Pennsylvania State Jackets

[Bankslee]

I was looking through a book on the Pennsylvania bucktails and noticed that one soldier was wearing a "state issued" Shell Jacket. I was wondering if anyone had any Information on the Pennsylvania state issued jacket?

I also read somewhere that many soldiers threw away these jackets early on in the war(as to not be confused with Confederate troops). Also I was wondering if anyone knows if there were any engagements where PA troops may have worn these jackets, or were they thrown away as soon as the war started?

Any information would be greatly appreciated!


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[NYCivilWar]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

I don't know much about the PA jacket, but there is a photograph of one in Echoes of Glory, the Union volume, pg. 153. Stylistically it looks like a Richomd Depot jacket to me...

[acook]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

http://books.google.com/books?id=bGA_TXpHPO8C&pg=PA121&lpg=PA121&dq=pennsylvania+state+issue+jacket,+civil+war&source=bl&ots=3EbTbUkGGD&sig=PqmHEGFOcStYYOsrPuGzJEx0hc0&hl=en&ei=v6WHTI7UEMT_lgfDpbXPDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=pennsylvania%20state%20issue%20jacket%2C%20civil%20war&f=false

This should help get you started, it would seem the gray jacket had a presence at least through 1862. I have heard that there is effort being put forth to recreate this jacket for the 150th cycle..that is all I know regarding recreation. To mirror Kyle, and what I have heard from individuals who have examined an original, it looks very much like an RD jacket..trim varying.

Aaron Cook

[Garrett Silliman]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

Not to be difficult, but I wouldn't put too much stock in the above reference. The section on PA uniforms provides no footnotes or documentation for the information provided. Further, the paragraph prior to the PA uniform section states that Ohio troops were issued m1842 muskets that were converted from flintlocks. I am sure the book provides some good pictures, but I wouldn't trust the printed information if this page is any indication of its level of scholarship.

There was a good thread on here a while back on PA troops being issued NY State Jackets, you may want to check that out. Good luck

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

Ta-da!

http://pamplinpark.pastperfect-onlin...13612;type=101

This is the original Pennsylvania state jacket housed at Pamplin Park and the same one featured in Echoes of Glory. It's not a perfect description but does provide some insights into the construction. Maybe someone here who has seen the original is willing to add to this.

[roundshot]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

See here for more on early war gray Pennsylvania jackets:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?16187-Rare-shot-of-Union-soldiers-under-arms&highlight=PVRC

[Kanawha Riflemen]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

I didn't see anyone posting the so-called Pa jacket from the 177th Pa. This jacket is supposed to be a Pa jacket but it looks very different from the one at Pamplin and EoG, almost like a Richmond Depot. Tim Sheads and I talk to about this jacket. The jacket comes from the Mercer Museum, in Doylestown, Pa. I hope this link works. One minute it worked, the next minute it didn't. http://starweb.mercermuseum.org/star...ervlet.starweb

I was hoping to get away here at South Mountain Battlefield, but with the Maryland Campaign Anniv., I am buried in work to maybe look at the jacket first hand. Ted Alexander, Chief Historian at Antietam NPS and I both serve on the 150th Franklin County (Penn) Committee and we are looking for good living historians to participate in an event with Pennsylvania Jackets.
______________________________
John A. Miller
South Mountain State Battlefield
Monterey Pass Battlefield, Washington Township

[Bankslee]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

Thanks for all the input everyone.

~Eric Pfeiffer

[Bankslee]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

Dose anyone know about hats or pants issued to these Reserve Regiments? I had read that they were also gray and sometimes the pants were white.


~Eric Pfeiffer

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

John,

That is an amazing jacket...I've never seen anything like it! You are right about it looking like a Confederate jacket. I think if I happened upon that at an antique store or estate sale my first thought would be that it was some kind of early Richmond Depot or "commutation" product. I wonder about the red trim....

[Kanawha Riflemen]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

Brian,

Yes, the jacket is odd. The features are so different from the one in EoG as well the one at Pamplin. But if you look at the those photographs presented in a thread as mentioned above you'll see that they too are different in cut from what we are seeing. There are two photographs of a man and woman with childern in camp outside of Washington, he too is wearing a Pennsylvania Jacket and that is different as well. You can see the 3/4 button to close the pocket on the breast. These are cool jackets and I can't wait until I get my wife to put it together, but I am still researching that aspect of it as well. Course wool and jeans-cloth liner with cotton batting (Pamplin Historical Park).

From my understanding to help answer the orginal question, Pennsylvania stopped (or was ordered?) issuing grey jacket just proir to the Maryland Campaign of September 1862.

John A. Miller
South Mountain State Battlefield
Monterey Pass Battlefield, Washington Township

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

John,

Thanks for bringing up the "washer woman" photo, as I had forgotten about the soldiers wearing gray jackets. I'll have to take a closer look. As for reproducing the jackets, I was told a few months ago that the Pamplin Park example is made from a medium weight, coarse mixed gray kersey. The Doylestown example (Geo. Harper, 71st PA) appears to be a satinette or something similar; some spots of wear seem to expose a light colored warp underneath. I guess there is no way of knowing until someone examines the jacket up close and personal.

[Kanawha Riflemen]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

Brian,

Your right about that. That is the only way to get the answers is to examine the orginal Jacket at Mercers Museum. Agreed on the photo, it does appear to be satinette.
Oh, Aaron thank you for helping us this past weekend with the Gettysburg NPS Labor Day weekend artillery programs.

John A. Miller
South Mountain State Battlefield
Monterey Pass Battlefield, Washington Township

[Huck]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

Here is infomation about the jacket listed

Object Title 71st Pennsylvania Infantry Shell Jacket
Accession Number 91.07.006
Object Name Jacket
Date 1861
Object Description Infantryman's gray shell jacket. Red piping around the shoulder straps, collar, sleeves. Beige cotton lining. Buttons stamped with eagle and shield insignia.
Materials Wool, cotton, brass
Associations Harper, George W. (user) (North America, United States, Pennsylvania, Yardley, American Civil War)
History of Use Worn by Prv. George W. Harper, 71st Pennsylvania (1st California) Regiment, Civil War. The regiment was issued gray uniforms at beginning of war which caused much confusion on the battlefield. Harper was captured at the Battle of Ball's Bluff and held at Libby Prison in Richmond. He was later exchanged and then rejoined his regiment. After the war, he married Ruth Cooper. Resided in Yardley, Bucks County.
Measurements Height: 24.000 in
Width: 19.000 in
Other:

[acook]

Re: Pennsylvania State Jackets

I wish I had more to contribute, I do not want this thread to die. I suppose I must get to work researching further. Some really valuable information has already been posted, but I can't help but feel like its only the tip of the iceberg.