Uniforms Forrest Funeral uniform thoughts?

[Rusk County Avengers]

I'm hesitant to copy and paste photos from Fred Adolphus' website, so I'm working on the assumption folks will know what I'm talking about.

As everyone probably knows the third funeral of General Forrest will happen, eventually, and being a member of the SCV, and third in command of the "Lone Star Color Guard" that basically functions as the color guard of the 5th Brigade of the Texas Division, I've been working to get our guys involved in the funeral.

As for uniforms, as much as I love some of the guys in our little unit, the uniformity is worse than the most farby dismounted cav. unit. Something I've been rallying against for some time. This funeral offered that chance, and after some persuasion, I've gotten everyone on board with getting together a new, more authentic kit, General Forrest deserves it, and that's what sold everyone with the idea.

Down side is it looks like I'm going to hand sewing a lot of shell jackets, for everyone, with no profit. I'm going with cost of materials to our guys. (that also got folks eager it seems...) But its for a good cause. Now if I could get through the bureaucratic mess into the funeral, that has fallen on my shoulders and dang near drove me to drink with the lack of progress.

The uniform that we initially settled on was the green-trimmed jacket of Silas Buck of the 12th Mississippi Cav. though I now wonder if the "Bendy" jacket supposedly worn at Brice's Crossroads might be a better option.

As for pattern my original plan was to adapt either a Columbus Depot, or Department of Alabama pattern for the jackets, as I'm the worst at drafting them from scratch, so if anyone has thoughts about that, I'd like to hear them.

 

[UCVRelics]

Due to the fact that it is Gen Forrest funeral I'm leaning towards Gilmore's uniform with black shoulders and cuffs. Being a funeral a nicer coat would make a statement. BTW I need a XXL

State of Alabama Quartermaster Uniforms, 1861-1864

Most Confederate uniform buffs are familiar with the prolific state issue uniforms from North Carolina during the Civil War, but there is far less awareness of the Alabama quartermaster clothing. ...

www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Due to the fact that it is Gen Forrest funeral I'm leaning towards Gilmore's uniform with black shoulders and cuffs. Being a funeral a nicer coat would make a statement. BTW I need a XXL

State of Alabama Quartermaster Uniforms, 1861-1864

Most Confederate uniform buffs are familiar with the prolific state issue uniforms from North Carolina during the Civil War, but there is far less awareness of the Alabama quartermaster clothing. ...

www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com

All that cording going around the cuffs and epaulettes, and the fact that to be right, some vegetable dyed satinette would be appropriate, and I know of no one making vegetable dyed satinette that fades from gray to brown right now. I'd be hesitant to take it on right now.

But I will make that jacket one day. With all the others I don't know when though.

There was once an early war photograph of my GG-Grandad in uniform, (Hilliard's Legion), and that photo was lost about the time I was born. My uncle described the uniform in the picture to me and the description matched the Gilmore jacket almost exactly.

I'll have to get back with you, because that jacket is on my to do list.

 

[captaindrew]

Tart's Sumac jean will fade like the originals vegetable dyes https://www.bnbtart.com/jeanclothcat/sumacjean.html

 

[eeric]

Edit to read : Have fun !

 

[UCVRelics]

I am wondering if he ever endorsed the robe and hood outfit?

I would let that sleeping dog lie, as the thread is about a re-enactment uniform for his re-internment

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

AMEN! To letting sleeping dogs lie.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Tart's Sumac jean will fade like the originals vegetable dyes https://www.bnbtart.com/jeanclothcat/sumacjean.html

Sumac jean would be my thought, but for the Gilmore jacket it'd only be a substitute as that's jean, and the jacket is made of satinette.

I know the Tart's may like me for Buck jackets, I'm planning on a big buy of drab jean. Oh and some other fabrics for other projects. I got a new workshop to work in, and working in it I will be for a while.

 

[captaindrew]

Sumac jean would be my thought, but for the Gilmore jacket it'd only be a substitute as that's jean, and the jacket is made of satinette.

I know the Tart's my like me for Buck jackets, I'm planning on a big buy of drab jean. Oh and some other fabrics for other projects. I got a new workshop to work in, and working in it I will be for a while.

can't go wrong with Tart Drab, I have a few things made of it

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

can't go wrong with Tart Drab, I have a few things made of it

I've never used their drab, but I've used plenty of their boar brown, (gotta get a couple more yards of that...), and natural light gray jean.

(An Archibald Smith great coat I made with its customer out of boar brown jean without its cape buttoned on.)

I wish the Tart's would make up some more of their blue-gray kersey. I can think of 3 projects with it I'd like to do for me.

 

[captaindrew]

Nice coat! I never had an overcoat made, I just wouldn't use it very often in my travels but boy there's that once in a blue moon where I sure wish I had one.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Nice coat! I never had an overcoat made, I just wouldn't use it very often in my travels but boy there's that once in a blue moon where I sure wish I had one.

There is a hilarious story to that..

As long as I've reenacted, (15 years), I've never had one, and desperately needed it many, many times. I've always admired them, and have wanted one since I was 7 years old watching "The Searchers" with my grandad, long before I even knew what the CW was. Plus couldn't afford to buy one most every time I thought of it.

I finally get an accurate pattern, and the cloth, and I end up making it for someone else! Worked out ok though, I didn't care for boar brown jean too much after seeing it in person.

Who knows? Maybe I'll make one out of drab jean for myself.

 

[captaindrew]

This is my Columbus Depot jacket I just had made for Bentonville, it's Tart Drab, I really like it but have to wait a year to use it now unfortunately.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

This is my Columbus Depot jacket I just had made for Bentonville, it's Tart Drab, I really like it but have to wait a year to use it now unfortunately. View attachment 357217

Nice. If the drab jean such a tan cast in person as it does it photos, I'm gonna make a great coat out of it.

Where the stripes come from? On my planned Buck jacket for the Forrest funeral I need Sgt. stripes. Ain't been too sure what to do about them, matching green chevrons don't seem right to me.

 

[captaindrew]

Nice. If the drab jean such a tan cast in person as it does it photos, I'm gonna make a great coat out of it.

Where the stripes come from? On my planned Buck jacket for the Forrest funeral I need Sgt. stripes. Ain't been too sure what to do about them, matching green chevrons don't seem right to me.

I put the stripes on myself, I have a couple sets. I was going to participate in the CS campaigner adjunct at Bentonville and the company I was falling in with asked me to be corporal. I fall in with three different groups and can be private one weekend to 1st sergeant the next so I'm prepared for any NCO position. Just as long as I don't have to carry a sword. It's funny about the drab, it looks different in different lights and what other fabrics it's near. sometimes it looks more tan and sometimes more grey or maybe it's just my eyes playing tricks.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

I put the stripes on myself, I have a couple sets. I was going to participate in the CS campaigner adjunct at Bentonville and the company I was falling in with asked me to be corporal. I fall in with three different groups and can be private one weekend to 1st sergeant the next so I'm prepared for any NCO position. Just as long as I don't have to carry a sword. It's funny about the drab, it looks different in different lights and what other fabrics it's near. sometimes it looks more tan and sometimes more grey or maybe it's just my eyes playing tricks.

Ain't no way it plays tricks with the eyes like blue-gray kersey. All by itself it looks blue, pair a royal blue next to it takes on a gray shade, red a close blue-gray and so on.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

As far as command, in reenacting I've always been a private, with SCV color guards a 2nd Sgt. and at one small event commanding all CS infantry as a 2nd Sgt. which I got high compliments lol.

I prefer a rifle, and don't care too much for officering, but I've seen so many bad officers either doing the same thing over and over again and have been for 20 years as officers, or some that were downright buffoonish. Coming up in reenacting under the tutelage of one of the top event organizers makes me ready to straggle some officers and do it myself so it'll get done right. But that'll never happen out in my parts.

 

[captaindrew]

The trousers I'm wearing here are drab and the jacket is light grey on natural Family Heirloom. It's a commutation I like to wear when I'm 1st sergeant, I like my outside pocket. Pay no attention to the stuff in the jar! Against that color the drab really looks tan but hanging in the the closet my Columbus and my RDII made from a darker grey on natural don't look much different. I'll lay them side by side in the sun tomorrow and take a picture for a comparison.

 

[captaindrew]

As far as command, in reenacting I've always been a private, with SCV color guards a 2nd Sgt. and at one small event commanding all CS infantry as a 2nd Sgt. which I got high compliments lol.

I prefer a rifle, and don't care too much for officering, but I've seen so many bad officers either doing the same thing over and over again and have been for 20 years as officers, or some that were downright buffoonish. Coming up in reenacting under the tutelage of one of the top event organizers makes me ready to straggle some officers and do it myself so it'll get done right. But that'll never happen out in my parts.

I think we all feel the same sometimes. I enjoy being a NCO and help mentoring the new guys, especially the young guys before the officers you just described in which I know some of those myself get a hold of them. The captain part of my name is from my day job, don't want to be one on the field.

 

[Albert Sailhorst]

I'd consider the uniform worn by Forrest's Escort at the close of the war.
That would be the last "uniform" of the troops closest to him at War's end.
It would obviously be nothing formal, BUT it would be the last "uniform" (as diverse as it would have been at the time!) that would have meant anything to Forrest or any soldier in his ranks.
Further, if you're doing all of the work and "rallying against farbiness", I would personally consider joining a different unit, instead of complaining about their farbiness and doing work that they won't appreciate. They won't, at this point, change to become less farby.....
Good luck!
Hope to see you and your work at the General's next burial.......
Just my opinion