What's a Boy to Wear?

It seems the good Chaplain Quintard kept the old 1st clothed for most of the war with material from Rhodes Brown of the Eagle Mill in Columbus. By the time of Chickamauga, that means the material was likely cassimere.

TALLAPOOSA TIMES [DADEVILLE, AL], February 14, 1861, p. 1, c. 6

Eagle Manufacturing Company.

This “institution,” says the Columbus Times, is playing an important part in the secession drama. Since that movement was inaugurated, the Eagle Factory has supplied uniforms for more than thirty military companies, with their cassimere. This supply has required the manufacture of over 18,000 yards, and has been distributed to companies of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and our own State. The demand is still that of the horse-leech, “give,” to the full extent of its capacity to furnish. 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.

It’s postwar, but here’s some more about Eagle…

LEXINGTON OBSERVER & REPORTER, January 27, 1869:

GEORGIA.
What Columbus is Doing.

Columbus has now three manufactories in operation -- the "Eagle and Phoenix," the "Columbus" and the "Steam Cotton Mills." The first has 9,000 spindles in operation, exclusive of the woolen, the second 2,500 and the last 2,000 -- total 13,500 spindles.
The finest kind of cassimeres, all kinds of thread, sheeting, shirting, etc., and beautiful blankets are being made. The Eagle and Phoenix and the Columbus both contemplate doubling their machinery during the present year. When this is done, there will be 25,000 spindles in operation. Climate and being in the heart of the cotton region greatly favor the Southern manufacturer. Cotton goods can be made in the South considerably cheaper than at the North. Acting on this knowledge the Eagle and Phoenix Company are contemplating the building of another mill as large as their present one and filling it with machinery. Capitalists are turning their attention and means largely in such channels. -- Sun.

The question is what are they having made out of said cassimere.

In this picture, the ever-dandy George S. Nichols appears to have on a frock with his striped trousers in October of ‘62. As to the pic of Watkins, a lot of folks think it was '61, but that doesn’t jive with the dark collared frocks H was wearing in 61. It may very well be a late 62 image, if that is the case then it would be about the same time of the Quintard’s first batch of cloth. Though it is postwar, Watkins never uses the word “jacket” in reference to clothing, only “coat” in Co. Aytch. Is that decisive? No, not necessarily, but it is some more evidence for frocks. However, because we simply don’t know what they were having made, the range of commutation styles are open for the event. Furthermore, the fact that the 1^st was close to home and that Co. H were generally men of means, some privately purchased military and civilian clothing is not unconceivable.

This is not to say that everyone has to show up in cassimere, but it is to say again that the 1st is unquestionably still on the commutation system, and therefore we will see little or no depot issued clothing in the ranks. Leave that old Columbus at home.