Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    77
    Region:
    Chesapeake - Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio

    Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    What uniform was General Lee wearing at Gettyburg? I know he preferred a Colonel's frock coat with button pattern. He sometimes wore gold brocade on his sleeves as on his surrender coat, but was he dressed differently for battle and field operations?
    Mike Moore, 10261

  2. #2

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    Mike, I believe General Lee was wearing his frock coat with just the 3 stars on each side of the collar indicating rank of a Colonel. I also read reports that he was wearing a straw hat at Gettysburg, instead of his usual grey slouch hat.

    Thanks,
    Tony Virando
    Jeff Davis Legion C.S.A.
    COMP3 10652V

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Woodbridge, VA
    Posts
    261
    Region:
    Potomac - Virginia, Maryland and Delaware

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    Was he wearing his brown pants? :P
    Scott Kurki
    The Dulany Troop, 6th Virginia Cavalry

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    77
    Region:
    Chesapeake - Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    I think Scott is making an inference as to a rumor of Lee having diarrhea during the battle. Although he may indeed have been wearing brown pants. There are only 2 surviving examples of General Lee's uniforms. One is his dress surrender uniform with full brocade and the other is a brown jean wool uniform known as his Maryland uniform that was given to him by citizens of Maryland. Was he wearing the Maryland uniform during the battle or another cadet gray frock with no brocade. The statues of Lee are no help as referance as most sculptors used photographs with Brady's back porch studies being the most famous and reproduced.
    Michael Moore,10261

  5. #5
    Mike w/ 34th is offline
    Team:
    34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry
    Member
    10605V
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    New Hamstah
    Posts
    750
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    Michael,

    I thought his Colonel's frock coat survived, too, and was in the Museum of the Confederacy. Do you know which collection the brown jean uniform is in?

    Cheers,

    Mike
    "Stay on target...stay on target..." Red Leader, Battle of Yavin

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    77
    Region:
    Chesapeake - Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    I was mistaken in that Lee's Maryland uniform is a medium gray color. It is kept by the Maryland Historical Museum. The frock coat in the Museum of the Confederacy is the surrender coat I was talking about with Generals ensigna (Gold stars within a wreath) sewn directly onto the collar and gold brocade on the sleeves. I think that the coat may be on loan to another museum at the moment. There is discussion as to moving the Museum of the Confederacy to another location or locations since floor space in the the current building allows only a small display of their collection. Parking is also shared with the University of Medicine in Richmond. The next door White House of the Confederacy shares the same parking problem plus looking out of place tucked between brick and glass 20th century buildings.
    Michael Moore, 10261

  7. #7
    Mike w/ 34th is offline
    Team:
    34th Battalion Virginia Cavalry
    Member
    10605V
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    New Hamstah
    Posts
    750
    Region:
    New England - New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Massachusetts

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    Okay, took a bit of looking. Lee's colonel's coat is shown on P. 102 of Arms and Equipment of The Confederacy, and the photo credit for the coat lists the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, as the collection where it resides. I don't know if it's still there, but that's where it was in 1991.
    "Stay on target...stay on target..." Red Leader, Battle of Yavin

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    77
    Region:
    Chesapeake - Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    The coat on page 102 Echoes of Glory, Arms and Equipment of the Confederacy is the Maryland Coat with three 6 sided stars on the collar and regular 7 button colonel configuration. Don't know if it is on loan to the Maryland Historical Society. All his other uniforms in wartime photos show a colonel rank on collar (no wreath) but have the 8 button in groups of 2 general officer configuration.
    Michael Moore, 10261

  9. Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    While Lee tarried at Cashtown 1 July, an eye witness described Lee wearing a white duster and a straw hat made by a female admirer. In his hand was a small, leafy bush he used to switch flies off Traveler. The observer stated Lee looked like a prosperous farmer.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Waterford, Michigan
    Posts
    77
    Region:
    Northwest Territory - Michigan, Ohio and Indiana

    Re: Lee's Gettysburg uniform?

    Forget the exact sources, but it was remarked in several contemporary sitings that he was wearing an OVERCOAT through most of the battle.

    Considering the well documented heat during the battle - this would cause people to notice.

    Several historians have suspected Lee suffered a heart attack after Chancellorsville. May have been a cause - in addition to Jackson's death - why Lee was not as "up to snuff" at G'burg.
    R.C. "Digger" Huntoon
    N-SSA # 1504V - 1970 - present
    1st Michigan Volunteer Infantry

Similar Threads

  1. ID'd revolver captured at Gettysburg & Weldon RR
    By cannonmn in forum Small Arms
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-06-2010, 10:48 AM
  2. ranges near gettysburg
    By matt in forum Shooting Techs, Tips, & Tricks
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 03-25-2010, 05:35 PM
  3. Gettysburg Cannons Dissolving
    By cannonmn in forum Artillery
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 01-06-2010, 11:36 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •