2nd Florida Uniform Information
About Military and Civilian Attire:
ALL reenactors, civilians, children and ladies are required to be in period clothing from the morning of the first day of the event until the event closes. All children must wear appropriate Civil War ear clothing or facsimiles of. Young ladies are permitted to dress as boys if they choose, but they must be in period type clothing. If the parents of the children do not own the appropriate child clothing, jeans, flannel shirts, or the like are acceptable. No sandals or flip flops please. The idea is to have them blend in with everyone else. We do understand that buying clothing for youngsters that are growing is costly that is why we encourage and accept jean, corduroys, or wool pants, flannel shirts or homespun shirts. (I bought my children's clothing from the Salvation Army) All reenactors must remain in their period attire throughout the entire weekend. Women who choose to portray men may change into dresses for the dances and such, but changing from a lady to a man back and forth several times a day is not acceptable. You may change your clothes if you need to make a store run or other errands.
The 2nd Florida Co. I of the American Civil War Society is striving for accuracy and quality. Below is a list of items needed to do a quality impression for this unit.
ALSO: Please see HANDBOOK for more information
Jacket/Coat: These are to be preferably jean-wool. Florida State buttons or CSA, I-Block, Federal, or civilian buttons. If they are trimmed, the trim is to be either Militia black or infantry blue. Patterns that are acceptable are:
-Richmond Type II or Type III Shell Jackets
-Western Depot Issue Shell Jackets
-Commutation Style Shell Jackets or frock coats
-Tait Pattern Imported Shell jackets
-Confederate issue frock coats
Trousers: These can be a wide variety of styles and patterns, provided they are period correct. Some of the styles are:
-Any Confederate issue pattern trousers or wool, or jean wool (preferred).
-Any period correct pattern civilian trousers
-Limited quantities of Federal issue Infantry pattern trousers
Headgear: Confederate issue or commutation pattern kepis and forage caps are strongly preferred, however a limited number of Federal issue Kepis and Forage caps will be allowed. Civilian slouch hats will be tolerated.
Shirts: An period pattern, with period fabric is acceptable.
Greatcoats: Federal issue Infantry pattern greatcoats are preferred, as the Confederacy had limited production at the time.
Footwear: Any pattern correct brogans is acceptable, Federal or Confederate. Hi high boots of any kind. Gaitors are prohibited with the exception of tacticals.
Accoutrements: Sets must consist of at least a cartridge box with sling, cap pouch, belt, bayonet scabbard and appropriate bayonet, canteen and haversack. Canteens can be of any period pattern, haversacks can be imported, civilian, or military issue. Belt buckles are to be CS or CSA. Brass frame style or period correct Roller Buckle style.
RECOMMENDED SUTLERS:
Galla Rock Shirts and Patterns: http://www.gallarock.com Fabulous custom work on shirts. trousers, some personal items and frock coats. Mid-price range, excellent craftsmanship and service.
Blockade Runner: http://www.blockaderunner.com/ Has a decent line of jean-wool jackets, frocks, trousers, as well as accoutrements. Has a full line, decent quality. low to mid price range.
Richmond Depot: http://www.kabar44.com/ Extremely high quality custom and off the rack work for uniforms. High price range, but unbeatable quality.
NJ Sekela: http://njsekela.com/OSCommerce/catalog/ Extremely high quality uniforms and odds and ends. HIGH price range.
Wambaugh White and Company: http://wwandcompany.com Museum quality uniforms for North and South, as well as fabric and garment kits. Mid to high price range
Heritage Leather: http://heritageleathercw.com/cart/cart.php The website for this guy is not great, but having seen his work in person, the quality os outstanding for the price, and he takes custom orders.
Duvall Leatherworks: http://duvallleatherwork.com/StoreFront.bok Museum quality, very high end leather working, you get what you pay for.
Missouri Boot and Shoe: http://missouribootandshoe.tripod.com Absolute top quality footgear and accoutrements. Mid to high price range.
Leather Pace: http://www.leatherpace.com/ Handmade uniforms that look really great! LOW COST. Email for shipping costs. Also, their credit card processing was down for a while, please check with them in regards to paying. I would avoid doing Western Union to pay for items. Custom made, but shipping takes a few weeks as it is coming from Pakistan.
Fall Creek Sutlerly: http://fcsutler.com/ Quality odds and ends. Nice tin items and blankets. Also, this is the best place I have found to order tents from. Low-mid price range. The gentleman from this sutlery is ordering Florida buttons for us and is doing extensive research on belt buckles.
G and M Mercantile: http://www.gnmmercantile.com/Welcome.html Gary Ware owns and operates this sultery. This sutler has always been very helpful in helping us find items. If Gary doesn't have it, he will find it for you. Also, G and M Mercantile is a strong supporter of the American Civil War Society.
UNIFORM HISTORY
The below information was taken directly from:
http://www.2ndflorida.com/2nd_Florida_Uniform_Report.html
The 2nd Florida Infantry Regiment was clothed with uniforms provided by the state of Florida in late 1861. The Provisional Congress of the Confederate States, at the third session, passed an act providing that is the several states should clothe the troops raised in each state for service of the whole, the Secretary of War should pay the value of money if such clothing to the Governors of the states furnishing the same, and the Honorable L.P. Walker, late Secretary of War, after the passage of said act, sent a letter to Honorable M.S. Perry, late Governor of this state, wherein, after referring to such law, he urged the Governor to proceed to procure clothing for the Florida Volunteers, stating that inability of the Confederate States to provide for all the troops in service; and your memorialists further show that the late Governor Perry, on the receipt of said letter, proceeded to contract for as much clothing as could be made, but did not succeed in providing more than has been found sufficient to clothe the 2nd Florida Regiment of Infantry.
Source: "A Journal of the Proceedings of the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Florida, at its Eleventh Session, Begun and Held at the Capitol, in the city of Tallahassee, on Monday, November 16, 1861: pg 69 Effects and articles of clothing of soldiers of the 2nd Fla.
Within the compiles service records are some receipts for clothing in the summer of 1861 including jackets, caps, pants, drawers, shirts, shoes, blankets, and socks. Some of these receipts show that some of the above items were drawn after the regiment reached Virginia.
On July 30th, 1862 Col. G.T. Ward (later KIA at Williamsburg) drew the following ordinance stores for his regiment:
2 "artillery swords",
78 Cartridge boxes
145 Cartridge box belts
174 waist belts
84 cap pouches
174 Bayonet scabbards
483 Knapsacks
6 sword belts
43 canteens
36,000 Cart., Cal. .69
Received on August 7, 1861 for Capt. Daniels' Co at Richmond, Virginia for 87 men (there is a similar receipt for Capt. Theo. Brevards' Co.):
87 knapsakcs
21 haversacks
87 cap pouches
87 waist belts
87 gun slings
The following month, September 16, 1861 Daniels drew 6 muskets and bayonets with scabbards, 2 knapsacks, 6 sets of cartridge boxes with belts, cap pouches, and gun slings.
On November 11, 1861 Pvt. J.R. Bradley of Co. H 2nd Florida Regiment died leaving behind one knapsack containing the following:
1 blue cotton pants
2 white cotton drawers
2 white cotton and wool under shirts
3 blue stripped cotton under drawers
1 red flannel blanket
1 pr red flannel drawers
1 woolen handkerchief
2 pr white woolen socks
1 colored cotton pocket handkerchief
2 1/2 prs white cotton socks
1 gray uniform cap
1 white woolen blanket
1 pr shoes.
The regiment was certainly clothed in Richmond Depot patterns after the distribution of those goods became standard ANV. After the regiment left Florida there is a March 1, 1862 receipt for "one bolt White Homespun" totaling 35 1/2 yards "being required for badges for the 2nd Fla. Regt."
On July 21, 1862 the regiment drew for its 386 men in Virginia
113 pr pants
15 coats
88 pr cotton drawers
92 cotton shirts
118 pr cotton socks
97 pr shoes
16 wool over shirts
5 cotton undershirts
One year after the battle of Gettysburg. Capt. Chas. Seton Flemings records contain receipts for clothing for several of the companies. These show the regiment received clothing on July 22, August 1, and August 100, 1863. These receipts for companies F, G, H, K and M show standard items like caps, jackets, drawers, socks and shoes.
By James "Archie" Marshall, Veterans Memorial Park and Museum, Tampa, Florida.
(The above information came directly from http://www.2ndFlorida.com/2nd_Florida_Uniform_Report.html)