early war western cs trousers?

[jeremyjohnson91687]

Anybody have any photos or documentation regarding the black trouser stripe associated with confederates along the Mississippi River during '61/'62?

[Pumpkinslinger]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

“Soon after entering the Fort, we found that General Pillow had been in Command but, in company with General Floyd, had that morning made a precipitous retreat up the Cumberland River… The number of guns captured were about 146…There were also 10 to 15,000 stands of small arms, the largest part of which were shotguns, [civilian] rifles, and flint lock muskets. The troops were mainly in civilian clothes, their only insignia being black stripes on their pants. Many of the Officers wear the regular gray uniform, while others the Army blue, the only difference from the United States style being the great profusion of gold lace.”

The New York Times
February 22, 1862

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

While not specifically “along the Mississippi River,” troops in Tennessee, during the early war period, are well documented to often have had striped trousers. In his book, Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown: Notes on Confederate Uniforms,Thomas Arliskas includes several descriptions from the capture of Fort Donselson 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.

John Johnston, of the 6th Tennessee noted the darks stripes on the uniforms his company received (Co. K) at the outbreak of the war.

In a little while the ladies had made us a very nice uniform from cloth furnished by the Citizens, I think, or some of them, consisting of a gray flannel shirt, gray pants with a dark stripe down each leg and gray coats.

The Civil War Reminiscences of John Johnston, 1861-1865, Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 1 (March, 1954), p 76

Finally, attached are pictures of the 6th (Co. G; different uniforms than those received by Co. K described above), 12th, 14th, 16th, 32nd and 43rd, as well as your own 1st Tennessee in which dark stripes are clearly evident. Those of the 1st and 14th are believed to have been taken before they were shipped to Virginia.

[jeremyjohnson91687]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

Some great pics I had not seen!!!! Thanks pard!!!!

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

You're welcome! Here's a couple more I dug up of some Fort Donelson prisoners. In the posed shot, the guy sitting in the first row, on the left of the picture, clearly has a very wide stripe on his trousers. The guy in the plaid shirt next to him looks like he might also have striped trousers, but harder to tell.

In the detail of the outdoor shot, the corporal in the center looks like he may have striped trousers and possibly the blurry guy on the left.

[jeremyjohnson91687]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

That's EXCELLENT!!!! do you mind if i share these with a few friends? Also the new Madrid fb event page?

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

Share away.

By the way, that posed group shot in my last post is identified in some sources as Island No. 10 prisoners, rather than Ft. Donelson. Can't get much more "along the Mississippi" than that!

[Michael Comer]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

To my knowledge there were no photos taken of prisoners from New Madrid and Island #10. The operation, while very important, was sandwiched between Ft. Donelson and Shiloh. It did get some press but I don't think any photographers to go with it. I would be interested in what sources identify these men as Island #10 prisoners. However, the look of these men is appropriate for New Madrid and Island #10.

[Palmyra Possum]

Re: early war western cs trousers?

Unfortunately, I don't recall where I saw that picture recently that identified it as Island No. 10 prisoners. If I find it, I'll let you know. Most sources refer to that shot as Ft. Donelson prisoners.