Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

[The29thtn]

I wondered what y'all would think of this image. It's a strange uniform. My best guess is early war. Most interesting is the dark blue or black tape that goes down the front under the buttons. Any ideas? It's believed to be Francis Marion Kendrick of Co. B 29th Tennessee


Ryan McKenzie

[Archie R. Lib]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

Ryan -

Yes I think you're right with regards to early war, no doubt. The commutation system was really the only thing swinging, and there are any number of offbeat looking "home provided" or personally acquired uniforms to be seen. This is particularly in the west and the Trans-Mississippi where the governmental supply system took a little longer to spool up and begin coordinating disbursement.

But interestingly, I attached a photo I came across some time ago that appears to show the same basic uniform jacket configuration as your Private Kendrick - i.e. trimmed collar and full button placket on a (apparently) gray coat, though he has some sort of insignia as well as on the shoulders. It is hard to tell in either photograph whether these are frock coats or jackets, but if a jacket then it appears it would be in the 6-8 button range.

In this photo, the trim material appears to be very fine (perhaps black velvet?), which would probably indicate a wealthy private purchase. The buttons are also smaller than normal, and appear to be very detailed. I do not know for sure as you cannot see any insignia, but it is possible this is a junior line officer. I have not been able to identify this soldier, but from what little information I have it appears he was in a western unit (Tennessee, Alabama, or perhaps Georgia).

But the uniform is striking similar to your Private Kendrick's, don't you think?



Rich

[The29thtn]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

Yes, that's very interesting. I have been trying to document every bit of history on the 29th I can, and Kendrick is the only picture of a pvt. in uniform I have so far. I have a few letters and such, but nobody describes uniforms. Most TN units seem to have had frock coats with dark blue collar trim early in the war, but this really throws a wrench into the theory that the 29th was similarly equipped. Of course it looks like I will be recommending frock coats for 150th Mill Springs anyway since I can't even tell if this is a frock or a shell jacket. As far as we know, it could even be red trim on Kendricks uniform.

Just as a further note on the strangeness of the 29th, they may have been one of the first western units equipped with Enfields, because there is a reference to them being armed with "the English musket" as opposed to the standard array of flintlocks the rest of the Tennessee troops had at Mill Springs in January 1862.

[brown]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

Obviously the flintlocks were a huge problem for a number of Tennessee units at Mill Springs as you noted. Do you have evidence of which style of English firearm is meant in the reference you've got for the 29th?
By the way, 15 or more years ago I went through some of the 29th's quartermaster records for some friends. I hope I kept copies or can find someone with a copy. I certainly don't remember most of what I found. A lot of wool shirts is one piece I still remember.

[Curt Schmidt]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

Hallo!

I would agree on being careful in assuming or assigning P1853 RM's when "English musket'' or "Tower musket" is mentioned. One could also conceivably be an India Pattern, a New Land Pattern, Pattern 1839 Pattern 1842, or Pattern 1851 scarfed up early in the War from England.
Or percussion conversions.

Curt

[The29thtn]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

No, I don't know for sure what model it was. It could be another pattern, as y'all say. I do know they were probably armed with 53s most of the war because the Colonel mentions them in a report, but I don't have definate proof for Mill Springs. It is interesting that the word "the" is used in front of "English musket." in the reference. The reference is interestingly not from a soldier in the 29th, but a letter written by a soldier from the 16th Alabama taking note of the 29th's weapons about the time of Mill Springs, which would seem to signify that they were impressed. I do know that Enfields had to be out west earlier than many believe, because there is also a report less than a month after Mill Springs from the evacuation of Bowling Green where it is mentioned that the Confederates destroyed a bunch of unopened cases of Enfield rifles to prevent their capture.

[The29thtn]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

btw, I would love anything you have from QM records. I have done lots of work in the service records and a few other sources, but I am not overly familiar with working with QM records

[The29thtn]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

Also, to fully explain, it was originally Geoffrey R. Walden who uncovered the letter from the 16th Alabama, and in his work on Mill Springs, he expresses a belief the 29th was armed with the 53 Enfield, though he does not give any further information beyond the letter from the 16th to support the belief. If you are interested here is the link to his work on Mill Springs http://webspace.webring.com/people/vc/cem/index.htm

[Prodical Reb]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

I'm not very knowledgable on TN troops. It could be red, blue or black trimming in the photo. Note he has trim on the cuff also. In the link provided to Battle of Mill Springs, There is a pic of Pvt. A. Kyle McCarty, Co. K, 19th Tenn. Inf that is wearing a very similar garment that appears to be a jacket; though you cannot tell for certain if it is a shirt, commutation jacket or frock. Pvt McCarty is about halfway down.

http://webspace.webring.com/people/v...ier_photos.htm

[The29thtn]

Re: Uniform Francis Marion Kendrick 29th Tennessee

I'm not sure his cuff has trim or not. It looks like it, and I have spent quite a bit of time thinking about it. I originally thought he did too, but it's not the same color as the rest of the trim, and the more I look at it, the more it looks like an illusion caused by the light and the wrinkle in the sleeve. Put your thumb over the dark spot at the cuff and the color looks the same as the sleeve behind it.