Brogans! The Civil War Shoe and Gettysburg Monuments
Brogans: The brogan shoe is believed to have originated in Scotland and Ireland in the 16th century and comes from the Old Irish word “bróc” which means shoe. A brogan is an ankle-length, lace-up shoe/boot hybrid; it is too tall to be a shoe and too short to be considered a boot.
The brogan shoe was the most common type of shoe worn by soldiers of the American Civil War. The standard model of brogan used was the Model1851 Jefferson (named after Thomas Jefferson). They were a square toed model with four eyelets and leather laces. These shoes were made from rough out leather that was blackened and finished.
There are many accounts during the Gettysburg Campaign of men in the ranks needing shoes. General Oliver O. Howard would write General George G. Meade “My men are suffering for the want of shoes.” Howard would inform General Rufus Ingalls “One half of the effective strength of the corps cannot march for want of shoes and stockings.” Shoes were important to a Civil War soldier. Without them an army would grind to a halt.
The brogan shoe was the most common type of shoe worn by soldiers of the American Civil War. The standard model of brogan used was the Model1851 Jefferson (named after Thomas Jefferson). They were a square toed model with four eyelets and leather laces. These shoes were made from rough out leather that was blackened and finished.
There are many accounts during the Gettysburg Campaign of men in the ranks needing shoes. General Oliver O. Howard would write General George G. Meade “My men are suffering for the want of shoes.” Howard would inform General Rufus Ingalls “One half of the effective strength of the corps cannot march for want of shoes and stockings.” Shoes were important to a Civil War soldier. Without them an army would grind to a halt.
Shoes came from many sources. The Quartermaster would issue most shoes, men would purchase shoes from local merchants or a grislier supply, from the dead. One need only review the photo of Timothy O’Sullivan taken just days after the battle of Gettysburg. Bodies of dead soldiers on the battlefield laying where they fell, shoeless.
Dead soldiers on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Note their shoes have been removed.
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This Civil War soldier is wearing what appears to be a a relatively new uniform however his brogans are in poor condition. See picture to right for a close-up view.
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A close-up view of the soldier's well worn brogans.
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Brogans depicted on Gettysburg Monuments
Many of the Gettysburg Battlefield monuments accurately portray the standard issue uniforms and accoutrements worn by the Civil War soldier. Uniformity in regards to what the soldiers were issued and wore was much more common in the Northern Army. Southern soldiers, because of the lack of availability, would often remove needed uniform or equipment shortages from the dead. This would include both their comrades as well as their Northern enemy. When monuments began appearing on the battlefield, the sculptors commissioned by the veterans would often include the brogan as part of their design. Following are some examples of brogans portrayed on monuments located on the Gettysburg Battlefield. Maryland State Memorial. Dedicated 1994, sculptor Lawrence Ludtke.
The Maryland State Memorial is one of the most detailed on the battlefield. It depicts the uniforms and accoutrements worn by the Marylanders in wonderful detail. The brogans depicted on the monument include small details such as an untied shoe lace as well as nails in the heels and stitching along the sole.
A video discussing the brogans on the Maryland State Memorial and Lawrence Ludtke's work.
Virginia State Memorial. Dedicated 1917, sculptor Frederick William Sievers. Sievers would use original Confederate equipment to model the figures on the front of the memorial. This included brogans. Several have shoe laces in knots, some laces broken and no longer using all of the shoe eyelets. Layers of leather depicted on the heals. This is the detail these sculptors were known for. |
 A Northern Soldier (left) gives a drink of water to a Southern soldier. Note the condition of the uniform and brogans worn by the southern soldier. This rarely seen bronze relief is on the reverse side of the 66th New York Infantry monument located on the Stoney Hill just west of the Wheatfield.
Myth Alert! The often told myth that the Battle of Gettysburg was fought over shoes is untrue. General Henry Heth would write in 1877 that he was told there was a large supply of shoes at Gettysburg. With his men in great need of shoes he ordered General Pettigrew to secure them. There was no shoe factory in or around Gettysburg at the time of the battle. This misleading post war statement by Heth lives yet today. It was the roads that brought these two great armies together. 
A rear view of the 66th New York infantry monument just after completion. Note the photographers wagon in the background and also the absence of Sickles Avenue.
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Mississippi State Memorial. Dedicated 1973, sculptor Donald De Lue. Donald De Lue would develop his own synthesis as depicted on his three battlefield memorials. De Lue would admit 'Although my work is traditional, it is a tradition of my own.' This style is depicted with the brogans on the bronze figures of the Mississippi State Memorial.
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116th Pennsylvania Infantry Monument. Dedicated 1888 sculptor J. Henderson Kelley Kelley's representation of a brogan is very good considering it was carved from granite. It always amazes me how a sculptor can see the subject in a block of granite. Michelangelo would quote: Every block of stone has a statue inside it and is the task of the sculptor to discover it.
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