Gen. D.H. Hill - Post War

[Bruce Vail]

I think you may indeed have hit on something! I have frequently repeated here on the forums something I was first made aware of in an article in Civil War Times about a Richmond photographer's prop general's coat that shows up repeatedly on all sorts of unrelated people: Texas Col. Ochiltree, Generals Sibley, Kirby Smith, Marmaduke, and others. Below is a good shot of Marmaduke wearing the coat, which is obviously too large for him. Hallmarks of it are the large, flat, and closely-spaced buttons and general's collar insignia featuring the oversized central star. As can be seen from my list, the wearers were often from the west who might've arrived in the capital lacking suitable finery in which to have their likenesses made; Ochiltree and another unidentified colonel turned down the collar so the wreath-and-stars didn't show. I can't tell about Hill's collar stars, but the buttons bear a close resemblance; possibly there was some reason he needed to wear the prop coat for the photo?
View attachment 329542

I'd say you are right. A prop coat for formal portraits would make sense. The white (or light-colored) cuffs would be awfully impractical for everyday use.

 

[Robin Lesjovitch]

I'd say you are right. A prop coat for formal portraits would make sense. The white (or light-colored) cuffs would be awfully impractical for everyday use.

I'd say Marmaduke was wearing a prop coat, but, the cuffs were not unusual. Joe Wheeler, for one, seemed to always have those yellow cavalry cuffs:

and Jeb Stuart:

 

[Ole Miss]

D. H. Hill was about as warm and fuzzy as Braxton Bragg. Neither tolerated others who did not share their vision and both were loath to believe any failure was their fault, as far as I can determine. If wrong please correct me.
Regards
David

 

[Bruce Vail]

D. H. Hill was about as warm and fuzzy as Braxton Bragg. Neither tolerated others who did not share their vision and both were loath to believe any failure was their faul, as far as I can determine. If wrong please correct me.
Regards
David

Yes, but I think it goes a little deeper than that. Both seemed unable to prevent themselves from antagonizing others, whether they intended to do so or not. It was some kind of basic personality defect. Both armies were full of strong-willed, arrogant, and self-important officers. But Hill and Bragg stood out.

 

[Bruce Vail]

I'd say Marmaduke was wearing a prop coat, but, the cuffs were not unusual. Joe Wheeler, for one, seemed to always have those yellow cavalry cuffs:
View attachment 329657 and Jeb Stuart:View attachment 329660

That photo of Stuart sort of looks like he is wearing the same prop coat...

 

[Robin Lesjovitch]

That photo of Stuart sort of looks like he is wearing the same prop coat...

yeah, maybe.....but this one is different; despite the gauntlets, the yellow cuff is still showing

 

[Robin Lesjovitch]

A little something about photography in the CW era. The emulsions used were most sensitive to blue-green. So, red-yellow would react less with the silver on the plate, and produce lighter shades. All kinds of corrections were tried, but the bottom line is that shading is always going to be questionable with photos of that era.

 

[James N.]

I'd say Marmaduke was wearing a prop coat, but, the cuffs were not unusual. Joe Wheeler, for one, seemed to always have those yellow cavalry cuffs:
View attachment 329657 and Jeb Stuart:View attachment 329660

By regulation, the facing color for Confederate generals was buff, which varied in color in actual use between a light brown or tan to almost white, but not yellow, despite their branch-of-service.

 

[Ole Miss]

Bragg and Hill were egomaniacs who were continuously dealing with treacherous subordinates. Neither man could admit any mistakes they mad as they were beset by incompetence all around
Bragg treated Colonel Randall Gibson after Shiloh in a hateful and deceitful manner in his after action report. Gibson was never able to secure official satisfaction yet he never sought personal satisfaction. Don't believe he would have the nerve to accuse Forrest of being a coward!
Regards
David

 

[Robin Lesjovitch]

By regulation, the facing color for Confederate generals was buff, which varied in color in actual use between a light brown or tan to almost white, but not yellow, despite their branch-of-service.

I quite agree. But.....CSA regulations were, well, they were on paper. My object was to suggest that a light colored cuff was not unusual.
My suspicions are that some cavalry generals still wore yellow, but that is not an issue. Lee is no example, as he intentionally did not wear the uniform of a CSA general. George Pickett does not help, either.