Illinois Militia Uniforms, By Law...

[Howitzer]

I clicked onto Dirty Billy's hats and several things I question about what I see First of all, an 1825 Dragoon Where were these guys during the Black Hawk campaign? I'd like to know where the documentation is for that? Also, one of the big controversies regarding the chako when it first came out was what color the pinstripes were. My original hat (I now have four) was made by Don Ferricks from New Salem and had green (which appears to be what it evidenced in the photo on the website), then we saw Snelling's and they were black (so we got them)! I have also seen some examples being sold which offer white. One of the bits of information which came out when questioning this at Snelling was that, as a result of poor dyes, an original hat which had green stripes was thought to be actually black before aging. In talking to Steve Osman, he is not quite sure just what was correct.
He does not accept the white ones though.

Howitzer

[Gene]

So, for future reference and guidance, as an example, if there was a new guy looking to buy a Chako, where would the best and most accurate dealer to go to?

[Greg Carter]

I agree with howitzer on the inconsistency of Dirty Bill's dragoon hat, and that white pinstripes seem to be unlikely. I placed the link to the pictures at Dirty' Billy's strictly so that persons visiting this site might get a general idea what they look like.

Unfortunately, the uniform specifications I have found concerning the chacko (courtesy of the US Army History Institute) are rather vague on that point.

I also must add that for Militia, a wheel hat of a civilian make would be appropriate, however a military 1825 hat would most likely not be correct. the reason for this being that the Army, which was not very keen on expending funds to clothe militia, would not have likely loaned out new chackos for the militia to wear.

In my own defense, I am dropping the chacko I have as soon as Betsy finishes my civilian wheel cap.

As far as accuracy is concerned, Uniforms of Antiquity is probably the most accurate vendor of reproductions. A number of their hats can be seen in the photo pages of the Cottonbalers (7th USILHA) website.

The Jarnagin Company also reproduces the Chacko for a much cheaper price. Their caps are from a pattern provided by Fort Snelling.

One other thing, however, since we are questioning the accuracy of the dragoon chacko for use after 1833, when the dragoons were officially formed, I wonder if that style of hat was in fact worn? What was the historical provenance of its use compared to the 1833 folding cap?

The only other recourse I can think of is the US Army pattern records. All standardized equipment for use by the US Army had a pattern on file at the US Army clothing depot. Records from the Revolution and War of 1812 are there, as I have seen in several books, so what about 1825? The only problem I have is that I don't know how to go about getting copies or records of that type.

GMC

[Peter Shrake]

Greg,

Those records might be available on microfilm. If you conduct a search online in eithor the national archives or the library of Congress you ought to be able to determine if the clothing department records have been filmed. If so, films are available for purchase for about 40.00 to 50.00. I am in the process of doing the same thing for myself with the execption that I am ordering the records for Fort Winnebago and Fort Crawford. They both contain about two rolls of microfilm and contain reports and correspondance of the garrison.

If you do not wish to purchase the records you might want to see if a local university library might be willing to order a copy or better yet get one on interlibrary loan.

Its not the easiest way to get acess to this stuff but it might work.

Pete

[Gene]

Greg,
A few months ago you had mailed me a package that contained some illustrations of militia. One of the picture contained in that packet showed a backwoodsman wearing a top hat and cocakde (sp?), probably an NCO?

What( if any) supporting evidence exsists to support the use of this type of headwear?
Gene

[Gene]

One other source that might be checked, is the Military Histrorical Library and Carlisle Barracks (Pensylvania?). I understand that the possess a very large extensive photographic collection there.
Gene

[Gene]

Here is the link to Carlisle Barracks;
carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/index.html

[Gene]

Heres an interesting holding of the Military Historic Library at Carlisle Barracks;

Carlisle Barracks/CATS Search: SEARCH CATS [TITLE Record of the services of Illinois soldiers in the Black Hawk war 1831-32 and in the Mexican war 1846-8 ]
1 records matched your query


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Record 1 | Previous Record | MARC Display | Next Record
Author:
Illinois. Military and Naval Dept. 91201;2;0.
Title:
Record of the services of Illinois soldiers in the Black Hawk war, 1831-32, and in the Mexican war, 1846-8 : containing a complete roster of commissioned officers and enlisted men of both wars, taken from the official rolls on file in the War department, Washington, D. C. With an appendix, giving a record of the services of the Illinois militia, rangers and riflemen, in protecting the frontier from the ravages of the Indians from 1810 to 1813 / Prepared and published by authority of the Thirty-second General assembly, by Isaac H. Elliott, adjutant-general..
Published:
Springfield, Ill. : H. W. Rokker, state printer, 1882.
Description:
xxxi, 343 p. ; 24 cm..
Subject:
Black Hawk War, 1832
83363;4;0
Mexican War, 1846-1848 --Regimental histories--United States--105474;4;0
Illinois --Militia--104294;4;0--United States --History --War of 1812 --Unit histories --Illinois. --116431;4;0.
Other Authors:
Elliott, Isaac Hughes, .1837---116432;2;0.
Notes:
Issued also as v. 9 of its Report of the adjutant-general..
Location/Call Number/Status:
Military History Institute Library
Shelving Location: MHI Stacks
Call Number: E83.83 .I29
Copy Number: c.1
Available

Initiate Another CATS Search
Z39.50 POC at Carlisle Barracks
Z39.50 POC at MHI

[Robert Braun]

Regarding Gene's "top hat" question, "Almanac" has already provided us with the answer:

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.

The "round hat" is the "top hat" of your query. This, plus numerous genre paintings and woodcuts show this to be a quite popular hat of the 1820's and 1830's.

[Howitzer]

Regarding questions involving chakos and the U.S. Military, try Steve Abolt. Steve has done extensive research on a variety of topics associated with items from the War of 1812 up through the Alamo. He is very much involved as a living historian for the War of 1812 (he is an officer of high order at the super Mississinewa event in Indiana coming up). Steve is also knowledgeable about uniforms involved at and before the Alamo (he sells repro Scott's Manuals, dress coats, etc.-they are very high quality). He is also a great source if you have any questions regarding militia equipage. Also, if you can find it, he was a principle character involved in producing the CD-Rom, "The Alamo-Victory or Death!" which shows him (in video form and stop-action) manning an early period cannon, going through the proper steps in firing a musket, displaying period clothing, etc. It's a real good source for many items which pertain to the 1830s and pre Mex-Am War. It also shows through animation many of these features plus much more. I wonder if Dirty Billy's dragoon chako is taken from say, the Louisiana Grays at the Alamo?

Howitzer

[Marge Smith]

This is a description of the Hezekiah Gear painting from the Weekly Galena Gazette, July 31, 1874.
(H.H. Gear gives his portrait to Miner's Lodge, No. 273)
"...The painting was executed by John Mix Stanley, the noted painter, who visited the lead region in 1836, ... The portrait of Captain Gear is one of Stanley's best, and is characteristic of the Captain being taken in full buckskin mining costume, such as worn in the early times. The Captain is standing at the windlass, over the shaft of his Council Hill 'diggings,' a mine that 'panned' out a half a million or more dollars worth of mineral. [Not shown in the scan] Piles of mineral are lying around loose, while in the background is a fine landscape of the valley north of Council Hill. Groups of miners are seen at work, and in the distance is the Captain's blast furnace...".
Stanley then went west and painted Indians which were placed in the Smithsonian but were lost in a fire.

[Greg Carter]

That sounds like a good description, betsymaid. I suspect that the hunting shirt played a very large role in the uniforms of the militia in Illinois as it did in the MT. I cannot prove that in solid fact yet, but it seems quite probable.

GMC

[Robert Braun]

This is a very interesteing description! Thank you for bringing this background info on the H. H. Gear painting to light!

Bob

[Gene]

Bob;
Thanks for answering for for Big-C, I really appreciate the undevided attention that you give to this message board. But perhaps he could reply anyway? If thats OK?

[Robert Braun]

Howitzer said:

I wonder if Dirty Billy's dragoon chako is taken from say, the Louisiana Grays at the Alamo?

Howitzer

In order to address this idea, I consulted Blood of Noble Men by Allan Huffines and the CMH publication Military Uniforms in America--Years of Growth 1796-1851

Huffines opines (sorry---;D) that the New Orleans Grays reportedly purchased their gray Army uniforms from second-hand shops in the that city. If such was the case, I am doubtful that a so-called "Dragoon Pattern" Chacko would have been available for sale as a surplus item in say 1835, in the same way that earlier pattern chackos very possibly were. Huffines reported the headgear of the NOG as sealskin caps and possibly surplus Army chackos. This to me would suggest the more numerous Infantry pattern.

The CMH publication reported that the U. S. Ranger battalion authorized in 1832 continued for about a year. After this, the Regiment of U. S. Dragoons was authorized, circa 1833. The Rangers provided their own clothing and weapons, and this pactice seems to have carried over at least initially into the Dragoons.

The Army experimented with different forage caps, and according to CMH sources, introduced the leather forage cap (made popular during the Seminole War) in 1833. With the availability of the new cap, and the relegation of the chacko to a "wear-out" period pending replacement, it seems doubtful to me that the Dragoons would have gone through the expense of developing an issue chacko based on an obsolete pattern.

For this to happen, the New Orleans shops would have had to take delivery on surplus caps with only about 1+ years of wear, for the NOG to purchase them pre-Alamo (February, 1836.) Sounds like a bit of a stretch.

Stranger things have happened in Army clothing history, and I would be very interested to learn IF the Army actually let contracts for a so-called "dragoon" cap in the chacko pattern.

For an artistic view of the new foracge cap, see www.army.mil/cmh-pg/art/P-P/As-3/1839.htm


Bob.