Impressions Timing of New Uniforms? Woffords Brigade Longstreet's Corps

lelliott19

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When were new uniforms issued to Wofford's Brigade/Longstreets Corps? Was it before or after Gettysburg?

IIRC they had them when they went west to Chick/Chatt, but did they have them at Gettysburg?

@johan_steele @Frederick14Va @Patrick H @Cumpston1862 can yall help?

Is this one of the "new" uniforms they would have been issued? Or is this an older one?
Wm Watson Beard Co D.jpg

Thanks for any/all advice. You guys are the best!!!!
 
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New uniforms were issued to the Texas Brigade, also part of Longstreet's corps, shortly before Chickamauga. They reportedly had a bluish tinge to them, and a relative of mine at Chickamauga who witnessed the wounding of General Hood believed that he'd been hit by friendly fire by Confederate troops who mistook the new uniforms for Federals.
 
Thanks @AndyHall So it doesnt seem that William Watson Beard pictured above has on one of these "new" uniforms. His trousers look the same color as his jacket to me? And are those regular issue buttons?
 
I tagged a few who may know. And we wait......
 
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Google Alfred May, 61st North Carolina. Among his items in the North Carolina Museum of History is the uniform he was issued in the last year of the war. This will give you some idea of the blue uniforms issued to Longstreet's Corps before Chickamauga.

1996_193_19A.jpg
 

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This article by Les Jensen will give you some background information on Confederate jackets.

http://military-historians.org/company/journal/confederate/confederate-1.htm


A SURVEY OF CONFEDERATE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
QUARTERMASTER ISSUE JACKETS


by Leslie D. Jensen

confed-9.jpg
confed-10.jpg

Type II Richmond jacket of Private John Blair Royal, 1st Co., Richmond howitzers, showing where a shell hit Royal in the left arm during the Battle of Chancellorsville
 

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Beard appears to be wearing a Richmond Depot Type II jacket with wood buttons. You might find this article of interest.
Thanks @Legion Para

That was a very interesting article. After reading it, it seems that Beard's buttons are not the Gibson buttons? The article says that the Gibson buttons had four holes and the ones on Beard's jacket appear to have only two?

Wm Watson Beard  buttons.jpg


BTW - Beard enlisted June 17, 1862. The roll dated Feb. 1, 1865, last on file, shows him absent without leave since Sept. 1, 1864, so we can assume this portrait was made during that time.
 
During the 150th reenactment of Chickamauga, my group was part of an effort to recreate Kershaw's Brigade - virtually everyone had on a blue-grey kersey jacket, many had on caps of the same material and English light blue trousers. The comments from spectators and other reenactors were priceless - "what are those Yankees doing over there"? It was an awesome way to experience first hand the kind of confusion they created during the actual battle.
 
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