Shiloh Impression Guidelines and Requirements

11th Illinois Cavalry Guidelines

Gentlemen,

Below are the very specific and a bit different guidelines for ANYONE AND ALL who wish to participate in the escort of the Federal Paddle Wheel march across the original Shiloh land. This march (for cavalry, wagons, artillery) will begin at our camp and move to the ORIGINAL Pittsburg Landing site and will move 5 or so miles across the back trails and paths taken by the actual men. They will be portraying the 11th Illinois as indicated.

This is by invitation only and each trooper will undergo an inspection prior to leaving our camps at or before dawn on Saturday morning. They will make a round trip so they are looking at about 10 miles. From which they will move directly into battle upon returning. Col. Fulwood will command this trip as you and your staff will be remaining in camp to tend to duties and additional actions and movements while they are on this march.

Please make sure that this information is posted under a very large banner stating this is for The March ONLY. While it would be great to have all our cavalry appear this authentic, the remainder of the battles will not be quite as stringent.

There will be NO exceptions for this march so make sure they are all aware of this. You will be required to perform this inspection along with our Chief Safety officer.

General Terry Crowder
Commanding
First Federal Division

By Ken R Knopp

1.     Organized at Peoria, Ill., and mustered in December 20, 1861.
   *     Duty at Peoria till February, 1862.
2.     Moved to Benton Barracks, Mo., February 22-March 3, and duty there until March 28.
3.     Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn, March 25-April 1.
4.     (1st Battalion to Crump’s Landing and joined Lew Wallace’s 3rd Division, Army Tennessee.)

Robert G. Ingersoll, of Peoria, and Basile D. Meeks, of Woodford county, obtained permission to raise a Regiment of Cavalry, and recruiting commenced in October 1861. The Regiment was recruited from the counties of Peoria, Fulton, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, Stark, Knox, Henderson and Warren.

     Recruits commenced going into camp at Camp Lyon, Peoria, about Nov. 1, 1861. Twelve full companies were recruited and mustered into the United States service by Capt. C.B. Watson, of the Fourteenth U.S. Infantry, mustering officer, on Dec. 20, 1861, when they were mounted. They remained at Camp Lyon until Feb. 22, 1862, when they broke camp and marched to Benton Barracks, Mo., where they arrived March 3, and were shortly after armed with revolvers and sabres, one Battalion receiving carbines.

     On March 25 the first Battalion, under Maj. Puterbaugh, embarked on a boat, and on the 26th the remainder of the Regiment followed.

     The First Battalion landed at Crump’s Landing, Tennessee River, April 1, and joined the forces of Gen. Lew. Wallace. The remainder of the Regiment landed the same day at Pittsburg Landing, and camped about two miles from there. On the 4th they were out a short distance on a scout, and their first experience under fire was when the fighting commenced on the 6th. Early on the morning of the 6th the Regiment lost several men in killed and wounded; among the killed was First Lieut. Richard Burns, of Company F.

     On the morning of the April 7th Second Lieut. Aquilla J. Davis, of Company H, was wounded and the Regiment met with a severe loss in killed and wounded.

      Without clear information to the contrary it appears that at Shiloh most of the regiment was armed with pistols and sabers only. For our purposes, we will portray the 1st battalion of the regiment armed with carbines (Sharp’s).

Guidelines: As we are to portray a new, volunteer cavalry regiment recently outfitted, it is our desire that we present as uniform an appearance as possible. While many of us put on our own personal style and stand out by doing so, it’s our desire to present a proud, early war volunteer regiment that was very uniform in appearance. If you must individualize your impression do it with a shirt or with something that is not part of government issue clothing and equipment. By presenting an early war regiment that is almost entirely uniform we will most accurately portray the 11th Illinois, and will give a very impressive image to all who see us. Without requiring you to go to any great expense to fall in, this is the event where you will want to strive for conformity by making the first item in the list below your first choice. What is listed below is taken from known information of what the 11th Illinois Cavalry had or, looks to regulations if a specific item is not precisely identified or, relies on accounts of what other western Federal cavalry regiments at Shiloh are known to have. Officers should distinguish themselves with high quality and even fanciful equipments. All items are to be of period material and construction. We are a brand new regiment, so be proud and POLISH YOUR BRASS!

Horses: “Most” accepted. No Paints, golden Palominos’s, Appaloosa’s, stallions or “kicking” horses. Current health papers and negative coggins “MANDATORY & REQUIRED ON-SITE”.

Coat: Fatigue Blouse/Sack Coat are very strongly preferred. No frocks or Mounted Services jackets (short waisted AOP type shell jackets) are acceptable. Simply put, you either buy or borrow a sack coat.

Pants: For enlisted men, SKY blue trousers only accepted. No dark blue (except officer as desired) or other color trousers (NO civilian trousers). Sky blue trousers had become the regulation over three months prior. While we have not found a specific reference to sky or dark blue, the quartermaster department in St. Louis was clothing regiments from all the states passing through literally issuing thousands of trousers for three and a half months since the regulation change to sky blue. While no specific color was stated during our research, it is likely that the dark blue trouser stores had been issued and sky blue stores had replaced them three and a half months after the issue of the General Order. In short, to keep expenses low- we are going with the common sky blue pants.

     **It is not the intent of the event organizers to require every man to buy a sack coat and a new pair of dark blue trousers to attend. Nevertheless, uniformity is the requirement. So, sky blue is the required color for enlisted trousers and a Federal sack coat is required for the blouse. If you don’t have these then- buy or borrow. Only officers may wear dark blue trousers if desired.

Suspenders/Braces/Belt: Trousers may be held up by either method provided period construction and materials are used.

Underwear: Military issue preferred, civilian or none is accepted. No modern underwear.

Hat: Black slouch hats or, undressed Hardee hats ONLY for enlisted men. Period patterns only. Absolutely NO COWBOY patterns. Strongly enforced! Officers may wear an officer’s Kepi or Hardee Hat with only a Jeff Davis eagle pinning up the LEFT side brim and the hat devoid of all other hat trim is very strongly preferred. If officers choose to fully dress their Hardee hat, they should dress it with all of the proper embroidered insignia. No hat brass for enlisted men.

Shirt: Federal military wool or muslin regulation or contract preferred, civilian cotton accepted.

Socks: Wool preferred, cotton accepted.

Footwear: Military pattern brogans or boots strongly preferred. Bootees or civilian boots accepted. Pegged or sewn.

Spurs: Federal enlisted men patterns only!! No civilian or cowboy patterns. Officers can employ their choice of officer’s patterns if they desire.

Eye glasses: Only period eye wear accepted. Contact lenses are accepted. NO modern eyewear at all.

Arms: Most of the 11th Illinois was armed with a pistol and saber only. One battalion had carbines.

• Carbine: M1859 Sharp’s are what they were issued.  You may use Smith’s carbines, too. No other carbine or long arm accepted. If you do not have one then carry just your pistol and saber.
• Pistol: Colt’s Army or Starr’s ONLY! No Remingtons (none) No Confederate patterns of any kind. NO more than one pistol per trooper and NO additional cylinders (Do we even have to ask this?)
• Saber: M1840 Wrist breaker or M1860 patterns ONLY! Officer’s sabers can vary as preferred. No Confederate sabers or swords.

Accoutrements: All leathers black (buff, waxed or bridle leather) Correct period issue hardware.

Saber Belt:  M1851 with shoulder strap. The brass US rectangular buckle with applied wreath is the only accepted buckle.

Cap Box: Must be Federal pattern black leather.

Cartridge Box: Federal Sharp’s pattern or if you don’t have one, early infantry patterns acceptable. Early war patterns are preferred for both boxes, late war accepted. Pistol boxes acceptable but not necessary. Officers should wear BLACK leathers of proper period construction.

Carbine Slings: Federal pattern of black leather with brass hardware and regulation snap swivel.

Haversack: Federal pattern Black, tarred/painted of period construction strongly preferred. No Confederate, white canvas or civilian haversacks accepted. None!

Canteen: Smoothside wool covered Federal canteen strongly preferred. Federal wool covered bullseye discouraged, but accepted. Uncovered canteens strongly discouraged. Wool cover colors are tan and grey preferred, blue discouraged but accepted. No Confederate or civilian canteens accepted. None!

Sleeping Blanket: Tan variant, wool Federal strongly preferred. Grey regulation, wool Federal accepted. No Confederate, white British, quilts, or civilian blankets accepted. Plain tan or grey blankets accepted if you do not have a Federal blanket.

Gum Blanket: Federal contract type black rubberized canvas or linen gum blanket with small brass grommets preferred. Black rubberized poncho accepted. Confederate painted, tarred and oiled cloths not accepted. None!

Greatcoat: Regulation Federal mounted (or infantry) sky blue pattern. Officers may wear regulation dark blue if they desire. Confederate or civilian greatcoats/overcoats are not accepted.

Tents: None acceptable. No shelter halves (NOT common this early)

Other Requirements: Tobacco use will only be allowed in period form (pipe or cigar). If you regularly smoke modern cigarettes and must have that modern form of treated tobacco, bring loose cigarette tobacco to smoke in a pipe. No modern cigarettes accepted. Keep modern items, i.e. car key, medicines, contact lens wash, etc., hidden in a poke sack and only take it out discreetly AWAY from the sight of others. NO earrings or visible tattoos (Need we say this?)

Horse Equipments: Federal M1859 patterns from western arsenals and contractors. Most notably St Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati. Black bridle and harness leather with correct japanned bar  buckles. NO painted brass buckles or hardware! Absolutely NO mixing of Civilian or Confederate patterns. This will be enforced!

Saddle: M1859 McClellan. Early pattern. Includes hooded stirrups, fenders and (non-spaded D ring). M1859 pattern trees. Includes crupper, coat straps. NO M1904 conversion trees! NO CS McClellans, NO Texas saddles, NO Civilian saddle patterns! NONE! Officer’s should ride modified McClellen’s or Grimsely’s and employ shabraques as well as fine bits on their bridles. Enlisted men will NOT use a shabraques.

Saddle Bags: M1859 black leather pattern ONLY!!  No other acceptable. If you don’t have an M1859 set then go without.

Saddle Blanket: Regulation Grey or Blue with woven “US” and orange stripe. NO civilian patterns, makes, colors or materials. Underpadding acceptable if covered by the saddle blanket.

Bridle: M1859 three or six buckle. Black bridle leather with japanned bar buckles. NO CS/civilian patterns. Officer’s equipments employed fine bits and brass hardware.

Bit: M1859 U.S. patterns (1863 patterns acceptable). Absolutely NO CS or civilian patterns.

Halter: M1859 pattern. Black leather with proper hardware. NO CS/Civilian patterns!

Breast Straps: NOT an issue item!! Period civilian or field made patterns acceptable but we prefer the employment of a surcingle here. ABSOLUTELY NO BRASS HEARTS!  ENFORCED!

Surcingles: Blue wool correct pattern.

Nose Bag: Federal issue pattern- Forage sack appropriate too.

Curry Comb/Brush: Only Federal issue war time patterns are acceptable.

    *For reference photographs for some of the above Federal clothing, equipment and arms please consult www.confederatesaddles.com or post questions on the Authentic Campaigner Forum here.

THE 11TH ILLINOIS CAVALRY WAS AN EARLY WAR VOLUNTEER REGIMENT THAT WAS ISSUED VERY UNIFORM EQUIPMENTS. THEY WERE VERY PROUD. PLEASE DON’T DISHONOR THEM

BY MIXING IN CONFEDERATE OR CIVILIAN PATTERNS.