Trans-Mississippi depot-made jacket available for viewing

[Fred Adolphus]

To all of you Confederate "uniformologists", I have just posted photos on my website of the only known, depot-made, cadet gray enlisted jacket. Y'all can see all the cool details by visiting the blog on www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com website.

But wait, there's more! This blog-article on the Trans-Mississippi jacket is just the first in a series of articles I will be posting on Confederate caps, jackets and trousers. And, as usual, lots of photos with all the "juicy" construction details.

Visit the site often to see new uniforms, new articles and new images. I hope to post at the rate of one addition per week.

If you like Confederate uniforms, you will like this website.

See ya there!

Fred Adolphus

BTW, if others want to post CSA uniforms on my site, they are welcome to. Contact me to arrange the details. Fred

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Trans-Mississippi depot-made jacket available for viewing

Fred, GREAT STUFF! Thanks for making this kinda research and photos available. Ken R Knopp

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Trans-Mississippi depot-made jacket available for viewing

The similarities to this jacket and the "charleston" jackets is almost disturbing.

Fred, do you use the terms cadet gray and "english army cloth" or "blue grey kersey" interchangeably? From some of the close ups, the material is dead on to a jacket here in SC that is made of imported english army cloth (BGK).

[Fred Adolphus]

Re: Trans-Mississippi depot-made jacket available for viewing

Bryant,

I call blue gray kersey "cadet gray" because that is what the quartermasters generally called it during the War.

I have had a couple of comments to the effect that the jacket is just like a "Charleston" jacket. All I can say is:

1. The provence on the soldier who wore the jacket is from the Dept Trans-Miss: John C. Bach, 31st Louisiana Infantry. Served at Vicksburg, and later West Louisiana.

2. I a willing to accept that possibility that two depots may have, just accidentally gotten their jacket paterns very similar. Who's to say: maybe a tailor at Charleston came to Texas for whatever reason and brought his pattern with him. Or, why couldn't it just be a coincidence?

3. It is a well documented fact, that from the fall of 1862 onwards, cadet gray kersey was the chief material employed in enlisted clothing at San Antonio, Houston and, to a lesser degree, Shreveport. This jacket fits all the perameters for a Trans-Mississippi depot jacket.

C'est la Guerre,

Fred Adolphus

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Trans-Mississippi depot-made jacket available for viewing

Fred,

The left collar lapel shows up in some early photos on Charleston guys. Neill Rose thinks it may be a Charleston fashion type of thing. It is an interesting coincidence that is for sure.


bryant/part of the "more BGK" mess

[BShajari]

Re: Trans-Mississippi depot-made jacket available for viewing

I know that this thread is a few months old, but thanks for sharing this, Fred. I have family and land not far from you in Slagle, near Simpson.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Trans-Mississippi depot-made jacket available for viewing

Fred,
what is the number stamped on the lining of the jacket? 5384? any significance?