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A while back,a picture was posted of a supposed Wytheville Depot jacket that was reportedly held at the Atlanta History Center. No further information was available, so it remained a mystery as to whether the AHS had it or not or any of the provenance of the jacket. After months of trying to figure out the story, i may have gotten some answers (but probably more questions).
The AHS does indeed have the jacket and it came with documentation that it was captured in a raid on the Dublin,Va. supply depot in May,1864 by an officer in the 14th WV (Federal) Infantry. I looked on a map site and Dublin is about 28 miles from Wytheville.
Now comes the conjecture....the jacket appears to be classic Richmond "type II" in all respects except for the button count (6) and slash pocket on the left breast. There was a picture posted a while back of a soldier from the 65th Va.that appeared to have the exact same style of jacket on. The 65th operated in the southwestern part of Va. and thus it could be asserted that they would potentially be supplied from the Wytheville or Dublin depot. I feel that it is most likely that this depot simply made the standard "Richmond" style jackets, but for some reason,decided to decrease the more common amount of buttonholes and add the slash pocket. Very similar to Federal contractor variations on everything from sack coats to cartridge boxes. Does this mean that we have a whole new "Wytheville Depot Jacket"....I don't think so. I do feel, however, from the limited examples available, that there is compelling evidence that there may be a "Wytheville (or Dublin) Style" Richmond jacket. It seems entirely plausible to me that this style of jacket could have been the closest thing to a standard jacket that West Virginia Confederates had in the mid war period.
I know that not everyone will agree with my assertions and I welcome discussion on this little known variant of Confederate clothing.
Adam Dickerson
The AHS does indeed have the jacket and it came with documentation that it was captured in a raid on the Dublin,Va. supply depot in May,1864 by an officer in the 14th WV (Federal) Infantry. I looked on a map site and Dublin is about 28 miles from Wytheville.
Now comes the conjecture....the jacket appears to be classic Richmond "type II" in all respects except for the button count (6) and slash pocket on the left breast. There was a picture posted a while back of a soldier from the 65th Va.that appeared to have the exact same style of jacket on. The 65th operated in the southwestern part of Va. and thus it could be asserted that they would potentially be supplied from the Wytheville or Dublin depot. I feel that it is most likely that this depot simply made the standard "Richmond" style jackets, but for some reason,decided to decrease the more common amount of buttonholes and add the slash pocket. Very similar to Federal contractor variations on everything from sack coats to cartridge boxes. Does this mean that we have a whole new "Wytheville Depot Jacket"....I don't think so. I do feel, however, from the limited examples available, that there is compelling evidence that there may be a "Wytheville (or Dublin) Style" Richmond jacket. It seems entirely plausible to me that this style of jacket could have been the closest thing to a standard jacket that West Virginia Confederates had in the mid war period.
I know that not everyone will agree with my assertions and I welcome discussion on this little known variant of Confederate clothing.
Adam Dickerson
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