Confederate Jacket question

[Klaudly]

I don't remember if I have already asked, in case I apologize for the repetition. I have a doubt about the Confederate depots and the realization of the jackets.

After the period of the 'Commutation Jacket', the Confederates Depot began production of the jackets. Now, after the studies done in the last two decades, various models have been identified. Why did this happen?

There are the official specifications provided by the Department Quatermaster describing how to make the jackets?

Is there a particular order, that instructed the local quartermaster on the realization of these jackets?

Why the directors of the depots made Jackets rather than Frock or Sack coat?

These General Orders survived?

Perhaps a generic order was sent, which left local quatermaster officers with a certain 'freedom' in the realization of the jackets.

What do you think?

 

[James N.]

Calling @Package4 !

 

[UCVRelics]

Here is a great link to a website by one of the leading experts of CS uniform. It will answer a lot of your questions especially under the Confederate Depot Uniforms listing.
http://www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/index.html

 

[captaindrew]

The article on the Liberty Rifles site on the Richmond Depot jacket is also another excellent article on this specifically talking about the Richmond Depot.

 

[major bill]

Leslie D. Jenson pioneered the concept of the Depot Jacket system for identifying Confederate jackets. He published a two part article in the fall and winter, 1989 issues of the Military Collector & Historian Journal. here is a link to the two part article.
http://www.military-historians.org/company/journal/confederate/confederate-1.htm

The two issues of Military Collector & Historian Journal are out of stock and are considered a bit difficult to find. Ross Kimmel's article Enlisted Uniforms of the Maryland Confederate infantry, A Case Study, Part I is also a great article. Be sure to get both issues to have both parts of the articles. Klaudly as a member of the Company of Military Historians you should become antiquated with Les Jenson if the opportunity arises.

 

[Package4]

Calling @Package4 !

Sorry was out of town yesterday, but there was an order that revised the Confederate regulation coat to a jacket, I'll see if I can find the reference. There was a combination of reasons in doing so, cloth was precious and a frock coat for infantry was cumbersome especially in the summer months. I just looked up in the 1863 Revised Confederate Regulations and they are still referring to a coat as issue, a soldier would receive 4 coats in 3 years. As I get time I will post the regulation when I can find.

 

[Package4]

So as most know, there was a commutation system that was in place for the Provisional Army of the Confederate States or PACS, these were provisional and not regular troops. These troops would supply their own uniforms and would be paid approximately $25 per six months for clothing. The regular troops would fall under the CS Quartermaster and as authorized would supply the regulation uniform that became official June 4 1861. These are the regulations that specified the frock/tunic and French blue trousers. The order was basically rescinded almost immediately and jackets instead of tunic would be prescribed. Letter of Quartermaster General AC Myers to Assistant QM Captain John Galt June 5 1861.

 

[Klaudly]

Thanks for the answers, but the point I would like to clarify is this: once the quartermaster department chose the jacket instead of the tunic or frock coat, obviously the communication will have reached every clothing depot of the Confederate States.
Why the jackets of each depot produced were similar but not the same? The description of the jacket was clear, or was brief and left discretion on the details, pocket, collar, trim, buttons, shoulder straps etc.?
The clearest thing is the material, the depots made the jacket with what they had available at the time, but for example who decided whether to make an inside or outside pocket?

 

[Klaudly]

According to Leslie D. Jenson's article (linked by Major Bill) published by the Military Collector & Historian Journal:

"More importantly, at no time did the Quartermaster General detail to any of the depots exactly how the jackets were to be made. Thus, materials, cut, number of buttons, pockets and the presence or absence of trim were determined by each depot on its own, and probably changed as circumstances dictated."