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This is something I wrote for the old AC FAQ project circa 2004. It's not quite an article but something more than an editorial. Hope it's of interest.
What was the Commutation System?
by Paul Calloway
The Confederate States of America faced some unique challenges at the outset of war in 1861. They did not have a standing army, nor did they have the infrastructure to feed, clothe, equip and otherwise manage an army.
The Confederacy adopted a "commutation system" to uniform its troops until December 1862. This is not to be confused with the commutation system employed by both governments to draft troops - that is an entirely separate issue.
With the commutation system, state governments and in some cases the individual soldiers were asked to supply their own clothing/uniforms. By supplying their own clothing, the states were to be paid at a set rate by the CS government.
Needless to say, this system wasn't particularly efficient. Many Confederate soldiers, and particularly in but not exclusive to the West (TN, AL, MS, LA, TX, etc.), went without many times and were clothed in a somewhat ragged manner as a result.
There were exceptions to the rule of course. Georgia and North Carolina in particular were well disposed to supplying their troops with uniforms and had little trouble in doing so throughout the war.
The system continued until the end of 1862, when the CSA's government quartermaster officially took over the manufacture and distribution of uniforms. The various depots were by then manufacturing at a capacity that he believed would be able to supply the armies of the Confederacy.
However, it would be at least mid-1863 before the commutation system would be effectively phased out.
For more information on the Confederate Commutation system, I refer you to the articles by K.C. MacDonald on the Lazy Jacks Website regarding Trans-Mississippi Confederate uniforms:
Paul Calloway
The Authentic Campaigner Website.
Footnotes:
Christopher White, "The New Richmond Depot Catalog A1-Winter 1997", p. 7-8.
Field, Ron, "American Civil War Confederate Army". 1996. London: Brasseys.'
What was the Commutation System?
by Paul Calloway
The Confederate States of America faced some unique challenges at the outset of war in 1861. They did not have a standing army, nor did they have the infrastructure to feed, clothe, equip and otherwise manage an army.
The Confederacy adopted a "commutation system" to uniform its troops until December 1862. This is not to be confused with the commutation system employed by both governments to draft troops - that is an entirely separate issue.
With the commutation system, state governments and in some cases the individual soldiers were asked to supply their own clothing/uniforms. By supplying their own clothing, the states were to be paid at a set rate by the CS government.
Needless to say, this system wasn't particularly efficient. Many Confederate soldiers, and particularly in but not exclusive to the West (TN, AL, MS, LA, TX, etc.), went without many times and were clothed in a somewhat ragged manner as a result.
There were exceptions to the rule of course. Georgia and North Carolina in particular were well disposed to supplying their troops with uniforms and had little trouble in doing so throughout the war.
The system continued until the end of 1862, when the CSA's government quartermaster officially took over the manufacture and distribution of uniforms. The various depots were by then manufacturing at a capacity that he believed would be able to supply the armies of the Confederacy.
However, it would be at least mid-1863 before the commutation system would be effectively phased out.
For more information on the Confederate Commutation system, I refer you to the articles by K.C. MacDonald on the Lazy Jacks Website regarding Trans-Mississippi Confederate uniforms:
Part 1 (Part I -- Introduction)
Part 2 (Part II -- April 1861 through October 1862)
Part 3 (Part III -- November 1862 - June 1865)
Part 2 (Part II -- April 1861 through October 1862)
Part 3 (Part III -- November 1862 - June 1865)
Paul Calloway
The Authentic Campaigner Website.
Footnotes:
Christopher White, "The New Richmond Depot Catalog A1-Winter 1997", p. 7-8.
Field, Ron, "American Civil War Confederate Army". 1996. London: Brasseys.'