Recycling uniforms?

[RetiredCanuck]

Any background on reusing uniform clothing (especially jackets) from those who, shall we say had no further use for them?
I'm not talking about individual soldiers stripping the dead or wounded of either side, which I assume happened on a pretty regular basis.
By that I mean repurposing clothing on a more official basis. Collecting uniform components for cleaning and/or repair through the quartermaster dept and then officially re-issuing said garments.

 

[Trooper "D"]

Any background on reusing uniform clothing (especially jackets) from those who, shall we say had no further use for them?
I'm not talking about individual soldiers stripping the dead or wounded of either side, which I assume happened on a pretty regular basis.
By that I mean repurposing clothing on a more official basis. Collecting uniform components for cleaning and/or repair through the quartermaster dept and then officially re-issuing said garments.

Cold Mountain? Was that the film? It showed some guy with a wheel barrow full of "extra" uniforms and shoes. I highly doubt it happened like that. Too many graves with buttons on the remains in position like a uniform was on the deceased at burial.
Good question there. I'm interested in what our highly educated CWT members come up with.
Cheers!

 

[RaggedAssSecond]

If You Died in the Civil War, Your Enemies Would Loot Your Corpse of Everything—Including Your Underwear

Soldiers snatched souvenirs from a number of dead or dying generals. Confederate commander Felix Zollicoffer was perhaps treated the harshest

www.historynet.com

 

[Mississippian1861]

I have not heard of clothing being scavenged by the government to be reissued out. Probably because clothing, unlike equipment, was considered to the personal property of the soldier once issued. If a solider had extra clothing on him when he died in hospital, it could be auctioned off and the money given to next of kin.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

My understanding is that the manufacturers of US canteens covered them with scrap fabric, much of which, I presume, came from leftover fabric from uniforms and other materials used by the union. This would account for the variety of canteen cover colors. I haven't researched this, so I would appreciate any other information on the subject. Presumably these would not come from scavenged uniforms. What do you think?

 

[Dan Kohli]

The only thing I've heard about is the quartermaster wagons fallowing the marching route to pick up the uniform items and equipment discarded by the men during the first days and weeks of the campaigns.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

The only thing I've heard about is the quartermaster wagons fallowing the marching route to pick up the uniform items and equipment discarded by the men during the first days and weeks of the campaigns.

Yeah for Union troops I read that once the hot weather arrived, they would "lose" their greatcoats to lighten their load.
If the situation permitted they would indeed try to recover them for reissue.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

One scenario I can think of that does not involve plundering another soldier is promotion. If a soldier is promoted from sgt to lt. he is now supposed to buy his own clothing and his issue clothing may be up for grabs?
Maybe they didn't enforce this as so many officers actually ended up with depot made jackets?

 

[Dan Kohli]

One scenario I can think of that does not involve plundering another soldier is promotion. If a soldier is promoted from sgt to lt. he is now supposed to buy his own clothing and his issue clothing may be up for grabs?
Maybe they didn't enforce this as so many officers actually ended up with depot made jackets?

Most of the sergeants still had the same clothing allowance as the rest of the enlisted men. The exception to this is the sergeants of the Ordnance department. Commissioned officers of all positions had to purchase all clothing, equipment and food on their own. They could buy articles from the quartermaster or commissary if they had stuff left over.

 

[jepridgen]

The only organized scavenging I've ever heard of or read in accounts was for weapons, ammunition, and accouterments (belts, cartridge boxes, canteens, etc.). Clothing was always recounted by participants as something scavenged by an individual. That's not to say a quartermaster or ordnance detail didn't snag something like that, but clothing wasn't part of a formal program. Despite many myths passed down, Rebs were generally well enough clothed to avoid having to pull uniforms off a dead comrade or enemy. Obviously, federal troops were similarly not concerned with clothing shortages sufficient to organize such an effort.

 

[Trooper "D"]

The only organized scavenging I've ever heard of or read in accounts was for weapons, ammunition, and accouterments (belts, cartridge boxes, canteens, etc.). Clothing was always recounted by participants as something scavenged by an individual. That's not to say a quartermaster or ordnance detail didn't snag something like that, but clothing wasn't part of a formal program. Despite many myths passed down, Rebs were generally well enough clothed to avoid having to pull uniforms off a dead comrade or enemy. Obviously, federal troops were similarly not concerned with clothing shortages sufficient to organize such an effort.

Only if they had plundered a supply train then they would wear the enemies uniforms and parts thereof. Both sides did this on occasion. I agree that must scavenging was by individuals. Mostly shoes, weapons, and equipment as you have stated.
Cheers!

 

[Trooper "D"]

One scenario I can think of that does not involve plundering another soldier is promotion. If a soldier is promoted from sgt to lt. he is now supposed to buy his own clothing and his issue clothing may be up for grabs?
Maybe they didn't enforce this as so many officers actually ended up with depot made jackets?

I think officers on both sides where allowed to purchase from the depots and add rank insignia. I know the Confederates did this for sure. Collar rank and hats with badges or hat cords sufficed in the field. The Austrian Knots up the sleeves being too obvious for snipers to pick out of the group.
I'm not sure about the US and their policy but plenty of photos show Union officers in casual field attire. General Grant famously wore an enlisted sache coat with shoulder boards pinned on at the surrender of the ANV.
Cheers!

 

[jepridgen]

That's not entirely accurate. Grant wore a more casual sack coat, but it was not enlisted. It was a privately purchased coat of much finer quality. The Confederate officers were much more likely to purchase a depot item and have it tailored for their purposes especially later in the war. Mostly, it had to do with inflation causing prices to get out of hand and less raw materials than the federal officers had at their disposal.

I've seen very few, if any, period pics showing an officer wearing an actual enlisted contract or depot federal coat. It certainly occurred, but it was much less prevalent on the federal size.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

The Confederate officers were much more likely to purchase a depot item and have it tailored for their purposes especially later in the war. Mostly, it had to do with inflation causing prices to get out of hand and less raw materials than the federal officers had at their disposal.

You are right on target as to why I asked this question.

This well-known study of 15 Richmond Depot jackets shows that 4 of them somehow ended up in officer's hands.

Richmond Depot Jackets: Characteristics, Anomalies, & Myths - Part 1 — The Liberty Rifles

www.libertyrifles.org

I wondered how that happened and you've advised that officers could in fact purchase depot items. Mystery solved. Thank you.

 

[TerryB]

A long time ago I read a book that contained an account of someone being shown down to a basement or cellar in Richmond. It was full of Confederate uniforms that had been taken from the dead.

 

[RetiredCanuck]

A long time ago I read a book that contained an account of someone being shown down to a basement or cellar in Richmond. It was full of Confederate uniforms that had been taken from the dead.

Okay that's a bit creepy. I'm sure there would have been some uniform articles collected at dressing stations and hospitals though.

 

[Manassas 1861]

I have seen accounts wear nco's made their own chevrons and stripes out of old sack coats.

 

[Rhea Cole]

Regarding great coats, soldiers were issued them seasonally. They were turned back in & reissued in the fall. Soldiers who had lost theirs had the valued docked from their pay.

 

[Rhea Cole]

That's not entirely accurate. Grant wore a more casual sack coat, but it was not enlisted. It was a privately purchased coat of much finer quality. The Confederate officers were much more likely to purchase a depot item and have it tailored for their purposes especially later in the war. Mostly, it had to do with inflation causing prices to get out of hand and less raw materials than the federal officers had at their disposal.

I've seen very few, if any, period pics showing an officer wearing an actual enlisted contract or depot federal coat. It certainly occurred, but it was much less prevalent on the federal size.

Have you seen photos of Grant?

 

[jepridgen]

Have you seen photos of Grant?

Yup, I've also seen photos of the coat he wore there among others. They weren't nearly as fancy as most generals, but they weren't a contract depot coat either.