Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

[Outrider]

An unidentified early war trooper of the 2nd Illinois Cav. and mounted on a farby palomino...Oh the horror!
May not be a palomino at all though. Possibly a gray? Interesting in that he is riding a Grimsley and what is clearly a Shabraque (sp?) saddle cloth. Too bad we cant make out a valise or whether or not there is one at all, though I would suspect that there is a Grimsley enisted valise back there.
He is also riding the horse in a running martingale. Note what appears to be another example of a surcingle being used as a breast collar.
[IMG]<a href="http://s853.photobucket.com/albums/ab99/saddlebound/?action=view&amp;current=3c32212r.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i853.photobucket.com/albums/ab99/saddlebound/3c32212r.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

[rkg]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Patrick, any idea where this picture was made?

[Outrider]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Patrick, any idea where this picture was made?

Hi Robert,
Unfortunately , no I don't. The only information I could ever find on it was Unidentified Trooper of the 2nd Illinois Cavalry. I admit that I have not looked into the 2nd to see where they were raised, what counties in Illinois etc. or where they served early in the war. We certainly can be sure it is an early war image given the Grimsley equipments.
I would love to know where it is. I am hoping Zack Ziarnek will be along and that he can shed some light on the 2nd for us.

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Well... I could post a regimental history, but if you just want to know where they were from...
Mostly central Illinois (above I -70) fellas Mustered in 8/12/61 in Springfield, ILL and mustered out in San Antonio, TX 11/24/64

Let me know if you want more information...

[rkg]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

No, I know one of the counties they were from. Co. A was actually recruited from my home town. Wanted to know if this was taken at Camp Butler in Springfield, or somewhere in Mo. after they were sent out of state and to the seat of the war.

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Maybe Springfield, DuQuoin, Ft. Massac (Metropolis), Cario, Paducah or any where in between these points and San Antonio, Texas? There was a lot of activity there, but I would guess early on in the War. Without backmarks like on CDV's and no other information to go by, it's really impossible to tell. Maybe if the sign in the background was in full view and we were able read it there could be some indication, but... If wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Z

[Outrider]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Since this is not an image from the LOC and without any additional information to go by, I think Zack is right and we may never know where it was taken or even if it truly is a 2nd Illinois trooper.
That is a shame but at least in some thread I rmeber someone questioning or asking(?) if shabraques were issued to enlisted men along with Grimsley and so I suppose it at least answers that question. We know at least one was.

[Ken Knopp]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Fellas, download that photo, blow it up and take another look at it. I do not believe that is a Grimsley. Rather, I think it to be a civilian Spanish Saddle. Note the horn right under his left hand fingers holding the reins. As for the schbarque- many of these were made with schabraques attached but this may also be simply a military saddle blanket under the saddle. These saddles were often made with heavy underpadding and therefore often rode without blankets at all. The way our trooper sits the saddle also lends itself to this type saddle rather than a military seat Grimsley.

Just my observation.....I may be mistaken.

Ken R Knopp

[Outrider]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Ken, I am glad that you chimed in here. A while back when I first came upon this image my first reaction to it was that it was a horned saddle of some sort. I was searching for pics of civilian saddles at the time and that was my intial reason for storing it with the others. Since then I somehow talked myself into that it was a grimsley based on that before I got this new computer/hookup I wasnt able to maipulate images like I can now. I took your suggestion and did blow it up and I believe you are correct. What I at first thought was a high pommel does appear to be a horn! That actually excites me much more than if it were a Grimsley.;)
Too me, the shape of the blanket or whatever it is suggested a Shabraque but it could just be my eyes playing tricks on me.

So having now, once again, changed my mind I do believe it is a horned spanish saddle. I wouild be interested to hear what others see...
Pardon me yall if I made a bad call on it.

[Tom Craig]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Pat,

This guy is CLEARLY a modern farb! LOL!

What he is is pint sized. Looks like he is wearing dark blue trousers, which is neat, and an off the rack mounted service jacket. Cool photo, and thanks for posting!!
Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[rbruno]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Interesting to see a Fed with so much civilian gear. Or, am I making a mistake with that comment for early in the war. Besides the running martingale, what is the ring (maybe brass) there on the reins? I wonder what the purpuse was for that?
Rob

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

That's it Paddy, one mistake we have to revoke you research license... Speaking of Federal troopers with Grimsley equipments and a enlisted with a valise but no shabraque... This one IS id'ed as Henery H. Eby, Co. C, 7th Illinois Cavalry.


Valise, 1850's dragoon bit, double reins, pommel holsters, breast-collar (with a heart) and what kind of hat is that? A forage with a rain cover maybe? Because I'm pretty sure both these Illinois fellows aren't showing of officers mounts...

[Outrider]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Ha! no need to revoke it Zack. I will surrender my license. This is another great image. Thanks for posting it. FTR I totally reject the notion that an enilisted man is "showing off" an officer's mount in any of these images.
To me that does look like a forage cap w/rain cover thought if it is it "stands up" taller than any I have seen wearing a rain cover. I like the Grimsley equipments. Especially those Dragoon bits utilizing the double reins and the valise. This dude is also clearly a farb for having that heart breast collar albeit nothing like the ones that we all have seen waaay too often.

[Tom Craig]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Zack,

Very cool picture. Clearly you're on to something I have never seen...namely all these Ill. troops with Grimsley tack. Very cool, and thanks for ed-ja-ma-catin' me!

Take care,
Tom Craig
1st Maine Cavalry

[The Egyptian Homeguard]

Re: Federal Trooper w / Grimsley....

Tom, I believe that the 1st and 2nd Illinois were split McClellans and Grimsleys. The 3-7th were issued Grimsleys until early 63'ish. The 8-17th recieved Mac's from the start. (This is from memory, so I could be off. i don't have my research handy) I've no record what the independant cavalry companies or the cavalry company of the 36th Illinois Infantry recieved (yet)... Z