Are Uniforms getting Cheaper?

 copyright © 3/5/2009 By Rick Walton

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, 6^th 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. 

History of the 6th North Carolina State Troops Regimental Flag

Adapted from Appendix A "The Bloody Sixth" by Richard W. Iobst by Historian Rick Walton 

The hand made regimental flag of the 6th North Carolina State Troops 
source: https://collections.ncdcr.gov/mDetail.aspx?rID=H.1915.4.5&db=objects&dir=COMBINED

After the war, the original flag of the Sixth Regiment [North Carolina State Troops], the same flag which had been carefully made of silk in 1861 and decorated with the North Carolina state seal and motto, was preserved by Colonel Tate, the last colonel of the regiment. On November 11, 1893, Colonel Tate wrote to Miss Christine Fisher, sister of the late Colonel Charles F. Fisher:

"A Committee consisting of W. C. Coughenhour, J. A. Caldwell,

Cicero R. Barker and A. H. Boyden, representing, the, "Colonel 

Charles F. Fisher Camp U. C. V. No. 319," have applied to me 

in writing, requesting the delivery to them of the Flag of the 

6th North Carolina Infantry, presented to the regiment by you, 

through your honored brother our lamented commander. 

This flag was never polluted by the touch of an enemy nor 

"trailed in the dust," but was always advanced as far as the 

farthest, and is the only Confederate flag planted upon the 

enemy's Guns on Cemetery Heights, at Gettysburg! In my own 

bosom, afterwards, this flag was safely preserved and has not 

since been out of my possession until I proposed securing it in 

a glass case and depositing it with the State. North Carolina 

honors it above any relic of the Great Conflict, and in justice to 

the memory of our lamented dead and your honored self, I feel 

that it should be placed in the care of the State, that all North 

Carolinians may view it, read its history and gain inspiration from it."

Colonel Tate informed Miss Fisher that the only portions of the "once beautiful" flag that were still intact were the handiwork "of your deft fingers." The remnants of the flag were rent with "shot and shell, dyed with the blood of its defenders;" the Lord Himself had decreed that the flag "should be unharmed."

Tate assured the anxious Miss Fisher that he had been "but the poor representative" of the men who had fallen under the folds of the flag. The survivors of the regiment, who had suffered in the flag's defense, loved "this flag above all earthly possessions." Tate concluded, in a tone of confidence and humility, in keeping with the occasion,

I desire to manifest all respect for the wishes and proper affection for the representatives of my dear lamented friend and Commander, but I respectfully suggest that it will be best for them and for all concerned that this relic, with its history, be sacredly preserved by the State, here, where it can be seen and read of all men. 

Several days later Christine Fisher replied to Tate's letter of November 11. She thanked the colonel for his sentiments of "regard for my brother and respect for myself which you express." The members of the committee who had applied to Tate for the flag had done so with the consent and approval of Colonel Fisher's daughter, Frances Fisher Tiernan [also known by her pen name Christian Reid]. Christine Fisher hoped that the flag would be returned to the possession of Colonel Fisher's family, but, "at least," would be glad to see the relic placed among the momentoes "which illustrate the glorious war-record of our State." 

The members of the flag committee were all honorable men, men who had all worn Confederate gray and who were "working to keep alive" the principles of the Confederacy. They would be "worthy custodians" of the regimental flag under which so many brave soldiers had died. Still, it was true that Tate, as surviving colonel of the Sixth Regiment, had a just claim to the flag. Miss Fisher informed Tate that his claim to the flag "cannot be disputed," since he had preserved the flag.

This correspondence resulted in Tate's presentation of the flag to Mrs. Frances Fisher Tiernan, Colonel Fisher's daughter. She, in turn, presented the relic to the North Carolina Historical Commission, forerunner of the modern North Carolina Department of Archives and History. The flag was accompanied by Colonel Fisher's uniform dress, coat, hat, sword, and saddle-housing. These relics may still be seen in the North Carolina Museum of History, located in the city of Raleigh.