Early War Confederate Image?

[lelliott19]

This is a relative who served as a private in Co D 14th Alabama. He was from Chambers County AL; enlisted July 26, 1861; died of disease at Fredericksburg Va on Jan 1, 1862. I'm assuming this is a uniform? Would the entire regiment have been outfitted in these frock coats? Looks like its made of homespun? or is that just lines from the scanner? Would this photo have been taken back home or after he arrived in Richmond? There are no backmarks.
Thanks for any assistance.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Although I couldn't begin to guess where the photo was taken, I would agree he 's wearing the ubiquitous early war frock coat found in so many Confederate Units. At this stage of the War, any uniform continuity would have been found at the company level rather than regimental.

Looks like its made of homespun? or is that just lines on the photo?

I wondered the same, but IMHO I think it's the homespun pattern rather than lines on the image.

 

[major bill]

on January 15 1861 four days after secession Alabama issued orders for the organization of the Army of Alabama. On March 28 1861 Alabama issued General Order No. 1 which standardized the uniforms of the Alabama Volunteer Corps. This order required dark blue frock coat with gray trousers. Most companies tried to wear teh regulation uniform, but often the exact style of the blue frock coat and gray trousers varied. It is possible that the uniform in this image is from that era. Frock coats were some what common for Alabama troops for the first year of the war although some units were forced to use gray cloth.

 

[lelliott19]

I wondered the same, but IMHO I think it's the homespun pattern rather than lines on the image.

Yeah. I looked at it closer and there arent any lines on any other parts of the picture.

 

[major bill]

I think the lines are a result of the photograph. Note the lines in the sleeve are vertical and do not follow the bend of the sleeve.

 

[lelliott19]

This order required dark blue frock coat with gray trousers. Most companies tried to wear the regulation uniform, but often the exact style of the blue frock coat and gray trousers varied. It is possible that the uniform in this image is from that era. Frock coats were some what common for Alabama troops for the first year of the war although some units were forced to use gray cloth.

I suppose a poor private in South AL did the best he could? According to the 1860 census, his father was a Farmer born in GA with real property valued at $500 and Personal property valued at $800. There were 8 children; he was the oldest son and second oldest child. The youngest was 2 yo.

 

[major bill]

Blue cloth takes special vats to produce. In both the North and the South blue cloth soon ran out and it was not possible early in the war for the North or South to obtain enough blue cloth.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

I suppose a poor private in South AL did the best he could?

Well, it obvious this fellow isn't wearing blue, so I'm staying with my guess of gray homespun.

While the bureaucrats did in fact issue elaborate early war uniform regulations, I'm thinking that by July 1861, the newly created rural volunteer companies were wearing uniforms made of whatever was available in enough quantity to present an uniform appearance.

 

[lelliott19]

On March 28 1861 Alabama issued General Order No. 1 which standardized the uniforms of the Alabama Volunteer Corps. This order required dark blue frock coat with gray trousers.

Blue cloth takes special vats to produce. In both the North and the South blue cloth soon ran out and it was not possible early in the war for the North or South to obtain enough blue cloth.

The names of all the 14th Alabama companies from Chambers County were "Grays"
Company A "Cusseta Grays"
Company C "Tom Watt's Grays"
Company D "Yancey Grays"
Company E "Gilmore's Greys"
Company F "Billy Gilmer Grays"

Maybe they didn't get the memo?

 

[major bill]

Even when Alabama issued the uniform regulations for the Alabama Volunteer Corps, the individual militia companies were given a year to meet the new uniforms regulations. Most new companies forming for war tried to get the required uniforms, companies already having gray uniforms did not seem to be in much of a hurry to purchase new blue uniforms. By late 1862 frock coats were less common for Alabama troops.

 

[Frederick14Va]

The subjects frock coat is a common simple pattern frequently seen with deep south and western theater units early war.... straight cut no frills body and skirt... straight snug sleeves.... 9 button front.... Usually procured locally contract made for the whole company... hence each company within a same given designated Regiment may differ from each other during that time...

An unmarked CDV... likely this is a post war copy of another early war image originally taken in another medium... and also tends to result in a streaky and grainy appearance sometimes.... CDV had a negative that additional copies could be made from... that became quite popular near the end of the war and immediate post war period... they were also a lot cheaper to have made too.... Original setting images would normally have the photographers gallery name on the back... and depending on when and where made/copied may have tax stamp affixed to the back.... Post war copies are frequently found with blank backs on them... CDV use in the south was quite rare till just after the war...

 

[Package4]

This is a relative who served as a private in Co D 14th Alabama. He was from Chambers County AL; enlisted July 26, 1861; died of disease at Fredericksburg Va on Jan 1, 1862. I'm assuming this is a uniform? Would the entire regiment have been outfitted in these frock coats? Looks like its made of homespun? or is that just lines from the scanner? Would this photo have been taken back home or after he arrived in Richmond? There are no backmarks.
Thanks for any assistance.
View attachment 125998View attachment 125999

Not as early in the war as your ancestor, but Frederick Adolphus' study of Alabama unis is a must:

http://www.adolphusconfederateunifo...he-cadet-gray-uniforms-of-mobile-alabama.html

 

[Alabama!]

What is this soldiers name? Would love to see a larger(better) scan of it!

 

[Patrick H]

It's a nice image. I'm one of those who believes the vertical lines in the coat are the result of the scan--but I'm sure it has to do with the texture of the coat and the scanner. Regardless, the lines don't matter at all. It's a nice photo of your ancestor to have.

 

[zburkett]

1st, great photo with wonderful history. 2nd, I agree with Major Bill, the lines on the soldiers right shoulder do not match the curve of the arm.

 

[Alabama!]

lelliott19, saw you have an interest in 16th Alabama and medical stuff. Here is Cpt. Fortunatus S. McMahon, Surgeon, 16th Alabama Infantry. From Courtland, Lawrence County, Alabama, he enlisted on 5 September 1861 and was appointed Assistant Surgeon. He was promoted to Surgeon on 23 August 1862 and served throughout the rest of the war in Cleburne's Division. The 16th Alabama Infantry lost 162 men killed and wounded at the Battle of Shiloh. They lost about 244 men killed and wounded at the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. The 16th surrendered at Goldsboro, North Carolina, but only about 50 men were still present for duty by that time.

 

[Alabama!]

This is a relative who served as a private in Co D 14th Alabama. He was from Chambers County AL; enlisted July 26, 1861; died of disease at Fredericksburg Va on Jan 1, 1862. I'm assuming this is a uniform? Would the entire regiment have been outfitted in these frock coats? Looks like its made of homespun? or is that just lines from the scanner? Would this photo have been taken back home or after he arrived in Richmond? There are no backmarks.
Thanks for any assistance.
View attachment 125998View attachment 125999

If you can't scan the image again, knowing his name would be cool. Had some people in the 14th Alabama myself!

 

[Alabama!]

P.S. From the images I have seen, this one is unique. My guess is that it was taken in Richmond. The chair/background are not like anything I have seen in other 14th Alabama images.