Tennessee Frock Coat

[Palmyra Possum]

I am trying to get information on the details of the frock coats issued by the State of Tennessee at the outbreak of the war, typically a gray satinete 8-button frocks, with branch-trimmed collar and cuffs, 3-button nonfunctioning cuffs. See the thread on "Lt. Joseph Specht, 15th Tennessee Infantry" for a good picture of the one worn by Lt. Specht, as well as several photos of the variation worn by the 1st Tenn.

I am looking for any information on the color of the branch trim for the infantry. One website I came across described it as "navy blue or dark colored." Another described it as "dark blue or black." In Don Troiani's book, "Regiments and Uniforms of the Civil War," he states the branch trim was "light blue, black or red." Does anyone have any better information on the color used for the branch trim? Are there any known existing Tennessee frocks of which there may be color photos? Also, does anyone have information as to the types of buttons used on the Tennessee frocks?

Eric Paape

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Hey Eric

Great to see you back in the hobby!

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Hey Bob!

I was wondering if I would run into anyone from the old neighborhood here.

I'm not exactly "back in the hobby." I have a daughter (adopted; don't worry, they didn't let me breed) who is getting involved in a local Civil War ballroom dance group. She needs me to escort her. I was thinking of getting an early war uniform made up, or more specifically, I'm thinking of having Captain Simmons' uniform duplicated:

http://saveourflags.org/index.php/unitinformation

You know me; it would annoy me to no end to think I had a dead-on perfect uniform only to find out my black cuffs should have been navy blue.

The dance group has very low authenticity standards and, if I get this uniform made, I will be the proverbial "island of authenticity, floating in a sea of farbs," but someone's got to uphold the standard. If not me, who?

So, no plans of getting called to the colors again. At least not right now. I have to admit, though, poking around the site has started to give me that old itch again. Maybe someday you'll see me through your sites again.

Eric Paape
14th Tennessee, Co. B (ret. at least for now)

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat



Some time ago, I set out to try to determine the details of a frock worn by Captain Williams Simmons of the 14th Tennessee (see attached Attachment "A"). While it seemed unlikely that I could document the specifics of that particular uniform, I hoped to document what was most likely. Rather than reinvent the wheel, I had hoped I could glean some information on this topic from this site. Alas, the silence was deafening. So, I set out to document what I could learn myself, picking at it on and off. Here is a summary of that research to date.

The bottom line is I don't know much more than I knew before, but my ignorance is much better documented now.

In February of 1862, with the fall of Fort Donelson, the City of Nashville was captured, along with the clothing depot. The last of the Tennessee depots continued to operate until June. Therefore, I tried to limit my research to photos known to be taken in this time period or very shortly thereafter. On many photos I had no idea when they were taken and made an educated guess based on the uniform, accoutrements, etc., that appeared in the picture.

The standard Tennessee state frock can be described as a gray satinette or jean with branch colored trim on the collar and cuffs. The cuffs often included three nonfunctioning buttons coming up the point of the trim on the cuff. Good examples are in the attached photos (Attachments "B" and "C") of Samuel H. Dunscomb, 3rd Battalion of Tennessee Infantry, and of a soldier believed to have been in the 55th or 154th Tennessee (along with what has to be the best belt ever; I'm going to have one made up to wear with my leopard skin pants). Surviving photos that I have located suggest frocks of this style were worn by the 3rd Battalion, and 3rd, 4th, 9th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 30th, 31st, 37th, 48th, 55th, and 154th Infantry Regiments. For all of these units, the uniforms photograph as light in color with dark trim (although some trim appears lighter than others; and on some coats, the cuffs cannot be seen and may be untrimmed).

Variations of this basic style can be seen on photos of other Tennessee units, such as frocks with only trimmed collars on the 1st (Maney's), 6th, 8th and 20th Tennessee Infantry, and the 4th Tennessee Cavalry, and frocks with straight cut trim on the cuffs, such as in the 14th, 31st and 41st Tennessee Infantry and 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery. These variations generally appear to not have the cuff buttons. Many later issued frocks have no trim at all, such those worn by the 1st (Maney's), 2nd, 16th, 20th, 23rd (had two button cuffs), 43rd and 48th Tennessee Infantry.

Another variation of this uniform shows the frock made of a dark color, most likely blue-gray or dark blue, with a lighter trim. This uniform is known to have been worn by the 6th, 12th, 19th and 55th Tennessee Infantry, and a variation of it appears to have been worn by the 7th.

Published books on the subject, including "Don Troiani's Civil War Infantry" and "Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown: Notes on Confederate Uniforms," indicate that the 22nd, 29th and 45th also wore Tennessee state frocks.

Admittedly, some of these coats may be shells as it is difficult to tell the difference in pictures taken from the waste up. Considering that the state of Tennessee fielded a total of 76 regiments, battalions and independent companies of infantry (not including another ten consolidated regiments http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...federate_units) the fact that men in probably over a third of these units likely wore frocks shows an incredibly high percentage of frocks among early Tennessee units.

Buttons – In general, Tennessee state frocks had 8-button fronts, however, variations are known. 7-button fronts seem to be the norm for the dark variant of frock. But what buttons were used on the uniform? A picture of four members of the 1st Kentucky Cavalry (Attachment "D") shows what I believe to be Tennessee frocks. Although a Kentucky unit, they were organized on June 26, 1861 at Camp Boone, near Clarksville, Tennessee, about ten miles across the Tennessee and Kentucky border, and apparently were equipped by the State of Tennessee. This picture is believed to have been taken at Bowling Green, Kentucky, between October 19, 1861 (when the unit was formally mustered in as the 1st Kentucky Cavalry) and the end of the year. My contention that they were equipped by Tennessee is supported in that at least two of the troopers appear to be carrying Nashville Plow Works swords. The seller of the original of this photo claims that in the original you could tell that the buttons were eagle buttons. I confess I can't see it in the copy and need to take his word for it.

http://www.oldsouthantiques.com/os1649p1.htm

But what of the possibility of state buttons? While rare, C. Rouyer of New Orleans made a Tennessee button with a variation of the state seal on it. As evidenced by an advertisement in the June 6, 1861 issue of Memphis Daily (Attachment "E"), buttons matching this description were being advertised for sale at that time. However, while there are records of the state purchasing supplies from Maryland and Kentucky, I have found no record of the State of Tennessee purchasing any such buttons from New Orleans. Nevertheless, Tennessee State buttons have reportedly been dug in the State of Virginia indicating that some members of the Tennessee Brigade may have acquired some state seal buttons through private purchase.
(http://www.shilohrelics.com/cgi-bin/...tem.asp?106039)

As a general rule, probably the best button on a Tennessee frock would be a federal eagle. This is supported by the evidence that such buttons appeared on what are most likely Tennessee state frocks worn by Kentucky cavalrymen and the data available on general prevalence of federal eagle buttons on existing Confederate uniforms.

http://first-tennessee.co.uk/articles/uniform.htm

http://www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/the-confederate-soldier-of-fort-mahone.html

Trim – Trim color has been particularly difficult to ascertain. In "Don Troiani's Civil War Infantry," the author states, "the fabrics and facings [of Tennessee frocks] are several different colors, the coats of a dark blue-gray or gray satinette or jean cloth, with facings of light blue, black or red." In "Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown: Notes on Confederate Uniforms," Thomas Arliskas describes the darker frock as "probably dark blue with light blue facings," and the lighter frock as "gray with blue or red facings." Neither author cites their sources to support these conclusions.

In Ron Field's book, "The Confederate Army 1861-65, Vol. 5: Tennessee & North Carolina," Mr. Field describes a "hand-tinted photo of a Pte Robert Patterson, Co F, 55th Tennessee Infantry… [showing] a nine-button dark blue-gray frock coat and pants, with light blue solid collar and cuffs." There is some uncertainty about exactly what photo he is talking about. The only picture in the book of someone named Robert Patterson is an un-tinted black and white picture of a soldier in the 12th Tennessee showing a soldier in the "dark blue-gray variation of the state-issue frock coat" (Attachment "F"). To further complicate matters, the National Park Service's, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System indicates that there are privates named Robert Patterson in both units and they do not appear to be the same person. Is Mr. Field describing a picture not in his book or did he err in identifying the soldier in either the text or the photo caption? My efforts to contact the author to clarify this have been unsuccessful.

Regardless, as both the 12th and 55th are known to have worn the dark variant of the state issued frock, which is clearly the uniform being described in this book, assuming the description of the tinting is a reasonably accurate representation of the actual color of the trim, we can say that there were frocks of the dark variation that were trimmed in blue.

Unfortunately, this does not shed much light on the trim color on the light variant of frock, photos of which clearly show a darker trim. Was it a darker blue, black, or some other color? Virginia Mescher's article, "The Mystery of Wet Plate Photographs and Color" (http://raggedsoldier.com/photo_article.pdf), would tend to suggest it was not a blue color, however, as colors come out different depending on the texture of the material, lighting, etc., this is not conclusive.

There are two frocks I know to be in existence that possibly are of Tennessee state issue. The first one is a frock Smithsonian has in its collection a frock coat identified as worn by a member of the 9th Kentucky at the Battle of Shiloh (Attachment "G"). It is of a gray frock with black straight cuff trim. Whether this is a Tennessee state frock is far from decided and I tend to lean towards the possibility that it is not.

Arguments in favor of it being a Tennessee state frock include:

Like the 1st Kentucky Cavalry described above, the 9th Kentucky was originally formed, and possibly outfitted, at Camp Boone, Tennessee.

Arguments against include:

It is relatively late for a Tennessee state issued frock;

Evidence is lacking as to whether this unit continued to be outfitted by the State of Tennessee after any initial issue; and

The trim, on the cuffs only, is otherwise unknown on Tennessee state issued frocks.

A second frock is that worn by Christopher (Kit) Williams, Co. D, 27th Tennessee Infantry with a black trimmed collar (Attachment "H"). It is believed that this was his captain's coat which he obtained upon the organization of the company in August of 1861. Upon the organization of the regiment in September of 1861, Williams was promoted to colonel. It is believed that at that time, he sent his captain's uniform home (hence the quality of the uniform) and had a new uniform made more in keeping with his new position. Again, I am leaning against this being a Tennessee state issue coat.

Arguments in favor of it being a Tennessee state frock include:

It is a known early war frock worn by a Tennessean.

Arguments against include:

Being an officer's uniform, it most likely would have been a private purchase rather than a state issue; and

The 9-button front is inconsistent with typical state issued frocks.

Like the darker variety, there is what the Tennessee State Archives describes as a "copy of a tintype image" which has been tinted. The picture of Pvt. David Beasley, 41st Tennessee (Attachment "I"), appears to show a Tennessee frock virtually identical the coat in question worn by the 14th Tennessee with black collar and cuffs. Again, assuming the colorization is reasonably accurate, we can say that there were lighter color frocks trimmed in black. It should be noted, however, that not all of the lighter Tennessee frocks appear to be trimmed in black. For example, in a picture of Lemuel and Andrew McMahon of the Co B., 24th Tennessee (Attachment "J"), the brothers appear to have a lighter color of trim, which could very well be blue, or some other color. And of course other exceptions are known to exist. Charles Simonton of the 9th Tennessee described their uniforms being "of a dingy, slatey colored jeans (it was a mere courtesy to call it gray…)… [with a] calico of a sickly hospital yellow which was to make the stripes on the pants and adorn the collars of the coats." The Confederate Ninth Tennessee Infantry, James R. Fleming, pp. 37-38.

In addition to examining the trim on coats, we can also examine the trim on trousers. While most photos do not show the trousers, some do. We know from these photos that soldiers of the 1st (Maney's), 6th, 14th, 16th, 23rd, and 43rd Tennessee wore trousers with a stripe of trim down each leg with their frocks regardless of rank. In all of these pictures, the trim appears dark in color. While I know of no first-hand descriptions of the trim color for the trousers for these units, we do have several references to trimmed trousers of other Tennessee units. The June 6, 1861 issue of the Fayetteville Observer (Attachment "K") describes the Fayetteville Guard (Co. G, of the 1st (Turney's) Tennessee) as wearing trousers with black trim. However, according Thomas Arliskas in "Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown," these uniforms were made in Richmond.

Mr. Arliskas also includes at least three descriptions from the capture of Fort Donselson (where approximately half of the Confederate units involved were from Tennessee) which make note of the abundance of trousers with black stripes:

Butternut colored breeches with a broad black stripe down the sides seemed to be the favorite running gear for the legs…

Most of the pants were ornamented by a broad black stripe down the outer seam, sometimes of velvet, but mostly of cloth or serge.

Most Confederates were in citizen clothes, their own military insignia being black stripes on their pants.

Obviously, we don't know how many of these trousers, if any, were manufactured by state sources. However, what is known is that black trimmed trousers were very common in Tennessee and worn by Tennessee troops during the period when the state was manufacturing the state issued frocks.

We can also look at uniforms other than frocks worn by Tennessee troops to get an idea of what was most commonly used in the early war period. Of course, the biggest problem with this approach is the lack of uniforms still in existence from 1861 and early 1862. As a general rule, a surviving uniform is generally considered the "last issued" uniform. One such "last uniform" that fits our time period and is known to have been worn by Henry J. Walker, Jr. of the 24th Tennessee. Walker was killed at the Battle of Shiloh (again, admittedly late in the time period we're looking at). His uniform is still in existence and has been on display at the Carter House in Franklin. A picture of Walker wearing this uniform is attached (Attachment "L"). His coat, a shell rather than a frock, is trimmed in black.

So, looking at what we know about trim color on the light frocks, it tended to be dark in color (or at least appear so in photographs). We know black trim appears on existing frocks worn in Tennessee while the state depots were in operation, but we cannot document with certainty that it appeared on state issue frocks. A tinted photo also indicates that black trim appeared on the lighter versions of state frocks. Additionally, it is documented that black trimmed trousers were in abundance in the state of Tennessee during the period that state issued frocks were being manufactured. Finally, there are existing Tennessee uniforms other than frocks from the early war period which are trimmed in black. While black seems to be the most likely color, the McMahon photo (among others) indicates that we cannot rule out the possibility of blue or other colors also being used on Tennessee frocks.

So, looking at what I set out to learn, the frock worn by Captain Williams Simmons is most likely a gray jean or satinette. The buttons on its 8-button front are most likely federal eagles with a very long shot that they are private purchase state seal buttons. For the trim, black seems to be the most likely candidate.

Further Reading:

"Clothing the Tennessee Volunteer 1861" by Ross Brooks, Military Collector & Historian, Summer, 1994, Vol. XLVI No. 2

"The Confederate Army 1861-65, Vol. 5: Tennessee & North Carolina," by Ron Field, Osprey Publishing

"Don Troiani's Civil War Infantry," by Earl J. Coates, Michael J. McAfee & Don Troiani, Stackpole Books, pages 16-17.

"Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown: Notes on Confederate Uniforms," by Thomas M. Arliskas, Thomas Publications, pages 22, 29-31, 36.

Tennessee's Confederates (Images of America Series), by Myers E. Brown II (Author), Tennessee State Museum (Contributor)

1861 issues of The Clarksville Chronicle, Memphis Daily Appeal, Nashville Union, Daily Nashville Patriot and Fayetteville [Tennessee] Observer (see http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/)

[Mississippian]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Eric,

Have you seen the photo of Pvt. James W. Edwards, Co. I, 15th Mississippi Infantry? I can't find a copy online, but its in the the Ron Field Confederate Army Vol 1, South Carolina & Mississippi, Osprey Men at Arms No 423. He's wearing a light colored coat with the dark pointed cuffs, with the 3 buttons going up to the point of the trim. Looks like a 7 or 8 button front, and it's hard to tell, but I don't think the collar has any trim on it.

The 15th was part of the force that covered Cumberland Gap and were defeated at Mill Springs. And from what QM docs I have seen from other Mississippi units in the west during 1861-early 62, it looks like they may have been supplied a good deal by TN, even going so far as to use TN state QM forms!

Will MacDonald

[WestTN_reb]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Quartermaster records from 1861 show Tennessee purchasing 30,000 yards of "gray satinette" and 25,000 yards assorted jeans, cassimere and different colored flannel. It would would be safe to assume the majority were of a gray satinette, and judging by most of the photos, it was a light shade. Also, my understanding is trim colors (red, blue, black, etc.) were not standardized. They used what was on hand for trim.

I ran across something awhile back talking about the frocks I though interesting. After Nashville fell, the tailors and all moved to Atlanta, where they started producing the Atlanta Depot frock (see picture of 20th Tennessee prisoners in '63 for reference). The Atlanta frock followed the same basic pattern, minus the trim and cuff buttons.

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Will,

Haven't seen that picture of Edwards. I'll have to pull that book. Thanks for the tip. There's actually a lot of coats and pictures of coats out there that fall into the "may be Tennessee state manufacture" category. An original frock belonging to Charles Herbst of the 2nd Kentucky has lots of hallmarks of an untrimmed Tennessee frock.

John,

I agree that the light version was the much more common. Even in units that had the dark, they weren't always issued to the whole unit. For example, Companies G and H of the 6th Tennessee, both from Jackson, had what appear to be state frocks. However, G had the light frocks with dark collars and H had dark frocks with light collars and cuffs. There's also the famous picture of Rutledge's Battery showing light and dark variations in the same unit. Of course, these raise the question of whether they were truly state issue, or local manufacture conforming to different guidelines.

[MDec]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Although I have no photos, McClung's Tennessee Battery was issued "coats" from Nashville on 31 January 1862, and issued "jackets" from Knoxville on 12 October 1862.

[Mississippian]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Here is a interesting requisition for Capt. P. Randolph Leigh's independent company of Mississippi Infantry, which was attached to the post of Nashville during the winter of 1861-62. When Nashville fell it was temporarily attached to the 15th Mississippi Infantry then after Shiloh became Co. C of the 1st Batt. Mississippi Sharpshooters. Capt. Leigh stated on the form that his company had never gotten any clothing of any kind from the QM while they had been in service.

QM stores issued at Nashville Dec. 16th 1861:

76 Caps @ $1.18 ea
76 Coats @ $13.00 ea
76 pr Drawers @ $3.25 ea
76 Flannel Shirts @ $0.85 ea
76 Flannel Shirts @ $1.75 ea
76 pr bootees or shoes @ $3.25 ea
152 pr stockings @ $0.50 ea
76 Blankets @ $5.80 ea

Will MacDonald

[Mississippian]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat

Now that I have been thinking about it, the buttons on the "dark" frock coats of the 6th, 12th, & 55th TN look very flat, almost like coin buttons.

Also on facebook a couple of days ago someone posted on the "Civil War Faces" group a unknown confederate in a TN looking frock....

Will MacDonald

[csuniforms]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat-more



Two more Tennessee Frocks--- I wrote the articles for Don Troiani--12th Tennessee-- the facings are based are based on the soldier from the 55th Tennessee in the LOC with a dark blue coat and light blue facings tinted--- and an article done in the Company of Military Historians Journal on the Tennessee Military Board and an inventory of materials purchased, red was one of them--
Pictures above 13th Arkansas-- Private Wilkenson in Tenn, frock-- purchased by him from Memphis or Nashville-- and an unidentified Tenn with Hall Rifle-- As a soldier you could purchase a Frock with your Commutation money-- many of these frocks are seen at Columbus, Ky. when the CS Army was forming for the Spring operations--- these type of Frocks worn at the Battle of Belmont, November 7th, 1861.
CSuniforms
Tom Arliskas

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: Tennessee Frock Coat



Thanks for all of the additional information. Definitely bolsters my Tennessee Frock files.

Tom - I've always assumed any red trim was used for the artillery units such as on the frocks worn by the 1st Tennessee Heavy Artillery. Any info on whether that is an accurate assumption? Great pics by the way. Interesting on how often you see the spoon & wreath buckles worn with Tennessee frocks. They're also pictured in the photo of the 1st Tenn HA and with an untrimmed frock on a 60th Tennessean.