another source for....(gulp)....CS canvas shoes!

[Iceman]

Yes, that's right. Let us all now take a moment of silence and try to listen for the collective gulp from all those easterns who dread such information....................................... ....okay, now for the source.

This comes from the Bayou Sarah, Louisiana paper in.....yikes!.....June of 1861:

"CANVAS SHOES FOR THE ARMY. - We learn at the Quartermaster General Department that there have been received there 5000 pairs of a new kind of shoes, of a rather curious description, that promises to answer [word is obscured] in the great scarcity of shoe leather. The upper portions of the shoe are made of canvas instead of leather. The canvas is prepared so as to make it impervious to the weather, and is said to equal in comfort, durability and all respects of wear, the best shoe leather." - Richmond Enquirer

I do believe that knapsacks are canvas treated to make them impervious to the weather. Could this suggest that in 1861 there were canvas shoes that, rather than being left natural, were in fact painted the same as knapsacks?

Nic Clark
ce Chasseur de Chalmette

[CJSchumacher]

Re: another source for....(gulp)....CS canvas shoes!

From and Easterner...

My only problem is that everyone sees a reference to CS canvas shoes and automatically thinks of the civilian sporting or camp shoe we often see in photos, much like the Yeagerson shoe in Troiani's collection.

This quote actually helps confirm my point. I feel that most canvas shoes purchased by agents in the southern states were of a different pattern and were either untreated or, as in this case, painted. This isn't the first reference I've seen like this. The only problem is there aren't many around to look at!

The types of shoes were as abundant then as they are now. A perfect example of this are the two shoes found in the Rose barn in Gettysburg that are from two different pairs. They are both of the same construction, however being a VERY thin leather upper backed and lined with cloth and a rounded internal heel counter. One even had a Virginia one-dollar note from 1862 in the sole!

Anyway, yet another example of an expediant shoe pressed into service when necessary. Much like the cloth ones mentioned above.

Here are two pictures of the original (taken from the Jarnigan site):


Here is a picture of their reproduction, which I haven't looked at in person and while not an endorsement, looks like a nice shoe! At least it doesn't appear to have the gargantuan heels and overly-thick soles that everyone else makes these days.

[LWhite64]

Re: another source for....(gulp)....CS canvas shoes!

Great stuff! I had always wondered about them being made of painted cloth, but had never seen these references. I also agree with Chris, the CS cloth shoes were not the same as the Union sporting shoe, I own a pair of CS ones made by Serio, they have a lot less leather in them than the sporting shoe. I also have a pair of civilian style that have no leather on them but the sole. A lot we still need to find out about these.

Lee

[Cracker Line]

Re: another source for....(gulp)....CS canvas shoes!

I'm going to let the documentation do the talking for me.......

DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], October 3, 1861, p. 3, c. 1
Wooden Shoes.--We have received from Mr. McKinlay a pair of shoes, very simple and ingeniously made of a species of gum wood, of which our swamps contain an everlasting supply, and which, when seasoned, combines the lightness of white pine, the strength of hickory, and to some degree, the elasticity and endurance of horn. They can be made waterproof by the addition of a coat of oil or varnish. In the present scarcity of leather the suitability of these shoes for plantation use is a matter of grave moment. Specimens of the shoes may be seen in our office.
We clip the above from the Charleston Mercury. If we can make good shoes with wooden bottoms--and we know they can be made, for we saw some of them last year, introduced by Mr. James A. Gray of this city, and they are better for farm laborers than leather bottoms--and with oil-cloth tops, such material as is manufactured in half a dozen places in the Confederacy we can snap our fingers at "leather and prunella."

DAILY CHRONICLE & SENTINEL [AUGUSTA, GA], October 29, 1861, p. 3, c. 2
We learn from the Americus Republican that a firm in that place are about to commence manufacturing shoes with wooden soles and waterproof canvass uppers.

SAVANNAH [GA] REPUBLICAN, October 29, 1862, p. 1, c. 2-3
Practical Hints for Hard Times
"What man has done, man may do."
NO. 1 – SHOES.

.......5. Of anything in the shape of real shoes, the simplest and most easily made, as well as the cheapest, though not the most graceful, is the shoe with a thick wooden sole, to the sides of which the uppers are strongly fastened with ordinary three or four-ounce tacks. The making of it requires no awl, no needle, no thread, not even a shoe last, but only a properly made sole, and the uppers cut right and fastened together by a hammer and tacks. To make it shape out a sole of wood rather thicker and narrower than usual, and fitting close up into the hollow of the foot, let the uppers be made in two pieces, as chamber slippers are sometimes seen to be—the heel part in a kind of new moon shape, having its sharp point tacked not quite half toward the toes, and the toe and instep part extending back so as to overlap the heel piece and tacked about half way of the heel. The uppers may be of two thicknesses of osnaburgs, blackened with a water-proof mixture, or, what is better, of enamelled cloth, lined with strong canvas. Any person who would make a shoe of this kind without loss must first of all make himself a pattern of cheap materials, and try its fitting.

SAVANNAH [GA] REPUBLICAN, November 4, 1862, p. 1, c. 3
Practical Hints for Hard Times.
"What man has done, man may do."
ADDENDA TO NO. 1, ON THE SUBJECT OF SHOES.
Since the publication of No. 1, two suggestions, promising usefulness, have been made to the writer, both on the subject of soles.
Addendum 1st: A shoe in actual service and very convenient for chamber use, is reported to be made with a sole of quilted cloth.
Addendum 2d: A gentleman noted among his intimate friends for his ingenuity proposed an improvement upon article 5th of No. 1. The upper of the shoe is made of enamelled cloth tacked firmly to a thick wooden sole; but the sole itself has a joint about half way between toe and heel so as to give flexibility in walking. The hinge, made either of leather or metal, is inserted in the body of the sole, so as to be entirely invisible. So far as tried it promises to work well.

Those are just segments of a post I made a few months back regarding canvas and homemade cloth shoes. I might have a few others on file, but will have to check. When/If I get the chance to look, I'll post what I can find if I have any of the stuff still saved.

Cheers,
Adam Cripps
Cracker Line Guards

[hpotter]

Re: another source for....(gulp)....CS canvas shoes!

Very interesting articles. I have often heard about wooden soled shoes topped with painted canvas or cloth issued to confederate troops just prior to the Battle of Jonesboro. I'd like to find somemore info on this.