Confederate Undershirt?

[The Southern Volunteer]

I have search through some of the old threads and couldn't find an answer to this question: Was there an issued-Confederate undershirt?
Or, did they wear civilian undershirts?

I am asking as I am interest in completing a shirt-sleeves impression for BGA 150th Gettysburg.

Many thanks for any information provided.

With Regards,

[Silas]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

What say your sergeants and captain about what you want to do?

[Pumpkinslinger]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

Good point Silas, it should be what your Officers and NCOs want you to wear.

[The Southern Volunteer]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

I am going to white cotton osnaburg "Louisiana Shirt" per our impression guidelines. I just wanted to carry an undershirt as a back-up and for a bit of night time comfort if needed.
Not to mention, I'd like to have one for winter picket posts, etc.

Thanks for the feed back, any other thoughts.

[brown]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

I feel little old-fashioned, but it send to me there are two questions. One is "should I do this?" That has been answered with "do what your unit says," regardless of authenticity.

The second, and more interesting to me, is the question about what they had 150 years ago. I know Fed gear much better, but many CS items (including a number of original pants and several shirts) were of basic civilian patterns. The closest to an undershirt I can recall was a plain white shirt with banded collar worn by an officer at Petersburg featured in the Confederate Sketchbook.

[poilu1917]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

I have recently read the personnel letters and diaries of several soldiers (from different states/commands in the ANV) that mentioned wanting/receiving undershirts from home in both cotton, flannel, and in on instance wool. Undershirts were much desired. In these same sources they mentioned receiving shirts from govt issue and not needing overshirts and such. I would say you can't go wrong wearing a civilian undershirt in Confederate service. I hope this helps.

[JBroomall]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

Just to echo Jon, this item appears a lot in diaries and letters. One particular reference I have handy is illustrative of a broader trend. This example comes from Ruffin Thomson, 8 June 1862, in a letter to his parents: "The first reliable chance you can get please send me a supply of under clothing & over shirts (check)_ muslin undershirts, thin drawers & socks, _ also a pr of shoes . . . I would like to see Press step up some day with a supply of things for me_ If I had him I would not have to endure many things I now suffer."

Thank you, Jim Broomall

[brown]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

What these references clearly do is illustrate a view of these garments as underclothing, not exterior clothing.
While there are a variety of mid-19th century undershirt patterns, they are all relatively simple. While there was a standard Federal issue undershirt, they are very similar to civilian undershirts made of canton flannel. The contractor knit undershirts, I believe, are simply readymade style items.

[The Southern Volunteer]

Re: Confederate Undershirt?

Thanks Gents, y'all have pretty much answered my question.

I will beginning looking for a quality civilian undershirt pattern.

Regards,