Jonesboro (Jonesborough) Depot Tennessee uniforms

[Michael Dec]

The unit we portray, McClung’s Tennessee Battery, was issued 70 coats, 70 pants, 60 caps (not hats), 60 prs shoes, 120 shirts, 120 drawers, 120 prs socks from Joneboro Tenn on July 12th, 1863. Does anyone know what type of coats and pants were being issued from Jonesboro at that time? Would they have been Columbus Depot pattern, Wytheville Depot pattern, any thoughts?

Thanks,
Michael Dec
McClung's Tenn Battery

[tenfed1861]

I have not heard of the Jonesbory Depot.All I can guess is that they are some type of commutation uniform.Commutation clothing was usually made by the individual.A number had epaulettes while many others didn't have them.As far as the trousers,they more then likely followed what is thought of as the Richmond pattern,which was in fact a copy of civie trousers.
Hope this helps some.

[FloridaConfederate]

FWIW...I dont have an exact issue answer.

However, any Reb in Tn in 1863 would not be inaacurate in a CD. Goes for Cav, Inf, Arty, Officer, matters not.

[Michael Dec]

I thought the commutation system was dead by 1863. That's why I was leaning towards the Columbus Depot jacket, but I wanted to see if anyone knew of uniforms coming out of Jonesboro. What's interesting to note is that they were issued 70 coats and pants, which was about the size of the battery at that point. It looks like the battery would appear somewhat uniform in appearance if they all received uniforms at the same time. As far as the Columbus Depot jacket, I wonder what they thought being issued jackets with blue collars and cuffs. All of the requisitions that I have for the battery state that they were issued caps, not hats. In fact, on a few of them, the word hat is crossed out and cap was written. It must have been some sight in 1863 to see this battery in matching uniforms and kepis(caps).

Michael Dec
McClung's Tennessee Battery

[Garrison Beall]

North Carolina’s cutting houses provided uniform components to sewing contractors in many locations. There's H.B. Eilers and J. Wessell, the Episcopal home mission at St James Church and at Thalian Hall, all in Wilmington and St Stevens Church, H. Weil & Bros and the Goldsboro Female Academy in Goldsboro and the Baptist Home Missions in Mt Olive, Magnolia and Kenansville just to name a few. It appears that the finished product was delivered to specific collection centers and rail stops and then forwarded to Raleigh, Charlotte and Goldsboro for distribution or issue. I have seen a half dozen examples in the Wilmington Messenger and other primary citations of Goldsboro being referred to as the GOLDSBORO DEPOT but the facility there was just a shipping & receiving center (and a well fortified one at that) with no formal development, manufacturing or cutting activity of any kind.

__________________________________________

From:

Wilmington Daily Journal. 1861-1864 New Hanover County Library. Wilmington NC

Alfred and Susan Jane (DeBose) Gurganious Letters, September 1861 – July 1862.” Vol. XVI, No. 3, May 1973. Special Collections Department, William Madison Randall Library, UNC-W. Wilmington NC

Wilmington tax and war tax lists and business ledgers 1861 to 1865. Specifically noted in the inventory, under various subject headings, are rosters, supply and muster rolls. Special Collections Department, William Madison Randall Library, UNC-W. Wilmington NC

St. James Episcopal Church, Wilmington. NC Selected documents from 1739 to present.

H.B. Eilers and J. Wessell ledgers, Private collection Wrightsville Beach, NC

Wayne Co Public Library, Goldsboro NC

Parker & Casey Family papers, 1802-1960 Private collection, Goldsboro and Mt Olive NC

NCDoA&H

[Garrison Beall]

... examples in the Wilmington Messenger ...



That should be the 'Wilmington Daily Journal'...I was thinking in one century and typing in another.

[brown30741]

Tennessee's Gov Harris was scouring the South for uniforms and equipment for his boys throughout the summer and fall of 1863, with his capitol building on the road. Much of his journey including pursuing leads in Georgia even as the war approached and engulfed SE Tennessee and Chattanooga. There are some who believe they have connections to traditional "commutation" type items of jackets and frocks. Others have mentioned the inclusion of Georgia state produced items. Any evidence that could be shared would be great.
Your intial post stating these items and the date are and important verifying document to this work. Of course, as it did when some of us started this conversation in 1994, we still have more questions than answers.