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In conjunction with Fred Baker, Skillet Licker Products is offering a limited run of the "Huntsville, Texas Penitentiary Jacket", perfect for the upcoming Mansfield, LA event and, indeed, all far West events. Run is limited to 15 jackets, first come first served, at a cost of $195.Description and information pertaining to as follows:
The Penitentiary Jacket is a garment without surviving examples and very little in the way of period images. No known photographic image survives although sketches of the garment exist from period lithographs and other like works. Additionally, these garments are mentioned in a good many letters and reports. Historians Fred Adolphus and Don Smith have both done a significant amount of research into Penitentiary Jackets and have concluded the following- the garments were constructed of a "military styled" pattern, the jackets featured little in the way of adornment or embellishment, and finally, there was no set number of buttons nor other points of uniformity. The shared trait of all Penitentiary items was the cloth of which they were made. During the war the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas put its inmates to work looming and weaving millions of yards of cloth to provide to the lacking people of the State of Texas as well as the Confederacy as a whole. Much of this fabric was sold or provided to families for personal needs. However, vast quantities were also transformed into jackets, trousers, and other badly needed uniform items for both State and Confederate forces. A large proportion of the cloth manufactured at Huntsville was undyed, both to speed production and reduce the cost of making it. Therefore, thousands of jackets and trousers were constructed of "natural" (or undyed) cotton jean cloth. Another advantage inherent in making uniform items from light colored, cotton cloth was the comfort of the combatants. Trans-Mississippi soldiers on garrison or on campaign in the torrid summer heat of Texas or the thick, muggy humidity of the Louisiana cane breaks no doubt appreciated any relief afforded them. Thus, Penitentiary uniforms were a very common sight in the states west of the Big Muddy. Moreover, there is building evidence which indicates similar types of uniforms were worn by troops east of the Mississippi as well. Several letters and diaries make mention of Confederate troops clad in white uniforms, particularly around the time of the Chickamauga campaign. Finally, it is important to remember that these garments were not known as "Penitentiary Coats" during the time of the war. Rather, that term is one crafted by modern historians and material culturists as an identifier, much the same as the "Mystery Jacket" or the "Richmond Depot III."
The Penitentiary coats made for the up-coming Mansfield/Pleasant Hill Preservation March will be constructed of the highest quality materials available. Both the jean and lining material will be either from Family Heirloom Weavers or Ben Tart. Buttons will include coin buttons from Wooded Hamlet or military buttons from Jim Kindred. All interior/hidden seams will be machined and every jacket will be top-stitched by hand. Buttonholes will be hand-sewn as well. Although the color and style of every jacket will be quite similar, the button arrangement will not. Some jackets may have 8 button fronts while others may have only 5.
Thanks to Tom Yearby of the Texas Ground Hornets for posing with his "lived in" Penitentiary jacket.
Orders now being accepted for delivery well in time for the Mansfield, LA event. Credit Card secures your order. More pictures of the finished coat will be published on my site.
The Penitentiary Jacket is a garment without surviving examples and very little in the way of period images. No known photographic image survives although sketches of the garment exist from period lithographs and other like works. Additionally, these garments are mentioned in a good many letters and reports. Historians Fred Adolphus and Don Smith have both done a significant amount of research into Penitentiary Jackets and have concluded the following- the garments were constructed of a "military styled" pattern, the jackets featured little in the way of adornment or embellishment, and finally, there was no set number of buttons nor other points of uniformity. The shared trait of all Penitentiary items was the cloth of which they were made. During the war the state penitentiary in Huntsville, Texas put its inmates to work looming and weaving millions of yards of cloth to provide to the lacking people of the State of Texas as well as the Confederacy as a whole. Much of this fabric was sold or provided to families for personal needs. However, vast quantities were also transformed into jackets, trousers, and other badly needed uniform items for both State and Confederate forces. A large proportion of the cloth manufactured at Huntsville was undyed, both to speed production and reduce the cost of making it. Therefore, thousands of jackets and trousers were constructed of "natural" (or undyed) cotton jean cloth. Another advantage inherent in making uniform items from light colored, cotton cloth was the comfort of the combatants. Trans-Mississippi soldiers on garrison or on campaign in the torrid summer heat of Texas or the thick, muggy humidity of the Louisiana cane breaks no doubt appreciated any relief afforded them. Thus, Penitentiary uniforms were a very common sight in the states west of the Big Muddy. Moreover, there is building evidence which indicates similar types of uniforms were worn by troops east of the Mississippi as well. Several letters and diaries make mention of Confederate troops clad in white uniforms, particularly around the time of the Chickamauga campaign. Finally, it is important to remember that these garments were not known as "Penitentiary Coats" during the time of the war. Rather, that term is one crafted by modern historians and material culturists as an identifier, much the same as the "Mystery Jacket" or the "Richmond Depot III."
The Penitentiary coats made for the up-coming Mansfield/Pleasant Hill Preservation March will be constructed of the highest quality materials available. Both the jean and lining material will be either from Family Heirloom Weavers or Ben Tart. Buttons will include coin buttons from Wooded Hamlet or military buttons from Jim Kindred. All interior/hidden seams will be machined and every jacket will be top-stitched by hand. Buttonholes will be hand-sewn as well. Although the color and style of every jacket will be quite similar, the button arrangement will not. Some jackets may have 8 button fronts while others may have only 5.
Thanks to Tom Yearby of the Texas Ground Hornets for posing with his "lived in" Penitentiary jacket.
Orders now being accepted for delivery well in time for the Mansfield, LA event. Credit Card secures your order. More pictures of the finished coat will be published on my site.