In my great-grandfathers diary he includes the following statement...

"Most glorious news. I have got me a fine pair of shoes, but leather scarce, only heel and toe leather. The balance cloth. They will save my feet from rocks."

My question is can anybody tell me what kind of shoes these were. In looking through the service records of the men of his regiment I once noticed where one man was sent off on detached service to "make shoes". (If I recall correctly, to Alabama) Could this have been this man's work? The time frame of this detached service and the diary entry would appear to present this as a possibility or was this a common type of shoes? The year was 1863 and the regiment was the 7th Mississippi of the AoT.

Thanks in advance for any help!