Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

[Cumpston1862]

Gents-

I made my way to the Iowa Historical Building in Des Moines, Iowa today and photographed as much as I could. Currently they have a Civil War exhibit on the floor entitled "Iowa and the Civil War: Nothing But Victory". I tried to photograph as much I could negotiating the glass cases and lights. I certainly did not get everything of interest and I left out the pictures that were too blurry. I do believe I got some pictures that will be of interest to many here.

[Paul L Muller]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

GREAT POST! Love to photos plm,

[western reb]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

Thank you Louis for sharing this with us.

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

I have seen that shell jacket on 2 occasions. Very unique jacket. I KNEW they had a bunch of other stuff there!

[Brian Baird]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

I don't believe the CS Jacket was made in Georgia. It is very similiar to the one described by Fred Adolphus's in his article.

http://www.adolphusconfederateuniforms.com/c-wrights-uniform.html

Brian Baird

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

What's the story on that CS jacket? The jean looks like it has a lot of "slubs" in it. Interesting!

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

The story as the museum has documented, is that it was "captured" in Atlanta in '64 by an Iowan (I can't remember the unit, but when we looked it up, the regiment credited was in Western TN at the time). It is a 4 piece body, one piece sleeve, plain weave jean. Entirely hand sewn, 1" vents in the cuff. Top stitching is only on the front of the jacket. The collar and cuffs are whip stitched closed. It has one interior patch pocket on the left hand side that is approximately 8" square. The body has a slight bell shape to it when laid flat. It resembles a NC jacket to an extent, but I feel it was made in MS. This is just an assumption though. At the very least we know it was an AoT late war jacket.

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

I tried to take pictures of the cards to explain what the pictures were but some did not have one or the picture did not come out very good. Picture # 15 the log with the cannonballs and shell frags reportedly came from the battlefield of Chickamauga. Pictures 43 & 44 are of the hat General Grenville M. Dodge was wearing when he was nearly killed by a Confederate sharpshooter in the Atlanta Campaign. The hole in the top is from the bullet!

By chance I ran into a woman, didn't get her name :(, that helped with the textiles for the exhibit and she said the blanket in photo # 21 was crudely and obiviously quickly put together evidenced by the stitching... even for a military issue blanket.

The Confederate shell jacket information is probably more of an educated guess than fact. Unfortunately many of the items including this jacket have very vague information associated with them or it has been lost altogether.

One of my biggest frustrations was trying to photograph a jacket that was recently found in the attic basement of the Iowa Historical Building collection. It is reportedly a 1st Iowa Infantry militia jacket that was used by a lieutenant at Wilson's Creek. Every picture I took would not come out!

Truthfully I only photographed a portion of what is there.

Anyway glad everyone is enjoying the pictures despite the shortcomings of the photographer :)!

[dirtyshirt]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

The "1st IA" Frock is assumed to have been used at Wilson's Creek. I have seen this one a few occasions as well deep in the catacombs below the historical society. We aren't 100% sure that it was a Wilson's Creek garment though however it is entirely possible.

[Cumpston1862]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

The 1st Iowa frock is certainly in very good shape if it did see action in the "Lyon Campaign" and Wilson's Creek. I am of the belief that if it is truly what we are conjecturing it could be there are two possibilities. One it was not worn much during the campaign or it was left at home. Because it does seem to be in very nice condition. Just guessing of course.

[Arch Campbell]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

One thing to keep in mind with the 1st Iowa frock is that it was an officer's, and not necessarily indicative of how enlisted men were clothed. The "Lyon Campaign," while incredibly destructive on the shoddy overshirts that most companies' rank and file were wearing (such as Eugene Ware,) did only last 100 days or so (from the 1st Iowa's perspective.) This wouldn't automatically destroy privately purchased garments made of higher quality cloth.

The exhibit is great, I would advise anyone within driving distance of Des Moines to give it a view. Several members of the Nation took a road trip to see it, and I'm going again next month.

I tried to take pictures of the dress hat myself, but none of mine came out. The stitches on the brim are the biggest I have ever seen- I would estimate them at 3/4"!

I would have like to have seen more of the restored Iowa colors on display- but if you're only going to have one, they picked a doozy. It is the national color of the 2nd Iowa, that V.P. Twombley planted on the works at Donelson.

For those of you of a disloyal bent, you will also enjoy the sampling on display of the captured rebel flags that the Iowa State Historical Society possesses. And before you ask- H#ll no, you can't have them back!!

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

Arch-

I was under the impression that the only surviving 1st Iowa frocks were issued/used after Wilson's Creek for the return to Iowa and the muster out. Is this incorrect?

[Arch Campbell]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

That is correct, James- once again, if we are referring to enlisted men, whose uniforms are issued. The only exception might have been the Governor's Grays, who somehow may have managed to take their grey militia frocks, trousers, and kepis into 1st Iowa service.

We stared at the coat for quite a while, and none of us could remember precisely what the one looked like that was in the old exhibit and whether this was the same one or not. The old exhibit just gave the regiment, not a name or rank- so we always assumed it was one of the end-of-service St. Louis ones issued to the enlisted men. I really don't remember it well enough to tell if this is a different one or if they simply have a more descriptive label now.

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Iowa Historical Society: Civil War Exhibit

The collection in the IHS is remarkable. This is going back a ways, but ten years ago, there was an excellent exhibit on Iowa in the CW and while the details of my visit are a bit fuzzy. If this is the same one, or at least one that has been revised over the years, the items on display were very cool. Worth stopping in for a visit if in the area at any rate.

The Civil War Diary of Cyrus F. Boyd, Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry is a very good book edited by the Society. Having two relatives who served in the 10th Iowa (one who is buried in Pella) I identify with the history on a personal level. Maybe it is time to go back for another look?

Cool photos.

Ivan F. Ingraham
Formerly of the SGLHA

Ivan F. Ingraham