Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

[csuniforms]

Hello, Am trying to help a fellow researcher from Michigan with the uniforms of the 1st Michigan Infantry (3 months). His question dealt with an article in a Michigan paper that stated the Regiment was issued "blue miners shirts" as part of the uniform. Miners shirts does not ring a bell with me-- can anyone help?

Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms

[Minieball577]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Tom, might be worth looking into some of the clothing that was used by miners in Michigan's Copper and Iron industry around that time. Maybe they were referring to something that would have been common among them, although this was largely in Michigan's northern counties, and most of the companies in the 3 months regiment were comprised of militia companies from the southern portion of the state.

[CSchneider]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Period Gold Rush imagery shows the plain old blue wool overshirt second in popularity only to the red overshirt among the miners. Argonauts' diaries contain plenty of mentions of red and blue "over-shirts," "flannel shirts," "miner's shirts," and even "sailor's shirts":

"Please send me out by some vessel two pairs of long boots, the legs may be continued almost indefinitely, as you cannot cross a street, scarcely, without getting knee deep in mud. Let them come six inches above the knee, and get one of the boys to give them a good coat of dubbing. . . . Please send us also a dozen blue twilled flannel shirts, such as are worn by sailors."

-Craig Schneider

[csuniforms]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Hello, I knew I could count on you guys. Will do more research. Our Kenosha Civil War Museum is putting together the uniforms and history of the
1st Regiments of each State of the Old Northwest Territory. This is for one of the projects-- Michigan. As we come closer to the 150th, I can sense that many are in the sinks with the state of our economy and how it affects them. Most of the States are giving a token acknowledgement to the event especially up North. Those States with Battlefields and historic sites are working their tourist angle which is wonderful.. Well, it is going to be up to US to make it a memorable celebration and rememberance. I am your pard for the "duration of the War"!!

Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms

[Shockoe Hill Cats]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/showthread.php?20793-49-er-photo-shirt-overshirt-type

[Minieball577]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Tom, this will be great addition to the already impressive museum there in Kenosha. IF I can do anything to help the efforts there please contact me directly by phone or through e-mail.

[YMikels]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Greetings Gents,

Not meaning to change lanes here but;

I was just up touring the Kenosha Museum today for several hours. Quite impressive and very well done. I thoroughly enjoyed the 'Walk-thru' experiences from pre-War to G.A.R. reunions. I had asked one of the volunteers walking about who did the uniforms, clothing and trappings on all the manikins. He told me to call during the week and speak with the Curator as he knows the sources. I was just curious as the slouch hats could certainly have come from Tim Bender and noticed lots of handwork on some of the clothing items.

My only regret was the dimness of the lighting for the original artifacts behind the glass displays. I understand completely why the lighting was so, preservation, it just made it difficult to discern details on many items and reading some captions were straining for these eyes.

Respectfully, I am,

[Jeremy Bevard]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Tom,

Do you have the article you are referring to on the miners shirts being given to the First Michigan? Was this the 3 months or 3 years? Myself and a few pards have been digging into the 3 months and we have not come across anything mentioning blue minor shirts.

Thanks,

[mladair]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Speaking of the 1st MI, (3 month), I seem to recall that while going through the microfilm of the Wolverine Citizen, I found an article describing that the unit left the state of Michigan outfitted with red canteens. Just thought it might be an interesting tid-bit.

[Stonewall_Greyfox]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Speaking of the 1st MI, (3 month), I seem to recall that while going through the microfilm of the Wolverine Citizen, I found an article describing that the unit left the state of Michigan outfitted with red canteens. Just thought it might be an interesting tid-bit.

Even moreso if you provided the citation.

Paul B.

[mladair]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Found that I actually had that article transcribed:
The Wolverine Citizen - 25 May 1861

Michigan’s First Regiment.

The pride of the citizens of Michigan may well feel gratified at the impression created by their First Regiment at Washington and on the route thither. Admiration of the men, their discipline and equipment, has not been confined to any section, but finds expression in all channels, and through the press of every division of political sentiment, wherever the Regiment appeared. These facts afford a most triumphant reply to those Michigan journals, of ill-concealed secession proclivities, which have been carping at Gov. Blair and the military authorities for delay in answering the requisition of the General Government for troops. By taking sufficient time, without any needless procrastination, to send forward her men, so drilled, officered, and equipped, as to have them compare favorably with the best regiments of the Eastern and Middle States, Michigan has covered herself with honor in the eyes of the whole Union. How different would this estimation of the Peninsular Sate have been in Washington today, if the prompting of those cavillers [sic.] had been acted upon , and out levies had gone forward, raw recruits, before they had been at all disciplined, quarter armed, or half clothed. We have to expectation that those who are attracted in their strictures, only by partisan malignity, will be affected by the news of the Reception of the First …..

The Michigan Regiment attracted general attention and commendation by their solid appearance and well disciplined movements, a la Hardee. It was composed almost entirely of young, steady and intelligent looking men, and it appeared to be capitally officered. They were exceedingly well equipped – thanks to the liberality of the State of Michigan, which has furnished them with en entire outfit from head to foot, and were armed with new Minie guns. The uniform of the corps is very simple, consisting of blue woolen trowsers and loose fitting jacket, blue fatigue cap, and red cloth covered canteen. Their knapsacks not having been completed in time for their departure, the men were provided as a substitute a large oil cloth, in which they carried, strapped to their backs, their overcoats and blankets.

[Jeremy Bevard]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

In regards to the blue miner shirts a pard found the following short article in the Free Press:

April 30, 1861 Detroit Free Press
MILITARY OUTFIT
The cloth purchased by Colonel Whittelsey for the Michigan regiments arrived yesterday morning. Contracts have been made with the leading merchant tailoring firms for making it up, and the work will be vigorously prosecuted. It is expected that all uniforms will be ready in four days. The uniform will consist of heavy Petersham blue overcoats, navy blue lighter cloth for fatigue blouses and pants, and blue flannel shirts.

The blue miners shirt referred to is likely the blue flannel shirt listed here.

[Bill52]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Their shirts were referred to as dark blue miner shirts. These shirts were made by Samuel Sykes and Company, Detroit. W. T. Teff, of Detroit made their canteens. The First Michigan Three Month Regiment wore additional uniform items as well. They were given red white and blue cockades, white gloves, and blue cravats, also called scarves, which were made like French Army scarves.


Respectfully;

William T. Carr

Company of Military Historians.

[GreencoatCross]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

Here's an albumen showing part of the 4th Michigan Infantry (and their band) in downtown Albion, Michigan in 1861. You can see that the men are wearing dark shirts tucked into dark trousers plus a mix of kepis and oilcloth wheel caps; maybe similar to what the 1st Michigan wore?

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/imag...tart=;resnum=2

[Jeremy Bevard]

Re: Description of "Blue Miners shirt" ? 1st Michigan Infantry 3 months

From reading through Free Press artciles at the time is seems at least the 1st and 2nd and the 5th to 7th had very similar unifroms. The former to the latter there were some improvements as the fit and quality. The 5th-7th were all made under the same contracts. The one Mr. Carr lists, Samuel Sykes, did the jackets and pants for the 5th to 7th.

This just says "Soldiers stand in formation at Fort Wayne 1861" but I have been told it is 1st Michigan. Any rate it is men from the 1st, 2nd, 5th or 7th since they all trained at Fort Wayne in 61 and recieved very similar uniforms.
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/imag...art=;resnum=11

Here is the 1st getting their colors. Well known image.
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/imag...art=;resnum=20