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  • #1

    Overalls Discussion

    I've noticed that overalls are offered by approved vendors. Would these have been worn only while doing labor such as farm work or fatigue duty by civilians? Would they have been worn in town? Are materials such as jeans cloth or lindsey-woolsey the most suitable for their construction?

    Jeans Cloth is sometimes refered to as "Slave Cloth". Was it ever worn by non-slaves?

    Forgive me if this isn't something that's ok to discuss as I am new here.

    I've been at this for about 25 years but there are things I'm still wondering about.
    Mark G. Lewis

    Formerly with the "State's Rights Guard" & the 10th Texas @ Pickett's Mill

    "I was told that even if a regiment was clothed in proper uniform by the Government, it would be parti-colored again in a week, as the soldiers preferred wearing the coarse home-spun jackets and trousers made by their mothers and sisters at home. The Generals very wisely allow them to please themselves in this respect"~Freemantle~
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  • #2
    Re: Overalls Discussion

    Unless I am very much mistaken, the cotton-jeans trousers that were getting issued en masse to the Army of Tennessee around '63 were of the fabric many call "slave cloth"...however, I was always under the impression that the term "slave cloth" referred more to the texture and weave of the cloth rather than just all "jeans cloth" fabric all together.

    Overalls were a garment worn for farm work and other fatigue-like duties by civillians, but there were also limited amounts issued for use in the confederate army.
    Ian Broadhead
    Liberty Rifles
    " Lee's Miserables"

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Overalls Discussion

      I did find this...

      Woman's Civil War by Cornelia Peake McDonald (page 228):


      "So I determined to let him go, and bethought myself of a remaining piece of finery, a crepe shawl. I took it up to a shop and exchanged it for a piece of grey cloth, such as before the war had been worn only by negroes, but which now was the only material used for soldiers' clothes. Course and rough as it was, it was worn by the best of the land, and no gentleman himself above wearing it. Some were fortunate enough to get a finer quality of grey cloth, but grey it must be."
      Last edited by Mark Lewis; 01-06-2011, 01:27 PM.
      Mark G. Lewis

      Formerly with the "State's Rights Guard" & the 10th Texas @ Pickett's Mill

      "I was told that even if a regiment was clothed in proper uniform by the Government, it would be parti-colored again in a week, as the soldiers preferred wearing the coarse home-spun jackets and trousers made by their mothers and sisters at home. The Generals very wisely allow them to please themselves in this respect"~Freemantle~

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Overalls Discussion

        Just to clarify a point I often have contention with:

        The term 'slave cloth' has never truly been defined. This simple term is not indicative of the entire range of blended fabrics of the period in jeans weaves (i.e. cotton, wool, linen, hemp, rag...etc.). Just because a fabric was not 100% cotton/wool/linen/hemp...etc. does not mean that it was considered to be cloth only fit for slaves (or the poorest of poor). In the end ALOT of this factor of determination, more than likely came down to the quality of raw materials and finishing used to produce a final material.

        Of course on the spectrum of things folks accustomed to wearing the Calvin Kleins and Guccis of the day probably tended to be more discriminating that the other 80% of the population...just some thoughts - 'slave cloth' is not purely indicative of a wool jeans cloth.

        Paul B.
        Paul B. Boulden Jr.


        RAH VA MIL '04
        (Loblolly Mess)
        [URL="http://23rdva.netfirms.com/welcome.htm"]23rd VA Vol. Regt.[/URL]
        [URL="http://www.virginiaregiment.org/The_Virginia_Regiment/Home.html"]Waggoner's Company of the Virginia Regiment [/URL]

        [URL="http://www.military-historians.org/"]Company of Military Historians[/URL]
        [URL="http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer"]Museum of the Confederacy[/URL]
        [URL="http://www.historicsandusky.org/index.html"]Historic Sandusky [/URL]

        Inscription Capt. Archibold Willet headstone:

        "A span is all that we can boast, An inch or two of time, Man is but vanity and dust, In all his flower and prime."

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Overalls Discussion

          It just occurred to me that there has not really been any discussion over Overalls within this thread.

          What distinguishing features are characteristic of overalls during this period? What documented types of materials would be appropriate for overalls? Does any evidence exists to support these being worn in place of trousers?

          Paul B.
          Paul B. Boulden Jr.


          RAH VA MIL '04
          (Loblolly Mess)
          [URL="http://23rdva.netfirms.com/welcome.htm"]23rd VA Vol. Regt.[/URL]
          [URL="http://www.virginiaregiment.org/The_Virginia_Regiment/Home.html"]Waggoner's Company of the Virginia Regiment [/URL]

          [URL="http://www.military-historians.org/"]Company of Military Historians[/URL]
          [URL="http://www.moc.org/site/PageServer"]Museum of the Confederacy[/URL]
          [URL="http://www.historicsandusky.org/index.html"]Historic Sandusky [/URL]

          Inscription Capt. Archibold Willet headstone:

          "A span is all that we can boast, An inch or two of time, Man is but vanity and dust, In all his flower and prime."

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Overalls Discussion

            I just wanted to post a quick thank you for the information on the term "slave cloth". I was just about to post a query on that very topic.

            Thank you!

            Dan Limb
            Dan Limb
            One of THEM!

            "In the moment of action, remember the value of silence and order" -- Phormio of Athens

            "Your first duty is to get a decent hat. You cannot hope to do more. You should never wish to do less"

            Direct Descendent of
            James M. Hergesheimer, Co. A. 20th Iowa Infantry

            Capt. James G. Campbell, Co. F., 19th Illinois Infantry. Wounded at Missionary Ridge

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Overalls Discussion

              And be careful, as "overalls" could mean a range of things to different people of the time. From long trowsers to bib overalls, depending on age, region, income, vocation, etc.
              Pat Brown

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Overalls Discussion

                Mark,
                I too am curious about this. A lot of the research on overalls of our period of interest was coming about in the 90's when I was working full time as a 19th c. farmer. Unfortunately I exited that field, and later CW altogether by the late 90's. It is definitely worthy of more research and discussion here. At present I am working on putting together a couple of mid-19th c. civilian impressions, so it is of interest to me as well.

                Warren Dickinson

                Formerly of the "States Rights Guard" & the Pickett's Mill LH staff ;)
                Warren Dickinson


                Currently a History Hippy at South Union Shaker Village
                Member of the original Pickett's Mill Interpretive Volunteer Staff & Co. D, 17th Ky Vol. Inf
                Former Mudsill
                Co-Creator of the States Rights Guard in '92

                Comment

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