| Official Uniform and Equipment Regulations 32nd Mississippi Infantry, Co.E Uniforms The following information in regards to uniforms is provided as a guide for new members of the battalion. New recruits are encouraged to talk with their company commanders, company noncommissioned officers or veteran members prior to purchasing any uniforms, accouterments, or equipment. Prices for these items will vary. Your company commanders and noncommissioned officers can advise concerning individual item costs. Jackets Columbus depot types II and I. These jackets represent the most common Depot manufactured uniform coat used by the AOT. These jackets were generally manufactured for the AoT and issued regardless of state affiliation. They must be constructed using the proper natural or gray jean material with the proper medium blue wool collars and cuffs. Osnaburg was most commonly used for the lining and thus should be used for reproductions. For buttons, you may use the Confederate issue “I” (block style or script), the Federal Eagle, the wooden two hole ¾”, or a combination of the three on this jacket. Atlanta depot, this is a good mid war jacket. This jacket was made of plain gray jean material without a blue color of cuff. The jacket had six buttons and an osnaburg lining. Buttons seen on the surviving examples are of the block I variety. Department of Alabama, Jackets of this pattern are similar in construction and material to the Columbus Depot pattern. This particular version does not have the traditional blue trim on the sleeve cuff but it does have a dark blue cotton/wool jean collar. The surviving examples have 5-6 buttons and are usually found with wood, 2 hole, ¾” buttons. They are lined with cotton osnaburg. This jacket was issued after November 1864, to the surviving members of the AoT in the Department of Alabama, Mississippi and East Louisiana. If purchased you will be limited in the reenactments where this jacket would be worn. Plain “Commutation” Jacket , or any pattern jean jacket that can be documented from a reliable source. These jackets were also made of jean material. Frock coats. These knee-length jackets were issued whenever possible. They were always constructed of jean material with an osnaburg lining. The trimming varied concerning the collars and sleeve cuffs. There were many plain jean coats and a few that simply had a blue collar. Normally these jackets had seven federal eagle buttons, however, there are some surviving jackets with block or script I buttons. Note: Most were hand stitched. Hand stitched buttonholes. As a rule all visible buttonholes should be hand stitched. This is a simple process that is not only authentic but also practical for a jean jacket. Although there was quite a bit of machine stitching in the 1860’s it was very different than the machines of today. In many cases (compared to today’s machines) machine stitching looks hand sewn. Therefore it is necessary to hand stitch. Beyond that however, hand stitching reinforces the buttonhole and prevents fraying and excessive wear. Trousers Purchasing a pair of cotton/wool jean cloth trousers should be your first priority. The trousers should be the correct military or civilian pattern for the 1860s. For early war events, the use of an appropriate civilian material is accurate. Note: The use of Federal Kersey (Sky Blue) trousers are unacceptable. These trousers were either rare or non-existent in the AoT. Shirts Shirts should be of the proper pullover pattern and should be made of the correct material, preferably homespun cotton. Buttons should be calico, milk glass, antique metal or shell (Mother-of-Pearl). Plastic buttons should never be used. Under garments It is highly recommended, both for authenticity and comfort, that each man wear lightweight muslin/cotton under drawers correct for the 1860’s. These are full-length drawers that usually button down the fly. Remarkably, wearing of these drawers help greatly in keeping cool during warm days. Socks During the war, socks were often knit by family members or by lady’s societies who organized to make socks for the boys from their state or community. Most were made of wool and were plain in terms of design. Socks were always welcomed by the men. Brogans/bootees Shoes should be of the Jefferson brogan type commercially available. Boots were not common in the infantry and should be strictly avoided. The wearing of period canvas/cloth “camp” shoes is discouraged because these were mainly an item of private purchase in the Federal Army. There is written documentation of Confederate “ersatz” canvas and leather bootees but there is neither photographic evidence nor surviving examples of these types of shoes. Your impression as a Confederate soldier in the AOT is better served by purchasing a pair of straight last natural brogans or a pair of Federal issue “Jefferson” pattern brogan. Members in the rank are prohibited from wearing cowboy, Wellington or army boots. Work, combat, moccasins, and hiking boots are also prohibited. Braces (suspenders) Braces are required to hold the trousers up in place. An historically-accurate pair of braces attached to buttons on the front and rear of the trousers and were usually not sewn together. Head gear The most common hats worn by AOT soldiers were civilian slouch hats. The actual historic ration of slouch hats to kepis was closer to 50/50. For many re-enactors today, good kepis are hard to find. Correct kepis were usually made of jean material and normally did not have a blue band. As a norm, straw hats did not last more than 5 months in civilian life and that reason were they quite rare in the Confederate army. These should be avoided. Captured federal headgear should be very limited. Hat blanks, cowboy hats or hilly-billy hats should be strictly avoided. A quality hat will run $80.00 to $100.00 but it will be well worth it! They are not only correct but last for years in all kinds of weather. Cheap hats look bad and tend to have a short life span. Belts Belts should be leather or painted canvas with the proper belt plates. Oval C.S. plates similar to the U.S. plates should not be worn. Georgia frame, forked tongue, roller buckles, Rectangle CSA, plain brass buckles are all excellent choices. White buff is appropriate for early war impressions, such as Shiloh. Cartridge box The following models are recommended for the Army of Tennessee: US Model 1839 .69 caliber box, US Model 1857 . 69 caliber box, British Enfield box, Shelbyville .69 caliber box, .58 caliber Baton Rouge Belt suspension box. Strap should be leather or painted canvas. Brass breastplates or box plates should be avoided, as they were not common. Cap pouch The following are models recommended for the Army of Tennessee: US early war shield front, US 1850 model, British Enfield cap pouch, CS single back strap and Baton Rouge shield front. Rifles Three band rifles are the only rifles that will be carried within the battalion. A report in April 1863 revealed that 44% of the arms in the AOT were .69 percussion smoothbores (1842 Springfields); 37% were Enfields, and 14% were rifled Springfields. The rest varied. It was not until the Spring of 1864, that Enfields began to take prominence. At that time 55% were Enfields, 32% Austrian and 11% had smoothbores. If you are buying your first rifle, you should purchase an Enfield. Each rifleman will carry a period correct rifle. Ideally, your rifle should be removed of all modern markings. It will be inspected prior to every event by company officers or NCOs. Improperly cleaned or unserviceable rifles will not be permitted on to the field. The type of bayonet and its proper scabbard depends on the type of rifle carried. The bayonet scabbard is worn on the same belt as the cartridge and cap boxes. Make sure the bayonet fits properly on your rifle. Ideally, your rifle and accoutrements should be removed of all modern markings. Knapsacks As a general rule, a good mid-war AOT impression should have 7 of 10 men carrying Knapsacks (according to some period QM reports). Men should, as a general practice, wear these into battle, as did many veterans on campaign. Bedrolls are self-explanatory. As for knapsacks, some good choices would be an early war (Mexican war) soft pack, CS Single bag, Isaac Campbell’s import bag or a hard pack. Because packs were awkward to carry and hurt the shoulders, many men simply placed their few belongings in their blanket, rolled it up tightly, tied the rolled ends together and threw it over their shoulder. Others carried soft packs dating back to the Mexican War. A number of men carried hard-sided packs made of tarred wood and canvas with leather straps and metal buckles. The following articles are some of the personnel belongings which could have been found in the knapsack of a CS soldier: Newspaper, Bible, period night cap, tin or glass photo, wood or bone toothbrush, toothpowder {a tin of baking soda works very well and is accurate}, lye soap, folding knife, bone or wood comb, period pipe, tin or brass tobacco box, match safe, housewife, course paper, period nib pen, wood pencil (no eraser), small bottle of ink, extra socks and/or a shirt (on a typical weekend two extra pairs of socks and one extra shirt will be needed). These items should be homemade, purchased from an antique store, or carefully selected from a sutler. (*Note: the haversack was for food and utensils only.) Blankets A good quality (preferable light) 100% wool civilian blanket is the best choice. There are a few manufactures of authentic reproductions that are expensive but well worth the money. These make a good impression and look fantastic. Quilts are another option so long as they are made of natural material and are period in style. Wool coverlets or jean blankets are also appropriate. Gum or Tarred Blankets Confederate troops were issued a painted canvas (tarred) blanket which was a canvas section painted with a black paint and linseed oil mixture. The common gum-blanket during the war was the rubberized Federal issued pattern. To maintain accuracy, the Federal issued pattern only should be used about 30% of the time. Haversacks These should be made of plain white or off-white cotton canvas. Federal issue haversacks should be used in limited quantity. Straps should be worn so that the top of the haversack rests on the top of the hip at the natural waist line. Note: CS haversacks were generally closed by means of a button while US haversacks were closed used a strap and roller buckle system. Canteens There are a variety of period canteens that are appropriate. Wooden, tin drum, federal smooth side and CS stamped tin drums are all appropriate. All canteen covers on federal smooth or bulls-eye canteens should be brown/gray jean. Neither the federals nor the Confederates used sky blue as a canteen cover very often. Therefore it is best to NOT use sky blue. It is important to note the canteen was normally worn lying on top of the haversack. As with the haversack, the strap of the canteen should be adjusted so that the canteen rests at the top of the hip in line with the top of the haversack. Tinware A cup or a boiler is appropriate so long as they are made of tin. A soldier needs only one or the other. Plates & Skillet The idea of a soldier on campaign (which is what we portray when we recreate at reenactments) is to travel light and carry only those items needed. Therefore forget about the iron skillet or the idea of having both a plate and a frying pan. At a reenactment you should plan on carrying either one or the other. Canteen halves are recommended as they can be used for both cooking rations and eating your food. A canteen half is just that…half of a smooth side canteen that one can fry with or eat out off, depending on your preference. Eyewear Spectacles were rare among civilians or soldiers who had poor eyesight. So the best idea is to do without them if you can. If not, try contacts. Otherwise it is important to buy period frames (modern frame glasses are discouraged and will not be worn on to the battlefield). It is not unusual to find frames at antique stores for price range of $10 to $20. There are suppliers on our approved sutler list who sell period correct frames. Prices vary depending on the vendor. Small oval frames are period correct. A limited number of rectangular frames would be acceptable, however round frames are not. Do not use tinted lenses as these were only for individuals with STDS and even this was extremely rare. Union Specifications Coats and Jackets The sack coat or frock coat may be worn. A mixture is possible. Research shows that NCOs may have been issued frock coats as opposed to the rank and file sack coat in some units. All visible buttonholes should be hand sewn. Trousers Should be issued blue kersey wool. Any visible buttonholes should be hand sewn. Shirts Issue white cotton osnaburg, possibly gray. Button holes should be hand sewn. Bone or mother-of-pearl buttons. Vests Should be of mid 19th Century cut, either civilian or military style. Remember, most Union soldiers did not have vests, and in some regiments it was against regulations to have a civilian vest. Hats Forage caps and black slouch hats for western troops. Brogans Federal issue “Jefferson” pattern brogan. Accoutrement Of documented federal issue The Infantry Soldier 1 144. In the infantry is the main strength of the army. Cavalry and artillery are the auxiliaries. The final results of a war or campaign are achieved by this arm of the service; and the foot soldier should bear in mind the importance of his position and seek to achieve the highest perfection of his arm. No cavalry or artillery can stand against perfect infantry properly handled. 145. The sharpshooters, deployed as skirmishers and supported by the main column of infantry, out of range, will pick off the cannoneers, and silence in a short time a battery of artillery; and the best cavalry will disperse before a firm line of infantry that reserves its fire until the enemy is within short range, and shows a determination to receive them on the bayonets of their empty muskets. 146. The infantry soldier should bear in mind that, with whatever exultation the cavalry or artillery pass him in advance upon the enemy, the grand result cannot be achieved without him, and that the presence of the musket and its proximity is what enables them to precede him in the fight. 147. A well-instructed and disciplined infantryman is always prepared for duty. His hours of leisure are devoted to preparation. His clothing is prepared and cleaned, his knapsack always packed, his arms and accouterments in order, and his ammunition secure. 148. The supply of necessary articles in the field should be limited to the smallest possible amount; and industry will make up for many a deficient article. Messes unite, and each carries an article that can be used in common. 149. By repeated washings and cleanings, one suit of clothes can be made to look as well as if a change were on hand. For fatigue-duties, thin cotton overalls and blouse worm over the only suit will protect it and make it last much longer, and are much lighter than an extra suit. 150. The shoes are the most important item of clothing to the foot soldier. The army bootee is much the best. The soles should be broad, the heels low and broad. Woolen socks should be worn. The feet should be bathed frequently in cold water. Boots are universally impracticable for marching. If the ankles require support, the French gaiter can be worn: they are also very good protection from mud and dust, and protect the trousers. 151. An hour’s drill, morning and afternoon, when not marching, is a necessary exercise, no matter what may be the proficiency of the regiment or company. It keeps the body in condition for service at any moment, and is conductive to health. 152. A good soldier makes his company and regiment his home, and never absents himself without proper permission, and then returns punctually at the expiration of his pass. The habit of being absent is exceedingly pernicious; it cultivates tastes and habits that are detrimental to the soldier’s best interests, and he is almost sure to be absent when most wanted, and loses, perhaps, a favorable moment to do himself a credit. 153. He should learn to wait; a soldier’s life is made up of waiting for the critical moments. The times for distinction are few, and quickly pass; and once gone, he has a long time to wait for the next opportunity. Constant training and faithful watching are necessary, so that he may see the proper moment and be in the best possible condition to perform his duty. 154. A soldier is dependent on his officers for pay, clothing, subsistence, and medical attendance; but his health, success, and promotion depend, in the main, upon himself. Within certain limits, he must look out for himself. 155. He must learn to make the most of his pay and allowances. His rations are abundant for his subsistence, and, if not always palatable, a little ingenuity in cooking, a little management in exchanging for the products of the country, will make his rations do him; whilst spending his pay for things to eat, and disregarding his rations, is a waste of frugality that should be corrected. 156. His clothes is also sufficient; and many soldiers save sixty to one hundred dollars of their clothing allowance, which is paid to them in money at the expiration of their enlistment. A little industry in mending and cleaning his clothes will well reward his labors in the savings of the frugal soldier. To this end, he should be provided with a little wallet, containing an assortment of thread, needles, buttons, scissors, %c., and should economize and use up faithfully his allowance of soap. 157. He can readily save all his pay, and make his spending money by labor during leisure hours in many ways which are afforded him in the vicinity of a camp or garrison. The effort, however, to lay up money should not be carried to an extent that would interfere with his duties as a soldier. 1 “Customs of Service for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers” by August V. Kautz, 1864 Military Camp Authenticity Guidelines Camps should consist mainly of canvas flys and shelter halves. A-tents should be avoided. Why? Because these men were on campaign and often, as we read historical accounts, we find that they moved well ahead of the baggage trains. Thus, the men had to camp with what they had on their backs. Camp furniture should be virtually non-existent. This means no chairs, stools or tables etc. Men should use logs or their ground cloths for sitting round the fire |
