Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park Living History Guidelines Confederate Infantry
Living History is one form of interpretation used by Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park to fulfill its mission-“of preserving and suitably marking for historical and professional military study the fields of some of the most remarkable maneuvers and most brilliant fighting in the war of the rebellion”. Therefore, the Living History impressions presented at this National Military Park must be ones appropriate to helping visitors understand the Campaign for Chattanooga. In general, a Confederate infantry impression will represent a private soldier of the Army of Tennessee in the last half of 1863. Impressions of other soldiers associated with the Army of Tennessee during that time can also be considered. Unless there is a specific interpretative purpose preplanned, impressions from earlier or later in the war, from other theater of the war, or some sort of generic Confederate soldier impression are not appropriate. These guidelines are minimum standards; nothing less is acceptable. The use of any modern or inappropriate material (including cigarettes, modern glasses, watches, modern food containers, plastic, soda cans, sleeping bags, coolers, etc.) by Living History personnel in view of the visitors will not be acceptable at any time (including after hours’. Impressions are subject to inspection by National Park Service representatives at all times. All National Park Service rules and regulations must be followed. Black powder safety rules are addressed separately. These guidelines are organized in such a way as to suggest the most appropriate types of equipment and material for Living History use. An item ranked 1 would be expected to be more common and hence be better than an item ranked 5 as long as material and construction are also acceptable. Sources listed in the bibliography will further assist you in making judgments regarding the appropriateness of an item. As Living Historians, we must always be striving to improve our impression so as to better educate our visitors an honor that soldiers and civilians we strive to portray. These guidelines are based on continuing extensive research and documentation. Some of the sources consulted are reflected in the bibliography. Future versions will reflect further refinements. January 14, 2005 J. Ogden, Historian L.White, Park Guide
Quartermaster Stores Clothing
Material. Wool weft, cotton warp jean and wool / cotton cassimere material predominated as the cloth for the production of jackets, trousers, caps and vest. Cotton weft, cotton warp jean saw usage for trousers. Other acceptable, but less commonly used materials were wool weft, wool warp jean weave cloth, satinets, and cassinets. Light grey, grey, grey brown, and brown were the most common colors seen for jackets and trousers, although there are a number of accounts referring to blue jean trousers being worn. Limited use of kerseys, mostly in grey or cadet grey color, are also acceptable, but mostly for officer’s uniforms and Richmond Depot jackets. Osnaburg and muslin in white were typical linings. These materials were also used for shirts and drawers. Woven stripes and checks, some prints, and colors were used for shirts. Wool and cotton flannels were also used for shirts and drawers. Construction. Hand sewing was the most common. Machine sewing is occasionally seen in lighter garments such as shirts and drawers. However, since sewing machines had been purchased widely even in the South, some uniforms were entirely or largely machine sewn with the exception of buttonholes. All buttonholes were hand sewn. Living History clothing should show hand-sewn buttonholes and ideally be hand sewn where visible with appropriate stitching where visible. Jackets. 1. a. b. 2. a. b. 3. a. 4. a. b.
c. d. e. 5. 6.
Columbus Depot Jacket (sometimes called Georgian or Western) pattern shell jacket of either the Type I or Type II pattern. Documented plain grey depot jackets (Zehring, Atlanta, or Vicksburg patterns). Mystery or Mobile jacket. Plain Frock Coat. Department of Alabama pattern shell jacket. Commutation style jacket Richmond Depot pattern shell jacket Type II or Type III (in use with troops who came with Longstreet from Virginia, some troops in Deshler’s Brigade, and troops from the Department of Georgia, South Carolina and Florida under Gist and Wilson. Charleston Depot pattern jacket (in use with Gist’s and Wilson’s Brigades). North Carolina Depot pattern jacket (should only be used for portrayal of North Carolina troops. Georgia State issue jacket (Frocks or Jackets, should only be used for portrayal of Georgia troops). Civilian Coats or Jackets (should see very limited use among the infantry). Overshirts should be made of plain woolen material and see limited use.
Buttons. Wooden, solid cast block I, stamped brass block I, civilian, and US general service buttons. State buttons should see limited use. Trousers. 1. CS military issue style made of grey, brown, or blue materials 2. Civilian style. No US issue sky blue trousers are allowed. Suspenders / braces. Should be of civilian pattern, cotton webbing, canvas, ticking, or sewn cloth with either buttonholes or leather tips with tin or brass buckles (no nickel plated metal). Shirts. Documented civilian or military pattern in wool or cotton, flannel, woven stripes or checks, prints (very limited), or osnaburg. Drawers. Military issue or civilian style in cotton or wool flannel if worn.
Headgear. 1. a. Wide brimmed, grey felt slouch hat b. Cap, jean or cassinet material, plain. 2. a. Wide brimmed, black or brown felt slouch hat, with proper sweatband and lining (if applicable), should have ribbon and have a definite shape, not a hat blank. b. Cap, jean, cassinet, or satinet, infantry trim. 3. a. Hardee hat with no trim. b. Straw / plant fiber hat made in a period manner and of a period pattern (no Amish styles). c. Quilted jean cloth hat. d. Mechanics cap or Civilian Wheel hat. 4. a. Mexican War wheel hat. Hats should have as appropriate the proper sweatband, lining, ribbon and stitching. Trim and insignia should be very limited. Union forage caps are not allowed. Footwear. 1. a. Confederate pattern leather shoes. b. English imported leather shoes. c. Civilian shoes. 2. Confederate pattern cloth shoes. 3. Military or civilian pattern boots. Socks made of wool or cotton, knitted by hand or machine. Should be white, a natural color, or a basic color. Vests. 1. Civilian pattern.
2. Military pattern. Vests are optional, if worn they should reflect proper construction techniques and materials. Blankets. 1. a. Civilian style; 100% wool, woven blankets in natural or earth tones. b. Confederate issue blankets c. Ingrain Carpet cut to blanket size. d. Civilian coverlets. 2. English Import blanket 3. Union issue grey or brown blanket. 4. Patchwork quilts, should be very limited. Gum Blanket / Ground Cloth. 1. a. Civilian style made of oil cloth b. Painted oil cloth. c. CS manufactured gum blanket. 2. US issue gum blanket. 3. US issue poncho.
Ordinance Stores Accoutrements
Cartridge Box. 1. a. Unmarked CS manufactured of leather and painted cloth. b. Atlanta Arsenal 2. a. Other Deep South arsenals. b. Plain US Cartridge Boxes. 3. Painted cloth cartridge boxes. Type I style is preferred. 4. British imported cartridge boxes. Cap Pouch. 1. a. Unmarked CS manufactured leather or leather and painted cloth. b. Atlanta Arsenal 2. a. Other Deep South arsenals. b. US manufactured 3. Painted cloth cap pouch, Type I style is preferred. 4. British imported cap pouch, either contract variant or regulation. Cartridge Box Strap. 1. a. CS leather strap b. CS webbing strap c. Painted cloth strap 2. No strap Belt. 1. a. CS roller buckle leather belts b. Painted cloth belts c. CS leather belts with plates 2. Painted cloth and leather belts. 3. British snake buckle belts. 4. US issue belt. Bayonet Scabbard. 1. a. CS leather scabbard with lead or wooden tips. b. Painted cloth and leather scabbards. c. CS leather scabbards with tin tips. 2. Painted cloth scabbard. 3. British scabbard. 4. US issue two-rivet scabbard. 5. US issue prewar sewn scabbard.
Haversacks. 1. a. CS made drill or osnaburg single button closure haversacks. b. CS made painted sloth single button closure haversacks. 2. CS made multi-button haversacks 3. US made haversacks 4. Homemade haversacks. 5. British import haversacks. Canteens. 1. a. Cedar Gardner style canteens b. Plain tin drum canteens. 2. a. Convex tin drum canteens. b. Other CS wooden canteens 3. US issue smooth side canteens. 4. British Import canteens. Knapsacks. 1. CS manufactured soft single bag knapsacks. 2. Other styles of CS knapsacks excluding hard frames. 3. British imported knapsacks. 4. US double bag knapsacks. 5. Bedrolls. 6. Other imported knapsacks. Note: Hard frame knapsacks were no longer in use by the later part of 1863.
Weapons Firearms
1. a. b. 2. a. b. c. d. 3. a. b. c. d. e. 4. a. b. c. Model 1842 Musket Model 1816 Converted Musket Enfield Rifled Musket Model 1861 Springfield Rifled Musket Model 1855 Springfield Rifled Musket Austrian Lorenz Rifle Model 1841 Rifle Richmond Rifled Musket Richmond Rifle Belgian Musket Model 1842 Rifled Musket Fayetteville Rifle Cook and Brother Rifle Other Confederate manufactured rifles or muskets