copyright © 3/5/2009 By Rick Walton
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Recently, while doing some historical research, I came across a document containing some Confederate uniform costs. Reenactors complain about the skyrocketing cost of uniforms, replacement Brogans, new hats and other equipment we really don't need but buy anyway to make our impression that much more authentic. That made me wonder how authentic cost of clothing in 1862 compares to a Civil War reenactment suttler’s prices today.
In the compiled service records of Private Francis Nichols, Co. B, 6th North Carolina State Troops, I found a record, from the muster roll dated May to October 1862 containing some notes regarding his pay and clothing allowance.
Private Nichols died in December 1862 of pneumonia. His heirs (usually a grieving, often widowed Mother) was entitled to his back pay, outstanding bonuses and unused clothing allowance. His record listed the clothing allowance already used:
1 Jacket- $7.63
1 Pair Pants- $4.50
1 Shirt - $1.00
1 pair drawers- $1.00
1 Cap- $1.50
Total- $15.63
I wondered how this stacks up to the cost of similar items today. As a baseline I considered the cost of Private Nichols clothing in relation to his $11 per month Army pay. As a comparison, let’s consider the cost of the same items at today’s suttler prices compared to a modern US Army soldiers (E1) $1,400.00 per month salary.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive analysis, considering taxes and other allowances, the money in an E1’s pocket at the end of the month would be considerably less and, obviously you could find differences on any suttler item, but I think I have chosen fairly representative prices.
I calculated the percentage of each item in relation to salary. I also calculated the percentage of each item in relation to the total for all items to establish the relative value of each item. (see calculation table below).
What I discovered is surprising. While today’s suttler prices seem to keep going up and up, items are actually CHEAPER today, relative to earnings, than the same item during the Civil war. The other interesting thing is that relative to each other, the items in the list have not changed relative value very much from then to now. In other words a hat is about the same value relative to the value of a coat, percentage wise, now as it was in 1862.
Check out my calculations and see if you don’t agree. If you have come across different data or interpret my hypothesis differently, let me know.
