Uniforms Two Confederate Surgeons: Uniform Comparison Help Please

[Package4]

The image of Dr Cross is snipped from a group photo of SAM Wood and his staff. The uniform SAM Wood is wearing always made me think it was pretty early in the war? Dr Cross was relieved from duty with the brigade and assigned to hospital duty in April 1863 so it was definitely before that. The dates of some other events may help pinpoint more exactly, but in general, I don't think its too late in the war.
Oct 30 1861 Dr Cross summoned to Knoxville as brigade surgeon "bring two horses"
April 1862 Dr Cross Senior brigade surgeon at Mickey House field hospital Shiloh
Oct 1862 Martin Walt promoted to QM after Oct 1862. He is still wearing 1st Lt insignia in the group image.
<Since the image includes Martin Walt QM I think it was taken in here some time>
April 23 1863 Dr Cross Provost pass Tullahoma to Chattanooga; relieved from brigade and ordered to hospital service
View attachment 356551

So this was '62 and as a regimental surgeon, Cross would have entered service as a Major and records show he surrendered with same rank. He certainly didn't care much for the pomp and circumstance of rank since his collar is denuded of such. I don't believe the "bar" to be significant. I still think the cloth came from his plantation or there about, if you look at the press of officers trying to obtain clothing early on, many relied on what they knew. Since the coat was tailored at home, it stands that the cloth was also procured there, otherwise why not have it done where it was procured?

This would have been during the commutation period where uniforms were procured where they could and many came from home. The pattern may have come from a borrowed coat or even a civilian frock accompanied by a sketch of what a military frock should look like.

The CSA was printing uniform guidelines at the time.

Sam Wood's coat, I believe is blue and to date there are very few surviving specimens of these (Maybe 6-7 known). You can tell that he wore it quite a bit due to the center seam wear mark.

What a great photograph! There is a surgeon's/stewards working coat running around and I'll try to find pictures of it.

 

[lelliott19]

Sam Wood's coat, I believe is blue and to date there are very few surviving specimens of these (Maybe 6-7 known). You can tell that he wore it quite a bit due to the center seam wear mark.

Is this the center seam wear mark you are talking about? Is that from being folded - like in a trunk? Or what caused it to wear like that? Is it just me, or does his uniform seem to exhibit the same weave pattern? with the cotton warp and wool weft? locally made satinet or casinet?

 

[Package4]

Is this the center seam wear mark you are talking about? Is that from being folded - like in a trunk? Or what caused it to wear like that? Is it just me, or does his uniform seem to exhibit the same weave pattern? with the cotton warp and wool weft? locally made satinet or casinet?
View attachment 356586

No, I believe that this particular cut had the internal "flap" end at that seam and button internally. Basically the buttons near the saber are non functional. That is a wear mark IMHO.

 

[lelliott19]

When you wear a military belt over a coat like that, without a sash, the belt rubs on the bottom button of your frock coat. He'll eventually lose one or both. It's the button I've replaced most frequently. The doctor isn't a military fashion plate, though. He's just wearing a plain old cavalry saber, rather than an officer's sword, and certainly not a medical officer's sword or fancy militia sword. It might not even be his or he certainly doesn't intend on wearing it very often.

Thanks 7th. I bet he didnt wear his dress uniform very often so hopefully the buttons stayed attached for as long as they were needed. Once he transferred to hospital service, I'm guessing he rarely, if ever, wore his "plain old cavalry saber." When I first ran across this image at the Alabama Department of Archives and History, there was a thread about the sword and @Jobe Holiday pointed out that, when enlarged, it's possible to see that Dr Cross' sword belt is complete - with straps - and that the straps are actually attached to the scabbard. I can't imagine he would have gone to all that trouble to attach it if it was borrowed or a prop? It looks to me like all the officers in the group shot are carrying cavalry sabers.

CONTENTdm

digital.archives.alabama.gov

 

[7thWisconsin]

Yeah, I don't think it's a studio prop sword. It looks like he wore it into the studio on his belt, and he seems to be holding it comforably. It has an officer's sword knot, which is a nice detail.