NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park

P.O. Box 2I2

Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia 30742

LIVING HISTORY GUIDELINES THE CONFEDERATE INFANTRY IMPRESSION

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 some 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 eyeglasses and 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.  If more extensive or modern cooking or camping facilities are needed that would include the use of modern or inappropriate items, another area for that use out of sight of the public will be designated.  All National Park Service rules and regulations must be followed.  Black powder safety guidelines 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 then an item ranked 3 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 and honor the 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.

QUARTERMASTER STORES CLOTHING

Material: Wool weft, cotton warp jean weave material predominated as the cloth for the production of jackets, trousers, caps and vests.  Other acceptable, but less commonly used materials were wool weft, wool warp jean weave cloth, satinets, and all cotton jean weave material (rarely other then for trousers).  Grey, grey/brown, and brown were the most common color, but green‑grey was also seen.  Limited use of kerseys, mostly in grey or cadet grey color, are also acceptable, but mostly for officers' uniforms and  Richmond‑type jackets.  Osnaburg and muslin in white were typical linings.  These same materials were used for shirts and drawers.  Woven strips 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 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. All button holes were hand stitched.  Living History clothing should show hand sewn button holes and ideally be hand stitched where visible.

Jackets:

1 a. Columbus Depot (sometimes called Georgia) pattern shell jacket. b  Department of Alabama pattern shell jacket 2 a. Alabama pattern shell jacket  (no trim, outer slash pocket)  b. enlisted man's frock coat 3 a. Alabama commutation‑style jacket  b. Richmond Depot pattern shell jacket Type II (in use with troops who came with Longstreet from Virginia and for some use with troops of Deshler's Brigade) NOT APPROPRIATE FOR 135th WEEKEND.   c. North Carolina pattern shell jacket

Sack coats ‑ No mid‑war period Western Theater sack coats are documented.  Hence, at this time, their use is discouraged.

Buttons ‑ wooden, block I, and some Union coat buttons. State button use should be limited. 

Trousers:

1. military issue style

2. civilian style

Suspenders of civilian pattern, cotton webbing, canvas, or ticking with either button holes or leather tips with tin or brass buckles (no nickel plated metal).

Shirts:

Documented civilian or military pattern in wool or cotton, flannel, woven checks or strips, prints (very limited), or muslin.

 

Drawers:

Military issue or civilian style in cotton or wool flannel if worn

 

Headgear:

l a. wide brimmed, generally dark wool felt slouch hat  b. cap, jean weave material; infantry trim acceptable

2. Hardee hat with little or no trim

3. straw/plant fiber, period style

4. Mexican War period military hat

Hats should have as appropriate the proper sweatband, lining, ribbon, and stitching.   Trim and insignia should be limited. Confederate style forage caps are discouraged and Union forage caps are not allowed.

Footwear:

1 a. Jefferson brogan pattern shoes. b. English imported shoes c. other military pattern shoes

2. military or civilian pattern boots

Wool or cotton knit socks in white, a basic color, or natural color; hand knit are best.

Blankets:

1 a. Civilian style, 100% wool, woven blankets in natural or earth tone colors b. Confederate issue/North Carolina Blanket

2. Union issue blanket

3. blanket made from period pattern wool carpeting Use of quilts or coverlets should be limited.

 

Gum blankets/ground cloth:

Oil cloth, painted canvas, or captured Federal issue gum blanket

 

Camp Equipage:

 

Each soldier should carry a period tin cup, knife, fork, spoon, and tin plate.  More extensive cooking items such as period individual frying pans (even improvised ones from old canteens) are not necessary and should be very limited  Cooking during the Campaign for Chattanooga was done in messes  (four or five to fifteen men) sharing the cooking duties and using large cooking utensils such as kettles, camp kettles, frying pans, coffee pots, dutch ovens, large spoons and forks, butcher knives, mess pans, wooden water buckets, axes, etc.  These large items were carried in the regimental baggage wagons which accompanied the troops except in the presence of the enemy.  They were often packed in wooden boxes serving as mess chests.  When the soldiers were issued rations (normally in three to five day increments), the baggage wagons with the cooking utensils were present except on rare occasions. In some units, the soldiers assigned to the wagon trains did the cooking and the rations were delivered cooked to the troops in the ranks.  This practice became standardized during the Atlanta Campaign. Tables, chairs, and stools were not provided for soldiers or even company officers and no transportation allowance was allotted to them.   They should not be present in Living History camps.

 

Ammunition packing boxes were accountable property and hence, would not be around camp in the hands of enlisted men.  A company desk for the company books, order books, and other papers will be allowed.

 

Tentage:

The Army of Tennessee had little tentage during the Campaign for Chattanooga.  Due to a lack of transportation, most of it had been left in Middle Tennessee around Tullahoma at the end of June, 1863. A large fly or two for the enlisted men (at the rate of six flies to every 100 men) or a common (A) tent for company officers would be a possibility if the baggage wagons were available.  Sleeping under the stars was most common; blankets, gum blankets, and brush shelters were also used.  Straw or hay was rarely available for bedding.  The use of Federal issue shelter tents is inappropriate (see use of Federal items below).  If tentage is needed, a fly will be provided for the Living History camp.  If other tents are required for personal comfort, their use will only be allowed in a non‑public area.

 

Flags:

By the time of the Campaign for Chattanooga in 1863, flags were strictly carried on the battalion and regimental level.  They should not be used unless more then three companies are united as a battalion and then that flag should be one of the typical Army of Tennessee patterns, I. e., Hardee or Polk pattern.  However, if as an adjunct to the Living History program, it is desired to do a specific program on the different patterns of flags seen in this campaign, that will be considered.

 

ORDNANCE AND ORDNANCE STORES

 

Weapons:

1. Enfield Rifle, M1853, 3‑band

2. Springfield pattern rifle, M186.1 b  Springfield pattern rifle, M1855

3 a. Springfield pattern musket,  smoothbore, M1842, M1822 converted to percussion.  b. Mississippi Rifle     c. Enfield Rifle, 2‑band (use by sergeants common) d. Austrian Rifle

4 a. Richmond pattern rifles  b. other Confederate manufactured infantry weapons

 

Side arms are only allowable for officers and approved cavalry impressions.

 

Appropriate bayonet for weapon carried.  However, not every soldier must have a bayonet; as few as one fourth or one third of the men need have them.

 

 

Accouterments:

Cartridge box and cartridge box belt

1. M1855/61 box and tins

2. Documented Confederate manufactured pattern box of

  leather or painted canvas and tins

3. Enfield box and tins

4. Box for .69 caliber weapons and tins

Cap box

1 a. M1845/50 pattern

   b. Documented Confederate manufactured pattern of leather or painted canvas

2. Enfield style

 

Waist belt and waist belt plate

Rectangular CSA, clipped corner CS, and frame buckles were most common.  Snake buckles, roller buckles, and even oval CS are also acceptable.  Some state, militia, and civilian buckles can also be used in limited numbers. All waist belt  plates  are  to have  proper  period construction.  Use of an upside down US should be very limited.  Waist belt should be black, russet or buff leather or painted canvas and appropriate to the buckle.

 

Bayonet Scabbard

Appropriate for the weapon and bayonet being carried.

 

Knapsacks:

1 a. Mexican War pattern  b. British pattern‑‑Issac & Campbell/A. Ross

2 a. double bag pattern  b. Federal double bag pattern

3. other common period pattern

Two‑thirds or more of the men should carry knapsacks.

 

Canteens:

1 a. tin drum  b. wooden drum (Gardner pattern), usually of cedar

2. Federal pattern‑‑smooth side more common then bulls eye

3. other common period pattern

 

Straps should be cotton, cotton webbing, or leather sewn together or with a buckle or button.  As few as two‑thirds or one‑half of the men need to carry canteens

Haversacks:

1. white cotton duck unpainted

2. black painted

3. cotton jean weave unpainted

4. Federal pattern

As few as two‑thirds or one‑half of the men need to carry haversacks.

 

Use of Federal items:

Since most of the Army of Tennessee's soldiers had little contact with the enemy for about nine months, only durable items would be appropriate.  Only Federal‑style canteens, blankets, knapsacks, haversacks, Hardee hats, gum blankets, accouterments and weapons should be used. Federal sky‑blue enlisted man's foot trousers would have been extremely rare if seen at all.   Jefferson brogan pattern shoes would be acceptable.

 

 

Eyewear and Glasses:

Spectacles (what we call glasses today) were not a common item amongst Civil War soldiers or even civilians of that era.  Hence, try to get by without glasses if you can while doing Living History or wear contact lenses.  If you must wear glasses, visit antique stores and purchase a 19th century pair and have the lenses replaced with one of your prescription, preferably with safety lenses.  No modern glasses may be worn at anytime as part of a Living History program.

 

Noncommissioned officers:

Noncommissioned officers were important to the functioning of the line of battle in combat.  The ratio of sergeants to privates was about one to seven or eight and the ratio for corporals was about one to nine.  Living History companies should manifest about the same ratio.  Noncommissioned officers should be equipped the same as privates.  Chevrons are not necessary and their use should be limited.  The stripes should be hand sewn directly to the jacket with no backing.  Noncommissioned officers should know the drill and duties expected of them.

 

Civilian attire:

Individual items of civilian attire are acceptable as identified above.  The presence, though, of a recent recruit in the ranks entirely  in  civilian attire  would be  occasionally  possible. Usually in small numbers, Confederate units saw recruits sent to their  ranks  by  the  efforts  of conscript  officers,  provost marshals, and pure volunteerism.  Most new men were uniformed in about a month after joining the unit, but in a period of active campaigning,  some time could pass before the usual military clothing could be issued.  A Living History unit should have no more then two men in largely civilian attire.  By the summer of 1863, the Quartermasters Department was meeting the basic clothing needs of almost all of the Army of Tennessee's

soldiers.  Hence, use of civilian coats or jackets and pants would have been limited. A Living History unit should reflect this.

 

Personal effects:

Not every soldier has to have every possible personal effect. However, having at least a few of these little items helps complete and enrich the impression.  In choosing personal effects, remember that you will have to carry them. 

combs

toothbrush

pocketknife

housewife

handkerchief (bandannas/railroad scarves are not acceptable; they should particularly  not be worn as attire or adornment)

vests, civilian or military pattern wallet

writing paper pen and ink

pencil

mirror

playing cards

various game pieces books or newspapers

 

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