About Georgia Depot shoes.

[max]

Hello pards!

I have seen the Georgia Depot Shoes are one of the first to appear when you enter in the Confederate section of MB&S or Berger web page. I have been searching with google and in the forum for more info about those shoes but it seems scarce at best.

Can someone give me more info about origins, manufacture, distribution, surviving originals etc.. or point me in the right direction?

I have been reading the threads about russet brogans yes/no but I have not found nothing specific to those Georgia Depot Shoes.

[spadegrip]

Re: About Georgia Depot shoes.

From what I understand is that these shoes were called "Georgia Depot shoes" in Echos of Glory and it stuck. These shoes were actually found in Richmond next to railroad tracks in 1865, so who knows where they came from, and who used them; at least that's what I was told.

[Brent Brumagin]

Re: About Georgia Depot shoes.

From my research there was a splitting machine located in Atlanta. At one point in '63 a report outlined close to enough split leather hide which could produce 500 pairs of shoes were being done daily.

More than likely these shoes were being produced undyed.... So many have associated the undyed shoes as those produced in Atlanta. Richmond depot also had a leather splitting machine for a similar production.

The "Georgia" shoe represents an undyed CS shoe.

Bob's nomenclature for his Georgia shoe is correct in construction and materials. The shoe represents one made in the state. Not necessarily an Atlanta arsenal produced shoe. Many items passed thru or were stored in Atlanta before they were shipped out to the field.

There are some shipping records which show items being transferred by rail to Richmond for use by the ANV. Opens up some interesting ideas on other Atlanta and Deep South production.....

I hope this sheds a little bit of light on the issue.

Thanks.

Brent Brumagin

[David Jarnagin]

Re: About Georgia Depot shoes.

One of these may have been the manufacture of the shoes. They would be listed as slave shoes since the color is russet. Many southern states were trying to start manufacturing slave brogans to stop what they called northern profits. The states I know of that stated manufacturing are Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. These are not small scale but on the order of large shoe manufactures, although it seems most were partly run with slave labor. Mississippi was trying but how far they got before the start of the Civil War is unclear.

As far as tanning it seems that Georgia had good resources and was able to tan leather. Al and LA appear to have imported their leather from the northern states although I am sure some tanning ability could be done in both states the true test is sole leather.

This information all comes from the Fair of 1851 in Georgia.

The committee on manufactures (other than Domestic) have examined with as much care as the limited time allowed them would admit, the numerous articles embraced in their department. In many of the branches of manufacture the competition was animated, and the committee had much difficulty in deciding between the specimens presented. This was particularly the case in relation to cotton osnaburgs, cotton yarns and negro brogans. Specimens of negro shoes were presented by eight different manufactures, and were all of Georgia tanned leather. The superior quality of all the shoes presented. We can and soon drive out the northern article, and render ourselves independent of those to whom we have been so long tributary.

Russet Brogans. Several lots of this article exhibited. We award to the exhibited by Messrs. Vickers, Hudson & Co., $2.50
Best dozen brogans, Capt C. A. Hamilton, Cass county
Best pair of shoes, J. H. Thomas, Forsyth, Ga.

There was a manufacture of wooden soled shoe in South Carolina. These shoes were used in wet conditions or in places like tanneries and blacksmithing. Anywhere leather would not hold up due to conditions. I would not like to step on a hot piece of metal with leather soles on either.

Tanned leather and tanneries

Lot of harness leather and calfskins, tanned and dressed by Wingfield, Reese & Co. These gentleman furnished specimens of American and French tanning, well executed in good style. Cup worth $5.
Consisted of various specimens of Tannery, skins, hides & c., with and without fur, by B.F. Swanton of Newton County. The exhibition of these articles is highly creditable to the manufacturer, and show great Enterprise and skill. $10.00
Best upper leather, Samuel D. Irwin, Albany
Best harness leather, J. & C. Dunwoody, Roswell
Best oil tanned leather, B. F. Swanton (this would have been chamois leather)

Saddles and harness

For best carriage Harness, A. Hatch
For best buggy harness, A. Hatch
For best saddle and bridle, Samuel Meek of Thomas county

David Jarnagin
djarnagin@bellsouth.net