Tait jackets in the AoT

[3rdARboy]

I know the Tait jacket was common in the ANV in '64 and '65 and was found in the Trans-Mississippi Theater. Was it found at all in the Army of Tennessee at any time? It just makes sense there would at least be small numbers of them since there were in the other major theaters. And if not then why? Thanks.
Lane Reeder
Co. E, 3rd Arkansas Infantry
Texas Brigade

https://www.texas-brigade.com

[kemper_rifles]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

As I am aware, Tait Jackets were issued to troops in Virginny and Nawth Carolina. In 1865, the remnants of the Army of Tennessee were in Nawth Carolina. So I imagine there were Tait jackets in the Army of Tennessee in 1865. From what I have read, that's about as far as they got. That's coming from Don Troiani's "Uniforms and Regiments of the Civil War" and Time Life's "Echoes of Glory". So I reckon there weren't any Tait Jackets in the Trans-Mississippi area. If I'm wrong, my bad.

[LWhite64]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

Hard to say, a while back and numerous times since then there was an account from a Montgomery, AL newspaper entitled GOOD NEWS FOR ALABAMA SOLDIERS, that talks about the use of kits from P. Tait to make jackets for ALA State Troops, this was in the early mid part of 1864 . Also some of our Trans Miss folks have evidence of them West of the River.

Lee

[Yellowhammer]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

The article Lee references included jackets, trousers and overcoats. I'll try and find my copy of that article and post it. It would be interesting to find out if the state of Alabama's order was ever filled.

As far as documented usage, all identified extant Taits belonged to ANV, NC garrison, and AoT troops serving in NC. Of course, that only accounts for a tiny fraction of those imported.

For some solidly researched info on Tait jackets, please read: http://company.military-historians.o...federate-3.htm

[Chad Teasley]

Re: Tait jackets in the Trans-Miss

There is solid evidence that Peter Tait jackets were issued in the Trans-Mississippi...In fact, they may have been imported there earlier than in the Eastern Theater.

My references for the following are the outstanding articles cited at the bottom of this post:

In the fall of 1863, Capt. Wharton, head of the Houston Clothing Depot, reported receiving 2400 jackets and over 2900 pairs of trousers in grey wool from Britain. Fred Adolphus, in his superb article on Houston Depot clothing, postulates that these were early Peter Tait uniforms run through the blockade. The link is definitely proven later in the War by a Peter Tait Company shipping invoice noting that 10,000 infantry uniforms were shipped to Texas from Liverpool in November, 1864. Additionally, the USN blockading ship USS Virginia reported in November, 1863 having boarded the British ship Volante and confiscated bales of Confederate uniforms as contraband of war. There have also been numerous British-made script "I" buttons of the type commonly used by Peter Tait Co. dug at various sites in the Trans-Mississippi. Some Federals wrote during the Red River campaign that many Confederates opposing them wore uniforms that were blue-grey in color. This may have been a reference to Houston Depot manufactured wares, but also to Peter Tait uniforms. Most likely, it was a combination of both.

Taken as a whole, I believe there is substantial evidence that Peter Tait jackets were not only used in the Trans-Mississippi, but that they were not at all uncommon from at least the mid-War period.

For further reference, you may wish to review Fred Adolphus' article "Confederate Clothing from the Houston Quartermaster Depot" from vol. 48 of the Military Collector and Historian (1996), and KC MacDonald's tremendous three article series on Trans-Mississippi Confederate uniforms at
http://members.lycos.co.uk/lazyjacks/article.htm .

[JimConley]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

Hard to say, a while back and numerous times since then there was an account from a Montgomery, AL newspaper entitled GOOD NEWS FOR ALABAMA SOLDIERS, that talks about the use of kits from P. Tait to make jackets for ALA State Troops, this was in the early mid part of 1864 . Also some of our Trans Miss folks have evidence of them West of the River.

Lee

Mr. White,
I'm very interested in viewing this article. Could you provide me with a lead on how I might pick up a copy? Thanks

[CJDaley]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

This is the article Lee found:

October 22, 1864
COLUMBUS GA. DAILY ENQUIRER:

GOOD NEWS FOR ALABAMA SOLDIERS

Four months ago a contract was entered into between the State of Alabama on the part of the Quartermaster General and the firm of Peter Tait and Co, Limerick, Ireland through Major J.L. Tait, of the British army, for a large quantity of military clothing for the Alabama Soldiers. Quartermaster General Green stipulated that a large portion of the goods should be furnished partially cut, with the necessary trimmings, thus affording employment to the seamstresses and tailors of our home factories. Some thousands of these Uniforms, we are glad to be able to announce, have safely arrived in the Confederacy, and the residue of the order is hourly expected. The outfit consists of jacket, pants, shoes, and overcoat, all made of the most substantial material-the cloth being exactly the same as used in the British army.

The house of Peter Tait and Co. In Limerick, is one of the mostextensive in Great Britan, and these enterprising factors furnish a great portion of the outfit to the British army than any other in the realm, and give employment to two thousand operatives. Their own vessels run into the Confederate ports and they have filed frequent contracts with the Government. Their contract with the State of Alabama has been faithfully and promptly fulfilled, thanks to the energy and tact of their agent and represenative, Maj. Tait.
Some of the goods for our State troops is already made up into Uniforms. A specimen overcoat which we have seen exhibits the superiority of the material for durability and comfort and the excelence of the make up. When Alabama's soldiers are comfortably clad in the ample folds of a cape and skirt of one of these overcoats they will be as handsomely and as comfortably uniformed as any soldier in the world. Several thousand of these uniforms are already here. The rest of the order will be here in a few days.-Montg Mail

[DougCooper]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

A follow-up personal account to Chris Daley's post comes from a Mobile native (woman) whose name escapes and who wrote a book on her wartime experiences. She mentions the large number of soldiers in Mobile dressed in new, well made imported uniforms - perhaps a comment on the rear echelon or garrison types grabbing some of the Tait uniforms as they came into the port. I think Becky Nall has the book - will give her a call and report back.

10,000 overcoats in one order is a lot...but not surprising that so few survive given the utility of the garment during and after the war.

[LWhite64]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

Doug,
The Book in question is Kate: The Journal of a Confederate Nurse by Kate Cumming. It is available through LSU Press for around $20. Kate was a Nurse in Georgia and Alabama through most of the War and leaves a good account of things.

Lee

[markj]

Re: Tait jackets in the AoT

The below attached journal article might be of interest. Be warned: this is a very large Adobe pdf file.

Regards,

Mark Jaeger