Basic info, Uniform Guidelines

“Co. Aytch” at Chickamauga: A Living History

September 19-21, 2008

This event is planned to represent the men of the famous “Co. Aytch” at the battle of Chickamauga. This point mid-way through the war has brought out an interesting trend in the membership of the company. While the original members were the first men in the state to enlist in the Confederate army, their numbers have shrunk by this time and had been enhanced from a variety of sources. Men who joined the original company in late 1861 have been joined by a number of conscripts recruited in the early 1862 drafts.

The Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP is hosting this living history for two distinct and important reasons. First, the NMP desires to show its visitors how a company of soldiers in the Army of Tennessee looked, lived, and fought in the Summer of 1863. Furthermore, it desires to explore the men of the 1^st Tennessee regiment, their social backgrounds, and their role in the War before, during, and after the fighting.

Importantly, because the NMP is attempting to recreate the actual unit as closely as possible, more stringent standards than are seen even in other “campaigner” events will be employed. We desire to keep appropriate ratios of men in terms of age and only the best impressions for this specific scenario. Men in their mid-twenties and below are in the most demand as they make up the majority of the company. This event will be by application only so that we may ensure that every member of the company is appropriate age, appearance, and authenticity.

Uniform Regulations:

It will be noticed that ratios will be provided for clothing that should be seen in every ten men. Ideally, they will be followed as closely as possible. This will mean that if you have more than one of these uniform pieces consider bringing it as you or another man may need to wear it. Don’t bring a piece if you don’t want another soldier borrowing it as we will have to trade around to get the correct ratios. For those of you borrowing, it goes without saying that you will take better care of another man’s gear than you would your own. This is a practice may be relatively unfamiliar to some, but we hope to see positive results for the event’s authenticity.

Clothing: The year of 1863 was a great transition from the Confederacy’s system of commutation prevalent in 1862 to the flourishing of the depot issue system in 1864. Descriptions of soldiers in the Army of Tennessee tell of a mix of government clothing and that procured from some other source. The men of the Co. H were in a position that allowed many of them some option other than reliance on the government. C.T. Quintard, the regiment’s chaplain, writes multiple times about procuring cloth for the 1^st TN to have uniforms made. Further investigation has shown that the Eagle Mills in Columbus, GA provided uniform cloth of both kersey and cassimere to Rev. Quintard for uniforms. Furthermore, the regiment’s proximity to their homes during the spring and summer of 1863 would have made a predominance of non-government-made uniforms common.

One guiding quote talks of Confederate prisoners displaying a variety of appearances.

There among them were tall, lank mountaineers, dark, long-haired and fierce of aspect, and a lesser number of city men of jauntier appearance. The major part were common looking, evidently of the poorer class of Southerners, with a spreading of foreigners, principally Germans and Irish. Hardly any two dressed alike.

The men of the 1^st Tennessee, the evidence shows, were indeed the “city men of jauntier appearance” and as such would appear distinct from the other troops of the army. Hence, this is not a standard Army of Tennessee impression but one which reflects finer materials, stylish cut, and touches not seen in the common clothing of the era. Dress up your impression. You were a young man about town before the war, look like one.

Jackets.

…the Eagle Factory has supplied uniforms for more than thirty military companies, with their cassimere. … The material used for this purpose is a substantial fabric, of the Cadet-mixed, or green color, and makes a handsome appearance.—It combines in an admirable degree the qualities of cheapness and durability, and when to these is superadded the consideration that it is the product of Southern capital and Southern labor, nothing is wanting to recommend it to Southern favor. We may add, that observation, and personal experience, as well, has satisfied us that the “Eagle Cassimere” makes a suit as proper for the civilian as the soldier. --Tallapossa Times [Dadeville, AL], Feb 14, 1861

· 5/10 Frock Coat. Home procured or Commutation made. Consider materials and color carefully. Cassimere and Wool Kersey are documented for the unit. However, broadcloth, fine jeans, satinette and like materials are also acceptable. No coarse homespun.

o Dark, “cadet grey” is the most desirable color. Other greys are preferred over browns and tans and should predominate. “Butternut” is strongly discouraged and should be seen little if at all. Trim may be present, is even encouraged, but should not be “over the top.”

o Buttons should be of a recognized AoT or civilian variety. Brass should be the most common though rubber, wood, and other materials may be considered.

· 3/10 Commutation Jacket. One of a recognized pattern of jacket in use with this or other Confederate armies. Same material and color guidelines apply as with Frocks. Fine materials procured from home or from elsewhere in the South.

· 1/10 Depot Jackets. The Columbus Depot is the standard choice for this, though other Deep South depot coats are encouraged. These men have other sources of clothing available to them and would not have shown as much reliance on the government as other units.

· 1/10 Civilian Coat, Other. Based on extant originals. Same considerations for materials and colors as for other choices, though some leeway will be allowed for this. Linens, cotton, and other summer materials are also appropriate.

Trousers. Of documented civilian or military pattern. The same materials for coats are still in play here with the addition of summer weight trousers of linen, cotton, etc. Greys, black, blues, and other common civilian and Confederate trouser colors are all suitable. Again, guide your impression as would a fashionable young man who wants to look “soldierly” when selecting his clothing. Some subtle patterns may be appropriate in trousers from civilian sources. These may be cleared with event staff beforehand.

No ratios will be given here, but the standard rules apply. Trousers should be constructed following a common civilian or CS military pattern that includes at minimum a waist at the navel, rise in the rear, and belt or tie backs. NO US issue sky blue trousers are allowed. No trousers following the US pattern in grey or brown cloth will be allowed. The “diamond” seen at the rear of US trousers is a dead giveaway. Do not think about wearing trousers with this feature, they will not be allowed on the field.

Suspenders / braces. Should be of civilian pattern, cotton webbing, canvas, ticking, or sewn cloth with either buttonholes or leather tips with tin or brass buckles (no nickel plated metal).

Shirts.

“He asked me to please look in his knapsack and get him a clean shirt, and said that he though he would feel better if he could get rid of the blood that was upon him. I went to hunt for his knapsack and found it, but when I got back to where he was, poor, good Billy Webster was dead.”

-- Watkins, Co. Aytch

Documented civilian or military pattern in wool or cotton, flannel, woven stripes or checks, prints (very limited), or osnaburg. Buttons should be of period materials including, but not limited to wood, bone, rubber, glass, and tin. Civilian shirts should by far dominate, with an edge to those of finer construction. Those complete with a fashionable necktie would not be unwelcome.

Drawers. Military issue or civilian style in cotton or wool flannel. Construction standards apply as always.

Headgear.

• 4/10 Kepi. Of documented CS pattern in similar fabrics in use with uniforms, with tarred canvas or leather bill, leather or painted cloth sweatband. They may be either lined or unlined as examples of both styles exist. NO “baseball cap” shaped brims are allowed, the brim may be curled upwards but NOT curled down. Union forage caps are NOT allowed.

· 4/10 Slouch Hat. Any number of styles offered by reputable vendors. Bowlers emphasized but other styles more than welcome. Grey, black or brown felt, with proper sweatband and lining (if applicable), should have ribbon and have a definite shape, not a hat blank. NO HILLBILLY OR SHAPELESS HAT BLANKS.

• 2/10 Other. Some possible styles include a Straw/plant fiber hat made in a period manner and of a period pattern (no Amish styles), a mechanic’s or wheel hat etc. Again, proper construction here.

It should go unstated that animal parts, harps, Masonic emblems, etc. are forbidden. Groups outside the mainstream of American life were often discriminated against in mid-19^th Century America and would NOT want to advertise their presence. Rifle vent picks are not allowed on hats, they are to be carried as designed in the cap pouch.

In contrast to some other impressions, hat brass is documented in this case and even encouraged. ONLY “H” letters and “1” numbers will be allowed on headgear. All other hat adornment will be at the discretion of event coordinators and the NMP.

Footwear.

• Confederate, Civilian, or imported British pattern leather shoes.
• Confederate pattern cloth shoes.
• Military or civilian pattern boots.

US “Jefferson” brogans are acceptable.

Ratios would be ideal in this case but footwear cannot be as easily traded about within the unit to meet requirements. All of the options are viable and should be represented in roughly equal numbers if possible. If you have multiple styles of footwear bring them and we will see if ratios will work out on the field.

Absolutely NO barefooted soldiers will be allowed. Soldiers on this campaign who were shoeless were detailed to serve in the army’s wagon trains until shoes could be provided for them. Hence, very few shoeless soldiers were seen in combat. Beyond this, NPS black powder safety regulations prohibit barefooted soldiers.

Socks made of wool or cotton, knitted by hand or machine. Should be white, a natural color, or a basic color. EVERY soldier should be wearing socks, particularly as this event is one where moderate movement is occurring, for reasons of safety and comfort at the least. Indeed, reenactors should plan to bring a change of socks and rotate them at least daily. There is some leeway in these guidelines and it is unrealistic for Park personnel to examine every soldier’s socks. However, obviously anachronistic “hunting” socks with wide bands of contrasting color on the tops are easily recognizable and NOT allowed.

Vests.

• Civilian pattern.

• Military pattern.

Vests are optional but encouraged. If worn they should reflect proper construction techniques and materials. Use the same discretion as used with other parts of the uniform, documented patterns, and realistic fabric choices are mandatory.

Blankets.

• 7/10. 100% wool, woven blankets in natural or earth tones.
• Civilian style
• Confederate issue blankets
• Civilian coverlets.
• Ingrain Carpet cut to blanket size.
• English Import blanket
• 3/10. Union issue grey or brown blanket.

Ratios being observed here, we should see a variety of those styles in the first group which will lead to a mix of blankets being carried by the men. Blankets are encouraged for every soldier and should at least be present for every other man.

Gum Blanket / Ground Cloth.

• 8/10. Civilian style made of oil cloth
• Painted oil cloth.
• CS manufactured gum blanket.
• 2/10. US issue gum blanket
• US issue poncho.

Accoutrements:

“When Bob Stout was given his rations, he refused to take them. His face wore a serious, woe-begone expression. … ‘Here are my clothing and blanket that any one who wishes them may have. My rations I do not wish at all. My gun and cartridge-box I expect to die with.’”

-- Watkins, Co. Aytch

For equipment, we would like to see soldiers wearing complete sets of accoutrements except where noted. For interpretative purposes, we will attempt to contrast the well-equipped men of the 1^st TN with the spottily-equipped balance of the Army of Tennessee.

The familiar ranking system will be used for accoutrements as achieving an idea of the proper mixture for individual units is difficult given the lack of the records’ detail as to specific patterns, etc. We will use the rankings that the NMP has chosen to categorize equipment being worn army-wide.

Cartridge Box.

1. a. Unmarked CS manufactured of leather.

b. Atlanta Arsenal

2. a. Other Deep South arsenals.

b. Plain US Cartridge Boxes.

3. British imported cartridge boxes.

Cartridge box plates should not be worn.

Cap Pouch.

1. a. Unmarked CS manufactured leather.

b. Atlanta Arsenal

2. a. Other Deep South arsenals.

b. US manufactured

3. British imported cap pouch, either contract variant or regulation.

Properly constructed cap pouches will include a loop for the rifle’s vent pick. Picks will NOT be allowed pinned to the hat as per reenactor custom. If a loop is not present, then the pick must be carried in the cartridge box’s implement pouch, trouser pocket, or elsewhere.

Cartridge Box Strap.

1. a. CS leather strap

b. CS webbing strap

2. No strap.

Belt.

1. Painted cloth and leather belts.

2. CS roller buckle leather belts

3. British snake buckle belts.

Rectangular CSA, clipped corner CS, and frame buckles were most common and should be the first choice. Snake buckles, roller buckles, and even oval CS are also acceptable. Some state, militia, and civilian buckles can also be used in limited numbers.

All waist belt plates are to have proper period construction. Upside down US plates should not be seen at all. Waist belt should be black, russet, or buff leather or painted canvas and appropriate to the buckle.

Bayonet Scabbard.

1. a. CS leather scabbard with lead or wooden tips.

b. Painted cloth and leather scabbards.

c. CS leather scabbards with tin tips.

2. British scabbard.
3. US issue two-rivet scabbard.
4. US issue prewar sewn scabbard.

Haversacks.

1. a. CS made drill or osnaburg single button closure haversacks.

b. CS made painted sloth single button closure haversacks.

This option should by far dominate the others.

2. CS made multi-button haversacks
3. US made haversacks (limited numbers)
4. Homemade and field-made haversacks. Should be individually inspected to ensure authenticity.
5. British import haversacks.

As few as two-thirds or one-half of the men need to carry haversacks as cooking was not done by the soldiers on this campaign and their mess supplies were being carried in wagon trains or by body servants.

Canteens.

1. a. Cedar Gardner style canteens
b. Plain tin drum canteens.

2. a. Convex tin drum canteens.

b. Other CS wooden canteens

3. US issue smooth side canteens.

4. British Import canteens.

Straps should be cotton, cotton webbing, or leather sewn together or with a buckle or button.

Knapsacks.

“…we left him and the others lying where they fell upon the battle-field; [and] we fell back to the place where we had left our knapsacks…”

-- Watkins, Co. Aytch

1. CS manufactured soft single bag knapsacks.
2. Other styles of CS knapsacks excluding hard frames.
3. British imported knapsacks.
4. US double bag knapsacks.
5. Other imported knapsacks.

Note: Hard frame knapsacks were no longer in use by the later part of 1863.

As many soldiers as can should carry a knapsack. Every effort should be made to provide the men with them. Sam Watkins specifically mentions falling back to the place where the regiment had dropped packs. Hence, while they will not be used during tactical demonstrations they will be an important piece of interpretative equipment for the event. Bring an extra knapsack if you have one to loan to a man who may be without.

Weapons.

“Every soldier had to have his gun rubbed up as bright as a new silver dollar. W.A. Hughes had the brightest gun in the army, and always called it ‘Florence Fleming’”

-- Watkins, Co. Aytch

1. 1853 Enfield Rifled Musket
2. 1861 Springfield Rifled Musket

Other weapons may be considered only on a hardship basis. It is clear that the 1^st TN carried Enfield rifles into the battle, though the evidence suggests that they acquired Springfields from dead or wounded troops around them as they encountered fouling and jamming.

Bayonets should be appropriate for the weapon carried.

The Look:

O talk not to me of a name great in story;
The days of our youth are the days of our glory;
And the myrtle and ivy of sweet two-and-twenty
Are worth all your laurels, though ever so plenty.

What are garlands and crowns to the brow that is wrinkled?
'Tis but as a dead flower with May-dew besprinkled:
Then away with all such from the head that is hoary -
What care I for the wreaths that can only give glory?

                   -- Lord Byron

This is a section that is normally not seen in event regulations because often a specific “look” is impossible to quantify for a unit to be portrayed. However, we can project a certain “look” for the First based on photographs of the individual soldiers and from an informed understanding of mid-century styles.

Though the men of the 1^st Tennessee came from a variety of backgrounds, young men from middle-class and well-to-do families predominated. In any case, these men were not rural farmers but instead town-dwellers. In the case of Co. H, the men were overwhelmingly from the county seat of Columbia. As young urbanites they would have greater access to the latest fashions, and would have arguably been more forward-looking in their thought than those from the countryside. Hence, impressions should not be “ragged” or overly dirty, but show some consciousness of 1860s style.

Grooming – Facial hair should be kept at a minimum. Clean shaven – or no more than 1 week’s growth – should be the most common style. Per contemporary styles, sideburns should be shaved very high, at the temples. No mutton chops. Furthermore, those desiring to are encouraged to style their hair in a period manner. If you do desire to wear facial hair think small and trimmed rather than big and bushy. A moustache or small chin beard would be appropriate and fashionable, but leave the mountain man look for another impression. Hair should not extend much further than the tops of the ears. Long hair, combed straight back behind the ears is discouraged. This style was more common in the 1850s, and was on its way out among the men of the First by the time of the war.

Clothing – Given the fact that the men of the first were relatively well-to-do, their clothing, even in the field, should reflect their status in society. Remember, the First was known as the “Kid Glove Regiment.” To make the impression distinct from the rest of the Army of Tennessee, therefore, optional items such as silk neckties, vests, privately purchased boots, and – you guessed it – kid gloves are encouraged. Generally, if you have to choose between clothing of finer goods and that of homespun, choose the better piece. Dress up your impression where you can, but moderation is the word. Small touches on each man will combine to have an overall unit effect. In other words, don’t come out dressed entirely in pristine civilian attire, but instead choose a fancy shirt or a flashy necktie with a jeans jacket or otherwise drab military clothing.

Demeanor – Is this part of appearance? Absolutely. As your guiding principle think about the men we will be portraying. Fortunately, we all happen to fall around the ages of the men of the First. You’re young and confident, usually strong secessionists (you were the First formed regiment from the state, after all), and have led a life of privilege. I often use the more common (today) image of a good high school football (or insert sport) team. Young men who are confident that they can take on the world together. This means that you are encouraged to strut, puff up your chest, and cock your hat off at an angle, you dandy! It also means that while in camp you should not hesitate to pull of complicated and legendary practical jokes, laugh at one another’s expense, etc. Take a look at Watkins’ book for some examples of these escapades being relived 20 years after the fact. But, just like a winning team, when it comes time to take care of business all the kidding and joking gets put away and you act like professionals. These men were at the same time a frat house and a crack military unit with two years of experience behind them. Drill will be expected to be crisp. Sloppiness will not be tolerated. Though it often gets said, brush up on your manuals and know your business for both safety and authenticity.

Closing

Gentlemen, we have here a rare opportunity. We are coming together from all over the country to experience serving in a unit that we have all read about many times. Moreover, we have the opportunity to represent that unit as accurately as has ever been – or likely ever will be – done. Get excited and get ready. Read, prepare, and come down with a good attitude, ready to show the visiting public as real a slice of history as can be done. This is taking living history to a new level.

If you have any questions about these regulations or the event in general, feel free to get in touch with me. Remember, if you are in doubt about anything, it’s easy to ask.