Food for Thought

[L Verge]

I agree. But where did the idea that Surratt's jacket was red come from?
Mike

Probably from the fact that Garibaldi's soldiers wore red shirts as part of their uniforms.

Agreed, Steve, however when you read about Garibaldi's army, they are very specific in saying that they could not afford uniforms -- just shirts -- and that the style became a feminine one, not a male fashion statement.

That said, I finally found the word that I had been looking for in reference to the style of the Surratt jacket/coat/whatever! God bless Fred Hatch and his attention to details. Chapter 6, pages 85-89, John Surratt: Rebel, Lincoln Conspirator, Fugitive: " .... Before leaving Montreal for Elmira, I provided myself with an Oxford cut jacket and a round-top hat, peculiar to Canada at that time.... I believe that costume guided me safely through St. Albans. I went in with others, and moved around, with the detectives standing there most of the time looking at us..."

Fred also quoted other witnesses at the Surratt trial who mentioned "drab" or "dark gray" or "dark blue" as the colors of the jacket.

I will now pursue a search for the Oxford cut styling -- when I have nothing else to do.

Quick search, and I think this is what Surratt's Canadian jacket may have looked like, but with a different neckline. https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Empori...uage=en_US