A Charlotte Depot Shell Jacket?

[Kirby]

I would like to know if this information is correct. Until recently I was unaware of a "Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket." At first I assumed that that author of this article was calling a standard North Carolina Depo Jacket by another name, however both the NC Depo and "Charlotte Depo" jackets are discussed and sketches of each are featured. Please provide any information you have in reference to this "Charlotte" jacket, likewise if you feel this a a mistake please reply with that information too. You can view the article that mentions the "Charlotte" jacket at, http://www.acws.co.uk/archives/military/depots.htm

Thank you,

Kyle Kirby

[Clsinclair]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

Charlotte did have the factories making material that were being used to make uniforms. While studying uniforms of pre-war uniforms of Charleston, SC Charlotte, NC kept coming up as a source for some of the material being used.

[Kirby]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

Hello, Claude

Thank you for the reply. In the course of your research have you come across any information regarding a unique pattern for jackets constructed in Charlotte, NC? The article I have linked to states, “A Charlotte Depot Jacket had full, baggy sleeves that were eased into the arm holes; a mid-high stand-up collar, six brass buttons, rounded front panels and two inside patch pockets.” Any information that can be supplied further on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Kyle Kirby

[kirklandaustin]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

I have found this jacket also in my research and it has interested me, yet what i have concluded from my research it appears to me to be a NC jacket made in Charlotte no more different then the NC depot jacket. During the war the lady's where making many things in Charlotte from blankets to to uniforms in some of the articles and letters i have read it says that they where bringing yarn and supply from home to work on uniforms, with that being said i think that the Charlotte depot jacket was just a NC depot jacket made in Charlotte. A good book to look into is THE CIVIL WAR IN CHARLOTTE it tells a good amount of history and what happened in Charlotte during the civil war.

Austin Kirkland
"just a poor man fighting a rich man's war"

[FloridaConscript]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

Those drawings are from a now defunct sutler "Grand Illusions" not sure where GI got them.

[DougCooper]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

Les Jensen's study: http://www.military-historians.org/c...federate-3.htm

For more info on North Carolina jackets, try here: http://www.bnbtart.com/index.html

[WpnsMan]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

As I found out while trying to conduct preliminary research on Wytheville Depot jackets, most of the “information” available online is dubious in nature. When sutlers are listed as references and fabrics are described by low-end sutler row names the article loses credibility in my book.

[DougCooper]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

Bryan - Indeed! I would be happy if we could start with removing the term "shell" from descriptions of "jacket." Unless of course there is a "shell coat" out there somewhere.

[colorsgt26nc]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

The Amzi Williamson jacket found in EOG is most likely a Charlotte depot jacket. Ben Tart has been studying this jacket and is now making an incredible reproduction of it. It appears to be a transition piece between the NC 1861 sack coat and what we usually refer to as the NC depot jacket. The Williamson jacket has two piece sleeves like the sack coat but a standing collar like the NC depot. I think it is most likely the Williamson jacket was manufactured in Charlotte because it has NC Military Institute buttons. The NCMI was located in Charlotte.

BTW, Ben Tart's jacket has reproduction NCMI buttons that are absolutely incredible to see. It's my understanding that the buttons are exclusive to that jacket and otherwise unavailable. It would be worth it to get a jacket just to get those buttons.

[Bob McDonald]

Re: A Charlotte Depot Shell Jacket?

In my opinion, the NCMI buttons on the Amzi Leroy Williamson jacket were *not* those first placed on the coat when manufactured. Williamson was conscripted in April 1863, at age 30, mustering into Co. B, 53rd Regiment NCT. By that time, the state was making and issuing large volumes of uniform "suits", which almost assuredly carried state seal buttons.

At the time they were photographed by Time-Life for EOG, the Williamson jacket and forage cap, the John Kennedy Coleman (6th SC) RD 3 jacket, the Hugh Lawson Duncan (39th GA) Tait Jacket and NC issue trousers, and the John Calvin Zehring (4th TN) "Milledgeville" jacket were within my care.

I believe that a small but significant number of enlisted men, when issued new jackets, would transfer buttons from their earlier jacket based on their own preference. The Coleman jacket is an excellent example of this, as it almost certainly left the Richmond clothing depot with standard branch of service buttons, most likely block I's. When I obtained the jacket - via only one "picker" away from the family - 8 of the 9 South Carolina state seal buttons were in place, all on "original" thread, and virtually all being somewhat flattened from field service. It seems evident that Coleman preferred to maintain the "visibility" of his state association, transferring the buttons from the garment being replaced.

Williamson, age 28, appears in the 1860 federal census as living with his wife and two young children in the Eastern Division, Mecklenburg County, Charlotte post office. When, where and how he acquired the NCMI buttons is unknowable. (It is even possible that these were post-war additions, but I rather doubt that.) Most importantly, however, it is my strong belief that their presence on the jacket can tell us nothing as to which North Carolina facility made the uniform. (Per family remembrance, the trousers had been with the jacket and forage cap until at some time borrowed for modeling for a town-square veteran memorial statue, the trousers being lost in the loan!)

I hope these thoughts are of some benefit.


Bob McDonald

[mosbysgirl]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

I have a question in response to the initial post, Is thrre evidence ofva 'Charlotte Depot' specifically as opposed to say a "Richmond Depot", or just a Charlotte manufactory?

[Malingerer]

Re: A Charlotte Depot Shell Jacket?

It may be worth noting at this point that North Carolina was not a participant in the Confederate government's "clothing depot system" but rather decided rather early in the war to take responsibility for clothing her own soldiers. Thus, the use of the term " Charlotte Depot" could be a bit misleading.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

To add to what Peter said, depot is not the same thing as a manufacturing facility. Depots logistical crossroads. Items were delivered there from manufacturing facilities and then directed from that point to various destinations. A garment that was issued out of the "richmond depot" doesn't necessarily mean that it was manufactured there. The "charlotte depot" could issue a jacket made in the Raleigh shops.

[kirklandaustin]

Re: A Charlotte Depot Shell Jacket?

One thing that interested me is how many other states, and troops got the North Carolina jacket, with having to supply its own troops and also the troops of other states as we have seen troops from other states in the NC jacket. It would not surprise me that Charlotte had a place that was supplying uniforms, it also had its own ship yard and mint for the Confederate states. and i could not imagine the state could supply all these uniforms from one source.

Austin Kirkland
"just a poor man fighting a rich mans war"

[mosbysgirl]

Re: A Charlotte Depo Shell Jacket?

I am wondering about a "shipyard" in Charlotte as it is not on a coast? How does that work?