Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

[a34]

Hey Fellas,

I posted the question below about my ancestor's unit a couple of years ago and got some good ideas on what his uniform might have looked like. I'm still researching and wondered if anyone here had photo's of any member of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army, also known as Vaughn's or Lillard's 3rd Tennesseee mounted infantry. Prefer photo's prior to July 4th,1863.

I found a photo of two soldiers from another East Tennessee unit and it looked like they had Columbus depot jackets, but the photo was from later in the war. My ancestor's unit drew model 1822 muskets in Lynchburg, Va in June of 1861. No record of any clothing being dawn then, and records show they kept those muskets til the fall of Vicksburg. After Manassass they spent time back in East Tennessee until they deployed to Vicksburg. I can't find any records of clothing being issued specifically to their unit, not that I'm an expert at researching that stuff. From what I've read, I'm guessing if they were issued uniforms it was probably during their stay in East Tennessee. Would anyone have info on what depot's might have supplied troops in that area? Would it still be the Atanta or Columbus depot?

I appreciate any advice or ideas on this, I want to put together the most accurate impression possible. Here is my original post:

"I am interested in purchasing a correct reproduction of the uniform my ancestor wore during the war. He was in the 3rd Tennessee (Lillard's) Mounted Infantry, Company K, enlisted at Mt. Vernon, in Monroe County Tennessee. He served from Jan. 1862 until his death at Vicksburg April 11, 1863. He was a Private.

I don't know how many, if any, different uniform types he would have worn. Could someone tell me the type of uniform he would have worn at Vicksburg and where I could find pictures of it? What kind of rifle, shoes, hat, etc. would they have had? "

Thanks for any info !!

Randy Gann

[BrianHicks]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

At the start of the war, many Tennessee troops where issued Frock Coats from the State:

The coat is described as an eight or nine button single breasted frock with a distinctive pointed cuff and three buttons. The coats are constructed of several different colored fabrics and facings. A dark-blue gray, gray satinnette or jeans cloth, and both dark and light colored facings, light blue, black or red, are visible on soldiers from the 6th, 12th, 22nd, 29th, 31st, 55th, and 3rd Tennessee Battalions. A description from Columbus seen in the New York Herald on October 30, 1861, said of the Confederate soldiers that "half were uniformed . . . while balance had an Army cap, coat, pants with a stripe or military mark of some kind, and the rest simply some ordinary [civilian] costume." On August 31, 1861, an article in the Nashville Union and American stated that the Quartermaster Department was making 2,000 garments per day and had on hand 14,000 suits of clothing. In Memphis, a similar manufacturing depot employed 300 women making up piece work clothing for the Tennessee soldiers. The Tennessee State and Financial Board had purchased in April and May of 1861 some 30,000 yards of gray satinette material, 25,000 yards of mixed red, gray and blue flannel cloth, Kentucky jeans, 25,000 yards of red flannel, and metal coat buttons to provide uniforms for the Tennessee Volunteers. Ads were run in the Nashville papers for "six or eight practical tailors to cut volunteer uniforms by pattern." In September of 1861, the operations and supplies of the Tennessee State Quartermaster Department were transferred to the Confederate Government. Besides Tennessee soldiers, the Memphis and Nashville Depots were to also supply clothing to the troops from Kentucky, Missouri and Arkansas. Nashville, by the fall of 1861, according to one contemporary writer, "attained a degree of importance never before enjoyed", as a supply center for the Confederate Armies in the Western Department No. 2, and those in far away Virginia. Nashville was evacuated in February of 1862, following the battle and capture of Fort Donelson. Some five million dollars of much needed quartermaster goods were abandoned or destroyed in what has been named the "Nashville Panic". It appears that the Tennessee pattern frock coat was also lost to the enemy. The less expensive jacket would become the item of clothing manufactured and issued to the soldiers of the Confederacy.

[a34]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Thanks Brian for the info. I found out there were three 3rd Tennessee units that fought for the CSA. I think the other 2 were middle TN units.

[Coatsy]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Randy,

Good to see you on the AC forum sir! Remember that some of the 3rd Tennessee units listed could be the Federal units as well. Also have you tried Footnote.com? It is a pay site, but you can get the free trial for a few days. A lot of the folks on the AC have been able to glean some interesting info from this site.

Good luck with your search!

[Pritchett Ball]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Randy:

I have a typed copy of a diary from a cousin of my GGGrandmother , his name is William E. Sloan. His opening lines of his diary are...

"During the month of May, 1861, I, and my Brother James B. Sloan, enlisted in Capt. E. P. Douglas's Company at Benton, Tennessee. On the 28th of the same month we went to Knoxville, where on the 29th, we were mustered into service of the State of Tennessee, in Col. J. C. Vaughn's Regiment, then being raised at that place, and our Company took the place of Company C. of said Regiment. The Regiment now being complete we embarked on the 31st of the same month to Lynchburg, VA. "

I gather it's the same unit as your ancestor?
Respectfully:

Kevin Dally

[Daniel]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Randy, I do not know of any photos of soldiers from that unit. But I do know that a Columbus Depot jacket type is at the Vicksburg National Park. It was worn by a soldier who was wounded at Champion's Hill. That information is on Geoff Walden's Columbus Depot web site.

Also the Third Tennessee (Vaughn's) had just mustered before being sent to Virginia. So in all probablilty they were either wearing their civlilan clothes or uniforms made up by their communities. There was good article called "Clothing the Tennessee Volunteer 1861" by Ross Brooks. It was in, I think, a Company of Military Historian publication in the summer of 1994.

Dan Stewart

[a34]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Randy,

Also have you tried Footnote.com?
Good luck with your search!

Hey Herb !! Looking forward to seeing you at Picketts Mill if I can get Clint or James to email me back. LOL. Thanks for the info, I'll check out that site.

[a34]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Randy:

I have a typed copy of a diary from a cousin of my GGGrandmother , his name is William E. Sloan. His opening lines of his diary are...

"During the month of May, 1861, I, and my Brother James B. Sloan, enlisted in Capt. E. P. Douglas's Company at Benton, Tennessee. On the 28th of the same month we went to Knoxville, where on the 29th, we were mustered into service of the State of Tennessee, in Col. J. C. Vaughn's Regiment, then being raised at that place, and our Company took the place of Company C. of said Regiment. The Regiment now being complete we embarked on the 31st of the same month to Lynchburg, VA. "

I gather it's the same unit as your ancestor?
Respectfully:

Kevin Dally

Hey Kevin, thanks for responding ! Yes, that's the same unit. My ancestor was in company H and then later K. Sloan is a popular name in that area. Benton is about 13 miles south of my hometown. I go through it every time I go back home. Do you happen to have a photo of your cousin? I'd love to get a copy of that diary if possible. If you're interested in the history of that unit, there's a great book out called The Last Confederate General about John C. Vaughn. That unit helped win the day at the first Manassass and later escorted Jeff Davis to Washington, GA. Lots of cool history there, be glad to discuss with you sometime.

Thanks again Kevin !

[a34]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Randy, I do not know of any photos of soldiers from that unit. But I do know that a Columbus Depot jacket type is at the Vicksburg National Park. It was worn by a soldier who was wounded at Champion's Hill. That information is on Geoff Walden's Columbus Depot web site.

Also the Third Tennessee (Vaughn's) had just mustered before being sent to Virginia. So in all probablilty they were either wearing their civlilan clothes or uniforms made up by their communities. There was good article called "Clothing the Tennessee Volunteer 1861" by Ross Brooks. It was in, I think, a Company of Military Historian publication in the summer of 1994.

Dan Stewart

Dan, thanks for the info, I'll check that out. Any idea where I'd get a back issue of that?

[plankholder]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Randy, try here; http://www.military-historians.org/c...esbynumber.htm
It looks as if it is still available.

[a34]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Awesome, thanks. I ordered it.

[a34]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Hey Guys,

I ordered the magazine and it was mostly on middle TN units. However, it did say that 450,000 lbs of wool was ordered from Texas and sent to various mills in the south for uniform production. Would that have been dyed already or dyed at the mills? Would it be jean cloth?


Thanks !!

[GarrettG1993]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

The cloth in question may be whiteish (undyed) kersey from the Huntsville Pennitentary. I believe Nic Clark had a copy of an identified Tennesse jacket for sale about a year ago that was made from this. You might give him a hollar, user name is Iceman.

Regards,
Garrett Glover

[a34]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

Hey Guys,

Thought I'd pop this to the top again and see if anyone might have any new info.

Thanks,
Randy

[GarrettG1993]

Re: Trying to determine correct uniform. Does anyone have any photos of the 3rd Tennessee Provisional Army?

The coat I was refering to is listed for sale on E.J Thomas, under the new items category. It is based on a photograph of a similar jacket worn by Pvt. James Nelson of the 6th Tennessee circa 1861-'62. On a side note there have been quite a few complaints about Bill Lomas's shipping as of recently. Appologies Mods if I crossed the line.

Regards,
Garrett Glover