From an act approved in October, 1862 the Confederate Army could legally provide any color, or type, of clothing to its volunteer troops:
SEC. 4. That the clothing required to be furnished to the troops of the Provisional Army under any existing law may be of such kind, as to color and quality, as it may be practicable to obtain, any law to the contrary notwithstanding...
President Davis of the Confederacy, as commander-in-chief of the military forces, employed his practical sagacity to prioritize the interests of the Confederacy in equipping the armies:
"For the infantry, men must first be fed, next armed, and even clothing must follow these; for if they are fed and have arms and ammunition they can fight."
This ideal placed the subsistence and ordnance departments of the army on a stronger footing than the quartermaster's department. None of these were entirely successful in their endeavors in the midst of a desolating war, blockaded coasts, limited industry, and a rapidly devaluating currency. [Vandiver, Frank E.,
Ploughshares into Swords; Josiah Gorgas and Confederate Ordnance, Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX, 1994, 73-74.]
Lee's army began receiving the new military clothing in the fall of 1862, consisting of "dark grey jackets and light blue pants." This gave them a good appearance compared to their "filthy, miserably clad" appearance in "dirty yellow uniforms" in the September campaign into Maryland. [
Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN 10-15-1862;
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Cincinnati, OH, 9-26-1862.]
While Lee's Army was advancing into Pennsylvania in late June, 1863, it was noted efforts to clothe them were underway: they were "
to be uniformed in clothes of a very pale blue color, now manufacturing in the South. There are a number of factories at Richmond making this cloth. The principal one [Crenshaw Mill] was recently burned down." Even the partisan rangers of John Mosby's command were to be outfitted with the new uniforms that summer. [Alexandria Gazette, 6-25-63.] This report was made during the Gettysburg campaign.
From the Confederate dead at Gettysburg, the following report was made by the gent charged with their collection and reburial:
"As a general rule, the rebels never went into battle with the United States coat on. They sometimes took the pantaloons from our dead, and wore them, but not the coat. The rebel clothing is made of cotton, and is of a gray or brown color. Occasionally I found one with a blue cotton jean roundabout on. The clothing of our men is of wool, and blue, so that if the body had on the coat of our uniform, it was a pretty sure indication that it was that of a Union soldier. But if the body were without a coat, then there were other infallible marks. The shoes of the rebels were differently made from those of our soldiers. If these failed, then the underclothing was the next part examined. The rebel cotton undershirt gave proof of the army to which it belonged…" [Vanderslice, John M.,
Gettysburg; A History of the Gettysburg Battle-field Memorial Association, Gettysburg Battle-Field Memorial Association, Philadelphia, PA, 1897, 178.]
So after being supplied after the Gettysburg campaign:
Dickert of Jenkins' South Carolina brigade notes regarding Chickamauga, etc.
One of Bragg's cannoneers noted his first view of Longstreet's corps of Lee's Army;
"Our first impression was partly caused by the color of their uniform, but more by its uniformity, and the superior style of their equipments, in haversacks, canteens, and knapsacks. This contrast between them and Gen'l Bragg's motley, ragged troops was striking in the extreme. If this command was a specimen of Lee's troops, they are certainly superior to the troops of the Army of Tennessee, in dress." [Baumgardner and Strayer; Echoes of Battle…]
General Grant ran into a soldier of Longstreet's corps at Chattanooga:
Regardless, surviving garments of Longstreet's corps at Chickamauga include the blue/white striped frock coat of the South Carolinian Schumpbert, and a faded tan Richmond Depot jacket (of the type II description) of Abraham Adler, 21st Mississippi soldier.
Schumpbert Coat picture, pinterest
Richard Milstead: Richmond Depot Jackets article
In the above, the different colors and cloths of Richmond jackets is evident.
Even late in the war, the color of the garments from the Confederate army varied. Co. E, 12th VA Cavalry received army clothing in June, 1864 including:
76 pr. Gray pants
9 pr. Light blue pants
7 pr. Dark blue pants
19 gray jackets
5 black jackets
During 1864, a million yards of foreign cloth was used for army clothing, but a majority was still made up of various domestic goods, (particularly woolen jeans):
Among the 55th VA in early 1865:
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