Proper material for CS Major Frock?

[pvt. tommy]

All,
I have been asked by a friend to help with having his GG Grandfathers uniform replicated from a photograph. I am woefully underqualified for this task, so I come to this forum for help.
His ancestor was a Major in the 1st SC Infantry (Hagood's). The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum dates the photograph to within 6 months to 1 year after the initial bombardment of Fort Sumter. The Major is wearing a frock, and trousers with a stripe down each leg.
I have been able to post the pic a few posts down.
Do any of you have an idea as to what type/color material may be accurate for the reproduction? I only have the ability to look at the photo and decide if the shade is lighter or darker than available fabrics.
Your help is much appreciated!
Tommy Rollings
8th SCVI

[PalmettoGuard]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

Tommy,

It's tough to tell without the picture. Many earliy war SC Officers, especially if they were miltia officers like many in the 1st were, would have worn a Blue Officers frock coat similiar to an Federal Officers coat. Otherwise if it was a later war, private purchase coat, it could be made of almost any material. I doubt it would be jean though. Almost all the officer coats in the SCRR are made with higher quality material than that.

Sorry not to be of much help.
BG

[pvt. tommy]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

Tommy,

It's tough to tell without the picture. Many earliy war SC Officers, especially if they were miltia officers like many in the 1st were, would have worn a Blue Officers frock coat similiar to an Federal Officers coat. Otherwise if it was a later war, private purchase coat, it could be made of almost any material. I doubt it would be jean though. Almost all the officer coats in the SCRR are made with higher quality material than that.

Sorry not to be of much help.
BG

Brian,
You may have been more help than you think. Your reply reminded me that the Major was a militia officer before the Late Unpleasantness.
The shade of the uniform in the picture seems to be quite light, I will compare it to some Federal items in other pictures to see if we may be on the right track. The frock and trousers seem to be the same color, as well.
Thanks again,
Tommy Rollings
8th SCVI

[Reserve]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

Maj. Wm. Poole's frock coat from the Florida State Museum is made of a medium grey with a bluish tint to it (what some term "Cadet Gray"). It is simply a representation of what some officers had/used. Original examples range from woolen jean, satinette, woolen broadcloth, kersey etc. I am sure other materials were evident, however, these were common variations upon the theme.

The Museum just rencently put up a page on the coat. Poole Frock Coat

[Tom Ezell]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

In very general terms for a Confederate field officer's frock, cadet gray broadcloth would be the first choice; cadet gray satinette would be the next.

These sorts of garments are not guv'mint GI issue, they are privately purchased, individually tailored garments, and would typically be representative of what the officer could afford, as well as his "high and mighty" status as a field grade officer.

I am not familiar with the uniform regulations of the South Carolina militia system, but for similar organizations out west here, such as Arkansas, the militia system allowed individual companies (organized by county) to select their own uniforms, while officers of the State staff as well as field grade officers wore the uniform of the U.S. Army, with state buttons, belt plates, etc. In this case, a good Federal officer's frock coat from a compliant pattern, touched up with the appropriate state insignia, is a good starting point.

In some cases (like in Arkansas) secession and subsequent union with the Southern Confederacy saw states completely reorganize their militia systems, with a more uniform, more Confederate uniform standard. It's a time-dependent answer for anything after this point.

probably raising more questions than I answered...

Tom

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

Be careful as you try to interpret shades of gray from period photographs. Blue hues are absorbed differently by 19th C photographic emulsions and will appear lighter than they actually are. Bluish grays like "Cadet" grey can look quite light, when they are fairly dark.

For an example of this, I believe the CS "Echoes..." has some photos of officers frocks (Longstreet and Buckner come to mind) shown with modern photos of the extant garment.

Hope this helps!

[LibertyHallVols]

Blue vs Red

Attached is an ambrotype of my smoking/camp hat. The top is bright red and the band is royal/French blue. Each is equally light/dark, but notice the light appearance of the blue band.

[pvt. tommy]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

In very general terms for a Confederate field officer's frock, cadet gray broadcloth would be the first choice; cadet gray satinette would be the next.

Tom

All,
I have managed to get a copy of the file and attach it here. This is my first attempt, I hope it works. The photo is circa April,1861. Thanks for your help so far!
Tommy Rollings
8th SCVI

[SCSecesh]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

I'd guess this gentleman's name is Watson A. O'Cain from Orangeburg from your statement of his rank (per Izlar).
How's this for a source:

The uniform adopted was a gray coat and trousers trimmed with black, and a gray cap. Each man paid for his own uniform. The company made a very handsome appearance when fully equipped and formed in a line. ~William Izlar, Edisto Rifles

This statement comes after an explanation of the "Rifles" being reorganized as the 1st South Carolina for active duty on January 22, 1861.
It's pre-1861 militia uniform is described as

a gray coat trimmed with green, white trousers, and a black hat.

Several images of officers attired thusly can be seen in the SCRR.
I'd say by the drape of the skirt against the trousers, the frock is a heavier wool broadcloth and a bit darker than the trousers. The trim per the description is black.
These men all seemed to be men of some means and therefore I'd suggest these uniforms to be tailor made of high quality.

To give some idea of the material of which the Edisto Rifles was composed at the commencement of the war, I would say tht the captain was a second honor graduate of South Carolina College; the first Lt. a South Carolina College graduate; the second lt. was a graduate of Yale; the third lt. a first honor graduate of Emory College. The orderly sgt. was a first honor man of Wofford, and most of the Non-commissioned officers and many of the privates were college graduates.~Wm. Izlar

(Please, tell J. to have his tailor head to Wooded Hamlet for the sleeve braid and don't buy the awful polyester gold braid that seems to "glow"!)

[pvt. tommy]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

[QUOTE=SCSecesh]I'd guess this gentleman's name is Watson A. O'Cain from Orangeburg from your statement of his rank (per Izlar).

David,
You would be correct,Sir!
Thanks for your help. I have passed the information on to the appropriate recipient.
Yours,
Tommy Rollings
8th SCVI

[PalmettoGuard]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

By chance I stumbbled across a picture of a LT or Capt from the 1st SC this week. The picture was made at Quimby & Co. in Charleston so was undoubtably taken early in the war. He was wearing a very similiar coat to that one. Double Breasted, Braid, and it appears blue cuffs and collars. Sorry I don't have a copy of the picture to post.

[SCSecesh]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

Brian,
Weren't there about three different 1st SC units at the war's inception? I know O'Cain was in Hagood's: what was the name of the officer that you saw the image of? Didn't Quimby take images in Charleston well into '64?

[Reserve]

Re: Proper material for CS Major Frock?

Here is something to note... Sumter Military Go to Confederate and "South Carolina Major's Frock Coat".