Confederate tartan question

[gilmore]

On the Scottish Tartan Authority website I came across something called "Confederate" tartan (ITI number 4565), NOT the better known and more allegedly recent "Confederate Memorial Tartan," alternate name "Sons of Confederate Veterans"(ITI number 4195)

This one has no gray, is predominately blue, with red, green and black. An alternative name for it is "23rd North Carolina Volunteer In[fantry?]." The date for it is listed as pre-1861. The designer and source is unknown.

I have been able to find nothing else about this tartan on the internet. In searching the X Marks the Scot threads, I find that Cajunscot is of the opinion that "Whilst I have read claims of some Confederate uniforms wearing kilts (the SC Highland Guard comes to mind), I have never seen concrete documentation for it," as well as a post in which he rather exhaustively lists the Scots units in the American Civil War.

(I also found this posted by Mike in NC, "... have a Confederate Memorial kilt that Rocky at USAK made for me. Not only is there a strong historical connection to the kilt, it is a very striking tartan. Never fails to draw looks and complements where ever I wear it. I've even worn it as an unofficial uniform when working with the N-SSA. BTW, the unit I shoot with is 23 NC State Troops, Company G...the Granville Rifles.")

Anyone have any further info on the origin of this tartan? Is it indeed ante bellum? Or is the STA mistaken in its dating? I am not a member of STA, so could not use the "Click here for more information" feature on the page where the tartan is displayed.

Has anyone ever seen or had a kilt made of it? If so, which mill(s) and kiltmaker(s) did it come from?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

The details of this tartan were submitted to the STA by Dr. Phil Smith. It's apparantly an artifact peice. The notes indicate that it was used as a "cape lining, regulation issue, 23rd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States of America (1861). From a uniform on display at the National Visitors' Centrer Museum, Gettysburg, PA."

Aye,
Matt

[gilmore]

Do you know of any kilted Confederates?

[Tattoo Bradley]

Funny this thread came up. I have known for years that there was a Confederate soldier in my lineage. But, a few days ago I received his name and relation from my grandmother. He's a direct relative: great-great-great-great grandfather. Rather sidetracking the original thread, but I thought it was neat. I really like the "Confederate Memorial" tartan... the gray is so symbolic.

[Woodsheal]

Do you know of any kilted Confederates?

I've been reading CW history since I was a wee lad, and I've never come across any mention of kilted Confederates in the field during the war. However, the south in particular went in for elaborately uniformed militia companies in the years prior to the war. These units no longer functioned as actual militia, but had become more along the line of gentlemen's clubs, who tried to out-do each other in the area of uniforms and extravagant picnics! It wouldn't surprise me at all if kilts appeared in some of these militia groups.

But in the field? No, and that goes for the Federals as well....

[gilmore]

<<<I've been reading CW history since I was a wee lad, and I've never come across any mention of kilted Confederates in the field during the war. However, the south in particular went in for elaborately uniformed militia companies in the years prior to the war. These units no longer functioned as actual militia, but had become more along the line of gentlemen's clubs, who tried to out-do each other in the area of uniforms and extravagant picnics! It wouldn't surprise me at all if kilts appeared in some of these militia groups.>>>


That would make sense, if the vogue for Scottish dress that had started early in the 19th Century in the UK had made inroads into the notions of Southern sartorial splendor. There were certainly enough Southern gentlemen of Scots descent, and many, like their British counterparts, were probably far enough removed from their humble Scottish origins to have developed a nostalgia for it, rather than being embarassed by it. As Mark Twain and others observed, the romaticism of the novels of Sir Walter Scott had a lot to do with Southern readiness to secede and fight.

[Andrew Green]

I thought that NY had a kilted regiment, that fought at the first battle of Bull Run/Manassas?

[Oatmeal Savage]

I suggest checking:

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/index.php

The folks there are very knowledgeable.

Kevin

[gilmore]

The details of this tartan were submitted to the STA by Dr. Phil Smith. It's apparantly an artifact peice. The notes indicate that it was used as a "cape lining, regulation issue, 23rd North Carolina Volunteer Infantry, Confederate States of America (1861). From a uniform on display at the National Visitors' Centrer Museum, Gettysburg, PA."

Aye,
Matt

PS. Thanks for your prompt and knowledgeable reply

[michael steinrok]

I thought that NY had a kilted regiment, that fought at the first battle of Bull Run/Manassas?

I think it was the 79th New York. They wore the Cameron Tartan on parade. Sadly, it appears it was never worn in combat.