Henry Martin Cheavens, a MSG soldier, discusses the practice of Guardsmen making their own clothing with material and needles they had been issued. Many of the items listed below can be made at home with a little patience. Guardsmen sometimes made their own clothes, so you can too. In contains lots of great pictures and descriptions of clothing. Other good books include Civil War Gentlemen by Shep and Victorians Unbottoned by Levitt.
Hats Let's begin with hats.
NO kepis, forage caps, or hat brass should be used. You should have a civilian-style hat that reflects your occupation. Slouch hats came in several styles and were very common. Plantation-style hats were also common. We recommend getting a high-quality civilian hat from a quality manufacturer.