What a difference a decade and a half makes!

[Poor Private]

A book about Morgan and his raiders titled "the Bold Cavaliers" by Dee Alexander Brown. Page 75. he state that on the 4th of July 1862 the 2nd Kentucky marched out of Knoxville Ten. some in new regulation gray, others in butternut jeans. armed with Enfields, and a variety of pistols and shotguns, and sabers.
Page 98 they learned that a trooper consisted of one man, one hat, one jacket one pair of boots (preferably captured Federal jackboots).
Page 140 describes how the scouts received thier promised overcoats....Morgan ordered the 104th Il. to attention and to come out of thier overcoats. The overcoats were dyed black and wore by our men afterwards reported Private Peddicord.
Page 162- In one of Rosecrans many writings back and forth to Morgan added a reptitive complaint that Morgans troops did not always wear recognizable Confederate uniforms. (continued on Page 163) Bragg responded by saying that "we aim to clothe them as uniformly as the exigencies of our situation will admit, Whenever you will afford us the facilities to obtain the requisite material, we shalll be happy to make the desired change. In the meantime we will use the best that can be procured." Apperently Bragg considered the best to be procured were Union overcoats and the best means of providing them wer from the captured wearers.
Page 167: during the cold winter of 1863 lack of supplies particularly boots and clothing and all other supplies. the clothing obtained by the regimental quartermaster was usually made of coarse, yellowish brown homespun which wore out quickly. Paper was in such short supply that morning reports were on wooden shingles.
I could go on and on of the reported use of federal equipage, and lack of confederate supply. But you get the jist of it, most of the federal equipment seems to come from captured stores not dead or wounded. Not just at the end of the war but throughout the war. The use of federal captured equipment, and lack of confederate, seems to be the norm in most of the books and histories I have read about the 2nd Kentucky, who ended the as bodyguards/escorts of Pres. J. Davis on his run from the capital in 1865

[LibertyHallVols]

Sam,

Welcome (back) to the hobby! Yep its an obsession!

Rather than getting too deep on-line into answering your questions, I would recommend you find a group who's company you enjoy and who's level of authenticity jives with your (as Curt woud say) "mental image" and fall in with them. Let them shepherd you the critical "what is ok and what ain't" questions.

Personally, given your location, I would point you toward the "Old Northwest Volunteers" (aka "ONV"). You can find them on-line at www.oldnorthwestvols.org
They are a good group of authentic guys in your area that host and attend a number of quality events each year. Egos are pretty well in-check and I've had a lot of fun with them this year.

Best of luck to you!