage Cap. Dark blue wool, flat bill with buckle on chin strap (EOG: US, p. 182).
Belt: Leather belt with brass US belt buckle (EOG: US, p. 198).
Shoulder Sling: (Optional). For cartridge box. Black leather with eagle brass plate.