Uniform & Impression Guidelines

for the

12th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, Company I

“The Lancaster Hornets”

By: Corporal Matt Lindeman and Captain Ben Cwayna

1st Edition, May 2014

Captain William S. Dunlop of Co. B, 12

th South Carolina.

Dunlop was promoted to Major and commanded a three-company battalion of sharpshooters made up of the best

men from General Samual McGowan’s South Carolina Brigade from March 1, 1864 through April 9, 1865. After

the war, he wrote Lee's Sharpshooters, detailing his battalion's exploits.

Introduction to the Tier System In order to accommodate all types of reenactors with varying degrees of financial resources and

desires for authenticity, our reenacting organization has put in place a three-tier system which

will accommodate one’s budget while keeping in place minimum authenticity standards. This

way, you can choose the look and the cost you desire without compromising your impression.

Our Tiers are organized as follows:

Tier 1 (Mainstream Impression-Minimum Impression Standard)

Tier 2 (Progressive Impression-Middle to Upper Impression Standard)

Tier 3 (Campaigner Impression-Upper Impression Standard)

Our organization prides itself on having differing types of reenactors (both “mainstream” and

“progressive”) and welcomes those interested in active campaigning, safety, and an authentic

mindset.

In general, our company tries to portray a generic, mid-war impression of a South Carolina

soldier on campaign during the years 1862-1864. Research has yielded that the soldiers of the

12th

South Carolina were clothed and uniformed from both the Richmond Depot Supply System

and from South Carolina at differing stages of the war.

One word of caution…there are many vendors in the reenacting community whose products are

less than satisfactory in terms of authenticity and quality. Before you purchase your gear, please

talk with a veteran reenactor so he can point you in the right direction and ultimately save you

money.

Throughout 4 years of war, the South Carolina Brigade consisting of Orr’s Rifles Regiment (aka 1st Provisional

South Carolina), 1st South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 12

th South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, 13

th South Carolina

Volunteer Infantry, and 14th

South Carolina Volunteer Infantry had two commanders, Brigadier General Maxcy

Gregg (left) who was killed at the Battle of Fredericksburg, VA on December 13, 1862 and Brigadier General

Samual McGowan (right) who led the brigade until Lee’s surrender. Note General Gregg’s darker grey frock coat

with South Carolina State Seal Buttons and Palmetto Pin on his slouch hat.

Tier 1 (Mainstream Impression)

This impression is for the beginning reenactor with a limited budget and/or for children who are

still growing.

The Tier 1 Impression is modeled after Sgt. Berry

Benson of Company H, 1st South Carolina Volunteer

Infantry. Sgt. Benson later transferred to the

Sharpshooter Battalion led by Major Dunlop where

he served in Company A.

You will note Sgt. Benson’s darker gray (now known

as “Richmond Gray”) Richmond Depot Type II Shell

Jacket with epaulets.

Benson was captured during a scouting mission at

Spotsylvania Court House in May 1864 and was sent

to Elmira prison in New York. He escaped by

tunneling out of the prison camp with several other

inmates and returned to his regiment, serving until

the end of the war.

Impression Requirements:

1. Richmond Depot Type II or III Shell Jacket in

Richmond Gray Color. The Type II Jacket will contain

shoulder epaulets as shown in the Benson Photograph

above and the reproduction photograph to the right and

would be considered a mid-war impression. The Type III

Jacket will not contain shoulder epaulets and is considered a

later war impression. For this impression, you can choose

either the Type II or III Shell Jacket with South Carolina

State Seal Buttons. Lining for the jacket is recommended

but not required.

Cost: $55.00-$75.00 if lined.

Where can I get this? Milk Creek Mercantile

PO Box 898

Mulino, OR 97042

(503) 829-3678

www.milkcreek.com

2. Kepi Hat or Forage Cap in Richmond Gray Color or Slouch Hat in any form of

Brown or Black Color. Your mainstream impression should be supplemented by a

quality hat. The hat really makes or breaks your impression and therefore, you should

choose the style of hat you prefer carefully. Kepis are always worn with the brims FLAT

and straight out or turned UP. Never curled down and bent like a baseball cap!

The Confederate Forage Cap above is a longer cap The Confederate Kepi Hat above is a shorter

And the crown folds over to the front and rests on version of the Forage Cap and is in the Richmond

the bill. This hat is shown in a mix grey color. If Gray Color which will match your jacket.

you desire this style of cap, it should be ordered in

the darker, Richmond Gray to match your jacket.

Costs: $45.00 Where can I get this? Milk Creek Mercantile

PO Box 898

Mulino, OR 97042

(503) 829-3678

www.milkcreek.com One of the unique things about portraying the Confederate Soldier is the wide variety of Slouch Hats that are

available to customize your impression. A man’s hat in the 1860’s said something about the man himself. The

below examples are three of many types of slouch hats that you can purchase for your impression and you can order

them in a variety of colors.

Costs: $125.00-200.00

Where can I get these:

Dirty Billys Hats Clearwater Hats

20 Baltimore Street 1007 Clearwater Rd

Gettysburg, PA 17325 Timbo, Arkansas 72680

(717) 334-3200 (870) 746-4324

www.dirtybillyshats.com www.clearwaterhats.com

Also on Facebook

3. Jean Cloth Infantry Trousers in either gray or brown

color. Trousers should be made of jean cloth wool material.

You can choose either a lighter gray or brown color for your

trousers. The trousers to the right appear in a gray/brown mix

or you can choose them in a lighter gray wool or brown wool

jean cloth.

Costs: $80.00

Where can I get these? Milk Creek Mercantile

PO Box 898

Mulino, OR 97042

(503) 829-3678

www.milkcreek.com

Tier 2 (Progressive Impression)

This impression is for the beginning or veteran reenactor who wishes to increase the

authenticity of his impression to a standard above most reenactors.

The Tier 2 Impression is modeled after members of the Palmetto Light Artillery pictured

above encamped near Charleston in 1863. Although members of the artillery, these

troops are wearing a shell jacket made of jean cloth material.

Impression Requirements:

1. Jean Cloth Richmond Depot Type II or III Shell

Jacket in Logwood Dye. For this

impession, you can purchase either

the Type II or Type III shell jacket.

The Type II jacket seen to the right

contains epaulets while the Type

III jacket does not. The color of

the jacket will be in logwood dye

material seen to the right. For this

impression, you should obtain

South Carolina Buttons.

2. Jean Cloth Mule Ear Trousers in either light

gray or brown material. Trousers should be made

of jean cloth wool material. You can choose either a

lighter gray or brown color for your trousers.

Costs: Jacket ($230.00)

Trousers ($150.00)

Where can I get these? B&B Tart WW & CO.

802 Vandora Ave., PO Box 445

Garner NC, 27529 Charlotte, MI 48813

ben.tart@yahoo.com (517) 303-3609

919-802-6615

www.bnbtart.com

Another option for trousers would be the

BrownWooljean Infantry Trousers at:

Quartermaster Shop

5565 Griswold Road

Kimball, Michigan 48074-1906

(810) 367-6702

www.quartermastershop.com

3. Quality Kepi Cap or Forage Cap (similar matching in color to your uniform jacket)

or Slouch Hat in brown, black, or tan color made from one of the quality vendors

listed below: Costs: $150-200

Where can I get these?

Dirty Billys Hats Clearwater Hats

20 Baltimore Street 1007 Clearwater Rd

Gettysburg, PA 17325 Timbo, Arkansas 72680

(717) 334-3200 (870) 746-4324

www.dirtybillyshats.com www.clearwaterhats.com

Also on Facebook

N.J. Sekela (great kepis)

http://www.njsekela.com/index.php

Tim Bender Hats Richmond Depot, Inc.

TP&H Trading Co. PO Box 4849

PO Box 5061 Midlothian, VA 23112

Limerick, PA 19468 (804)305-2968

(610) 858 9191 www.richmonddepot.com

www.benderhats.com

Tier 3 (Hardcore Impression)

This impression is for reenactor who wishes to have one of the most authentic uniforms

in the hobby.

There is growing cumulative evidence which indicates that the men recruited from South Carolina went off to war

wearing the longer, jean cloth “frock coat” in a variety of colors and fabrics. The Tier 3 Impression is modeled after

the soldiers and uniforms above. Upper Row (L-R): Unidentified South Carolina Soldier in Jean Cloth Frock Coat

with what appear to be wood buttons; Group of South Carolina Soldiers wearing similar frock coats with what

appear to be military buttons and black piping on the color; Private Eli Franklin of the 1st South Carolina wears a

darker colored Frock Coat with the same black piping on the color. Lower Row (L-R): South Carolinian Robert

Bomar’s Frock Coat with yellow piping on the collar; A painting of Private George Senn of the 13th

South Carolina

with a darker colored Frock Coat. These Frock Coats were eventually replaced by shell jackets, but the versatility of

the Frock Coat for both Eastern and Western Theatres of the War, combined with its expansive use throughout the

war, makes for a very authentic impression.

Impression Requirements

1. Confederate Frock Coat in Tan or Gray Jean Wool Material or Logwood Dye Jean

Wool Material.

For this impression, you can purchase the longer Frock Coats seen above. Wood Buttons, South

Carolina Buttons, or Block I Buttons are Acceptable. A Black Trim can be added to the color

and cuffs at your preference. You will note the varying colors of Tan, Gray, or darker Log

Wood Dye; all of which would be acceptable for a South Carolina Impression.

Costs: $250-450

Where Can I get these: B&B Tart CJ Daley

802 Vandora Ave., P.O. Box 598,

Garner NC, 27529 Yorktown, VA 23690

ben.tart@yahoo.com www.cjdaley.com

(919) 802-6615

www.bnbtart.com

Richmond Depot, Inc. WW& Company

PO Box 4849 PO Box 445

Midlothian, VA 23112 Charlotte, MI 48813

(804)305-2968 (517) 303-3609

www.richmonddepot.com

1. Jean Cloth Mule Ear Trousers in either light gray or brown material. Trousers

should be made of jean cloth wool material. You can choose either a lighter gray or

brown color for your trousers.

Costs: Jacket ($230.00)

Trousers ($150.00)

Where can I get these? B&B Tart WW&Co

802 Vandora Ave., PO Box 445

Garner NC, 27529 Charlotte, MI 48813

ben.tart@yahoo.com (517) 303-3609

919-802-6615

www.bnbtart.com

Another option for trousers would be the

BrownWooljean Infantry Trousers at:

Quartermaster Shop

5565 Griswold Road

Kimball, Michigan 48074-1906

(810) 367-6702

www.quartermastershop.com

2. Quality Kepi Cap or Forage Cap (similar matching in color to your uniform jacket)

or Slouch Hat in brown, black, or tan color made from one of the quality vendors

listed below: Costs: $150-200

Where can I get these?

Dirty Billys Hats Clearwater Hats

20 Baltimore Street 1007 Clearwater Rd

Gettysburg, PA 17325 Timbo, Arkansas 72680

(717) 334-3200 (870) 746-4324

www.dirtybillyshats.com www.clearwaterhats.com

Also on Facebook

N.J. Sekela (great kepis)

http://www.njsekela.com/index.php

Tim Bender Hats Richmond Depot, Inc.

TP&H Trading Co. PO Box 4849

PO Box 5061 Midlothian, VA 23112

Limerick, PA 19468 (804)305-2968

(610) 858 9191 www.richmonddepot.com

www.benderhats.com

Accouterments

Accouterments should be black in color

Cartridge box: This item should be related to your rifle. If you have a .58 cal. weapon your

cartridge box should match that. Should be worn with a sling and without plates. The US made

products from Milk Creek Mercantile should be

purchased. $60

Sling: $15

Cap Pouch: $13

Where can I get this?: Milk Creek Mercantile

PO Box 898

Mulino, OR 97042

(503) 829-3678

www.milkcreek.com

Belt: There are a variety of belts and belt plates that can be worn. State buckles are more of an

early war item but can be seen throughout the war. The most commonly seen is civilian buckles

like: Georgia Frame, roller buckles and fork tongue. Avoid using "CS" buckles and flipped over

"US", as they are way over used and were actually quite rare during the war.

Where can I get this?:

Duvall Leatherwork

314 Wyoming AVE

Kingston, PA 18704

duvallleatherwork.com

Blockade Runner

1027 Wartrace Rd.

Wartrace Tn.

37183

Blockaderunner.com

Canteen: 1858 smoothside canteen. Canteen should be tin, avoid using stainless steel, with jean

wool cover. Leather or canvas sling is acceptable. Avoid Bullseye canteens, as they were only a

late-war issue item.

Where can I get this?

Blockade Runner

1027 Wartrace Rd.

Wartrace Tn.

37183

Blockaderunner.com

Footwear Brogans: Standard army footwear

Price: $115

Where can I get this?:

Robert Land Footwear

3909 Witmer Rd. PMB 139

Niagara Falls, NY 14305

robertlandhistoricshoes.com