Uniform identity

[CWguy]

Hello Forum, I love to discuss the history of the Civil War. I am kinda new on here. Signed up in 2011 but never posted. I would like to have this soldiers uniform examined by the forum. I have some ideas? I collect CW era images. Since collecting them I try to compile research and keep it with the soldier for the future collector since we will not be owning these forever. It is our duty. Here is one of mine. Thanks Bill

 

[Stony]

Welcome.

 

[James N.]

Hi, Bill - welcome to the forums from a fellow collector of images!

This looks like a very nice ambrotype of a probable ( but by no means definite ) early-war Confederate officer - Northern or Western militia units often wore odd things like this as well. Did it come in a case, or was it just "loose"? I presume this is a uniform jacket or frock he's wearing, but it might also be a "battle shirt", although they tended to be pull-overs with placquet fronts. The collar and that broad "stripe" running up the chest were likely in branch color: blue for infantry ( likely what he was ), red for artillery, and yellow for cavalry. The red or maroon/burgundy waist sash was normal for most officers up to the rank of general. Although Confederate regulations called for collar insignia instead of shoulder straps, it's pretty common to see early- or pre-war Southern militia officers wearing them. The sword appears to be the usual expected Sword for Foot Officers, officially carried by lieutenants and captains, but also often by officers of higher rank as well. The pistols thrust into his belt, though, are more likely to be photographer's props - at any rate, it's unlikely they would actually have been carried in this fashion, at least not for long.

A very nice piece, indeed!

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Welcome back.

My thought is that it's a uniform from an early war volunteer unit.
Probably Confederate, IMHO.

 

[Frederick14Va]

Concurring with previous posts.... Early war volunteer, most likely confederate, but no way to confirm 100 percent. Appears to be wearing battleshirt-overshirt, which was common in that earlier period. The Shoulder straps were also commonly used by many early CS officers and a carry over from the pre-war habits. This one appears to be a Second Lieutenant. Could still find these in use well into 1862 by some units. Dark blue cap also a common feature with many early CS units. Pistols most likely photographers props. Sword appears to probably be a M1850 Foot Officers Sword type. Common usage with officers regardless of grade or branch of service. Nice image..

 

[St Albans Raid]

Hello!

 

[CWguy]

Wow! Those were quick replies with very good comments. Like others. My thoughts are he is wearing a battle shirt. Pistol props of S & W's. His shoulder boards would be common for early war on both sides. I am not sure of rank? Probably Lt. or Captain? I also believe he is Confederate. It did come with a case. There is a very sketchy name inside I think is W Poole which I tried to find but with no exact ID.

 

[major bill]

Welcome to the forum Bill. Although this image is not to clear, it does at least to me appear to be what we term a "battleshirt". A home made frock coat or jacket can not be ruled out. Battleshirts were worn by Union troops but more commonly by Confederate troops. This is likely an early war image. Without a complete name or unit it is not likely that a State can be associated with the image.


I have attempted to find a way to classify battle shirts or hunting shirts. This is an older attempt to do so and I could use some input as I am not satisfied with it.

Hunting Shirts: Early in the war many units wore various hunting shirts particularly in the southern States butt also in Northern states. The term 'battle shirt' is often used to describe the type with trim, but battle shirt is also a generic term for any shirt used as an outer garment.

These were often made by hometown societies or even by a soldier's wife or girlfriend and of course varied to the point of being difficult to categorize. Some units like the 1st Rhode Island had large numbers of identical shirts. The issue is complicated by many photographs of soldiers being photographed without their jackets on, wearing civilian type shirts around camp. These shirts could be tucked in or worn out side the trousers


Type 1 Pullover shirts. This was the most common type of the southern soldier. It was made from a civilian shirt or made like a civilian shirt. Most had small collars with sleeve seams at the shoulder as opposed to drop shoulders. The cuffs were often gathered. These were trimmed in various ways. Type 1a, the most common were with colored collars and cuffs with a piece down the front to the end of the button holes. Some had shoulder straps. There were shirts with two slit pockets with strips of cloth. Some shirts lacked the colored collars. Type 1b, which was very common, had trim around the collar and down the front. Often there were large pockets with trim around them. Trim might be on the top or top and bottom of the cuffs. Some had a piece of trim vertical across the chest.



Type 2 Button to Waist shirt. Type 2a was as type 1a above except the shirt buttoned for the full length. Type 2b was identical to Type 1b except the full length buttons.



Type 3a Plastron a.k.a, Piedmont shirt. This type had a removable front bib (plastron). The most common type had a tapered plastron thin at the top flaring out and the narrowing at the waist. Some had rectangular fronts the plastron was usually a different color. They might have trim on the lower edge of the collars. At least one example of this shirt had shawl type collars. There was often thin 'v' shaped tape on the cuffs and could have tape at the bottom of the collar. These often had tape trim down the buttons when the plastron was removed. The shirts often had drop shoulders and strait sleeves without cuff.

1. Lynchburg Rifles, 1tth Virginia Regiment Company E; A dark gray shirt with black plastron and cuffs. The shirt had black tape around the bottom of the collar.

2. Lynchburg Artillery

3. Beauregard Rifles a.k.a. The Zouaves a.ka. Lynchburg Beauregard; Gray shirt trimmed black with green plastron..

4. Southern Guards, 11th Virginia Infantry Company B; Dark gray shirt and lighter plastron.

5. Lynchburg Rifle Grays; Gray shirt with dark blue or black plastron and cuffs

6. Appomattox Ranger, Company H, 2nd Virginia Cavalry; Gray shirt with light colored plastron.


Type 4b Bib Plastron. Rectangular bib plastron. These were similar to period fireman shirts.

1. Sussex Light Dragoons Company H, 13th Virginia Cavalry. Gray shirt


Type 5 Fringed shirt. This type of shirt had fringe around the chest cap and around the bottom. Some had fringe on the sleeves.

1. 179th regiment Virginia Militia; Blue flannel cloth hunting shirt with blue fringe to include sleeve fringe..


Type 6 Fireman shirt. A shirt with a rectangular plastron. The usually shirt was red in color, but other colors are known. Period firemen wore this style of shirt.


Type 7 Guerilla shirt. A pull over shirt with a deep 'V' neck which exposed the underneath shirt. These were often rather fancy and the "V" neck trimmed, often with elaborate print or fringe. The term is also used for a pullover shirt with a scalloped front trim. These scalloped shirts are more like battle shirts.



Waumpu or wamuss the loose-fitting frock worn in Iowa

 

[CWguy]

With all that I am still lost. I do get it. He could be from any state. Most likely from the south but not ruled out. It did originated from the deep south. Maybe some day one similar to mine will surface id'd with a certain state? THanks Bill

 

[7thWisconsin]

I've never seen a shirt/jacket lke that before, but then again Confederate uniforms aren't really my specialty. That color placket on the front is interesting. If you blow the photo up, it looks like the jacket might end right at the bottom of the sash, perhaps. But it's hard to tell - the jacket might continue into the indistinct bottom of the portrait. So, I'm not convinced it's a battleshirt because the collar doesn't look like other battleshirts I've seen, but I can't definitively make it into a short coat, either. A couple other cool details, though: I think he's wearing a Federal forage cap, a pretty common Confederate practice. His belt buckle is probably the Federal officer's eagle buckle, worn on an officer belt; I think you can see the lines of stitching on the belt. He's wearing the sash worn from Lt. through Col., and 2nd LT shoulder straps, both of which have been hand-colorized (a pretty common period technique). The pistols on his belt are Smith & Wesson #2s, .32 caliber. Although they were woefully underpowered little peashooters, they were the only metallic cartridge pistols available in 1861 and were very popular (Custer owned a pair). They were sold in boxed matching sets. He has them in correct fitted holsters on his belt, not tucked into the sash or belt. I think they're his own pistols. Infantry officers, contrary to reenactor practice, often carried small caliber handguns as a side-arm. They knew they were there to tell other people to shoot and if they have to do it, something has gone dreadfully wrong. His pistols would be consistent with the rank and sash, so I think you've got an early war Confederate infantry officer there, possibly militia but necessarily.

 

[CWguy]

Another good post. Lots of good views and expertise.

 

[Missouri Rebel]

Welcome from a fellow CW image collector