'...drawing light blue pants and dark blue jackets, all wool...'

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

George Buck, Co. K, 17th Ill. Inf., Oct 15, 1861 at Cape Girardeau, MO

"...
When I returned to camp found quite a stir, for they were all drawing light blue pants and dark blue jackets, all wool; also Army Regulation Caps. The Segt was out on D.P. at 6AM in the new suit. Expect it looked nice. I wish you could have seen the performances. This AM we have also drawn new knapsacks & have socks, the old ones have be condemned, so has our Alton suit, therefore well will not have to pay for it. We got sewed shoes, my boots are good yet and I will wear them for awhile yet.

My clothing now consist in hat & cap, 2 shirts, 2 pair drawers, 2 pair socks, shoes and boots, 2 jackets, 3 pair pants. We drew dark blue pants at Fort Holt. My Alton pants are bout wore out. A blue and gray blanket. This will do for once we get "K’s" to put on our caps. ..."


I'll have to remember this when I go to work in Cape today....
John Pillers

P.S.
Alton being Alton, Ill.

[apologia]

Ft. Holt??


John, like to know the source of the qoute. I've been trying to find info on "Ft. Holt" but have had little success.

Rich Holt

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Ft. Holt??

John, like to know the source of the qoute. I've been trying to find info on "Ft. Holt" but have had little success.

Rich Holt

It's in Kentucky.

[Brian Baird]

Re: '...drawing light blue pants and dark blue jackets, all wool...'

Ryan,
Ft. Joe Holt was across the river from Louisville in Indiania. The Louisville Legion under the command of Lovell Rousseau was formed there. This was due to Kentucky being neutral at the start of the war. The Louisville Legion formed the 5th Kentucky, 2nd Kent. Cav. and Stone's Battery. I believe if memory serves me right, Joe Holt was the governor of Indiania. This info is from the book UNION REGIMENTS OF KENTUCKY.
Brian Baird

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: '...drawing light blue pants and dark blue jackets, all wool...'

Ryan,
Ft. Joe Holt was across the river from Louisville in Indiania. The Louisville Legion under the command of Lovell Rousseau was formed there. This was due to Kentucky being neutral at the start of the war. The Louisville Legion formed the 5th Kentucky, 2nd Kent. Cav. and Stone's Battery. I believe if memory serves me right, Joe Holt was the governor of Indiania. This info is from the book UNION REGIMENTS OF KENTUCKY.
Brian Baird

Pard Brian,
With all due respect. "Fort Holt" in Kentucky at this period of the war seems to be the one referred to in this quote. I believe the Louisville Legion/5th KY US was at "Camp Joe Holt".

History of the 17th Ill.
From Dyer's Compendium:

17th Illinois Volunteer Infantry: Organized at Peoria, Ill., and mustered in May 24, 1861. Moved to Alton, Ill., June 17, 1861, thence to St. Charles and Warrenton, Mo., July 27. Moved to Bird's Point, Mo., August. Duty there, at Fort Holt, Ky., and Cape Girardeau, Mo., till February, 1862. Attached to District of Cairo to October, 1861. 5th Brigade, District of Cairo, to February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of Cairo, February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, District of Jackson, Tenn., to September, 1862. Unattached, District of Jackson, Tenn., to November, 1862. 4th Brigade, 3rd Division, Right Wing 13th Army Corps, Dept. of the Tennessee, November, 1862. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, 16th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. 1st Brigade, 6th Division, 17th Army Corps, to July, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 3rd Division, 17th Army Corps, to April, 1864. Maltby's Brigade, District of Vicksburg, Miss., to June, 1864.

This reg't never was in Louisville at the time of this quote. Also this Fort Holt circa 1861 seems to be located around Cairo, Ill & Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Here's an order from Grant written in Nov. 1861 which again refers to Kentucky. From the OR Series I, Vol. 3, p 273:

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI,
Col. J. COOK,
Cairo, Ill.,
November 6, 1861.
Commanding U. S. Forces, Fort Holt, Ky.:
In pursuance with instructions sent this morning, you will march tomorrow morning with the command directed to Elliott’s Mills, taking two days’ rations. Should you receive no further instructions by 2 p. in., the day after tomorrow, you will return to Fort Holt. Take with you no more transportation than is absolutely necessary to the limited amount of tents and baggage for one night.
U.S. GRANT,
Brigadier. General, Commanding.

"Camp Joe Holt" & "Fort Holt" are two different areas, either that or Grant was drinking at the time :wink_smil

[Clark Badgett]

Re: '...drawing light blue pants and dark blue jackets, all wool...'

Yup, CAMP Joe Holt was in present day Clarksville, IN. As Ryan stated I also believe there was a Ft Holt elsewhere. I used to have the KHS listing of all the Kentucky Forts and Camps, but have yet to be able to relocate it. I got all the Louisville area Fort located.