Uniforms of the Orphan Brigade(3)

Along with their coats and jackets, soldier uniforms often included vests and hats or caps. Unfortunately, no shirts or trousers identified to Orphan Brigade soldiers are known to survive (these, along with shoes and socks, being the items most subject to becoming worn out and discarded). Pvt. D.F.C. Weller of Co. C, 2nd Kentucky Infantry, wore this gray vest of wool-cotton jean material. The vest features a lay-down collar, nine-button front, and distinctive striped back material, with large buckled belt in the back, for adjustment.

Vest of D.F.C. Weller, 2nd Kentucky Infantry
(Kentucky Historical Society / Military History Museum)

Most Confederate reminiscences mention the popularity of the slouch hat, and these were probably worn in great numbers by the Orphans. However, quartermaster records indicate that kepis (infantry caps) were issued in surprising numbers, even into 1865, and these must have been far more common, among the Orphans at least, than is generally believed. Existing images of Orphan Brigade soldiers (all apparently early-war) almost universally show kepis. A kepi worn by Robert Clinton Anderson, color-bearer of the 2nd Kentucky Infantry, is of plain gray wool with a painted cloth and cardboard visor. Anderson was wearing this cap when he

was killed in action at Chickamauga. (Kentucky Military History Museum / Kentucky Historical Society collection records; Geoffrey R. Walden, "A Western Confederate Cap," Military Collector & Historian XLVIII(2), Summer 1996, pp. 92-93)

Kepi of Robert C. Anderson, 2nd Kentucky Infantry, CSA (courtesy Kentucky Historical Society / Military History Museum)

Several images, and even some original uniforms of Orphan Brigade officers survive. These show a general adherence to Confederate regulations, with single and double breasted frock coats and kepis predominating. A very interesting "fatigue" uniform worn by Gen. S.B. Buckner is in the Museum of the Confederacy. It is a pleated front frock coat, apparently based on the hunting frocks of some KSG companies. Click here to visit our Photo Gallery, with an image showing Gen. Buckner wearing this coat. (Buckner's dress KSG coat is also in the Museum of the Confederacy.)

A regulation field grade officer's frock coat worn by Col. Joseph Nuckols of the 4th Kentucky Infantry is in the Kentucky Military History Museum. The left sleeve shows the marks of the bullet that wounded Nuckols at Chickamauga, disabling him from further service.

Coat of Col. Joseph P. Nuckols, 4th Kentucky Infantry, CSA, showing marks of his Chickamauga wound in the left sleeve (courtesy Kentucky Historical Society / Military History Museum)


Uniform coat of Col. John W. Caldwell, 9th Kentucky Infantry (private collection; photo by Geoff Walden) In contrast to Col. Nuckols' coat, Col. Caldwell's coat features buff trim (usually associated with staff) and a simple Austrian knot on each cuff, in lieu of the regulation sleeve gallions.		Uniform coat of Dr. John Ed Pendleton, 9th Kentucky Infantry (private collection; photo by Geoff Walden) Dr. Pendleton's coat is a dark gray woolen material, perhaps imported from England. It features the black velvet trim of the Medical Service.

Some officers wore simple shell jackets in the field, instead of the regulation frock coat. Like the frock coats, these jackets were private purchase items, usually made up by tailors. This seven-button jacket of blue-gray woolen broadcloth was worn by Capt. William T. B. South of Co. B, 5th Kentucky Infantry. It carries Captain's rank insignia of three bars on each collar. Each cuff has gold braid eight inches long, with a simple loop at the end, on a backing of black wool twill tape. This cuff insignia probably once had 8-10 small buttons sewn along it, inside the gold braid (this style has been seen on other coats and jackets). (Thanks to Clark Badgett for the photos and description of this jacket.)

Jacket of Capt. William T. B. South, 5th Kentucky Infantry
(Kentucky Historical Society / Military History Museum; photos by Clark Badgett)

We gratefully acknowledge the generous permission of the owners in allowing us to show their images and other information on this page. All Kentucky Military History Museum items appear by the kind courtesy of Thomas Fugate, curator.