Based off of the photo of Pvt. James Nelson of the 6th TN Inf. The jacket was "pieced"; i.e. used odd and end pieces in order to make a complete garment. Piecing was done in civilian and military garments. The inside pocket is made from linsey-woolsey and it's meant to represent a pocket added "in the field" at a later date, which explains the crude stitching. The jacket is machine sewn, but the buttonholes and inside pocket are hand sewn. There are TN State buttons on this jacket, too. Pvt. Nelson only served in late '61 and early '62, so this dates this jacket to that timeframe. The fabric is natural white kersey, natural white cassimere made by Ben Tart, and sky blue jean. This jacket could also work for Missouri State Guard around the time of Pea Ridge and if the buttons were changed to generic coin buttons, etc., it would be worn from Pea Ridge and Shiloh all the way to Vicksburg and the Red River Campaign. It's a Trans-Miss/far Western jacket. Made by Nic Clark. Size 40.
