Vests in the field?

[thecause1861]

This is something that has puzzled me. How common or uncommon was it to see only vests on Confederate Infantrymen in the field? I have seen one late-war photo of a rebel KIA who was wearing only a vest and no jacket. I saw another photo that was strange, of a rebel corpse at gGettysburg ( I think) who apparently went into battle in only a shirt. Thoughts?

[Mark Choate]

Re: Vests in the field?

I see that this is your first post and I approved it because it is a good question however, I must point out that it is a strict rule that you sign your name to every post from this point on!

As to your question, it was fairly common to see vests worn by Confederate soldiers. One must remember that there was a large percentage of "civilian soldiers" in the CS ranks and the wardrobe trends of the day dictated that vests, cravats, and many other "civy" items would be seen in the ranks. Remember also that with the haste that the Confederacy in general was put together, many of the uniform restrictions of the US army would not have been in place.

As to the photos, please remember that by the time that particular photo may have been made, the bodies may have been "positioned" or posed and there was also the ever present occurrence of clothing items being removed from the dead as they were needed by the living.

Don't forget the signature next time!

respectfully,
Mark

[colorsgt26nc]

Re: Vests in the field?

As I understood your question, you mean a vest without a jacket. I believe you will find this to be uncommon. A jacket served as more than just a piece of clothing to identify you. It was protection (from briers, brush, grazing bullets, etc.). The only reason a man would not have worn a jacket is if there just wasn't one to have.

[john duffer]

Re: Vests in the field?

" The only reason a man would not have worn a jacket is if there just wasn't one to have. "

Or it was just too hot or he had lain on a cow pie that morning or he was on a work detail or it was soaking wet or the company tailor was repairing it or he felt it constricted his arms when he was loading or he didn't have time to put it on or he just lost it in a card game or he had outgrown it, etc, etc,etc. I'm just messing with you but statements like "the only reason" or "they never" oft come back to haunt you. I apologize in advance if you've done an exhaustive study and have tons of reserach showing this is so. :-)

[Jimmayo]

Re: Vests in the field?

North South Trader magazine had an article 10 or 15 years ago where they pictured a documnted war time Confederate worn shirt. You could see the fade marks made by a knapsack and straps. Obviously that fellow was not wearing a jacket all the time.

[Stateline]

Re: Vests in the field?

When a man gets a little too hot or encumbered by his jacket, he will generally take it off & make other arrangements. Im relatively confident that an average man in those days would have the intelligence to do the same thing. No big deal, he just took his jacket off & he found a way to tote it along with him or he could just chunk it if it got in his way.

George W. Eason

[thecause1861]

Re: Vests in the field?

Thanks for your replies gentlemen, this has shed light on the subject for me.


Regards,

Kurt Berntsen.