Shell Jackets

[fsaona84]

Hi Guys,

Is there any evidence of shell jackets being used by infantry during the battle of Gettysburg? Or at any other time during ACW? Or were only used by cavalry?

Was there any difference between the ones wore by enlisted and hen o es wore by officers? Maybe something like the sleeve bottoms or the 4 bottoms in the back of the frock coat?

Thanks!

FS

 

[mofederal]

I am sure they were worn by some infantry at Gettysburg. I am sure someone on here knows the complete answer.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Oh shell jackets were worn by most if not all of the Infantry.

The Confederate shell jacket was not an officer, cavalry or artillery item, it was an item for all branches uniform. The single breasted shell jacket was born out of the necessity, that became fashionable, its single most valuable attribute was it saved cloth, which was in too short a supply to meet the Army regulation for a frock coat for everyone, and used less cloth than sack coats as well, which outside of civilian ones sent from home, were a rarity in the ranks. The vast majority of sack coats at reenactments are made on patterns that really didn't exist by the way.

Most Confederate soldiers preferred cloths made at home over government issue uniforms, but the Richmond Depot was in full swing by the time of Gettysburg, and if a soldier was from say Texas, in the Texas Brigade, a care package from home with a nice "homespun" sack coat or frock coat was a pipedream by that time, same goes with troops from a lot of other States , as there wasn't enough material to make 3 frock coats and trousers by some mother to send to her sons, so the order of the day at Gettysburg was gonna "Commutation" shell jackets (home made/made by a bunch of ladies in sewing societies for the Government),and type 2 Richmond Depot jackets for everybody at Gettysburg infantry or not.

There will always be exceptions, but as a rule you can expect the majority of everybody in single-breasted shell jacket, more than likely without branch of service trim, which was comparatively rare in the Eastern Theater.

To be honest I'm surprised at this inquiry, I'd about decided it was common knowledge. But one doesn't know until they ask.

 

[AUG]

There were still some frock coats worn by Confederate infantry at Gettysburg, particularly Georgia troops, which were still being issued a significant number of frock coats by the state quartermaster. However, as well explained by @Rusk County Avengers, the majority of troops in Lee's army were wearing shell jackets by summer of 1863.

I haven't read as much into Union uniforms, but my understanding is that most Union infantrymen were wearing sack coats or frock coats at Gettysburg, although some state jackets were worn as well, like the New York State Jacket.

 

[major bill]

Some Union soldier would have worn jackets. Numerous New York regiments would have worn shell jacket or "roundabouts" at Gettysburg. The 84th New York wore Chasseur jackets which were a bit like shell jackets but not really the same thing. Also you would see a few individual soldiers and a fair number of officers who private purchased shell jackets. There were also at least a few men who had shortened thier frock coats and retailored them into a type of short jacket.

This said, most Union infantrymen would have worn sack coats with some wearing frock coats.

 

[major bill]

These two books are helpful and both are reasonably priced. They are not the final word on the subject, but are a fairly good place to start.

 

[zburkett]

Good question fasonna84. I hope someone will post some photos.

 

[Irishtom29]

I wonder if the poor 82nd Illinois, the only Illinois infantry unit unfortunate enough to be in the AotP at Gettysburg, wore Illinois state shell jackets.

 

[Package4]

Oh shell jackets were worn by most if not all of the Infantry.

The Confederate shell jacket was not an officer, cavalry or artillery item, it was an item for all branches uniform. The single breasted shell jacket was born out of the necessity, that became fashionable, its single most valuable attribute was it saved cloth, which was in too short a supply to meet the Army regulation for a frock coat for everyone, and used less cloth than sack coats as well, which outside of civilian ones sent from home, were a rarity in the ranks. The vast majority of sack coats at reenactments are made on patterns that really didn't exist by the way.

Most Confederate soldiers preferred cloths made at home over government issue uniforms, but the Richmond Depot was in full swing by the time of Gettysburg, and if a soldier was from say Texas, in the Texas Brigade, a care package from home with a nice "homespun" sack coat or frock coat was a pipedream by that time, same goes with troops from a lot of other States , as there wasn't enough material to make 3 frock coats and trousers by some mother to send to her sons, so the order of the day at Gettysburg was gonna "Commutation" shell jackets (home made/made by a bunch of ladies in sewing societies for the Government),and type 2 Richmond Depot jackets for everybody at Gettysburg infantry or not.

There will always be exceptions, but as a rule you can expect the majority of everybody in single-breasted shell jacket, more than likely without branch of service trim, which was comparatively rare in the Eastern Theater.

To be honest I'm surprised at this inquiry, I'd about decided it was common knowledge. But one doesn't know until they ask.

I think he is referring to the Northern troops.....

 

[Package4]

Hi Guys,

Is there any evidence of shell jackets being used by infantry during the battle of Gettysburg? Or at any other time during ACW? Or were only used by cavalry?

Was there any difference between the ones wore by enlisted and hen o es wore by officers? Maybe something like the sleeve bottoms or the 4 bottoms in the back of the frock coat?

Thanks!

FS

I think you are referring to the Federal army and if so yes there were infantry units that had shell jackets. NY regiments had a type of jacket fashioned with blue infantry trim a single belt loop and trimmed epaulets. There was a famous jacket the sold at auction not too terribly long ago worn by Sgt. Henry Stone 11th MA: