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Guidelines for 96th Illinois at Chickamauga are up!
96th ILLINOIS AT CHICKAMAUGA – THE INDEPENDENT RIFLES
APPEARANCE
Participants are expected to make a reasonable effort to demonstrate the appearance of a Civil
War soldier. Meaning, no wild modern hairstyles or unnatural colors, excessively long hair,
piercings, jewelry, or tattoos that cannot be covered by clothing.
All clothing and equipment must be made using proper patterns, construction, and materials to
replicate original uniforms and accoutrements. If you are at all concerned about a particular
piece of your kit, please reach out to the event coordinators so that proper suggestions can be
made or loaner items acquired.
The 96th Illinois conducted extended marches through Tennessee in pursuit of the Rebels
during the summer of 1863. Primary sources describe heavy rains, then dusty roads, and worn
shoes and clothing. They were without the comforts of regimental baggage leading up to
Chickamauga. Uniforms and equipment should be dirty and dusty, within reason, of course.
Ragged clothes of the old campaigner ilk, i.e. intentionally torn holes in pants, coats, or jackets,
excessively greasy or smeared, are not acceptable.
COAT or JACKET
• Fatigue blouse, or “sack coat,” lined or unlined, of proper wool flannel. Altered, or cutdown, coats will be accepted in limited numbers. A coat cut to jacket length, or an added
pocket or buttons are fair game, but nothing excessive. No blouses made of odd colored
“teal” or other suggestive colors.
• Modified Mounted Services Jackets. What used to be considered a “SA Infantry Jacket,”
these were basically a standard Artillery or Cavalry jacket without the service branch trim
and belt supports, with the collars cut to 1” or 1 1/2”. Photographs of western Yankee
soldiers operating from Tennessee depict these in large numbers as a preference over
the fatigue blouse or uniform coat.
Western Federal Soldiers wearing Modified Mounted Services Jackets
• Private Purchase Jacket. Soldiers were given the opportunity to purchase their own
uniforms when and where available. Again, these appear in a considerable number of
photos of soldiers in Tennessee. The jackets should follow the basic patterns of the
period, but generally be minimal in overall appearance. An eight or nine button front,
square-cut collar, without epaulettes, belt loops, or exterior pockets.
• No “State Issue” jackets.
All NCOs will wear appropriate chevrons on their coats.
PANTS
• Infantry pants made from sky blue kersey of government or contract manufacture.
• Mounted Services pants made from sky blue kersey, in limited numbers, are allowed.
NCOs may wear appropriate pants stripes but are not required to. Corporals should have a ½”
stripe on their pants and sergeants should have a 1 ½” stripe on their pants.
SHIRTS
• U.S. Army contracted shirts made from wool flannel. Grey, tan, or blue are the preferred
colors
• U.S. Army regulation issue shirts made from grey flannel. A significant amount of these
shirts were acquired through the Quartermaster in Cincinnati.
• U.S. Army regulation issue shirt made from white domet flannel.
All participants are required to wear an issue shirt. Civilian shirts of proper printed or checked
patterns are only acceptable as baggage or an extra shirt. No participant will wear a civilian shirt
as a primary piece of their kit.
DRAWERS
• U.S. Army canton flannel drawers.
• Citizen drawers.
Modern underwear is not acceptable.
HEADWEAR
• U.S. issue 1858 Dress, or Hardee, hats. These, however, should not be appear to be
recently issued, or precisely blocked. Photographic evidence shows that these hats took
on another look due to the continued weather exposure, or even preference of style.
• Citizen hats of period style in black felt. Low crown hats, flat tops, “plug” or bowler styles
are widely seen in photographs.
With the exception of officers electing to do so, no caps will be worn.
FOOTWEAR
• U.S. Army bootees/shoes.
• Citizen or privately purchased boots may be worn if you do not have Army shoes.
BAGGAGE – LIGHT MARCHING ORDER!
The week prior to Chickamauga, the 96th Illinois was ordered to send their knapsacks and
blankets to the rear. They were then separated from the wagons during the advance. A gum
blanket will be required for participants, while a shelter half packed inside will be a suggested
option.
KNAPSACK
• None.
BLANKET
• None.
GROUND CLOTH
• A rubberized gum blanket/ground cloth or poncho is a requirement for all participants.
TENTS
• A “Type II” shelter half may be carried as an encouraged means of cover.
HAVERSACK
• U.S. painted haversack copied from any surviving original.
CANTEEN
• U.S. Army “smoothside” canteens contracted for Cincinnati are strongly preferred. These
canteens were manufactured in New York and had a cast, tapered pewter spout, cotton
drill strap, and jeans cover. Cincinnati canteens with rolled tin spouts are not time appropriate and therefore not acceptable.
• U.S. Army “smoothside” canteens of New York or Philadelphia styles. Proper cotton
slings and covers are required.
Corrugated Philadelphia “bullseye” canteens are not acceptable.
WAIST BELT
• Private’s belt with sewn keeper made of waxed or bridle leather.
NCO BELT
• None. The Ordnance Returns for the regiment recorded no NCO belts in September
1863.
CARTRIDGE BOX
• U.S. Army .58 caliber cartridge boxes of 1861 pattern with belt/sling. All cartridge boxes
should have the appropriate “U.S.” plate secured to the outer flap. Cartridge box
belts/slings are required and are strongly preferred to have a breastplate.
CAP BOX
• U.S. arsenal or contract made cap box.
BAYONET SCABBARD
• U.S. arsenal or contract, 2-rivet scabbards.
No 7-rivet or militia scabbards are acceptable.
ARMS
• P1853 Enfield Rifled Muskets. The September 1863 returns show the entire regiment
armed with these.
GUN SLING
• Gun sling made of oiled leather. The regiment reported having as many slings as
muskets. Slings are very highly encouraged.
96th ILLINOIS AT CHICKAMAUGA – THE INDEPENDENT RIFLES
APPEARANCE
Participants are expected to make a reasonable effort to demonstrate the appearance of a Civil
War soldier. Meaning, no wild modern hairstyles or unnatural colors, excessively long hair,
piercings, jewelry, or tattoos that cannot be covered by clothing.
All clothing and equipment must be made using proper patterns, construction, and materials to
replicate original uniforms and accoutrements. If you are at all concerned about a particular
piece of your kit, please reach out to the event coordinators so that proper suggestions can be
made or loaner items acquired.
The 96th Illinois conducted extended marches through Tennessee in pursuit of the Rebels
during the summer of 1863. Primary sources describe heavy rains, then dusty roads, and worn
shoes and clothing. They were without the comforts of regimental baggage leading up to
Chickamauga. Uniforms and equipment should be dirty and dusty, within reason, of course.
Ragged clothes of the old campaigner ilk, i.e. intentionally torn holes in pants, coats, or jackets,
excessively greasy or smeared, are not acceptable.
COAT or JACKET
• Fatigue blouse, or “sack coat,” lined or unlined, of proper wool flannel. Altered, or cutdown, coats will be accepted in limited numbers. A coat cut to jacket length, or an added
pocket or buttons are fair game, but nothing excessive. No blouses made of odd colored
“teal” or other suggestive colors.
• Modified Mounted Services Jackets. What used to be considered a “SA Infantry Jacket,”
these were basically a standard Artillery or Cavalry jacket without the service branch trim
and belt supports, with the collars cut to 1” or 1 1/2”. Photographs of western Yankee
soldiers operating from Tennessee depict these in large numbers as a preference over
the fatigue blouse or uniform coat.
Western Federal Soldiers wearing Modified Mounted Services Jackets
• Private Purchase Jacket. Soldiers were given the opportunity to purchase their own
uniforms when and where available. Again, these appear in a considerable number of
photos of soldiers in Tennessee. The jackets should follow the basic patterns of the
period, but generally be minimal in overall appearance. An eight or nine button front,
square-cut collar, without epaulettes, belt loops, or exterior pockets.
• No “State Issue” jackets.
All NCOs will wear appropriate chevrons on their coats.
PANTS
• Infantry pants made from sky blue kersey of government or contract manufacture.
• Mounted Services pants made from sky blue kersey, in limited numbers, are allowed.
NCOs may wear appropriate pants stripes but are not required to. Corporals should have a ½”
stripe on their pants and sergeants should have a 1 ½” stripe on their pants.
SHIRTS
• U.S. Army contracted shirts made from wool flannel. Grey, tan, or blue are the preferred
colors
• U.S. Army regulation issue shirts made from grey flannel. A significant amount of these
shirts were acquired through the Quartermaster in Cincinnati.
• U.S. Army regulation issue shirt made from white domet flannel.
All participants are required to wear an issue shirt. Civilian shirts of proper printed or checked
patterns are only acceptable as baggage or an extra shirt. No participant will wear a civilian shirt
as a primary piece of their kit.
DRAWERS
• U.S. Army canton flannel drawers.
• Citizen drawers.
Modern underwear is not acceptable.
HEADWEAR
• U.S. issue 1858 Dress, or Hardee, hats. These, however, should not be appear to be
recently issued, or precisely blocked. Photographic evidence shows that these hats took
on another look due to the continued weather exposure, or even preference of style.
• Citizen hats of period style in black felt. Low crown hats, flat tops, “plug” or bowler styles
are widely seen in photographs.
With the exception of officers electing to do so, no caps will be worn.
FOOTWEAR
• U.S. Army bootees/shoes.
• Citizen or privately purchased boots may be worn if you do not have Army shoes.
BAGGAGE – LIGHT MARCHING ORDER!
The week prior to Chickamauga, the 96th Illinois was ordered to send their knapsacks and
blankets to the rear. They were then separated from the wagons during the advance. A gum
blanket will be required for participants, while a shelter half packed inside will be a suggested
option.
KNAPSACK
• None.
BLANKET
• None.
GROUND CLOTH
• A rubberized gum blanket/ground cloth or poncho is a requirement for all participants.
TENTS
• A “Type II” shelter half may be carried as an encouraged means of cover.
HAVERSACK
• U.S. painted haversack copied from any surviving original.
CANTEEN
• U.S. Army “smoothside” canteens contracted for Cincinnati are strongly preferred. These
canteens were manufactured in New York and had a cast, tapered pewter spout, cotton
drill strap, and jeans cover. Cincinnati canteens with rolled tin spouts are not time appropriate and therefore not acceptable.
• U.S. Army “smoothside” canteens of New York or Philadelphia styles. Proper cotton
slings and covers are required.
Corrugated Philadelphia “bullseye” canteens are not acceptable.
WAIST BELT
• Private’s belt with sewn keeper made of waxed or bridle leather.
NCO BELT
• None. The Ordnance Returns for the regiment recorded no NCO belts in September
1863.
CARTRIDGE BOX
• U.S. Army .58 caliber cartridge boxes of 1861 pattern with belt/sling. All cartridge boxes
should have the appropriate “U.S.” plate secured to the outer flap. Cartridge box
belts/slings are required and are strongly preferred to have a breastplate.
CAP BOX
• U.S. arsenal or contract made cap box.
BAYONET SCABBARD
• U.S. arsenal or contract, 2-rivet scabbards.
No 7-rivet or militia scabbards are acceptable.
ARMS
• P1853 Enfield Rifled Muskets. The September 1863 returns show the entire regiment
armed with these.
GUN SLING
• Gun sling made of oiled leather. The regiment reported having as many slings as
muskets. Slings are very highly encouraged.