The garments of the Civil War period display an affinity to vivid and contrasting colors. Men's shirts of colored homespun cotton and printed calico were very popular in civilian life, and frequently worn as a substitute for the army issue shirt. In the early days of the war, many soldiers who had not yet been issued uniforms instead wore shirts trimmed with wool tape (see below). The civilian shirts we make can be customized in various ways, including the addition of pockets, different collar types, hand or machine topstitching, etc. The basic pattern features dropped shoulders, sleeve gathering, hand felling of seams, handsewn buttonholes, and buttons set high on the cuff. The buttons themselves can be of plain white china, calico, or antique bone. Battleshirts can be made of wool flannel or cassimere with brass dome buttons. Contact us for samples of available fabrics.
Mississippi Battleshirt: Research into the uniforms of early war Mississippi regiments has uncovered that May, 1861 regulations state a shirt of grey flannel was to be worn by infantry, with the branch trim being blue. Some units portrayed the 2nd Mississippi at last year's Manassas event and there are plans to reprise this impression at an upcoming living history. I will be taking orders for battleshirts with the grey/blue combination at $135.00 each. Please specify if you wish the shirt to be either trimmed in blue wool tape, or feature a blue placket and cuffs, both of which are documented variations.
Civilian homespun shirt, machine topstitched . . . . . $55.00 + $10.00 s&h
Civilian homespun shirt, hand topstitched . . . . . $70.00 + $10.00 s&h
Civilian homespun shirt, hand-applied tape trim . . . . . $90.00 + $10.00 s&h
Battleshirt . . . . . Call or e-mail for custom options
Soldiers of the 6th VA Cavalry
Library of Congress