1861 Illinois volunteer impression

[Iceman]

This is not an already established organization and/or mess. I'm posting this here to see if there's any interest out there among my fellow authentics for portraying Illinois infantry during the first 12 months of the war. To be more precise, I'm thinking about regiments 7 - 22, with an emphasis upon those regiments who went to war in their civilian clothing, later to be replaced by Illinois issued grey uniforms. I know not all the regiments 7 - 22 were issued grey uniforms, and that those who did were not all issued the same grey uniform, but the point of this is to find those other interested parties who would like to create and build this early war Illinois impression and use it at living histories, parades, events, etc.

Now, with every special impression it's not going to be cheap. To build an early war Illinois impression will require investing into new fabrics and patterns, new equipment (possibly) and will for sure require an investment into a new weapon, such as a converted M1816, etc. However, the target date for the formation of this company - or whatever it might become - would be January 1st, 2011, in time for the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War. Hopefully there will be enough of us who want to do this, that it will be worth our time and money building this impression. We could easily get organized and make it worth our effort by agreeing to go to one event each month for an entire year, etc. No matter if it's a parade, lecture, home coming, living history, full-scale reenactment, etc. We could create our own events, or go to those planed by others. And of course, the more people doing this special 1861 Illinois impression the better it will be. 100 boys in Illinois grey uniforms will be more enjoyable for all involved, rather than five.

But, it's more than the grey uniforms. There will be those times and places where to portray Illinois volunteers in 1861 requires that we wear civilian clothing, or hickory check overshirts, or in the case of the 9th Illinois hickory stripe fatigue cap, jacket and pants, when not wearing our dress uniform. Yes, this concept is about portraying Illinois soldiers up to the time of Shiloh, as by then they were cookie cutter Union soldiers, wearing their issued blue uniforms. This is a conceptual impression that is about portraying, and interpreting those Illinois soldiers in civilian clothing, grey uniforms, sporting converted M1816s, etc.

So, if you are interested in doing an impression like this by 2011, contact me.

Thanks.

[Ian McWherter]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Sounds like a lot of fun, the challenge is what will make it especially enjoyable. I've been kicking around the idea of doing an early war Illinois impression in my head for the last 6 months! The time-frame is ample to put together a quality impression, though it will require some major dough, especially when it comes to proper civilian clothing (a proper civilian frock will probably cost at least twice as much as the gray state frock).

Put me down as an individual who is interested. If you should need any help with research in the citizens clothing department I'd be happy to lend a hand.:)

[Iceman]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Ian,

I guess great minds just think alike. It's great to have you on board. It takes a spark to make a flame, and so maybe the two of us can get this started and begin looking into what needs to be hand, made, worn, etc. No time like the present. "A sleeping fox catches no poultry", as Franklin once said.


See ya.

[Andrew Kasmar]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Hi,

Sounds cool!!!!!!! I would be very interested in putting together this impression.



Andrew

[Iceman]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

And then there were three! Nice, this is moving along at a nice pace. Keep this up and we'll have a battalion by 2011.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Nic,

Interesting idea!

Are you still developing the specifics of each impression, or have you worked all that out already?

I think your idea is very timely as specialty impressions (no matter how small the "special" part may be) take some time to implement, even if all of the particulars are known. I think now is a good time to begin preparing for the "buck-fifties"!

[csuniforms]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

OK, What do you want to do? The only Regiments that were in civilian clothes with some partial early issues of either caps, gray shirts, and red makinaw blankets were Regiments 7-12.

Regiments 13-22 were issued either gray jackets or frocks, caps or hats April through May, 1861.

You could do the First Brigade uniform of Frocks, Loomis hats, filter canteens, and short patent knapsacks.

I have a lot of notes on the donated uniforms of the different companies that made up the early Regiments.--

The first to see any real combat were those that served in Missouri. The 17th, 22nd, 23rd Infantry, and the 1st Illnois Cavalry. Fort Donelson, New Madrid, followed by Shiloh is where Illinois really got started.-- Than you go into the Illinois State blue jacket and light blue trousers.

If it were me, I would do more than one-- simple gray shirt, blue cap, and red mackinaw, civilian trousers for Camp Yates..

Then Brigade uniform if feasible-- than Illinois blue--

Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms

[Iceman]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Thanks! Yeah, I think that I've got lots of cool ideas; it's just a matter of getting others as interested in them as I am.

Some specifics are known, some are not. I guess the quest will be to find the middle ground for the all-around generic 1861 Illinois impression, but still having wiggle room for specifics, based upon the scenario and regiment being portrayed. This is where the two year window comes into play. All those wanting to do this need to start communicating and coming to agreements on what items are priorty, secondary, etc. Do we go for the easiest items first, or the most costly and work our way down? Do we build our civilian impressions first and then move on to the gray issued uniforms, or visa versa? One description of the gray cloth used for the Illinois Brigade uniform was doeskin. Hainsworth, in England, makes doeskin, but it's going to cost about $100 a yard! But, it's cheaper if you buy in bulk, so if 50 of us all buy enough material to make our Illinois tunics, it will be cheaper for all of us to do it that way, etc.

The specifics are here and there. John Pillers found that one Illinois regiment (maybe the 9th?) when they were in Cairo were issued fatigue uniforms of cap, shirt and pants made from blue and white striped hickory cloth. Doing some historical terminology research has found that this blue and white "hickory cloth" would basicly be the blue and white denim used for classic rail road engineer hats, or Oshgosh Begosh over-alls for little boys. Other specifics are the Loomis hat, which I don't think any one is reproducing. Some regiments that I've researched were issued red 3 point "Mackinaw" blankets, some were issued all white blankets. Some regiments, or at least companies, were issued India rubber canteens.

It seems that these first 15 regiments were issued old, out of date, and sometimes old out of date European, muskets. Converted M1816s, Prussians, Belgiums, etc. This might have to be one area where we come to a compromise. It can't be expected of each guy who wants to do this to invest in all of these different weapsons. But, something like a converted 1816 could be used for Confederate, as well, making it worth the investment, etc.

There needs to be focus, for sure. The sooner this idea becomes a real mess/company, etc., the sooner we can all begin looking at potential events to either go to or create, parades to take part in, etc. For example, this is not a new idea for me. I've been thinking about how cool it would be to get something like this together for a while. I've already contacted the Old State Capital in Springfield, IL and they are down with having a living history/encampment on the grounds. We could camp, drill, parade around the square, etc. In Cairo, IL, although the site of Ft. Defiance is gone (as well as Bird's Point), there's still a Illinois State park right where the Mississippi and Ohio meet that could be used as a site for a Ft. Defiance living history weekend. And places like Ft. Donelson, or Belmont, Rolla, Chicago, St. Louis, Alton, Quincy, Carbondale, Cairo, Paducah .... there are many possibilities with this idea, but until there's an agreed upon schedule, any impression building would have to be generic for the time being.

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

I think some things to consider would be:

What events/scenarios will require one of these impressions?
Of each of those impressions, what are the most aparent visual elements? I think those elements would be your top priorities.

For example:
A standard 4-button blue fatigue blouse will stand out like a sore thumb in a sea of hickory cloth.

For early war, I like the idea portraying a group armed with Belgian muskets. Originals can be had pretty cheaply for those that wish to get them. For those that can't get them, a US M1842 is a pretty good stand-in.

Also, in choosing impressions, it might be good to choose those that might serve guys well down-the-line and/or are cost-effective (aka cheap!). For example:
- Gray frocks or roundabouts can be reused pretty easily.
- Hickory cloth is pretty cheap, compared to kerseys, jeans, or broadcloth.

...stuff like that.

Other thoughts...

To put together a good COMPANY impression, you'll want to consider things like:
1) What did NCO insignia look like
2) How were officers dressed, accoutred, and armed

Very interesting stuff!!!

[Iceman]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Tom,

I knew it wouldn't take you long to chime in on this one. :wink_smil We're all still waiting for your published work on ILL uniforms.

If my memory is correct, when the 13th Illinois arrived here in Caseyville, IL to go into Camp McClelland, only one company (I forget which) were dressed in a uniform, and that was copied from the 7th NY. I think it was the company from Gallena? All the other companies in the 13th, when they were here in Caseyville, were in civilian clothing.

I agree, Tom, that a few impressions will be needed to pull this off. It's all about celebrating these first 15 regiments up to the time of Shiloh. But, this is not impossible. To do this 12 month Illinois impression is not some impossible task that is so overwhelming as to make it not worth doing. Sometimes ignorance is bliss when the devil is in the details, right? So often in this hobby we just guess at what was being worn (or, just out right ignore the facts and where what you want, regardless). But, then there are times when we know that to do a certain impression you need this musket, and that canteen, with those jackets, etc., and to do anything but would not be doing it right at all. But like with the Loomis hats and the rubber canteens; either we have to compromise or someone will have to step up and make these items and sell them at a reasonable price.

[BrettKIllinois]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

I'm interested in doing any and all sucker impressions.

[csuniforms]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression-More

OK, to do this right and I am sure you will-- will take some research and study, but you know that. I would start with Camp Yates, in Springfield as the State is interested. This would be the easiest and could be one the neatest. Having some historical personages like Governor Yates, Prentiss, McArthur on the ground would be sensational. The uniform would be simple, gray shirt, blue cap, and civilian trousers, makinaw blankets, Mexican war leathers, converted muskets, and mess gear.-- We did something similar at the new Kenosha Civil War Museum with the 1st Wisconsin.

2nd, Cairo or Birds Point even St. Louis-- the first six moved to Cairo and surrounding areas as a garrison... here they got their Brigade uniform that some wore at Fort Donelson, and had right up till Shiloh-- but not worn at Shiloh.--

3rd-- Fort Donelson, that is a really interesting Battle and story with all kinds of possibilities.

4th Shiloh-- The apex of the Illinois soldiers Battle-- not saying the others were not important through to Vicksburg, but Shiloh was described as the soldiers battle and for many their first real taste of combat.

Get out your research caps

Tom Arliskas
CSuniforms

[Iceman]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Since there's an interests in this coceptual inmpression, I'm created a social group called 90 Day Suckers. If you're interested in being a part of this 1861 Illinois concept, you can join this group and we can then begin the process of discussion on impressions, events, etc.

[Iceman]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

There's now been over 200 people who have looked at this thread on 1861 Illinois impressions. Come on, I know you're out there! Don't be shy. Come on a sign up - you know you want to.

[Rmhisteach]

Re: 1861 Illinois volunteer impression

Nic,

I would consider such an imprssion. I have said many times that in Illinois we need to get our history back . I like the idea of doing good living histories At Cairo and other parts south. keep me up dated.

Rod