Uniform Guidelines

[dixieflyer]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

And add to that one does see studio shots of soldiers with the hat, looped up, and without feather, cord, etc.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Well, to be honest I read his quotes as tall hat with an eagle as "we had fully trimmed hats.". BUT! For the sake of uniformity just an eagle it is.

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

I think the best way to sum up the over all impression is "How Si went in" not "How Si came out", with a stress on uniformity.

[dixieflyer]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Robert, the illustrations from Si Klegg are exactly what I had in mind. I can pull off the pot belly real well. ;)

[hireddutchcutthroat]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Robert, the illustrations from Si Klegg are exactly what I had in mind. I can pull off the pot belly real well. ;)

Uggggg I know what you mean! I think the daly 3 mile walks and the giving up beer may help though.

[dixieflyer]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Beer is not something I have to give up per se since I drink so little of it (my limit is usually one after mowing the grass, and I push mow an acre), but I am starting a walk. Something else that bears saying: in my years reenacting, and/or loosely associated with the military I have known some guys shaped like pears or kick-balls that could aerobically kick my behind. Don't let looks deceive. I know the majority of the AC community has the young/lean/skinny as an ideal, but in the last 30 years that I've been associated with this off and on I've known plenty of guys who don't fit that description that could last the whole nine yards and then some.

(I wonder how far I've walked after push mowing and acre? Hmmm. I used to know the distance walked after plowing an acre behind my horses. After three acres a day, it was easy to see how some of the men we portray did 35 miles a day.)

[LHV1861]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

While copying some letters and diaries to add to my database, I found the diary written by John W. Chambers, Co. E. 15th IA, written for the year 1863. At the tail end of the diary he lists the clothing he drew for the year 1862, up to April 5th '63, including February '63. But it does list the clothes he drew for '62. Here is the list:

Clothing drawn in the year of 62
1 Great coat $8.00 do. cents
2 Pair of pants 6.00 . 6.00
1 Blouse 2.00 . 50.00
2 pair of Drawers 1.00 . 33..00
2 Shirts 1.00 . 60..00
1 Pair of shoes 1.00 . 93..00
2 pair of socks 000 . 66..00
1 cap 000 . 63...00
2 woolen Blankets 4.00 . 50 00
February the 2 A.D. 1863
1 Gun Blanket 2.00 . 90.00
1 pair of pants 3.00 . 00..00
1 Dress coat 7.00 . 21..00
1 cap 000 63.00
1 pair of choes 1.00 93.00
1 shirt 1.00 .50.00
2 pairs of socks 000. 63.00
1 pair of pants 3.00 .00.00
the amount up to this day
the 5 day of April $48.03
Received from
Government 78.00.00

This diary is found in the Iowa State University Digital Collection. My apologies if this has already been posted. The transcribing was done by someone else. Notice the particular mention of a blouse. There is no mention of when in 1862 these were issued. Could be mid or late for all I know.

[Matt Woodburn]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Great info find Jeff!

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

This is a great find indeed, and surprising, because Iowa State did not have any of their collections digitized the last time I checked. Shame on me, and kudos to you, sir!

[LHV1861]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Bob,
Here is the link to the diary as well as some others from different Iowa units.
http://cdm16001.contentdm.oclc.org/c...n/p15031coll14

[J. Donaldson]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Thanks, Jeff. I went to their website after I saw your post and found it. I worked a summer for Special Collections while in grad school, and their website has evolved immensely since then.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Jeff,
Thanks for posting this. It is a great source for looking at the everyday life of a 15th Iowa soldier in the year 1863.
Something to keep in mind though when looking at his entry regarding the 1862 Uniform issue he received is that John Chambers did not muster into the regiment until August of 1862, five months after the engagement at Shiloh.

here is the entry that shows this. I was certaintly hoping he had enlisted earlier than this. :(

John W. Chambers
enlisted in the Voll-
unteer service in the ye-
ar A.D. 1862. Aug 29
at Burlington Iowa
Danville DesMoines Co.
Fore the 15 reg Co. E

http://cdm16001.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/fullbrowser/collection/p15031coll14/id/575/rv/compoundobject/cpd/688/rec/8

[LHV1861]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Pete,
I must have missed that. My apologies. I guess we are still at the one account that mentions a possible blouse at Shiloh. Will keep digging. Thanks for the heads up on Chambers though. I should have checked his service record.

[PetePaolillo]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

Pete,
I must have missed that. My apologies. I guess we are still at the one account that mentions a possible blouse at Shiloh. Will keep digging. Thanks for the heads up on Chambers though. I should have checked his service record.

Don't feel bad, its a great find regardless. We need to keep digging. There is info out there, we just have not found it yet. ;)

[Alexander Vasquez]

Re: Uniform Guidelines

In looking at page 2 of the Mardis inventory page at http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/regimen...inventory2.jpg it states he had drawn clothing to the amount of $37.14 including knapsack, haversack, and canteen. Mardis had enlisted on 20 January of 1862, mustered into the service 14 March 1862 and died on 1 June 1862, so the $37.14 represents the totality of what he would have been issued during that time; I would presume most of it coming either during the stay in Keokuk, or at Benton Barracks prior to Shiloh.

I am certain others on this board can crunch the numbers and determine which combination of issued clothing gets you to $37.14; that might shed more light on the impression.