Confederate Camp Shoes?

[MuddyWaterMess]

I was curious who made the "confederate camp shoes". The canvas and leather ones. Thanks

BEN

[moarkcav]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Are you asking who makes them now? If so Bob Serio and Robert Land.

http://www.robertlandhistoricshoes.com/servlet/Detail?no=3

www.missouribootand shoe.com

Chris Talburt

[Swag]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Robert Lands are very, very nice. Marinos Spiros, how ever you spell it, in Gettysburg usually has a few pairs.

Respectfully Yours,
Sean M. Lamb

http://thebullyboys.org

[BrianHicks]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Question:

Although we refer to them as 'Camp Shoes' what are they... really.

Are they civilian shoes which the military took to the 'camps' with them?

Where they a new creation, targeted to the military to wear when in camp?

If they were civilian shoes, adopted by the military, then what style would the be referred to as, by non-military folks. Were they a recent product, or had the canvas and leather style been around for awhile. Which social class would most likely be seen with them on their feet (hey... remember... they found a pair of 'tennis shoes' which had belonged to Henry the VIII) .

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Thanks for that post Brian, I am very curious as to this as well.

Who has room in their knapsack for extra shoes? After 23 miles... I don't think so.

[Ken_Irvin]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Ben,

The Confederate Quartermaster issued canvas shoes to the men in the field. Not just the wooden soled varieties. Though there are no IDed specimens that come to mind Robert Serio makes a pair that are assumed to be the closest to what were being made by the CS government. If you access his website and look under military footwear they are canvas with a minimum amount of leather. The ones offered from Robert Land as well as Nic ************ are more canvas sport shoes, canvas but more leather reinforcement. All three are excellent makers by the way, and have good products.

Serios are CS-8 http://missouribootandshoe.tripod.com/id10.htm

Robert Lands are called Camp Shoes http://www.robertlandhistoricshoes.c...ees%3Acivilian

Nic ************s are also Camp Shoes http://www.nj************.com//OSCommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=47&osCsid=2741e397a609193780514af185af61b0

Check them out, you will see the diference. Serios is only a line drawing and the others are pictures. But you will see what I am talking about. By the way there is some info about CS canvas shoes in the OR's.

Ken Irvin
The Skulkers Mess

[Parault]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

I just recently purchased a pair of the camp shoes from Robert Land. I have not had a chance to wear them yet. I am very pleased with the construction and the look. I thought that the price was well within reason. They fit well too. I am going to use them in my civilian impression. I don't do the civilian impression often but planning on this year at Old Washington Ark.

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Gents,

I'm not so sure if these are indeed "Confederate" shoes. I know for a fact that I have seen the pair advertised in a period newspaper. I believe a Harper's Ferry edition but from what exact source, I can't recall. But if I remember I will post ASAP. DANG, it's really bugging me now. I believe this style was fairly popular back in the day.

In the meantime, check out this link:

http://www.geocities.com/firsteyem/joe/canvashoes.html

Regards,

[MuddyWaterMess]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Thanks so much for yalls help guys really appreciated.THANKS

BEN

[LWhite64]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

As Ken noted above there are differences between the Camp Shoes and the CS canvas shoe, which was issued in the field during times of leather shortages, like the painted canvas accoutrements. I know that the shoes were issued in 63 and 64. I know of issuances before Vicksburg and Chickamauga, and during the Atlanta Campaign. The soldiers werent too fond of them, one soldier saying that the cloth shoes were a "humbug".

Lee

[Brian Baird]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Jason,
Years ago, the late Dick Tibbals wrote an article for the CMH about his complete collection of photographs of members of Battery B, First Illinois Light Artillery. They were on duty at Memphis at the time. Many of the members of the Battery were wearing camp shoes.
Brian Baird

[1stMaine]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

Comrades,

Some 20 years or so ago, there was a "rediscovery" of the "camp" or "athletic" shoe by reenactors. It started with an image that surfaced of a number of vermont soldiers of whom almost 1/3 were wearing what looked for all the world like white Nike High-tops.

It was, I believe, John Henry Kurtz who first located the advertisments for them in a period newspaper. They were being sold as "athletic" shoes and apparently were well known, at least from the advertisements.

As to why the Vermonters were wearing them, they (the shoes) appeared relatively new in the image and it was speculated that they were purchased while on garrison duty in New York, after Gettysburg. That would explain the ease of obtaining them, as opposed to getting them in the field, and also why they appeared fairly new and clean.

Brian is absolutely correct when he poses the question "who would have had them"? Well, to my mind, either civilians or an officer with access to a trunk and a conveyance to carry them, or, a soldier in a garrison somewhere with easy access to civilian stores, mercantiles, etc.

I would think it unwise for a veteran soldier to have a pair on campaign, not only due to the need for space for them, but also that they certainly would not be the equal of a leather shoe for the rgours of campaigning. In a gym or upon a sports field, yes. Hiking with your friends for a day or so? perhaps. But certainly not for a military campaign.

Respects,

[BrianHicks]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

.......
Brian is absolutely correct when he poses the question "who would have had them"? Well, to my mind, either civilians or an officer with access to a trunk and a conveyance to carry them, or, a soldier in a garrison somewhere with easy access to civilian stores, mercantiles, etc.

I would think it unwise for a veteran soldier to have a pair on campaign, not only due to the need for space for them, but also that they certainly would not be the equal of a leather shoe for the rgours of campaigning. In a gym or upon a sports field, yes. Hiking with your friends for a day or so? perhaps. But certainly not for a military campaign.

Respects,

Tim,

It appears that we share the same line of thought on these particular styles of shoes.

Regarding the original question on Conf. Canvas and Leather camp shoes, I think that may be an incorrect description. As we have seen in a previous response here, the Conf. did issue canvas shoes, but evidently not in the style as is being offered as repros, or as seen in the period advert. and images.

[onemoreb]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

There were shoes issued in the hospitals around Richmond called "convalescent shoes". They were made of cloth. There is a period reference to the soldiers dying these with poke berries to turn them purple. I don't recall where I read this but I can find it if anyone is interested.

[PvtHull48thovi]

Re: Confederate Camp Shoes?

In One of my DON TROIANI painting called FIGHT FOR THE COLORS, I can distincly pick out a pair of them on a union casualty. If the soldier could get a hold of them I am suer he would wear them instead of his brogans. But that is Just on mans opinion! I believe they would have been found on both sides, not just Union and Confederate.




Pvt. Shelby Hull
3rd LA and 48th OVI