Brogan-Style Shoes

These brogan-style shoes were worn by Private M. Page Lapham, of Danville, who served in the Washington Artillery of New Orleans. Lapham enlisted in Virginia in August 1863 and was shot at Dewry's Bluff on May 14, 1864. He died nine days later at Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond.

Leather brogans were the most common style of shoe among Civil War soldiers. They covered the entire foot up to the ankle and were often fitted with strips of metal on the heels to reduce wear. At the war's start, both sides dyed brogans black, although dye shortages eventually led Confederates to produce shoes in russet brown.