Illinois jacket question

[Gallinipper]

Re: Illinois jacket

"His shell jacket has a 9 button front, epaulettes and a slash pocket on the upper right of the coat and 2 slash pockets on both sides near the bottom"

Sounds like an old roundabout...

A few years back, a gent named Randy Jackson was producing Illinois (and Ohio) State jackets under the name of "Sucker State Clothing". I have lost touch and do not know if he is still in business. He stated in his catalog that these jackets were issued throughout the war by the state. No specific mention of variations, but the examples he produced were based on originals and were done in dark blue satinette and lined in domet flannel(!), there was no mention of the sleeve lining. Features were an 8 button front and 2 on the cuffs, with functional epaulettes. Front pocket(s) listed as optional.
Mr. Jackson apparently also was producing Illinois state jackets and trowsers from the Mexican/Pre-Civil War era, and these he offered in blue--and gray-- jeans, which were also based on surviving originals. Apparently some of these may have been worn by militia units in the early stages of the war. I hope this may be of some help.

Rich Croxton

[Agate]

Re: Illinois jacket question

Rich,

Am a former member of the 41st Illinois which was the unit Randy belonged to. Brian Baird is correct. Randy produced some garments that were patterned by other folks. Covais used to be in the Northern Kentucky area across the Ohio River from Cincinnati under the name Murdock, Covais, and Stone. He was around at the time that the two "Ohio jacket(s)" were found in this area sometime in the late 1970s. Costume shop stuff. If he took a pattern from one of those jackets, might be the origin of the jackets Randy produced. Tim Ruyle is a member of this board, maybe he can provide us something if he sees the thread.

Randy used to mention their maybe finding an Illinois jacket in an Atlanta area collection. That he or the others in the 41st ever made it down to look at it, if it indeed exists, am not aware of it.


The "Ohio jacket" was first produced by Charlie, who knew little or nothing about Ohio procurement. There was a demand in the mid-eighties for these by an umbrella group under Larry Strayer called "the Ohio Brigade." Charlie wasn't trying to bamboozle folks, he was just in the business of filling a market which was interested in the jacket, as it was decided that Ohio "issued" them in the literature that the Ohio brigade sent to its members. After all, Buckeyes are seen in images wearing these things.

Ohio didn't provide these jackets, and that would be the answer if Larry were asked that question today. Ohio did purchase gray cloth jackets during the earliest days of the war, they were purchased however as a substitute to blouses, production of which was limited and there being a very advanced market.

Recently found new info on this that states they were the "Indiana" pattern. What that *might* mean is that Ohio purchased jackets from some of the same Cincinnati clothing houses that clothed some early Indiana regiments. Some of these houses also stocked uniforms for the Ohio Volunteer Militia of the Reserve.

Adjt. Genl. Carrington of Ohio published uniform regulations which called for gray cloth jackets for the OVMR in April 1861 once the government of Ohio activated it, first time since the War of 1812. No body as yet even knows the OVMR existed as it is unpublished and brand new material. The origins of all the infantry jackets manufactured by the early Department of the Ohio *might* come from the Carrington order. The original Department of the Ohio BTW, consisted of the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois.

Another thing that now must be considered is that there was a USQMD procurement officer in the department before Indiana or Illinois published advertisements for any clothing whatsoever. It *might* have been under his urging to purchase other goods besides regulation as to keep the market down. There is something to this, but the board is not the place to discuss it, have to wait for the article if it's ever completed. :wink_smil


The Mexican War garments Randy manufactured were based on descriptions of the Fourth Illinois during that period.

Regards,

John Sarver
1st Regt Ky. Vols.
Co. D