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I too have been invited to talk about my work, Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown, a collection of notes on Confederate Uniforms and Clothing on this new book forum.
The book came out in 2006 and the printing house was Thomas Publications of Gettysburg. I remember when I approached Thomas Publications they cringed and gave me the classic sad face look. I did understand their reluctance. They then asked me why, if I were them, would it be a good idea to do a book like this. I told them the work tells the story of how the CS Army received their clothing over four long years, which equates to a better understanding of how the Confederate soldiers actually looked on the Battlefields of Shiloh or Gettysburg. That it was not simply a book illustrating the uniform of lets say, the Brooklyn Grays, or Wheat's Tigers, or others like that. I presented my manuscript and pictures and they did it. I can state with pride that my book is still selling well after 10 years, and is considered one the, "you got to have this one" resources the living history crowd refers to all the time.
The had only one critic and he was disappointed I did not have every Regimental Quartermaster Record for each Confederate Regiment in my book, or the Quartermaster Records for all the Depots. I do have a lot of these in my notes--but, it was impossible or would take another 4 or 5 years to get it on paper and make sense out of it. I will tell the reader here, that the National Archives in Washington has drawers full of QM Records, found in the Regimental papers, microfilm, which would take a lifetime to go through and you are welcome to do it--[ and then send me all the pertinent information----of course. ]
There has been so much new information to come out in the last ten years on CS clothing that it is hard some days or weeks just to keep up. I still collect it when I see it and again have copious notes on the subject and could do a second CGBB and maybe some day will.
Right now I am doing research for a famous CW painter for a new book he is working on, and am happy to say he is doing some Trans-Mississippi plates which are AWESOME.
I am now retired and have two projects on the desk. One is a book on Trans-Mississippi uniforms, through 1862, and the second is something near and dear to my heart, Illinois State Uniforms with special emphasis on the State Jacket used by the Illinois troops. There is so much misinformation or misunderstanding about this subject I hope to clear up.
I am always open for questions. One that I cant answer and receive often is, "what did the 47th Mississippi wear at the Battle of Whatever-- etc.", and all I can do is answer in general terms. So don't send me these.
I am also interested in research on Secession Cockades or Union patriotic cockades used from 1860 through the end of the War. A great and colorful subject. Nothing neater than a South Carolina soldier wearing his Palmetto Cockade in 1860-1861, or the early Virginia Volunteers wearing their Blue Cockades with the yellow ribbons!!
Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms
Author Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown.
The book came out in 2006 and the printing house was Thomas Publications of Gettysburg. I remember when I approached Thomas Publications they cringed and gave me the classic sad face look. I did understand their reluctance. They then asked me why, if I were them, would it be a good idea to do a book like this. I told them the work tells the story of how the CS Army received their clothing over four long years, which equates to a better understanding of how the Confederate soldiers actually looked on the Battlefields of Shiloh or Gettysburg. That it was not simply a book illustrating the uniform of lets say, the Brooklyn Grays, or Wheat's Tigers, or others like that. I presented my manuscript and pictures and they did it. I can state with pride that my book is still selling well after 10 years, and is considered one the, "you got to have this one" resources the living history crowd refers to all the time.
The had only one critic and he was disappointed I did not have every Regimental Quartermaster Record for each Confederate Regiment in my book, or the Quartermaster Records for all the Depots. I do have a lot of these in my notes--but, it was impossible or would take another 4 or 5 years to get it on paper and make sense out of it. I will tell the reader here, that the National Archives in Washington has drawers full of QM Records, found in the Regimental papers, microfilm, which would take a lifetime to go through and you are welcome to do it--[ and then send me all the pertinent information----of course. ]
There has been so much new information to come out in the last ten years on CS clothing that it is hard some days or weeks just to keep up. I still collect it when I see it and again have copious notes on the subject and could do a second CGBB and maybe some day will.
Right now I am doing research for a famous CW painter for a new book he is working on, and am happy to say he is doing some Trans-Mississippi plates which are AWESOME.
I am now retired and have two projects on the desk. One is a book on Trans-Mississippi uniforms, through 1862, and the second is something near and dear to my heart, Illinois State Uniforms with special emphasis on the State Jacket used by the Illinois troops. There is so much misinformation or misunderstanding about this subject I hope to clear up.
I am always open for questions. One that I cant answer and receive often is, "what did the 47th Mississippi wear at the Battle of Whatever-- etc.", and all I can do is answer in general terms. So don't send me these.
I am also interested in research on Secession Cockades or Union patriotic cockades used from 1860 through the end of the War. A great and colorful subject. Nothing neater than a South Carolina soldier wearing his Palmetto Cockade in 1860-1861, or the early Virginia Volunteers wearing their Blue Cockades with the yellow ribbons!!
Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms
Author Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown.
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