Illinois Militia Uniforms, By Law...

[Greg Carter]

The uniforms of the state militia, current during the Sauk War, can be found in the following parts:


An ACT organizing the Militia of this State.
Approved, March 26, 1819
Section 11

"...and to each company of light infantry, riflemen or grenadiers, there shall be one captain, one lieutenant, and one ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, one drummer, one fifer, and not less than sixty-four privates; and the commissioned officers of such company, shall be armed with a sword or hanger, and the non-commissioned officers and privates of each company of infantry and grenanadiers shall be armed with sufficient muskets or fusees, and bayonets and belts, with a cartridge box, to contain twenty-four cartridges, suited to the bore of their muskets or fusees; and each company of riflemen shall be armed with good rifles, pouches and powder horns."

Section 12

"Be it further enacted, That each company of artillery, troop of horse, company of riflemen, light infantry, or grenadiers, shall be uniformed in such uniforms as may be agreed upon by a majority of such company, which shall be worn by them, while on parade, or in actual service."

[Officer's uniforms were not separately specified until this act was passed:]

AN ACT amending the Act entitled "An Act organizing the Militia of this State."
Approved February 8, 1821

Section 11

"Be it further enacted, That the following shall be the uniform and equipment of the several officers of the militia of this state, to be worn at all times when on parade and at courts martial: every general officer, general, division, and brigade staff officer, blue coat and pantaloons made in the fashion of the United States' dress uniform, yellow buttons, gold epaulettes, boots, spurs, a round black hat, black cockade, white plume, and small sword or hanger: every regimental field and staff officer, a blue coat and pantaloons made in the fashion of the United States' dress uniform, with white buttons, silver epaulettes, boots, spurs a round black hat, black cockade, white plume tipt [sic] with red, a small sword or hanger: captains and subaltern officers, a deep blue hunting shirt and pantaloons, with red trimmings, half-boots or gaithers [sic], a round black hat, black cockade, red plume, and small sword or hanger."

[Chris Gordy]

That is absolutely awesome! I'm wondering what the "round black hat" is though. I first thought of a wheel-cap but I don't know that that's right. Any suggestion?

[Chris Gordy]

Gosh, I don't notice some things very quickly do I? I just noticed that your picture shows you wearing a type of wheel-cap. The style that I have is more commonly known as the '38 wheel-cap. Is there a distinctive difference from the early 30s to late 30s style?

[Robert Braun]

Almanac appears to waer the army fatigue cap, known as the "Chacko." This cap preceeded the "Pattern of 1833 Fatigue Cap" in leather that became so "popular" in the Seminole Wars. The chacko (mistaken by earlier investigators as perhaps a mis-spelling of "shako") was well-documented as having been worn by U. S. Regulars during the Sauk War.

The chacko wheel cap style was worn in the U. S. Army from at least 1827 until the adoption and availability of the new fatigue cap. The leather cap was in turn replaced by the Army wheel cap (of which I believe you refer) which was worn by U. S. Army troops during the war with Mexico.

[Chris Gordy]

You're right about the style of my cap being used in the Mexican War. Is there a good pattern out there for the "chacko"?

[Robert Braun]

Chris... historians I have asked have indicated that the "round hat" is the flat brimmed tall fur-felt black or brown hat we see in genre paintings and contemprary woodcuts of the era. Apparently, we see the earlier styles (slightly more conical crown) on children of the post-War of 1812 period, than on adult males who appear to wear a later stlye with a straight tall corwn.

Originals appear in some private and public collections, including that of Sturbridge Village.

[Greg Carter]

Chris,

I believe that Mr. Osman at Fort Snelling made a pattern for the 1825 hat from an original. I don't know for sure if he has it still or not. The Jarnagin Company and two other firms reproduce the military style hat for a price. I actually have a better description of Illinois uniforms and equipment I found. I will post it on here shortly.

GMC

Cap Pictures (repros)-

1825 Chako- www.dirtybillyshats.com/us45.htm

1833 Cap- www.dirtybillyshats.com/us32.htm

1839 Cap- www.dirtybillyshats.com/US2.htm

[Greg Carter]

The 1819 laws are more specific than I posted above, only in another section. It reads as follows:


Section 1

"...and every person so enrolled and notified shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket and bayonet, fuzee or rifle, knapsack, blanket, canteen, two spare flints, a cartridge box, to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or fuzee, each cartridge to contain the proper amount of powder and ball, or pouch and powder horn, with twenty-four balls, suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder;..."


This is a much better description.

Source- The Digest of Illinois Laws, Illinois State Library Collection

[Chris Gordy]

Bob & GMC,
Cool info. Looking at the 1839 cap you listed, it is like the one I have but without the years of stains and use. (It saw a lot of Mexican War action.) The "round hat" as the flat brimmed tall fur-felt black or brown hat interests me. I guess I always thought of that as more of a civilian hat and never really made a connection. However, it does seem to make sense that your local militia would wear a hat that would be so readily available.

[Robert Braun]

The painting of H. H. Gear in the colection of the Jo Daviess Co. Hist. Society shows Gear with a wheel cap very similar to the Army's P. of 1839 fatigue cap. The real beauty of the Gear painting is that we have an interior view of the cap!

Also... period writers tended to be more specific about headgear terms than we are today. A "cap" generally meant a head cover with a bill or partial brim, like the wheel cap. A hat, like the "round hat" generally meant a full brim and crown.

Modern people tend to corn-fuze these terms and use them interchangibly. Funny. thoough... it's always called a baseball CAP, never a baseball HAT.

ADIOS!

[Chris Gordy]

Yes. And I wish I could get a more detailed picture of the Gear painting. Mr. Gear did serve in the military also. If you are coming to Galena next April for the Grant event I could take you guys over to the museum to see it.

As we dive further into our research at Apple River Fort, we are going to go the Illinois Archives where I hope to find more personal accounts of not only the war but of what they are exactly wearing. Years ago I found documents to this degree when studying volunteer militia uniforms of the Mexican War. Maybe we can have a road trip.

[Chris Gordy]

Here is the 1838 painting of Hezekiah Gear that Bob talked about. Courtesy of the Galena / Jo Daviess County Historical Society.

[Greg Carter]

Chris,

I think a trip to the archives would be nice. I was actually just there last week. The State Library might be of more use, however. Many of the State Archives documents pertaining to the Black Hawk War have been deemed inaccurate, with references instead referring to Ellen Whitney's book. I am game for that road trip, however.

GMC

[Chris Gordy]

Yes, the Illinois State Historic Library is a great resource. I've used it a lot when working for other sites and have found that they have A LOT of quality primary sources. The trip won't be for a while yet but I'll keep you all posted as to when we may go.

[Howitzer]

The chakos worn by the men at Fort Snelling were researched and reconstructed by Brian Lloyd who lives in the Twin Cities area. Brian made the hats for several years and then, due to poor health, had to retire. At last report, he could be e-mailed at: [e-mail]

Howitzer