I just finished reading "Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown" by Thomas Arliskas. The book doesn't take long to read. It has only three chapters and just under 100 pages. The book is divided into three periods, early war, mid war, and late war.

This book isn't about authentic uniforms. There isn't a single picture of surviving Confederate uniforms or any information about the construction of these uniforms. There are a few pen and ink drawings of some common jackets, but nothing you could use as a pattern.

The object of this book is to discribe the clothing worn by the Confederate soldier at different times, or in different armies during the course of the War. The book is filled with pictures of Confederate officers and privates, taken at various times and places during the War. The basic condition of the Confederate troops at each of the major battles of the War are discussed, some in more detail than others.

Mr. Arliskas stresses the use of both civilian and Union Army clothing by Confederate soldiers throughout the War. He uses period first person accounts, photos, and newspaper articles for his references.

This is a great book, if you want to improve your overall Confederate impression. It won't help you much, if you are just trying to figure out if your shell jacket is farby, or not.

WHAT! NO PICTURES!?!?

Ken,

The book is full of pictures, but they were all taken 145 years ago. Mr. Arliskas was able to come with a number of studio shots, taken in 1863 and 1864, that I'd never seen before.

There was one funny item in the book. During the winter of 1862/3, the Army of Tennessee was wearing so much civilian and captured Federal clothing that General Rosecrans wrote a formal complaint to General Bragg. This was Bragg's reply:

"As to your suggestion that our troops should be more particulary distinguished from citizens by a well defined uniform, I will merely state that we aim to clothe them as uniformly as the exigencies of our situation will permit. Whenever you afford us the facilities to obtain the requisite material, we shall be most happy to make the desired change.
In the meantime, we shall use the best to be procured!"

After studying Rosecrans a bit deeper for the Rich Mountain event, I can certainly believe he did that.  He was a very excitable officer!  ADHD maybe.

I got a autographed copy from him at the "Kalamazoo Living History" show back in March of this year.  Interesting read.
Cris Westphal