Not a Whole Lot To Do - Richmond, 1865

[Sgt Scotti]

Re: Not a Whole Lot To Do - Richmond, 1865

Just to add a little more to this thread; pictures 2 and 3 are small croppings from one large picture that Im currently looking at right now. It is located in "An Illustrated History Of the Civil War" Images of an American Trajedy (page 408). By William J. Miller and Brian C. Pohanka. An earlier posting in this thread was correct, it was shot in Richmond's Capitol Square under the satue of George Washington. The caption reads that the photo was taken April 14th of 65 by photographer James Reekie.

[Dusty Merritt]

Re: Not a Whole Lot To Do - Richmond, 1865

I know that knot was in use at the time but you don't often see it like that.

My favorite is this 19th century hipster in Co K of the 93rd New York (LC-B817- 7009):



He's even got a jaunty feather in his hat. Dig.

[FloridaConscript]

Re: Not a Whole Lot To Do - Richmond, 1865

I have often thought about that. All of the pictures of CS dead from April 1865 show well clad soldiers in heavy wool jackets and pants. Vests and overcoats also seen. Yet, throughout the summer and fall of 1864 there are constant complaints from the men and officers, including Lee, about how "naked" and barefoot the soldiers are. Many soldiers were reported to be lacking pants all together. I have misplaced my O.R. on CD rom, but I remember seeing tremendous amounts of clothing being sent from the commisary, yet the complaints continued. Maybe it wasn't getting to the troops?
I know troops from NC and GA at the time were receiving clothing from their repective states and were a little better off than others. I am currently reading (listening on CD as I drive) "Lee's Army. From Victory to Collapse". The author cites letters from the commisary saying that from Jan. to March 1865 the army received more clothing than in any other time during the war. Maybe this, in combination to the large amount of soldiers absent from the army during this time lead to an 11th hour clothing largess. Too little too late. Rations were still only about 1/4 lb bacon and some corn meal a day.

A lot of the Confederacys supply problems were logistical in nature. Keeping an army clothed while on active campaign (Overland) is much more difficult than one that is stationery (Petersburg). Also I'd imagine the wear and tear of active campaigning coupled with the manual labor of ditching, breastworks abitis is more stressful than to clothing to seige warfare.

[OldState]

Re: Not a Whole Lot To Do - Richmond, 1865

Very true.
I have often wondered to what extent some officers, including Lee, exaggerated a bit in an effort to expedite the supply process. Or that terms like "naked" were used much like we say "freezing to death". I know Washington did this at Valley Forge. This is not at all to say the men weren't suffering.

Any word on where I could get a high res copy of the Richmond pic posted here? I can't seem to find it on the LOC.

[Last Southron]

Re: Not a Whole Lot To Do - Richmond, 1865

Excuse me I know this is a old post and what I am introducing has nothing to do with your conversation but you look like a group that would help me find an answer to a question. Don Troiani started the conversation explaining when the accuracy of a work was questioned it was well researched, verified thus accurate. He has never supplied a link or proof may-be one of you know a source? Look at the colour guard chevrons; it is certainly not in the regulations, it has been suggested the colour guard wanted to be special and made it themselves and the Confederacy followed? Comments