The following list of
items represents the standard Confederate soldier�s uniform and equipment
used by the 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The unit portrays a
mid-war (1863), or �Gettysburg� time period impression. The 2nd Virginia
and some of its members maintain extra uniform parts, equipment, and rifles to
lend to new recruits. We suggest that you first purchase those items that
require your specific size, such as trousers, shoes, shirt, and hat. After
that, the musket should be your next priority. Other items, such as a jacket,
leather accouterments, canteen, and haversacks can be borrowed until you
purchase your own. You should not appear at any public events with any
non-period items that cannot be concealed from view. Period eye glass frames
can be purchased and fitted with your prescription or you may consider wearing
contact lenses. Any items that you wish to use or carry that are not
specifically mentioned in the following lists must first be approved by the
unit commanding officer. Such items may require documentation to show that it
is a period correct item and that members of the 2nd Virginia Volunteer
Infantry Regiment could or would have used that item; the responsibility for
such documentation rests with the user.
HAT
Preferred -Slouch hat in
black, brown, or gray with cloth hat band and binding around the brim,
preferably without hat cords or hat brass. If hat brass is used then
only letter �F� or number �2�.
Acceptable-
Forage cap or kepi in grey wool or wool jean without
colored trim.
JACKET
Preferred- Richmond depot
type II in wool jean (wool is allowed), epaulette may be un-trimmed or have
black or dark blue piping. Most shades of gray or brown-gray allowed. With
block �I�, Union eagle, Virginia State seal, or wooden dish type buttons.
Acceptable-
Richmond depot type I in wool (wool jean okay) with dark or light blue piping
on cuff, collar, and epaulette. Preferably light or medium gray, but dark gray
is okay. With block �I�, Union eagle, or Virginia State seal buttons.
Acceptable but not recommended-
sack coats or frock coats of correct pattern.
TROUSERS
Preferred- Richmond depot
trousers in wool jean, wool, or cotton jean. Any shade of gray, brown-gray,
with period style suspenders.
Acceptable but not recommended-
Federal sky blue trousers.
SHIRT
Preferred- Hand sewn
civilian or military pattern shirt of wool or cotton, in a solid color, woven
plaid, or woven check, with correct bone, wood, shell, or metal
buttons.
SHOES
Preferred- Confederate
pattern brogans in black, russet, or undyed leather
CANTEEN
Preferred- Confederate pattern tin drum or wood drum canteens with
leather or canvas straps.
Acceptable-
Union issue pattern 1858 �smooth side� or later pattern 1862 �bulls
eye� canteens, with or without the wool covers.
HAVERSACK
Preferred- Confederate or
Union issue black painted or �tarred� haversack with inner bags.
Acceptable-
Any correct pattern white canvas or linen haversack.
WAIST BELT
Preferred- �Georgia�
frame buckle with black or russet leather belt, or iron �roller� buckle
with
black or russet leather belt or tarred canvas belt.
Acceptable-
Union issue pattern 1854 with brass keeper, black leather, with regulation
brass U.S. oval buckle (can be worn upside down or right side up).
Acceptable but not recommended-
C.S. rectangular buckles or any other Virginia state seal
buckle.
Not Allowed-
CS oval buckles (these were not common and only issued in the western
theatre).
CARTRIDGE
Preferred- Confederate issue
box in black or russet leather, with or without sling (can be worn on BOX
belt without sling). Sling can be black or russet leather, tarred or
plain white canvas or linen.
Acceptable-
Union issue, pattern 1855, black with black leather sling, regulation U.S.
oval box plate, eagle breast plate, (box plate and breast plate may be turned
upside down or removed entirely) with or without tins. British issue, Enfield
cartridge box in black with black leather sling.
CAP POUCH
Preferred- Confederate issue
cap pouch, black or russet leather or tarred canvas, with nipple pick.
Acceptable-
Union issue pattern 1850 or �shield front� cap pouch, black leather with
nipple pick.
BAYONET
Triangular socket bayonet, type to match soldier�s musket.
BAYONET
Preferred- Confederate issue
in black or russet leather.
SCABBARD
Acceptable- Union issue
pattern in black leather, or British issue for Enfield bayonet.
RIFLE Preferred- Model 1853
British Enfield in .577 caliber (first choice), or Model 1842 Springfield in
.69 caliber (second choice)
Acceptable- Model
1861 or 1864 U.S. Springfield in .58 caliber, Model 1861 Colt �Special� in
.58 caliber, CS Richmond in .58 caliber, early Springfield or Harper�s Ferry
percussion conversion in .69 caliber. Note:
Model 1863 Zouave, Model 1841 Mississippi, or any other two band muskets are
not allowed
Extra
Items for the Veteran Soldier
GUM BLANKETOR PONCHO
U.S. regulation pattern, black rubber, or any C.S. pattern
WOOL BLANKETS
SHELTER
U.S. pattern shelter half tent or any C.S. pattern, or white canvas
�A� frame tent.
HALF OR TENT
KNAPSACK
U.S. pattern 1851, double bag, painted black, either early or late war
style, or C.S. pattern double bag, single bag, or hard pack, either painted
black or plain white canvas.
OVERCOAT
C.S. pattern overcoat of wool jean or wool in any color of gray, brown,
or butternut, or correct pattern civilian overcoat in wool jean or wool in any
color of gray, brown, or butternut, or U.S. regulation sky blue kersey, foot
pattern overcoat.
VEST Military or civilian pattern vest in wool or wool jean. Any color of
gray, brown, light blue, dark blue. Plaids and checks allowed for civilian
pattern vests. Buttons can be brass or pewter military style or wood, bone,
metal, shell, or cloth covered. (A surprising number of photos show
Confederate soldiers wearing vests).
Note: the haversack should
contain the following items: mess plate, tin cup (usually worn on the outside
of the haversack), knife, fork, spoon, candle, wooden matches, handkerchief,
toothbrush (bone or wood handle), tooth powder, period soap, housewife (sewing
kit), comb (bone or wood). The haversack should also contain some of the
following food items: hardtack, soft bread, corn bread, corn dodgers, salt
pork, salt beef, smoked ham hocks, potatoes, canned or smoked oysters,
sardines, kippered snacks, beans, pork and beans, peanuts in the shell, fresh,
canned, or desiccated vegetables, (peas, corn, green beans, onions, carrots,
black eyed peas), fresh, dried or canned fruit (peaches, apples, pears), rice,
beans, beef jerky, canned corn beef, parched corn (corn nuts), homemade
cookies (oatmeal, molasses, or sugar), homemade candies, tobacco, and coffee.
(No modern labels or plastic containers).
2nd
VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENT
Recommended
Uniform and Equipment Suppliers
Various cottage-type
industries have sprung up over the past several years to manufacture and
supply reproduction uniforms and equipment for more than 50,000 Civil war
reenactors nationwide. Referred
to as �sutlers�, these small businesses provide everything needed to
become a reenactment soldier. Unfortunately, the quality and cost of many of
these items vary from sutler to sutler and it is only with experience that one
learns where the best uniforms and equipment can be purchased.
As you begin to put
together your Confederate soldier impression, we caution you to take things
�slow and easy�. There really is no need to rush out and purchase
everything at once. Besides being very expensive, you may discover that some
of the items bought are not very authentic or even accurate for the time
period, or a better bargain could have been yours if you had taken the time to
talk to other members the 4th Virginia Infantry.
Seek out the advice of your fellow reenactors and make informed
decisions on your hobby purchases. The
recommended sutlers listed below are in the order of preference, according to
the quality of the specific item listed.
Soldier
Status Items
SLOUCH
HAT
Tim Allen--different types
of black slouch hats, the best period construction at a reasonable price
Dirty Billy�s
Emporium--better than average slough hats
FORAGE
CAP
Mike Anderson-Larry
Nelson--the best forage caps that I have seen on the market
Dirty Billy�s Emporium
KEPI
Dirty Billy�s Emporium
JACKET
(Richmond Depot Type I or II)
Country Cloth--(Kits only)
excellent materials and correct pattern
The New Richmond
Depot--correct pattern, hand sewn (off the rack only)
LuAnn Mason--correct
pattern, hand sewn (can be individually tailored)
acceptable,
not recommended
Quartermaster
Shop--pattern not correct, machine sewn
TROUSERS
(Richmond Depot)
County Cloth--(Kits only)
excellent pattern and materials.
The New Richmond
Depot--correct pattern, hand sewn (off the rack only)
LuAnn Mason--correct
pattern, hand sewn (can be individually tailored)
acceptable,
not recommended
C & D Jarnagin--pattern
not correct, machine sewn
Quartermaster
Shop--pattern not correct, machine sewn
SHIRT
Nancy Eddins--dress
shirts, civilian and federal domet flannel issue shirts, stitching options on
civilian shirts
Christopher Daley--Federal
issue, and civilian shirts
Adam Cecil--machine/hand
sewn civilian shirts
LuAnn Mason--machine/hand
sewn civilian shirts, made to order
County Cloth (kits only)--a
variety of patterns and fabrics, well documented
acceptable,
not recommended
C & D Jarnagin--machine
sewn Issue and Civilian shirts.
Fall Creek Sutlers--machine
sewn civilian shirts, materials not always correct
SHOES
Missouri Boot & Shoe
Co--wide variety of Federal, Confederate, and civilian shoes
acceptable
not recommended
C & D Jarnagin--not
quite correct pattern, good
quality
Quartermaster Shop--not
quite correct pattern, but good quality
CANTEEN
C & D Jarnagin--federal
issue smooth side and bulls eye canteens, CS tin canteens, CS wood canteens
Fort Branch Supply--wood
canteens
HAVERSACK
Trans-Mississippi Depot
Co.--excellent Federal and CS issue tarred haversacks.
Christopher
Daley--excellent Federal tarred haversack
Adam Cecil--excellent
Federal issue tarred haversacks
Haversack depot--Federal
issue tarred haversacks
acceptable,
not recommended
C & D Jarnagin--not
quite correct, but reasonable quality
TIN
CUP
Wisconsin Veterans
Museum--excellent quality tin ware Wendy K. Osman--excellent reproduction tin
ware
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality tinware
WAIST
BELT
Missouri Boot & shoe
Co.--top quality belts
Larry Nelson--excellent
quality iron roller buckle and tarred canvas belts
Trans-Mississippi Depot
Co.--excellent Federal and CS issue belts, specilizing in tarred canvas belts.
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality federal issue belts, CS Georgia frame, forked tongue, and roller
buckle belts
Steve Borts--good quality
belts, makes to fit.
CARTRIDGE
BOX
Missouri Boot & Shoe
Co.--top Quality boxes
Larry Nelson--excellent
quality hand stitched box
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality boxes, several variations available
CAP
POUCH
Larry Nelson--top quality
cap pouches
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality cap pouches, several variations available
BAYONET
Lodgewood Mfg.--a variety
of original and reproduction bayonets
Dixie Gun
Works--reproduction bayonets (do not get their scabbards)
Fall Creek Sutlers--reproduction
bayonets (do not get their scabbards)
C & D Jarnagin
SCABBARD
Missouri Boot & Shoe
Co.--highly accurate scabbards
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality, several variations to choose from
Steve Borts--excellent
quality, will make to fit individual bayonet
RIFLE
Lodgewood Mfg.--variety of
original and reproduction firearms
Dixie Gun Works--huge
variety of reproduction firearms
Company
Quartermaster--well retrofitted 1853 Enfield muskets
Regimental Quartermaster--Euroarms
muskets
Fall Creek Sutlery--variety
of reproduction firearms
C & D Jarnagin--reproduction
firearms
VETERAN SOLDIER STATUS ITEMS
GUM
BLANKET or PONCHO
Christopher Daley--well
documented repro gum blankets, best on the market
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality ponchos and gum blankets
WOOL
BLANKETS
County Cloth--Highest
quality Federal issue blankets
Wisconsin Veterans
Museum--excellent reproduction of Federal issue blankets
Baron Woolen Mills--good
quality wool blankets
Fall Creek Sutlery--good
quality wool blankets
SHELTER
HALF or TENT
Christopher Daley--highest
quality shelter halves.
ReproOriginals--high
quality shelter halves.
Trans-Mississippi Depot
Co.--high quality shelter haves, also kits availible at about a third of the
cost.
C & D Jarnagin--okay
quality shelter halves for a decent price, not correct, machine sewn button
holes.
Fall Creek Sutlery--good
quality �A� tents
KNAPSACK
Missouri Boot and Shoe
Co.-- very good quality Federal issue �double bag� knapsacks
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality knapsacks, various styles to choose from
OVERCOAT
County Cloth (kits
only)--correct pattern and materials
acceptable,
not recommended
C & D Jarnagin--good
quality, pattern not quite correct
Quartermaster Shop--good
quality, pattern not quite correct
VEST
County Cloth (kits
only)--correct pattern and materials
acceptable,
not recommended
C & D Jarnagin--okay
quality, machine sewn.
Quartermaster Shop--okay
quality, machine sewn.
ADDRESSES OF
SUTLERS
Tim Allen
1429 Becket Rd.
Eldersburg, MD 21784
(410) 549-5145
Baron Woolen Mills
56 North 500 East
Brigham City, UT 84302
(801) 723-1087
fax (801) 723-1088
Steve Borts
823 NE 4th Ave.
Hillsboro, OR 97124
(503) 640-5393
C & D Jarnagin
PO Box # 1860
Corinth, MS 38835-1860
(601) 287-4977
Fax (601) 287-6033
Adam Cecil
1911 Del Monte
Findlay. OH 45840
(419) 423-0457
Company Quartermaster
258 Zimmerman St.
N. Tonawanda, NY
14120-4509
(716) 693-3239
County Cloth
13797-C Georgetown St. NE
Paris, OH 44669
(216) 862-3307
Christopher Daley
105 W, Green St.
Middletown, MD 21718
(310) 371- 5792
Dirty Billy�s Emporium
7574 Middlesburg Rd.
Detour, MD 21757
(410) 775-1865
Dixie Gun Works
PO Box # 130
Union City, TN 38261
(800) 238-6785
Mrs. Eddins Emporium
186 Hayes Circle
Rex, GA 30273
(770) 389-1470
Fall Creek Sutlery
PO Box #530
Freedom, CA 95019
(408) 728-1888
Fort Branch Supply
PO Box # 222
Hamilton, NC 27840
Haversack Depot
1236 Riveracres Dr.
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(210) 620-5192
Historic Clothiers
PO Box # 28
Butler, NJ 07498
(201) 283-0800
Lodgewood Mfg.
494 Ventura Ln.
Whitewater, WI 53190
(414) 473-5444
LuAnn Mason
6106 NE Wilding Rd.
Vancouver, WA 98686
(360) 546-2562
Missouri Boot & Shoe
Co.
951 Burr Crossing Rd.
Neosho, MO 64850
(417) 451-6100
Larry Nelson
1032 Fir Ave.
Provo, UT 84604
(801) 374-6898
Wendy K. Osman
5424 Elliot Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612) 823-4009
Regimental Quartermaster
PO Box # 553
Hatboro, PA 19040
(215) 672-6891
fax (215) 672-9020
ReproOriginals
3131 University Blvd. N.
#39
Jacksonville, FL 32211
(904) 744-5946
Trans-Mississippi Depot
Co.
117 Dearborn Place #121
Goleta,
CA 93117
(805) 683-2328
Fax (805) 969-0035
Wisconsin Veterans Museum
30 W. Mifflin St.
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 267-1799
2nd
VIRGINIA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY REGIMENT
Suggested
Reading List
2nd
VIRGINIA INFANTRY,
Dennis E Frye, H E Howard,
Lynchburg, VA, 1984
COMPANY
�AYTCH�, Sam Watkins,
ECHOES
OF GLORY, ARMS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE CONFEDERACY,
Time-Life Books
ECHOES
OF GLORY, ARMS AND EQUIPMENT OF THE UNION,
Time-Life Books
HARDTACK
AND COFFEE, John D Billings
JOHNY
REB, THE UNIFORMS OF THE CONFEDERATE ARMY, 1861-1865, Leslie D. Jensen,
Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA
A
SURVEY OF CONFEDERATE DEPOT JACKETS,
Leslie D. Jensen,
TED
BARCLAY, LIBERTY HALL VOLUNTEERS: LETTERS FROM THE STONEWALL BRIGADE 1861-1864,
Charles Turner, Rockbridge Publishing Co,
Natural Bridge Station, VA, 1992
A
BROTHERHOOD OF VALOR: THE COMMON SOLDIER OF THE STONEWALL BRIGADE, CSA AND THE
IRON BRIGADE USA,
Jeffrey D. Wert, Simon and
Schuster, New York, 1999
DEFEND
THE VALLEY: A SHENANDOAH FAMILY IN THE CIVIL WAR,
Published letters, diaries and memoirs of the Barton-Jones-Marshall family from
Winchester, Va. Family members served in the 2nd and 33rd
VA and Rockbridge Artillery. Crown Publishers, New York, 1994