Description

This coat, based on period photos and several original examples, is very similar to our notched collar federal officer’s sack coat. A bit longer than a common sack coat – popular with officers as evident in period photos, even if less economic and utilitarian than the shorter model for the young officer. The longer skirt was considered a more cultured and higher grade appearance, with a split back in order to facilitate movement and service when mounted. Made of excellent officer’s uniform quality medium gray wool, this is the most basic campaign coat. Solidly a field utility coat, yet still gives the correct air the officer should present. A classic Civil War era and early war look. All button holes are hand sewn. This notched front civilian style collar is well documented in private purchase officer’s fatigue coats during the period. Even those who did not have one are often seen wearing the falling collar folded open in this style. It is an attractive period look with a vest and tie, or just the tie in the warmer months. Straight sided true sack coat with an upper breast pocket and two lower front pockets, all lined in black cotton. Closes with five coat sized CS Staff buttons down the front with three smaller matching buttons on each fully functional cuff. The lining is black cotton and has one interior front breast pocket with vertical opening on the lining seam. Currently offering a Savannah or New Orleans documented maker label. Please specify or we will choose – no returns for label when none chosen, loose labels not available. We apply no rank insignia, leaving type and placement up to you. (also, no piping available – we do not do any custom work, nor take any orders in advance. Sold as a period in-stock Ready Made Clothing garment only)

We must say that research into campaign used CS officer’s clothing is significantly more challenging, as there is much less photographic evidence extant. While most “portrait” cabinet type photos represent the desire to show ones best and as a result on both sides are dominated by frock coats, etc., the wearing of such “campaign” coats in the field by Southern Officers as well seems to have been also prevalent. Officers on both sides purchased their own uniforming and the greater the investment, the more likely to be preserved. There were fewer overall CS soldiers and officers who served over the years of the war which along with CS attrition and material strain as the war ebbed on translating into much fewer number of artifacts extant for examination, and in addition,  with less photography and opportunity for such camp luxury a much lower number of photos of CS Officers campaign dress to study. Yet we do know the practice was established enough to be considered relatively common as opposed to rare so the practice may very well be underrepresented in the Southern Living History community. To that end, and by specific request of many friends over the years, we now make this offering. Positive response in the marketplace will sustain it.

NOTE: These coats are not sized according to modern standardized models which often include more generous “vanity inches” in the process. Please be sure of your size requirements prior to purchase and disregard other sizing models. If you are unsure please email us with questions. We suggest you take your actual chest measurement, or the largest measurement of your torso, over the clothing items you intend to wear under the coat, and compare them to the actual measurement of the coat in the listing – then choose the coat which offers you the amount of room and fit you desire. The actual measurement of the chest of these coats is 3″ larger than the chest size indicated, ie., a “chest size 42 in.” has an actual chest measurement of about 45″, etc. The buttons can be moved to gain 1/2 to 1″. This coat has straight side seams with no fitted waist taper – it is a true “sack” coat. The sack coat was generally designed to fit much more loosely than the frock or even civilian common coat in order to facilitate movement in the field and the wearing of a vest. Some officers, not subject to fatigue duties, did prefer to have them tailored. Please also read our clothing return policy. We take no orders for clothing to be made, nor do any customizing work.