What does 'brogan' mean?

brogan

Type of hard leather shoe worn by foot soldiers that nearly came up to their ankles.

The use of the word "brogan" is displayed in my novel, A Beautiful Glittering Lie, as follows:

(Page 36)
Following the ceremony, each officer was given a bouquet of flowers, and to each enlistee, a newly constructed Confederate uniform was distributed. The jackets were gray homespun wool with a row of nine shiny brass buttons down the front. Kepis were allotted as headwear, and brogans for footwear. Every man was instructed to bring his own firearm and ammunition if possible, as well as knives and hygienic items. The pastor dispersed small Testaments, blessing each soldier while he went down the line, while telling them that they were not only expected to learn duty to their country, but also how to fight the great moral battle of life. The recruits were then ordered to return in four days to the Huntsville Depot for departure. Before the evening’s festivities ended, members of the new company exchanged vows with each other, stating that they would protect one another like brethren “to the death.”

(Pages 271-272)
The men awoke to find it was raining, as it usually did after a battle. They discovered that Burnside’s Federals had crossed the river overnight, demoralized into retreating to Washington. A wave of cheers rushed over the Rebel ranks. While the rain dissipated to drizzle, Bud, who was still in a daze, followed some of his comrades out onto the battlefield, which was covered with dead Yankee soldiers. It was obvious from what they saw that the Union army had suffered almost complete annihilation. Some of the Federals died trying to use their comrades’ bodies as shields. What it must have been like to lie in wait while bullets thudded into the bodies of their friends, Bud could only speculate. Besides corpses dressed in blue, some wore Zouave uniforms, while others adorned their trappings with Kelly green. Blue Hugh figured they were with the Irish Brigade, of which he had heard about. The barefoot Confederates immediately set to work, relieving the rigid bodies of their footwear and clothing, as well as their haversacks’ contents. Bud replaced his worn out brogans that had developed holes in their soles long ago.