Hello Dan,
I have a great, well made CS EM sailors' uniform made by Steve Hesson. It is neat. The grey jumper with white trim is made of a fine quality grey jean wool, much better than some of the jean wool on some infantry uniforms I have seen. I also have the white jumper with blue trim.

Anyway, last summer they had the grand opening for the new museum at the Confederate Memorial Park (site of large CS Soldiers home back in the day)in Marbury Alabama. It is just a park with three grave yards full of CS military personel. There were several dignitaries, etc, and a lot of reenactors. I saw a couple of infantry units, an artillery battery with a cannon, and some Cav guys, but no Naval representation or mention what so ever. I figured as much. So I wore my Naval uniform figuring that someone needed to represent the navy. I just stood off by myself and listened to the speeches, etc..

Afterwards, a lot of people came up to me admiring my uniform, cutlass, pistol, etc.. Few fellow reenactors did though. Most peered at me as if I was some sort of oddity. But anyway, the spectators that came up to me were saying things like "Wow, so this is what the good old Confederate sailor's suit was supposed to look like?!?, How comfortable it seems as opposed to all that crap the army guys have to wear and carry, etc, etc.. One black woman there had a pic taken of her giving me a hug. I thought that was neat. Not many now a days know that there were black confederates too.

Anyway, I explained of course that for much of the war many CS sailors still war captured Union blue sailors' uniforms, and as for the cutlass, etc., that a sailor only wore the belt, pistol and cutlass when in shipboard combat, repelling boarders, or perhaps certain duties, guard, etc.. Otherwise he wore nothing but his clothes, working with a mop to swab decks, or line for repairing the ship's lines (Ropes), repairing sail, or a tool box working on whatever he was detailed to work on, etc, etc.. Actually I really wore the belt and weapons to demonstrate what a sailor might have worn in a combat role and to keep my trousers up! But it was neat being amongst everyone in my sailors' outfit. And it is very comfortable.
Take care,
David Edelen
Alabama