Western Theater Early War soldiers

[bushwacker]

I am looking for any info on what an early war Missouri Unit would look like. In my mind I see them in civilian clothing with maybe a battle shirt, or even a Commutation, or Columbus Depot jacket. I'm not sure what was more common; Bushwacker groups, or Regular army units. Anyone with info, please forward to me.

Joseph C. Perry
Bushwacker

[Charles Heath]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Take some time to read about MSG and MHG units. Early war in Missouri is absolutely fascinating. For example, the descriptions of Green's and Moore's men around the time of the battle of Athens are instructive. This info cycles around approximately every three years in preparation for the event on that site.

As to basic information about the Columbus Depot jacket, you may find this to be essential reading:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Qu...d/cdjacket.htm

[MO-Pard]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

I am looking for any info on what an early war Missouri Unit would look like. In my mind I see them in civilian clothing with maybe a battle shirt, or even a Commutation, or Columbus Depot jacket. I'm not sure what was more common; Bushwacker groups, or Regular army units. Anyone with info, please forward to me.

Joseph C. Perry
Bushwacker

Joe-

As Charles mentioned, the attire and 'organization' of Missouri troops is quite varied.

The Missouri State Guard, created to protect the elected government were the first organized pro Southern forces. They were as you say largely attired in civilian attire and armaments.......if armed at all. They had no confederate accoutrements or attire and extremely little Federal items with the exception of outdated weapons from say the Liberty arsenal, and very few picked up after Carthage, Wilson's Creek and Lexington. Most if any 'military' items were Mexican War era. There were also of course local militias that rallied to the cause and the MSG, such as the famed Kelly's 1st Rgt in their very Federal looking frock coats and buff leather for example.

Around the time of Pea Ridge, the very popular to the Southern states, Sterling Price accepted a commission in the confederate army and many of the MSG troops followed him, (but not all). One of the incentives was confederate accoutrements and new undyed jean uniforms believed to be of Penitentiary providence. They wore these to Corinth and beyond with Sgt Appler still wearing his at his capture at Champion Hill in the Vicksburg campaign. Columbus Depots were a mid to late war issue to some troops at the very end of 1862, possibly 1863. The Missouri Brigade, of notable reputation were attired in these until the end of the war. There is no strong evidence any units in the AoT were issued CD's until this time and is probably the one of the largest reenactorisms.

With Price's 1864 invasion of Missouri, all mounted infantry in most respects. Just about all confederate issue clothing was gone and a victim of the hard wear through the brush and brambles. Leggings were worn to salvage pant legs. At this time with the exception of one unit, they were entirely clad in civilian or Federal attire. With any captured in Federal attire quickly executed, at such places as Mine Creek.

Bushwhackers, or Missouri Guerillas came into their own after the Battle and siege of Lexington. Retreating south to many soldiers from the area was unpopular and they elected to stay behind and continue the battle from the bush while keeping an eye on their homes and loved ones. William Quantrill is one of the most noteworty Missouri State Guard veterans to remain and wage a different war.

To begin your research, I strongly recommend the book on Wilson's Creek. I forget the author but it has two brothers in battle shirts on the front. The book explores a lot of the organization and origins of the units. Wide Awake films will also be filming a battle preservation dvd of this battle late this year which given their track record for raising the bar each venture, should be a good one.

best regards

[Steamboat Willie]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Joe,

The book Jay is referring to is:

" Wilson's Creek: The Second Battle of the Civil War and Those Who Fought It "
by William Garret Piston

He's right, it's a fine book that covers Price's State Guard with good accuracy. Still some other books may help give you a more complete view.

William Bevier's history of the 1st Missouri Battalion covers the army from it's formation as Guardsmen to their surrender at Fort Blakely. Arthur Gottschalk's tome " In Deadly Earnest " borrows heavily from Bevier and others, but is great reading nevertheless. Finally to add to your laundry list of titles, anything you can find by Joanne Eakin is certainly worth your time.

And though Jay is too humble to promote it, the PBS documentary Bad Blood which he was in, has some fine early war Missouri fashion on display.

Good luck with your research!

Rick Gath

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Pick up Leslie Anders book on the 21st Missouri. The 21st started as the 1st NE Missouri Homeguard that fought at Athens. One of our members of the Nation put together some information on Athens. If you want it e-mail me hheadlog@aol.com

We are doing three living histories at Athens this year. 2008 is the battle year.

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Anyone have the Burbridge Battalion info handy from 2000 Wilson's Creek?


Paging Tom Ezell,
John Pillers

[csuniforms]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

I am looking for any info on what an early war Missouri Unit would look like. In my mind I see them in civilian clothing with maybe a battle shirt, or even a Commutation, or Columbus Depot jacket. I'm not sure what was more common; Bushwacker groups, or Regular army units. Anyone with info, please forward to me.

Joseph C. Perry
Bushwacker

Hello, There are several contemporary descriptions of the MSG but you have to look for them. The majority state civilian clothing as the attire of choice in the early months of the Civil War. They did wear uniforms or had uniforms made by the ladies some of which were overshirts or battleshirts.
Columbus Depot jackets were issued to the MO Brigade in 63' not 61' and jackets were coming out of Memphis and Nashville to some of Jeff Thompsons boys in the Fall of 61'. Your gonna have to bite the bullet and start visiting the library and looking for this stuff. It is out there!

Tom Arliskas
Cadet Gray and Butternut Brown.

[Charles Heath]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Heck, you live in KC. Phil Campbell is often seeking a rideshare victim, er, partner to get to events out that way.

Come to think of it, Joseph, rubbing up against the fellows in Holmes Brigade, and seeking out Fearless Frank Aufmuth of "high speed, low drag hat fame" and the lads in the Army of the Trans Mississippi would be a good thing. Some of the latter were probably more into BGR this year instead of Pea Ridge/Elkhorn Tavern, but they have some good living histories at places you'll recognize out yonder. Grab a copy of their schedules and see what is shaking. Mitch-of-the-pumpkin-overshirt-tribe was into the pre-war events at one point, or 1855-1860 "early war," depending on your perspective.

[Corporal Jay]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Can anybody tell me where I can pick up a used (read cheap) copy of Leslie Anders' book on the 21st Missouri? Everything I have found is $50 or more.

[Tom Ezell]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Anyone have the Burbridge Battalion info handy from 2000 Wilson's Creek?


Paging Tom Ezell,
John Pillers

I actually found those files while doing some cleaning up and cleaning out this past weekend... GeoCities ate the web site years ago, but I found Jon's monograph on clothing and Kip's on weaponry and equipment on an old backup CD. Thought they were long lost on a crashed hard drive, but found a stashed copy of each and promptly backed them up in a couple of places so they don't get lost again... I'll scootch around this evening and see if I can get them loaded back up to the FG web site or somewheres again...

The Burbridge Battalion stuff was an excellent resource, and a lot of it got preserved in bits and pieces in the Piston/Hatcher book. Another good resource, if you can find a copy, is the Missouri MOS&B's book, Sterling Price's Lieutenants. Shea & Hess' Pea Ridge: Civil War Campaign in the West is a good reference on the MSG, but focuses at the time when the Guard was transitioning into Confederate service and had received a few clothing issues of wool-jean clothing. Come to think of it, North & South magazine ran an article on the MSG back in '00 as well, based mostly on the Piston/Hatcher book, and one of the most recent CWPT magazines, either the most recent or the one before it, covered Wilson's Creek and the '61 Lyon Campaign.

Tom

[rebel7398]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

My GGrandfather was a member of Frisloe's Cavalry in Missouri. According to the stories my grandmother told me about her father, he did not have a real uniform, just his regular farmers attire. Her fondest memory was of the great white horse he rode. His name was John Stroud.

[Tom Ezell]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Here's a link to Kip Lindberg's monograph on the MSG's equipment, from the old Burbridge Battalion handouts:

"The Semblance of a Weapon..."

[JohnSchwarz]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

All,

I have a copy of an untranscribed manuscript clothing book for an MSG unit at Cowskin Prairie in the early summer of 1861; the original is in the Missouri Historical Society in Jefferson City, MO. My interests have changed alot in the decade or so I've had it, so I never got around to transcribing it. Tom, if you want to put back together the Wilson's Creek 2000/Burbridge Battalion site in a central location, I can gift it to someone to transcribe--lemme' know.

Also, as noted on the FGLHA board, I'm going to talk with Kip and Christie Lindberg about getting Christie's M.A. thesis (done under Piston) made more widely available for those wishing to do this impression; the material they presented at the Wilson's Creek MSG symposium a decade ago was impressive, and I can dig out my notes from that if anyone is interested. Most of this is included in her paper, but in a different format.

John Schwarz

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

Just brought back fond memories of the Burbridge Battalion.

:my heart is touched:

[Old Overholt]

Re: Western Theater Early War soldiers

I've stumbled across this thread looking for information on early war Missouri Federal jackets, specifically the 24th Missouri at Pea Ridge. Since most everyone who has posted is obviously well-versed on the MSG-MO CSA side of things, I'll throw this out for discussion.

Charles Hoskins has done some excellent research recently finding that the February and March quartermaster returns for the 24th Missouri before and after Pea Ridge indicate that overwhelmingly the regiment was uniformed in "infantry jackets" with a much smaller number of blouses and a miniscule number of dress coats. In prepping for Pea Ridge, I'm curious if anyone has stumbled across an early war image of a 24th Missouri soldier sporting a jacket. I know there are several images of 23rd Missouri federals wearing jackets, but they are not dated to my knowledge. I'd like to know if there was any uniformity in terms of piping, number of buttons, cut of the lower front of the jacket (dipping down vs. straight across a la shell jacket), cuff construction, epaullettes, etc. I doubt if we will ever be able to tell if there were loops on the back absent an original or written description. Just curious...

As a bonus question, kudos to the person who knows what a "Fremont tent" is. I didn't know and had to ask Kip, so no fair going to him for the answer.