State Jackets For Artillerymen?

[Rmhisteach]

Pards & Comrades,


I am doing federal artillery at an event soon and I want to know if it is appropriate to wear my Illinois state Jacket.
Our impression will be mid war - Illinois Artillery.

Rod Miller
Old Pards
Cornfed Comrades

[Jeffrey Cohen]

1st Reg. {Lt} Chicago Lt. Art. July 1861 Gray fatigue uniform with cap,arty. sabre and revolver; Grimsley horse furniture.
Oct. 1861 state hat issued.
Dec.1861 US Reg Lt art,. uniform and accouterments and McClellan horse furniture for out riders.

2nd Reg.{Lt} Aug.1861' donated fatigue uniform with shirt.
Oct 1861' fatigue jacket, blouse and boots.
Dec 1861 US reg. Lt art. uniforms accouterments and horse furniture.

Also 7 independent batt. Lt. Art. designated 1st thru 7th and by commanders names. All wore US Reg Lt art. uniforms, accouterments.
This is a quote from American Military Equipage. Page 766 volume 2

Now if your were in the good old Sixth New York Independent Battery you could get away with a state jacket for an early war impression.

Regards,
Jeffrey Cohen

[Rmhisteach]

Jeff,

Thanks for the input.

RM

[roundshot]

Artillery units frequently drew replacements (both temp and perm) from infantry regiments, so portraying such a transferee is an authentic option if you want to wear your state jacket. Many members of the Iron Brigade went to B/4th US as just one example.

Bob Williams
1st NC Arty/ West Point Battery

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Rod,

Is your Ill. state jacket (btw, good for you having one, they were in MUCH use especially by Ill. troops) blue with 7-9 buttons, exterior pocket, epaulettes?

I have looked at many Ill. photos. All of them, no. (Wish I had!)
But I cannot recall seeing the jacket I described above used by artillery - except maybe some earlier war version in gray. (Taylor's Battery I think?)

I'm not gonna bet my life or yours it never happened. Personally, I just have not seen any photos.

This is more opinion than anything, but if it was me, I wouldn't. I would go with a 'sack coat' or 'artillery/mounted services jacket' - but that's me. Maybe even a 'private purchase' version of a jacket.

It would be nice if Brian Baird (or other Stone's Battery ? types from 10 or so years ago) could offer some thoughts.

Also, if you know what unit is to be portrayed, give a shout, maybe we can scrap us a note or two on it.

My two cents,
John Pillers

[Rmhisteach]

John,

Thanks for the .02 but with the war on it has tripled and is inflated to 6 cents. Ha Ha

Thanks much for you reply. We are putting together an authetic/ Progressive battery at a streamer event near Chicago. One of our members has the opportunity to get an origanl 3 inch ord. rifle. When we are able to do this we relish the opprotunity.

My jacket is a seven button , made of County Cloth satinette, and has epualettes. Randy Jackson made it from a pattern made by covais which is from an original. I think that the only way to pull it off would be to have been transfered into the battery from an infantry regiment. I have a sack coat that I can wear , but I was just wondering.


Rod Miller
Old Pards
Cornfed Comrades
Old Northwest Volunteers

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Rod,

By the by, what other construction details can you offer of the Jackson/Covais jacket? Belt loop? Pockets? Cuff? Lining?

Thanks,
John Pillers

;)

[Jeffrey Cohen]

Congratulations on finding an original tube. You should look into getting the tube sonicly tested for flaws as ordnance rifles were hammered around a mandrel.
Regards,
Jeffrey Cohen

[Rmhisteach]

Jeff,

They did not find the tube a unit has been using it actively since the 70's I think. Our group just has the opportunity to use it at an event coming up.


Rod Miller
Old pards Cornfed Comrades
Old Northwest Volunteers

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Oops, I think I meant Cheney's battery, not Stone's.

Not my day/week,
John Pillers

:confused:

[artillerycorp 1st Ill]

Gentlemen,

James J. Hennessey has provided us with information on the gray uniforms issued to both Battery "A" and "B" of the Chicago Light Artillery. I am quoting from the information sheet provided with Plate # 785. I believe James also produced the artwork for the plate.

“In the late summer of 1861, the Chicago Light Artillery received a uniform provided by the citizens of Chicago was finally received by the men. Pvt. Jeremiah Sherman of Battery "A" has a ledger entry that states, "Received my uniform of artillery close [sic] which are a grey suit throuht [sic] except the red trimmings:'' Enoch Colby wrote to his family, "It consists of one pair of gray pants, lined all wool and of good material, also a coat out of the same trimmed with red. A cap of the same cut after the souave [sic] pattern. It is a gay looking uniform and when our company's out on dress parade, they make a splendid appearance. Our overcoats will be of heavy blue with a cape and will come down almost to the ankle." A full length portrait of William Pitt Follansbee, reproduced in Kimball's "History of Battery A", corroborates these descriptions and provides details of the cap insignia and the Brandenburg cuff of the jacket. It is difficult to determine how long this gray uniform was worn. Kimball states that "the boys (of battery "A") received their first regulation uniforms at Paducah, December 22, 1861.” However, Jeremiah Sherman, in recounting his experiences at Shiloh, describes looting an abandoned sutler's tent: "I stuffed my artillery jacket, grey uniform jacket full of wrighting [sic] paper." Certainly, by mid 1862, the Chicago artillerymen were provided with the regulation blue and red trimmed jackets that they wore for the remainder of their service.”

Additionally, in the summer of 1986 in issue 38 of the “Military Collector and Historian” Richard Tibbals wrote a 5 page article describing a 29 cartes de visite collection of Taylor’s Battery taken when the battery was stationed in Memphis in 1862. Now, there are some that claim that these boys are dressed in their best for the photos but, it does give you a good idea of typical dress of a federal artilleryman. The article on our webpage does not have all the images but you can access our Original members photo gallery from a link at the bottom of the article that will give you more images to view. I also have a copy of an image of the whole battery in action before Resaca Georgia in 1864. I can send you a copy of that if you wish. You can contact me through the webmaster link of the Taylor’s Battery webpage. The url is www.taylorsbattery.org Also, the webpage has the images that I have mentioned above also. I was going to attach them but it seems I am unable to do so. Sorry.

I hope this helps. By the way Rod,what little event outside of Chicago are you guys attending; maybe I’ll look you up.

Steve Curtis
Taylor's Battery
1st Illinois Light Artillery

[Hargis, G. 5 A-1]

Congratulations on finding an original tube. You should look into getting the tube sonicly tested for flaws as ordnance rifles were hammered around a mandrel.
Regards,
Jeffrey Cohen

Ordnance Rifles?
My, but they are pretty things, ain't they?
Checking the tube's fitness for service is a really good idea, not just because of the risk of catastrophic failure —
One original 3" Ord. Rifle of my acquaintance had an unfortunate habit of slinging chunks of its rifling down range.
Those in the impact zone found this to be more than just a little annoying.

Glen E. Hargis

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

"Pvt. Jeremiah Sherman of Battery "A" has a ledger entry that states, "Received my uniform of artillery close [sic] which are a grey suit throuht [sic] except the red trimmings:'' Enoch Colby wrote to his family, "It consists of one pair of gray pants, lined all wool and of good material, also a coat out of the same trimmed with red. A cap of the same cut after the souave [sic] pattern. It is a gay looking uniform and when our company's out on dress parade, they make a splendid appearance. Our overcoats will be of heavy blue with a cape and will come down almost to the ankle." A full length portrait of William Pitt Follansbee, reproduced in Kimball's "History of Battery A", corroborates these descriptions and provides details of the cap insignia and the Brandenburg cuff of the jacket. ..."


Do the sources say who was making this uniforms?

If I recall, there were supposedly other versions of the 'Ill. brigade uniform' that were 7-button gray cassimere with trim (brandenburg cuff) of varying colors. But I've not come across proof it actually existed. Wanting to make sure the CLA plate is not it. Have you seen the Follansbee image, is it a jacket for certain? (The brigade uniform being issued to, at least, the 8th and 12th Ill. Inf.)

John Pillers