Website and guidlines.

[sam H]

Company B will have a website up shortly. We have the guidlines put together but we are just tracking down a few sources for the gear so we can post them on the site as well. We are currently working out a group purchase with parsley brass for Mississippi militia belt and box plates.

Even though this is a pre-war militia company they were also composed of a good amount of volunteers. Volunteers should have gray overshirts, civilian pants, baton rouge arsenal accoutrements and smoothbores.

We found a picture of a company B recruit wearing what we believe is his militia frock. Dark Blue with what we think is green trim. So any federal frock works if you slap on some green trim. The picture will be posted on the site. The kicker with the militia is they were armed with 41 mississippis so this is a must for the impression. It does not necessarily mean you have to buy one. Try finding someone to borrow from.

All in all this is a very doable impression so people should not be too intimidated with thinking they have to buy or make some triple breasted frock or anything super crazy or unique.

The finer details will be posted soon. If you are interested in doing this impression, PM or e-mail me.

thrashole@hotmail.com

GET STOKED!

[MD_Independent]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Monsieur Harrelson,
If Owens and Woodburn have approved the Federal frocks and anyone needs to borrow a green trimmed Federal frock, I will put mine on offer as loaner gear. Made in Jersey, size 40 or 42. A comrade is looking for green trim for me today for trimming a NY state jacket for Co. H. I can have trim put on the frock, too.

Bill Birney
QM, 2nd Miss.
Columbia Rifles

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Website and guidlines.

If you guys have documentation of it getting to guys before Manassas, it's good to go. I have about 10 different uniform regs on my mind this morning with the events I'm working on, so forgive me for not recalling every detail without searching my files. The O'Connors have pics of two guys in dark frocks(one actually looks a little light), one of which is holding a saber bayonet and they are on the event website. There is another guy in a dark frock but I can't remember if it's later or not. If you found them in green trim mentioned somewhere like we did with Co. H, then you can't argue with documentation. And there is an image of one of the officer's wearing a unique trimmed shirt or jacket. Nic and I both studied it for probably an hour each and you still can't quite tell. About half of the guys are in gray shirts and pants made with the Memphis material and the entire "uniforms" are mentioned not arriving until August. With that, your leadership, researchers in your unit, etc., you'll be the best O'Connors since the original boys took the field.

[sam H]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Its a tricky impression but thats what makes doing confederate that much more fun. Nic was shown a picture of pvt. David Hill by one of Hill's relatives. In the picture he is wearing what we believe to be the originial O' Connor rifles militia uniform. Now wether this uniform changed or not before going off to war we do not know. They could have changed to gray frocks with the regulations but at the same time their are several other Miss. Companies that wore anything but the regulation. After talking to lots of Collodian photographers we Believe the trim on the jacket to be green. Green was the branch of service color at some point in the several times it changed and also green was the branch of service color for riflemen which these men would technically have been. With the photograph we believe it to be the safest bet and also the most affordable one. If more information pops up that shows more evidence against this then the guidlines will be subject to change.

I am trying to figure out how to post the picture of him but am having a hard time. Too computer illiterate for all this civil war BS I suppose. If anyone is interested in seeing the picture feel free to e-mail me and I should be able to send it.

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Website and guidlines.

That's good documentation. Go with it.

[GWagner]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Sam, isn't there some documentation of brown pants with green stripes for some of these guys somehwere? I thought I recalled reading that.

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Galen, that's Company H.

[Iceman]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Just to clarify what Matt said in reply to Sam's first post about two guys in gray frocks: Matt, you're making reference to Co. A, not Co. B (who were the O'Connor Rifles). When the unit history and regs were first drafted, we did not know what the O'Connor Rifles' uniforms looked like; only a photo of a Private in Co. B who enlisted in 1862, and reference to the O'Connor Rifles in a mixture of frocks and shirts. Since the posting of the regimental history and impression guidelines, I have been able to contact a descendant of an original member of the O'Connor Rifles down in Miss. and the photo of his relative (David Hill) shows him in a Federal regulation cut frock, but with tape around the collar and cuffs, along with a Miss. belt plate. I'm making mention of this more for the sake of those who are not members of Co. B for this event impression, as I don't want any back talking about Co. B and how we did it our own way, etc., etc. Co. B is daily working to research the O'Connor Rifles, and in our constant research, we have been able to find a photo of a member of the O'Connor Rifles that was not known when the guidelines for the company were published.

[Moose]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Nic,

To add a different angle of pursuit: ask the question if the original militia uniforms would have 'held up' to be worn at 1st Manassas.

The photo of the Co. B man : what was his service record?

Was the blue frock a dress uniform and they wore something different for fatigue?

Just food for thought.

Cheers,

PS - the QM Sgt. for the 2nd Miss. was from Co. B

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Nic,

You are correct. As I said I had too many uniform guidelines on my mind and didn't have my notes. Your research is spot on so go forward with it. Is there any chance you can email me the image you found? I'll get it posted on the 2nd Miss. website and that will answer any critics.

[Iceman]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Joseph,

Co. B provided several of the regimental field and staff. Maybe being a pre-war militia company held some weight in regards to supplying the regiment with competent staff.

[Moose]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Nic,

Well, I am portraying the QM Sgt. for the battalion, so I do have an interest in what you Gents are wearing...

Cheers,

[minieball]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Gents,

I thought I would contribute this for your discussion on color in wet-plate collodion images

[Brent Brumagin]

Re: Website and guidlines.

Mr. Harrington,

Thank you for posting this image for contrast. Truly a picture is worth a thousand words....

Brent Brumagin

[Iceman]

Re: Website and guidlines.

For those who are interested in being considered for Co. B; after much research, internal discussion and debate, the militia impression within Co. B has now been changed to any sort of rough, coarse, gray frock and matching trousers. So, wool jean, cassimere, satinette, etc. Of course, there a many more, detailed impression guidelines, but wanted to publicly announce that the militia impression (there are two separate impressions within this one company) has been changed. So, if you are interested in being considered for Co. B, please contact me.