Optional Uniforms and Equipment
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Shoes – C.S. issue shoes, English imported shoes, or civilian pattern boots

Suspenders – Civilian. Neither army ever issued suspenders. They should be cotton webbing, canvas, or ticking. No elastic. They should have button holes or leather tips with tin or brass buckles—no nickel-plated metal. Note: A good rule to follow is that if your pants fit without them, you do not need them. Also your first visit to the Port-a-John will encourage you to do away with them if not necessary.

Shirt – civilian cotton in woven checked or striped pattern (see Required Items).

Haversack – C.S. issue white cotton duck, unpainted haversack, or: C.S. issue tarred or painted canvas haversack, or: civilian made cloth haversack

Canteen – C.S. issue Gardner pattern wooden (cedar) canteen, or: C.S. issue smooth-side, unmarked drum canteen

Cartridge Box – C.S. issue cartridge box (black or russet color) from various western depots, cartridge box plates were not common in the Western Theater.

Cap Pouch – C.S. issue cap pouch (black or russet color) from various western depots 

Sling – C.S. issue canvas sling, or: Enfield sling (on P1853 Enfield), or: no sling

Knapsack – the Confederate Ordinance  Department stopped issuing knapsacks after 1862

The following are listed in the order of the most commonly used: 

U.S. Model 1855 double bag soft knapsack

Mexican War pattern knapsack

Single bag civilian knapsack

English made knapsack

No knapsack

Vest – civilian, sent from home in either military (high collar) or civilian (V-collar) pattern

Overcoat/Greatcoat – U.S. Model 1855 infantry pattern—single breasted coat with shoulder length cape, or: State of Alabama issued greatcoat patterned after U.S. M1855 in various shades of grey or oatmeal, or: no greatcoat (most common). Note: Federal greatcoats were highly prized, in winter, but were usually discarded soon thereafter because of their weight. 

Personal items – Using “period” items will greatly enhance your impression as well as your personal re-enacting experience. Such items include, but are not limited to a pocket Testament, bristle toothbrush, pocket knife (single-bladed jackknife), wooden comb, “housewife” (sewing kit), wallet, pencil (knife sharpened, round plain surface), mirror, period playing cards, books, etc. Many of these items are readily available from most sutlers. 

Tentage

U.S. issue shelter tent – commonly refereed to as a “dog tent” by veterans, who said it was only big enough to accommodate a dog; the most common Civil war tent. The Confederate army never issued shelter halves, but thousands were captured and used by Southern soldiers. The tent was formed by putting together two shelter halves, each half carried by one man. Although somewhat standardized as 5’6” long and 5’5” wide, due to variable shrinkage, material quality, etc., the actual sizes varied. Many veterans, acclimated to the outdoors, often took their chances with the weather rather that carry the extra weight.

C.S. issue tent fly – In the summer of 1863, Gen. Braxton Bragg ordered six tent flies to be provided for every 100 men in the Army of Tennessee. These flies were carried with the regimental baggage, and, by then, one baggage regiment was assigned to each regiment. The wagons often fell far behind and the men did without.

U.S. issue “common tent” (period) called “A-frames” or “wedge tents” (modern) – the dimensions were 6’10” long x 8’4” wide x 6’10” high. They were used throughout the War but took up a lot of space in the wagons. After the first year of the War, the Union army began to replace them with shelter tents. Thereafter, common tents were used more often in static camps. 

The Confederate army issued wall tents and common tents on occasion, but the number was extremely small after the first year of the War. The space in supply wagons was better taken by food, ammunition, medicine, etc.

Note 1: Tentage has been, shall we say, somewhat controversial in re-enacting. Because we re-enact in the warmer months when the armies would be campaigning, tents would be rare. In setting up tentage and static camps we would have to educate the public that this was done mostly in winter. We have decided that the event type will determine the level of tentage. For “campaign events” tentage will be minimal or non-existent. “Campaign-impression” events allow tentage and/or flies but encourage minimal use. Only for “garrison” events is the use of large numbers of tents not discouraged. In Civil War re-enacting, “less is better” for a more accurate impression. 

Note 2: Tent ropes should be hemp or manila. Coated ropes and synthetic ropes should not be in evidence. Tent pegs should, ideally, be wooden but given the hardness of the ground at many locations, metal pegs that can be driven deep enough to be essentially invisible, are acceptable. While tent poles most often were scavenged from a nearby woods or, in the case of dog tents were formed by stringing a rope between two rifles bayonet-down into the ground, manufactured poles are an acceptable substitute. 

Click here for instructions on sewing your own button holes.

Recommended Uniforms and Equipment

Bivouac  Reenacting  Enlistment  Quartermaster   Sutlers   Gallery   Histories   Reconnoiter   The Cleburne