Uniforms Columbus Depot jacket

[major bill]

It has seen better days. The over head lights reflects off the glass.

 

[UCVRelics]

Nice coat what is the name of the guy in the photo?

 

[Yankeedave]

John F Jones of Breckinridge Guards ?

 

[major bill]

Yes the jacket of John F. Jenkins, Breckridge Guards.

 

[Yankeedave]

Glad he wasn't wearing the jacket.

 

[major bill]

Saturday Les Jensen is giving an hour lecture on clothing of the Columbus Depot, should I attend or take my wife out to lunch?

 

[UCVRelics]

You have to ask that question here. Stop on the way and get her a Big Mac meal

 

[Ragged Old First]

Saturday Les Jensen is giving an hour lecture on clothing of the Columbus Depot, should I attend or take my wife out to lunch?

Attend the lecture by Les, then take your wife out for a nice dinner.

 

[UCVRelics]

Attend the lecture by Les, then take your wife out for a nice dinner.

I guess thats why I have 3 ex-wives

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Well since the Jenkins Columbus Depot is in such bad shape, here's a picture I snapped of the Woodard and Weller Columbus Depot jackets I took during the 2016 Perryville reenactment. Gotta love those "Army of Tennessee" jackets as they used to be called.

 

[Big Sarge]

@major bill is that jacket on public display now? Last I heard, it was in a private collection in Oklahoma. I have always had a lot of questions about that jacket because Jenkins was in the escort company of Gen Breckinridge.

 

[major bill]

Privte Collection
It is in a glass case on a table at the Marriott hotel on Columbus Ga. for the Company of Military Historians annual convention. It will be there for 4 days. I am sure someone brought it, but I am not sure who. It does have a page long discription which I have yet to read.

 

[Big Sarge]

Wish I could see it. Jenkins was discharged in April of 1863 at Tullahoma, Tn, but he had a type II version of the Columbus Depot jacket. I admit I haven't done a lot of study on Columbus Depot jackets, but I always believed the Type II wasn't issued till the summer of 1863.

 

[Championhilz]

I just found something very interesting regarding the Jacket of John F. Jenkins of the Breckinridge Guards - I was looking through Mississippi Confederate pension applications when I found this note in the pension file of Jenkins:

 

[Championhilz]

I just found something very interesting regarding the Jacket of John F. Jenkins of the Breckinridge Guards - I was looking through Mississippi Confederate pension applications when I found this note in the pension file of Jenkins:

View attachment 321773

There was also a notation that the jacket was currently in the possession of James T. Cook of Shelbyville, Tennessee

 

[Championhilz]

Here's the link to John F. Jenkins' pension application: http://www.mdah.ms.gov/arrec/digital_archives/pensions/show/66533

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Well I figured instead of a new thread; I'd revisit this one.

At the Jefferson Civil War Symposium in Jefferson, TX last weekend, I got to see this jacket and speak to its owner who've I've seen around and spoke to in the past but was ignorant of this treasure in his possession. He was extremely generous as always, us going over the jacket's history and him showing me it in detail. Later the well-known Fred Adolphus and I got to talking and catching up and the jacket's owner allowed us to pick it up and really study it! When a few strings of the cotton warp fell off he told me I could keep them, and I've never been so excited over tiny pieces of string in my life!

There is a LOT of differences in this jacket from your normal "Columbus Depot" jacket. Its made of cassinette/cassimere or a jean similar to it, some details of the cuffs are different, has an interlining in the front much like a frock coat, two flower citizen non-functional cuff buttons, the blue flannel trim is twilled and put some folks in the mind of Federal trouser materials, and so on. I know the sweat stains in the lining kind of hit home for me, it being sweat for Southern Independence. This jacket may not be a depot jacket, but a tailor-made, or even homemade copy, with several small details making me lean towards possible home-made. I'm not sold on that, but it very well could be.

I'm not sharing all the photos and so forth I took, just a few. Its owner wasn't too against me doing so but I've no intent of abusing it.

I know getting to examine the jacket was an awesome experience, and doing so with one of the top, if not the top, Confederate uniform researchers also made it an enjoyable and very educational experience. I know we were both snapping pictures and pointing out stuff we were noticing much like kids in a candy store. But were very careful with this irreplaceable artifact. And its owner and preserver was beyond gracious letting this happen, him also pointing out numerous details.

I know I plan to make as close a copy for myself as I can with my meager skills just for the heck of it! I ever get to attend a reenactment east of the Mississippi again it could come in handy. I've been blessed enough to see and look over several CW jackets, but this for me was very privileged access!

Also, if anyone out gets to thinking Jenkins wore it home this ragged, I'm just gonna come out and say it, I will bet most of the damage came AFTER the war from moths and so on before it became a historical treasure.

 

[RedRover]

Thanks for sharing!

Another point on wear and tear. I notice that many of the jackets, etc. at the Museum of the Confederacy (per their catalog of uniforms) were worn by veterans in the post-war years, frequently with replacement buttons, etc. As a leader in the UCV, perhaps Mr. Jenkins wore this jacket in a parade or two post-war.

Anyways, Sgt. Wash. Ives of the 4th Florida mentions in his letters at Chattanooga in the fall of 1863 Bragg's army receiving lots of clothing from the army, including on the 31st of October and 1st of November, jackets of "dark and light grey (mostly with blue collar and cuffs) the pants … similar goods to the jackets …but… a cross between cashmere and jeans, very warm and durable." Ives also mentioned the suits were of "superior army goods."

I always wondered by what he meant by a "cross" between cashmere and jeans, but reckon as you mention that its a sort of cassimere, with a cotton warp like jeans... and your pictures are super.

 

[Package4]

Thanks for sharing!

Another point on wear and tear. I notice that many of the jackets, etc. at the Museum of the Confederacy (per their catalog of uniforms) were worn by veterans in the post-war years, frequently with replacement buttons, etc. As a leader in the UCV, perhaps Mr. Jenkins wore this jacket in a parade or two post-war.

Anyways, Sgt. Wash. Ives of the 4th Florida mentions in his letters at Chattanooga in the fall of 1863 Bragg's army receiving lots of clothing from the army, including on the 31st of October and 1st of November, jackets of "dark and light grey (mostly with blue collar and cuffs) the pants … similar goods to the jackets …but… a cross between cashmere and jeans, very warm and durable." Ives also mentioned the suits were of "superior army goods."

I always wondered by what he meant by a "cross" between cashmere and jeans, but reckon as you mention that its a sort of cassimere, with a cotton warp like jeans... and your pictures are super.

I imagine he was referring to satinet, which would be warm, but not sure how durable it would be.