Spaulding Jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

re: S. J. Hazelbaher, Company K, 8th Illinois Infantry

The published diaries of James Jessee, Co. K, mention Sid J. Hazelbaher several times. They were both non-coms and apparently chums. Jessee did not re-enlist but Hazelbaher did; they kept in touch even when Jessee went home.

(One entry mentions that the two were getting dirty looks from the officers for talking men out of reenlisting. It seems the officers were using beer as an inducement to get soldiers to reenlist and these two non-coms were not in favor of the method.)

The earliest mention of Hazelbaher in the diaries is in the form of a 'company roster' type list of men and officers of Co. K. He is listed there as 2nd corporal. This list is on the first page of the diary which starts with a Dec. 1, 1862 entry.

I don't know when Hazelbaher made sergeant; he has sgt stripes in the CDV. So, it seems it was after Dec. 1, 1862. Which, in my poor logic, would also date the image.

Now is when Scott informs me it has a Vicksburg gallery b/m, making all this typing useless! :wink_smil I'll forgive him if he also tells me that friend Bill has a stash of letters/diaries from this soldier as well...

P.S.
The 17th Ill. column of companies image (published in 'Images of War') is dated to 1863. Many are wearing short jackets but the details just aren't available to be seen.

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Does the jacket have 'battle/wound' damage?

[prestontoprail]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

A photo of the 17th Illinois taken at Vicksburg on September 8, 1863. This was scanned from the CMH by John (I think?) some time ago. It seems that every variety of shell jacket is represented with these guys. The fourth rear rank man in first platoon seems to have the "NYSJ" style shell on as well. Keep in mind that they were in garrison when this photo was taken and they might have been wearing different jackets during the campaign.

[Ian M.]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

And a jaunty bowler third from left standing. Great photograph -- thanks for posting.

[Spongebucket]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

This is a great thread and, like many, my research is piled away.
Pillars,
I remember Brother Mike Bub researching his ancestor Illinois unit (52nd?) and finding a great collection of photos. Seemed to be before they shipped out. And almost to the man, they are in "Excelsior" jackets and kepis (some in forage caps). He wrote an article in the Skulkers newsletter about 10 yrs ago.
As for the Covais jacket, I do own the patterns and notes and the only thing that fits that description is the "Excelsior jacket"(his phrasing...not mine)....however, it had a slanted extrior pocket on the left side (like many of the phots M. Bub had) v. the horizontal pocket on the right side (like many ID'd to NYV troops).
I've heard of some made in cassinet or satinette...and would love to see something like that.
my 2 pennies,
Joe Blunt

[ScottCross]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

The image below is another one from Company D, 13th Illinois, from the Rock Island Arsenal Museum. This image shows the belt loop quite clearly and it also appears to be piped. I should also point out that all the 13th Illinois images were taken at the same time, probably by the same photographer, and possibly when they were stationed at Rolla, MO.

[ScottCross]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

The image below illustrates that not everyone in the 13th Illinois was issued a NY style jacket. This jacket has no trim, no belt loops, no shoulder straps, and no exterior pocket. This soldier also appears in a group image wearing the same jacket, while his pards are wearing a NY style jacket. I'm intrigued by Brian Bairds suggestion that perhaps some of these jackets may have been coming from St Louis.

[John Pellarin]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Scott,

Brian might be on to something. Justus McKinstry, who was the Quatermaster in St. Louis in the spring and summer of '61 and who was slammed by the Van Wyck committee (and was courtmartialed for corruption) afterwards wrote a pamplet trying to vindicate himself. It is available on the Making of America website. In the piece, he mentions the great amount of pressure he was receiving to supply the growing numbers of volunteers in St. Louis and from the state of Illinois. A possible link?

John Pellarin

[Brian Baird]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Some ramblings tidbits

The 17th Illinois Reg. Pic mentioned in the Lazy Jacks site is dated wrong. The 17th mustered out in May, 1864 and I have a copy of a letter dated November 15th, 1863 written by Alfred Goodwin stated …“Our regiment has been having its photograph taken. I was not there. The artists here have been trying experiments on myself and Sigler to see if they can get a good picture of us.”…

Comrade Bill Tometich just sent me a link to a ebay pic of an ILL drummer in the 33rd Illinois:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230334649791&indexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting

Brian Baird

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

The Lazy Jacks site has the column of companies image I was referring to.



Incidentally, the one Preston posted has a mate - it shows the same company but they are standing at shoulder arms.

By the by, the 17th, or I suppose just the veterans, were consolidated into the 8th Ill. Inf. later in the war.

And Comrade Bill is certainly earning his keep these days in spotting these images...

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Oh, for an ID.....

http://cgi.ebay.com/Civil-War-Tintype-Dbl-Armed-Soldier-Standing-in-Camp_W0QQitemZ170314697121QQcmdZViewItemQQptZArt_Photo_Images?hash=item170314697121&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

[prestontoprail]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Oh, what a terrific find. I assume this would at least be narrowed down to a western army photograph. I can't see any clues from this photo to gather any specific date/location details, other than it is early war with his trinkets and smoothbore. It is really neat however, one could imagine this in the Shiloh forest pre-battle. Well a guy can dream can't he....

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Great pic!

Notice that he has run all of his straps (including his knapsack) UNDER his epaulets. Also, he appears to be wearing a Mex-war pattern knapsack.

[CJDaley]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Colonel David H. Vinton was Deputy Quartermaster General for the US Army, so I would assume they were purchased by the Federal government. Interesting. I wonder if they were issued to NY troops?

Don't know Scott, wish I did.

What I do know is every surviving NYS jacket I've seen (5 total) has NYS buttons. None have regular US buttons like Vinton asked for.

We don't know if Vinton ever got these jackets.
We don't know if the contract was altered to change the pattern/design/buttons.
We don't know if these jackets were issued to Fed or State troops.
We don't know...

I've got 2-3 ILL images on my other computer, I'll try to get them onto this thread before too long.

As Dan says, there were tons of variations in these puppies (NYS jackets) Some were made really well out of nice fabric, some were slapped together out of junk fabric. It would be impossible to tell from an image what fabric was used or assembly techniques.

Let's hope an ILL id'd jacket pops out of someone's closet someday to tell us for sure...until then, thanks for starting this thread.

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Spaulding jacket/Illinois Infantry Jackets

Chris,
Check the posts regarding "chevron placement." One does exist in public display at the Geneva History Center. I think it's Brian Baird that mentions two in a private IL collection.