CSA Buckle & Bible

[Manassas 1861]

A Confederate soldier wearing civilian clothing, with a C.S.A belt buckle, and holding a Bible. LOC.

 

[RedRover]

Col. Fremantle described the dress of some of Cleburne's Division of the Army of Tennessee on parade, June 1, 1863...

 

[R. Porter]

We're his accoutrements made locally in the south or imported?

 

[Manassas 1861]

We're his accoutrements made locally in the south or imported?

No idea

 

[captaindrew]

We're his accoutrements made locally in the south or imported?

That style buckle was produced by the Atlanta arsenal which also produced accoutrement sets. Without a clearer veiw of the cartridge box can't say for certain but I'd say there's a good chance that's where they came from. Those were common in the Army of Tennessee.

 

[RedRover]

His cartridge box strap seems rather light colored. Could it be a woven canvas strap?

 

[captaindrew]

His cartridge box strap seems rather light colored. Could it be a woven canvas strap?

I don't think so, the canvas straps still had leather ends to fasten to the box, I don't see that. I think it's just the lighting, the waistbelt looks a lighter color too. Could also be a lighter colored leather and not dyed black as some were. I'm having a brain fart, what do they call that? There's a term for it.

 

[RedRover]

I don't think so, the canvas straps still had leather ends to fasten to the box, I don't see that. I think it's just the lighting, the waistbelt looks a lighter color too. Could also be a lighter colored leather and not dyed black as some were. I'm having a brain fart, what do they call that? There's a term for it.

undyed or russet...

 

[captaindrew]

undyed or russet...

Russet, that's what my pea brain was trying to come up with

 

[Pollaco]

That Bible may or may not have been a photographer's prop. I have read that many a young man carried their own.

 

[Manassas 1861]

That Bible may or may not have been a photographer's prop. I have read that many a young man carried their own.

Yep, your correct

 

[Pollaco]

If anyone should come across a copy of Bell Wiley's book "The life of Johnny Reb" , I recommend reading the chapter on religious activities in the southern armies. Chapter X is titled "Consolations of the Spirit". Wiley opens that chapter with these sentences. "Southerners of the nineteenth century were a religious people. Church affiliation was regarded as a badge of respectability..."

 

[Pollaco]

If anyone should come across a copy of Bell Wiley's book "The life of Johnny Reb" , I recommend reading the chapter on religious activities in the southern armies. Chapter X is titled "Consolations of the Spirit". Wiley opens that chapter with these sentences. "Southerners of the nineteenth century were a religious people. Church affiliation was regarded as a badge of respectability..."

But he also closes that chapter with these words.."and that a majority of Confederates made no profession of faith and had no church affiliation."

 

[UCVRelics]

His cartridge box strap seems rather light colored. Could it be a woven canvas strap?

The South used a LOT of pig skin leather instead of cow hide and that is one reason for the color difference. @captaindrew is spot on with the Atlanta CSA plate. Below is one I dug back in the late 80's.