I want everyone to concentrate on civilian clothing for the next two years 20008-2010, this will get us through the first "musters" and it will allow for a suit of clothing that you could wear indefinitely. It will also allow for versatility to attend other "citizen" events. Some of the Citizen gear can be used during the war, here is the order of purchase:

Shoes: Civilian low types or brogans.

Shirt: Unless you can make it yourself, there is no accurate $20 shirt, plan to spend at least $65 dollars. You will only need one to begin with. better shirts with hand sewing can run from $75 to $150.

Pants: black civilian type.

Undergarments/Vest: Many varities, you get what you pay for.

Hat: Civilian hat, wheel hats are acceptable, stay away from the hil billy and 1870's western type, pick the hat suitable to your impression and station in society.

Jackets: Sack coats are acceptable, don't overspend on frocks or other "fancy duds" . If your a farmer or laborer dress like one.

A good civilian suit complete could run around $600-$700, but we will use it for two years and you can recycle the parts into your military kit. So it's highly useful, unlike some year specific or "one shot" deals like commutation jackets and Richmond Depot 1. Also stay away from officer and SC militia gear unless we get information otherwise.

As to the military equipment, we will try to offset any expenses through mass buying and self finishing of products. It as looks as if we will have to purchase the SC state frock coat, but I will do everything to reduce the costs. Then we will have one more pair of military pants, a kepi and a mid to late war jacket. At this point in our research those choices will be the RD2 & 3, Charleston Depot and Peter Tait import issue. Those choices will come around 2012 and 2013 so we have time.

Greg Deese

I want to propose that we purchase our first uniforms from the same vendor.

The civilian clothing can be bought from any reputable vendor; with the first uniform coat (frock) I recommend Dan Wambaugh as the official supplier.

We can get the Confederate Frock for $275 without the buttonholes and top stitching, that's $50 off. I would recommend SC state buttons for this coat only as a "commemorative" gesture. The buttons could be later removed for any other events. Buying from the same vendor has some advantages:

1. Consistency in appearance, plus our coats will fade together, we will look similar.

2. Cost savings and building a good rapport with an excellent vendor.

3. Dan will offer kits and discounts on other goods.

4. Excellent investment with a reputable vendor. If you decide later to sell the coat, I guarantee a 75 percent return of your money.

I would also like to recommend the Otter Tin Confederate canteen that Dan sells and the Confederate haversack.

Other recommends:

Nick Duvall, Neil Rose, Brad Malone or Tim Welch for leather gear.

Orchard Hill: General items.

Ben Tart for Richmond Depot jackets and perhaps Charleston Depot Jackets. Don't buy the CD yet, we will agree on a specific type later.
I would recommend Ben's trousers, at only 90 dollars. His dyed socks are also a good buy.

For the Kepi, first issue, I am communicating with "Dirty Billy", in my opinion he makes the best. He also owns many original kepis and a SC officers Kepi. His goods retain a high resale value and are well made.

You can get your shirt, underwear and vests from any good source.

2008-2010: Acquire civilian gear, Canteen haversack black trousers and the Frock:
2011: Kepi and Frock Issue, Enfield Rifle and leathers, knapsack.
2012: Frock continues,` may convert to slouch for campaign.
2013: First jacket issue, RD2 Charleston Depot, Mississippi?? NC?? also Military trousers
2014-15: RD2, RD 3, Charleston 5 button, Tait jacket.

"2008-2010: Acquire civilian gear, Canteen haversack black trousers and the Frock:
2011: Kepi and Frock Issue, Enfield Rifle and leathers, knapsack.
2012: Frock continues,` may convert to slouch for campaign.
2013: First jacket issue, RD2 Charleston Depot, Mississippi?? NC?? also Military trousers
2014-15: RD2, RD 3, Charleston 5 button, Tait jacket."

Well, looking at the QM records, it seems that the Brigade was refitted a few times over the years:

1862:
First issues of uniforms and gear in the 1st Quarter.
Federal gear captured at 2nd Manassas?
Mini refit during Oct.-Nov. '62 with "coats"

1863:
First mentions of "Jackets"
Gear issued at Jackson, including Jackets and a large number of "Hats"
A major refit starting in Aug, and lasting most of the fall while in Charleston: almost everything seems to have been new issue.

1864:
Ordnance refit in early '64
Clothing seems to have been issued "as needed" in the field.
More Captured federal items from the Crater?

Will MacDonald

Brian,

Yeah, the issues at Jackson are much bigger than I expected as well. When the Federals burned the city in May, I wonder how much stuff the C.S. was able to get away, there were two ways out of the city by Rail Road, north towards Canton and Grenada, and east, towards Meridian.

Personally, I think the so-called "Columbus Depot" jacket would be a good choice for a Jackson issued jacket. Over the past couple of years, I have come to think that some of the existing CD jackets were actually made somewhere in Mississippi, and not just in Columbus Ga. I don't have any hard proof, but the C.S. QM was producing uniforms at three different sites in the state (Jackson, Columbus, and Brookhaven) at a rate of more than 4000 jackets a month. Because there are many, many references to jackets that sound like CD's from Oct. '62 onward in MS, and several surviving Vicksburg campaign id CD's. My gut tells me that some of these were produced in state.

Will MacDonald

The most interesting things about the Jackson issues are the "Hats" instead of the usual "caps" that the brigade got everywhere else. Many more men got hats than Jackets during their time in MS, so they would play a big role in any impression during that time frame. Now, we just have to find out what they looked like......