Department of Alabama Jacket 1864-1865

After the fall of Atlanta, the Army of Tennessee began receiving garments from the Department of Alabama. These jackets would be utilized by the Army of Tennessee during the failed Nashville Campaign of 1864. However, their main issuance appears to be attached to the forces sent to Mobile from the Army of Tennessee in 1865. While issues to a wide number of units, they are specifically linked to the famed Missouri Brigade defending Fort Blakeley in April of 1865. 

These jackets vary in detail, but are materially consistent in having a trimmed collar and outside pocket. The construction of these jacket was historically "poor" at best, having extremely shoddy construction. 

Two examples are offered here. The first is an example copied from a jacket worn by Thomas Jefferson Beck (Fenner’s Louisiana Light Artillery Battery). This is a finer example of the Department of Alabama jackets, including belts loops and substantially higher quality construction when compared to the other known examples.  The second example is a copy of John Hoey's (Company E, 22rd Louisiana Infantry) jacket. This jacket is indicative of the quality of many of the other examples, and includes an unusual collar construction occasionally seen on other jackets coming out of the "Deep South". 

Additional historical information can be found here.