THE APPLER JACKET
Shown here is a photo of the Appler uniform, worn by a member of the 4th Missouri at Corinth - like much of the uniforms worn in the west then, it is un-dyed and made from jean wool. Others were made from un-dyed cotton jean.
Here's a picture of a uniform reportedly worn at Corinth also reportedly worn at Champions Hill by John T. Appler of the 4th Missouri.
The Body (not counting sleeves which are 1 piece) is a 4 piece body.
Now the material it was made of was jean wool and the color is of some controversy.
It was either undyed jean or it was white wool with a brown cotton warp. Nic Clark seems to think it was the former and that the cotton oxidized. The buttons were federal eagle and it had 9 buttons.this is a quote from Joseph Boyce. He was in the 1st Missouri and in the 1880's delivered a series of lectures on his war time experiences these were evidently put in the local paper. As you probably know the 1st Mo was organized east of the Mississippi river around Memphis. The other regiments (2nd -6th) formed around the time of Pea Ridge and would cross the Mississippi shortly before Corinth. Below Boyce vaguely describes the equipage of the Missouri troops from the Tran's Miss at the time of their first rendevous with the 1st shorly before Corinth:
"...Our division (Lovell's) arrived at the point selected about two hours before Price. We were moved off of the main road, "stacked arms" and quietly awaited the arrival of the heroes of Wilson's Creek, Lexington, etc. "Here they come boys!" and we rushed to the road to welcome them. Many old friends met who had parted at Camp Jackson, and our pleasure was great, indeed, to meet so may friends and former comrades, they presented a very soldierly appearance, marching and moving like veterans. They were well armed but indifferently uniformed." (Boyce, Joseph. Tales of the War Personal Reminiscences of the First Regiment of Missouri Infantry, C.S.A., Read before the Southern historical and Benevolent Society of St. Louis, Saturday, September 16, 1884)
What I get out of this is maybe some emphasis on the Appler style jackets, but also some non-descript commutation and civilian jackets and coats and a mixture of pants, hats, caps, etc.
2/05/05 Pvt. James Prentice Jacket. Prentice enlisted at the beginning of
the war in Co. K, 1st Arkansas Infantry for twelve months.
After his enlistment expired he reenlisted July 21, 1862 in Co. F, 38th Arkansas Infantry.