Quote:
Originally Posted by mtngunr
i tried this way, today......photo almost begs "can you name this movie and what happened next?".........
or a caption......truth be told, i went to a battle today and had folk pose with it....fits right in..... |
Lets see? pretty good impression.
Wearing a 5-button Columbus Depot jacket made of logwood dyed jean wool
(?Jean? is a type of weave? a woolen weft goes over two cotton warps, under one, over two, etc. The next weft does the same but staggered one warp? giving the cloth a characteristic herringbone diagonal pattern. Yes Blue ?jeans? are a jean weave, which is why they are called ... surprise surprise... "jeans". The wool wefts are dyed, but the cotton warps are undyed [unless it was a piece dyed cloth.. which was not very common], so you see more white warp on the backside than the front, hence the different, lighter color front/back of ?jeans.? This cloth was regarded as field-hunting, or hard-labor clothing, or "slave" cloth and pre-war was commonly called "N... cloth" in the South).
This jacket is spot on... the collar and cuffs are the proper color and length. made of true wool, not jean. The jacket has been issued recently, despite the wear on the right shoulder, because it is still gray. Logwood dyes oxidized rapidly in sunlight turning a tannish color usually called ?butternut.? The jacket has been hand sewn as you can see by the top stiching, so it was probably "pieced out" to a home for construction, though sewing machines were in use on occasion at the depot
(different kind of stitching from modern sewing machines though) ... button holes are expertly done. His trousers are also jean, issue and not Richmond depot either which is consistant, and well made. They are held up by a good set of suspenders with leather button holes, a sturdy constuction.
If you want to know more about the Columbus depot jacket, this is an incredibly researched study by Geoff Walden for the dept of defense... I have the first perfect reproduction made by Ben Tart.
http://authentic-campaigner.com/arti...n/cdjacket.htm
The Columbus Depot jacket means he is a western confederate, probably Bragg?s Army of Tennessee, and likely 1863 as the depot was not really fully operational till mid-'62. Dished wooden buttons were not as common as believed, but were occasionally encountered. Solidiers would usually prefer to transfer brass buttons from uniform to uniform. The top button is different? this button is the most often used so the original must have worn the thread and been replaced.
His cap is fairly common, jean wool, properly battered though brim hats (note: NOT floppy-rag-do hats) were more common in the west at this time. Shirt is homespun, and sent to him from home? Confederate depots did not often or reliably supply shirts. But his hair is a bit long. Most soldiers cut it pretty short because of lice.
He has his tarred cloth haversack (more common in Union Army), which is completely empty - unlikely as everything edible or not was carried - and leather-straped canteen on his left hip, and a proper, looks Tennessee pattern, cartridge box? ? on his belton his right hip. The box has no sling -which is correct; the belt attached box was more common in A of T.
His cap box is just under the coat right front for easy access. Belt buckle is OK, not as common as state symbols but very authentic, good solid leather belt, worn, but looks Georgia pattern, consistant with AofT.
He has no bed roll or back pack so he is either prepared for combat or in camp. Encumberances were shed when going into battle. The firearm is a little unusual for the time period but not unknown. At first glance it an M1842 69 cal smoothbore, most of which had been replaced by 1853 Enfield, or Lorenz rifles by the time Columbus Depot was producing quantities of uniforms. He would likely be firing a charge that had a ball and several buck shot, called "buck and ball."
But, the knife is far too well made and new looking. The originals looked like they were made from a plow. Plus, it would not be likely that a soldier in 1863 would be carrying one. These guys learned to lighten the load to the minimum early on. Most War of Northern Agression period pictures with these knifes used a prop knife provided by the photographer.
But, all-in-all a very nicely put together impression... no "FARB" at all...! Here is a company posing in camp?
A few more friends? in the field,
And yet more friends?
Hummm... it must be an overturned captured suttlers wagon ... more friends a'comin..
What the heck? More friends?
Yee-haa... ya'll all come now ya'hear? More friends and now we'uns is a'comin far ya'lls women and ya'lls hogs and cattle too.
If every one carried a bowie... By the way, the last picture was taken at the 135Th Gettesburg. It is a full scale reenactment of "Picketts charge" more accurately called Longstreet's assault. In this picture are approximately 11,000 Confederate reenactors on a one mile front just stepping off for the assault ... this is as close to viewing what the real deal looked like as you can get.
From behind Union lines, only part of the assault
Highwater mark
